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Oktoberfest Post-Mortem: The Five Things You Need to Know for '09

October 13, 2008 at 4:45 PM | 0 Comments

Oktoberfest 2008 has come and gone--in Germany at least--but the memories will live on forever. Thankfully, the vomit is easy enough to wash away.

This is a video from inside the Hofbrau tent at the storied Oktoberfest fair grounds in Munich. You can watch "Beer Fest" as many times as you like but nothing, we repeat, nothing can prepare you for the real Oktoberfest.

So to make it easier, we've put together this handy list of rules and tips to remember for Oktoberfest 2009.

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A 750 Mile Taxi Ride for a Beer

October 7, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

The 2008 Oktoberfest in Munich finished up over the weekend, and one English man was extremely glad to be there. We're thinking he needs a few travel tips because to get to Munich from Portsmouth, England, he decided to catch a taxi.

To be fair, he did try to catch a plane first but missed his flight. Not wanting to miss the beer (and his buddy's buck's night), he persuaded a local cab driver to get him all the way to Munich for a fare of £1,700 (almost $3,000). And he paid in cash.

We're not recommending using this method of travel across Europe, but perhaps some of the European low-cost airlines could consider it as a back-up plan when their flights have some of those all-too-regular delays?

Related Stories:
· No Taxi Ride Too Long to Keep Man From Friends, Beer [Deutsche Welle]
· Beer Travel: Bavarian Premier Says Drinking Heaps is OK [Jaunted]
· Oktoberfest coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: smif]

Beer Travel: Bavarian Premier Says Drinking Heaps is OK

September 18, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

With the beer kegs ready to pour at Munich's Oktoberfest on Saturday, the big news in Bavaria is that the premier, Guenther Beckstein, says you can drink two liters of beer (well over 4 pints) and still drive back to your hotel or home.

With a local election looming mid-Oktoberfest, the media grabbed Beckstein's comment that you could drink two one-liter glasses of beer in two hours without a problem--but police, doctors and other politicians are politely disagreeing.

The premier has since gone back on his statement--saying it was a "rather unsuccessful contribution"--but it wouldn't have mattered much to budget travelers: Beer has become so much more expensive this year that two liters might be financially out of the question, even if it apparently won't make us too drunk to drive.

Related Stories:
· Two Litres of Beer OK for Drivers [news.com.au]
· Breaking Economic News: Oktoberfest Devastation in Munich [Jaunted]

[Photo: Landfeldt]

Breaking Economic News: Oktoberfest Devastation in Munich

September 15, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 1 Comment

Tragic news out of Germany: When Munich's fabulously beer-laden Oktoberfest kicks off on September 20, the beer will cost 5 percent more than last year.

Due to higher production costs, apparently, the average price of a stein of brew will set you back €8.13 (US$11.50), which is pretty expensive compared to many parts of the world.

But it's Oktoberfest, so you're paying for the atmosphere and those large-biceped women carrying a hundred steins as well. Scrape together your €8.13 and get to Munich quick--remember that once October comes around, Oktoberfest is all but over.

Related Stories:
· Beer Prices Go Up for Oktoberfest [The Age]
· Bring on the Beer, Oktoberfest's Here! [Jaunted]
· It's September, It Must Be Oktoberfest! [Jaunted]

[Photo: .myke]

Best Fall Festivals :: The Real Oktoberfest... in Missouri?

October 12, 2007 at 3:30 PM | 0 Comments

Nothing says fall like ridiculous harvest festivals in small-town America. This week, we'll be mapping the best.

We've done our share of Oktoberfest coverage, from the original in Munich to the far-from-original in LA. But for the most authentic beer-and-brats celebration this side of the Rhine, you've gotta get to Hermann, Missouri. This little hamlet is more German than sauerkraut, and they show it off every weekend in October.

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Oktoberfest: More Meat, Less Beer In Texas

October 5, 2007 at 10:05 AM | 1 Comment

It's Oktoberfest season, the time of year when anyone with an ounce of German blood stands up for his or her love of consuming large quantities of beer. Down in Texas, in a town called New Braunfels, residents celebrate their love for another delicacy of the Fatherland: the sausage.

They call it "Wurstfest: The 10-day salute to sausage," and it always begins on the Friday before the first Monday in November. This year, it's Nov. 2. For the last 46 years, the town has transformed a fairgrounds-sized park into a mini-Deutschland. More than 200,000 are expected to attend.

The event kicks off with the traditional "biting of the sausage," and though it focuses on seasoned meat stuffed into intestines, beer still manages to make a cameo says--and we're not making this up--the festival's Wurst Relations Director:

The biting of the sausage is like Oktoberfest's tapping of the keg. We have beer and we're not ashamed of it, but by the same token we're not a beer fest.

Related Stories:
· Wurstfest [Official Site]
· Texas' Wurstfest [CNN]
· Texas Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wurstfest]

Bring on the Beer, Oktoberfest's Here!

September 17, 2007 at 8:25 AM | 0 Comments

September is here again and as we know that makes it time for Oktoberfest, the great German beer drinking festival--as if they needed an excuse! The official Oktoberfest in Munich kicks off this Saturday, September 22, when Munich's mayor will tap into the first keg. Beer will be drunk and songs will be sung right through until October 7.

But if you really want to plan ahead, think now about the 2010 Oktoberfest. That'll be a big one, since it's the 200th anniversary of the celebration. While most hotels in Munich aren't taking bookings yet, the steady stream of beer-lovers making inquiries might change their policies yet. Prost!

Related Stories:
· It's September, It Must Be Oktoberfest! [Jaunted]
· Raise a Stein For Oktoberfest 2010 [Plain Dealer]
· Oktoberfest Munich [Official Site]

[Photo: StrudelMonkey]

Oktoberfest is Ending Already

October 3, 2006 at 4:00 PM | 0 Comments

Oktoberfest was officially declared open on September 16 and sadly, the very last day is today, Ocotber 3rd--go figure.

If you still want to celebrate without having to head to Munich on a last-minute flight, here is another way to celebrate Oktoberfest, right in Los Angeles' backyard.

Alpine Village is an authentic beer garden and German village smackdab in the middle of Torrance, Calif., (just outside the LAX airport.) Aside from long wooden tables and benches to create an authentic feeling, Alpine Village has a Oom pa pa brass band that sports lederhosen, and activities that you can join in like the "cow-milking" contest (the cow is a cardboard cutout), a log-sawing contest, and chugging or stein-holding contests.

Food served ranges from weiner schnitzel to polish sausages to pretzels and of course beer served in huge ceramic steins. What's really great about this place is that its a true melting pot, not just German transplants or those willing to admit they got a bit of German blood. Just be careful as you clang your steins. Once people get drunk they tend to be overzealousing in their clanging. Also, don't wear any nice clothes here because when you're doing the chicken dance every 20 minutes you are going to look silly no matter what.

Oktoberfest at Alpine Village runs now through Oct. 29th starting at 6pm.

Paris Hilton Makes the Scene at Oktoberfest

September 25, 2006 at 7:40 PM | 0 Comments


Vast quantities of beer? Check. Lots of drunken boys? Check. All in a day's travels for Paris Hilton. The infamous heiress has resurfaced in Munich, screaming "Vilkommen," enthusiastically becuase she is prepared for Oktoberfest. Paris told reporters, "Munich is one of the coolest cities," and proudly arrived at the festivities in traditional Dirndl clothing, just a few sizes too small. What, Munich's not even worthy of a "that's hot"?

Paris is traveling with bajillionaire friend Kim Kardashian, who was also decked out for the drink-fest.  P-Slutty is in town to promo her new canned sparkling wine, "Rich Prosecco," and is ever-so-onveniently working in a few days at Oktoberfest. Enough time to dress up, get drunk, and score we assume.

Related Stories:
·Germany Says Vilkommen to Paris [TMZ]

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