Not sure if you knew it or not, but the real Oktoberfest in Munich is happening right now…
It started on September 17th and will go to October 3. That’s 17 days.
And according to Wikipedia, 6.4 million visitors will come through the gates and drink over 7,000,000 liters of beer. Â That’s over 122,000 US kegs.
And all of it takes place in the Theresienweisse, a huge meadow about the size of 42 rugby fields on the outskirts of Munich. The field is where King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on 12th October 1810 which is the first recognized Oktoberfest celebration that all the citizens of Bavaria were invited to. Munich celebrated it’s 200th Octoberfest last year.
I’ve never been to Oktoberfest. I’ve been to the one in Boston too many times, but not Munich’s. I really want to go.
Oktoberfest law says that only the beer brewed within the city limits of Munich is allowed to be sold at the festival and becomes a registered Trademark by the Club of Munich Brewers.  About 9 different beers like Spaten, Hofbrau, and Paulaner make the cut and usually range anywhere between 5.8 – 6.3 percent ABV. Not exactly light beer.
There’s 14 different tents to choose from that offer a certain authentic German food and types of beer.
The locals call people who pass out because of being drunk “Bierleichen” which is German for “beer corpses”.
And according to an article aptly titled Confessions of…an Oktoberfest Bouncer by Nicholas DeRenzo at msnbc.com, the English are the most likely to brawl, Italians can’t handle their beer and tip badly, and Americans are the friendliest, the best tippers, and “less complicated”.  Haha.
And to wrap things up here’s a link to live streaming Oktoberfest webcams from several different tents. Â Keep in mind Munich may be in a different time zone than you…
Prost!
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