Cancel Your Tickets, Come to San Diego

OK my hop headed, malt sucking, yeast consuming friends....

Check out the top 50 brewers in the World!

http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/24/pf/goodlife/best_beer/index.htm?cnn=yes

1. AleSmith Brewing Co. San Diego, CA USA
2. Three Floyds Brewing Co. Munster, IN USA
3. Stone Brewing Co. San Diego, CA USA
4. Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus Westvleteren Belgium
5. Hair of the Dog Brewing Co. Portland, OR USA
6. De Dolle Brouwers Diksmuide Belgium
7. Kalamazoo Brewing Co. Kalamazoo, MI USA
8. Pizza Port (Solana Beach) Solana Beach, CA USA
9. Dogfish Head Brewery Milton, DE USA
10. Fuller, Smith & Turner London UK

Japan Trip Report

Finally got the photos in shape from my Trip.

Country: Japan,

Beer: Made mostly from rice. OK with sushi, but I would not drink stand alone.
Gemütlichkeit: Excellent. They try hard to promote a beer lifestyle
Selection: Moderate. Better than Miami, but not like California.
Unusual beer experience: Special at Airport, Beer & Soybeans (Edamame)

Photo Evidence:

Drink special: Beer & Soy Beans 830 Yen...







Plenty of Beer experiences to be had (in English!):








Of course I had to drink wine:



And finally, you had to fight off Godzilla on your way to the Beer Dens:

The Lurking Few...

As time passes, and the event gets closer, tasteful discourse ensues. But, what about the "lurkers"? Those registered participants who do not routinely contribute.

I mean... Designated Walker? jane? And now Schlumberger Lady?

Ladies... Start Your Posting ! ! ! !

I'm Done ! ! ! ! ! !

While I do not have actual "sheepskin in hand", I am officially finished with my MBA ! ! ! ! !

Classes are done, final research papers submitted, party time and beer drinking completed... only actual graduation on August 6th to complete. I now feel almost as smart as BarleyMan.

Places I have never been

As most of you know, I am not a conservative.;-)

What that means is that I revel in new things, never willing to settle for the same old way of doing things.

The same goes for my experiences. I lust for the different, the unique, and the new. I am not so old or senile to forget the many great things we have done in Munich, but as good as they were, I always like new stuff.

So here's the places I have never been, and would be interested in experiencing:

Garmisch
Wurzburg
45 of the Beer Halls in BDG2M
Dachau (the camp and the town)
Weltenburg
Regensburg
Munich Student section
Olympic Park
The nude sunbathing part of Englischer garten (OK, I have been there, but the people change.. so it is new!)
Augsburg

Places of Interest

Being the neophyte, I contacted certain people regarding suggestions of interest, knowing full well I have EXPERTS among our midst.
Several places, were: The English Gardes and some of their hidden Bier Gardens; Rottenburg on the Romantiche Strasse; Garmish-Partishkierchen; and Neuschwanstein Castle.
Did I make a mistake posting this? I'm sure I'll find out.

Clock wrong?

Chugger-

By my calculation, Paulaner Girl & I are leaving first for the Oktoberfest. Shouldn't your timer be set to our sdeparture at 8:35am (PDT) on September 28th?

It also seems to be worng, nontheless, since it says right now that you will be leaving in 98 days, 11 hours and 23 minutes from now (which appears to be midnight).

Trip to Weltenburg

Finally got a response from the folks in Germany.

I thought we could do the whole thing by train?

-----

Thank you for your enquiry from 2nd June 2005. In answer to your qustion as regards travelling from Munich to Kelheim, we would recommend that you travel by train from Munich to Saal/Donau, an from there you can travel by bus to Kelheim(Wöhrdplatz).
We would be pleased if you could enfam us in advance, how many people would be travelling with the ship to Weltenburg in order that we could reserve places if needed.
lokk for the timetable www.schiffahrt-kelheim.de

best regards

Personenschiffahrt Altmühltal
Renate Schweiger


i. A. Rosi Chrubasik

Wedding Recap.....

A good time was had by all, and everything was accomplished without any major (or for that fact, minor) incident. I guess the only think that comes close was my mother's inability to attend. She fell in the shower last Thursday and is still in the hospital. No real injuries (at least that they can find), but they are continuing to run tests to determine what happened. It really bummed her out, and you can only imagine how Traci felt.

The weather even cooperated all weekend, and it was more than ideal..... middle 70's, low humidity, slightly cloudy at time to keep the heat under control. Someone was looking out for us (I can't imagine why, though). A great ceremony in church (the father did almost trip on the bride's dress). We then headed over to the reception for 4 hours of food, drink and frivolity. Mostly food and drink, but some frivolity. We even had Gregory smiling and dancing with his Mother & Sister... Go Figure ! ! ! For those of you that could not make it... we missed you. For those of you that did, how was it?

I will provide links and or actual pictures sometime next week. I'll be swamped this week getting ready for my final week of class (I know, you don't really care). Term papers and case studies still need to be completed.

Traci's Wedding.... Courtesy of Lynch Photography

Just one picture to tantilize you.

Others to be posted later this week.


"Click Me ! Click Me !

Beer at Work

1. It's an incentive to show up.
2. It reduces stress.
3. It leads to more honest communications.
4. It reduces complaints about low pay.
5. It cuts down on time off because you can work with a hangover.
6. Employees tell management what they think, not what management wants to hear.
7. It helps save on heating costs in the winter.
8. It encourages carpooling.
9. Increase job satisfaction because if you have a bad job, you don't care.
10. It eliminates vacations because people would rather come to work.
11. It makes fellow employees look better.
12. It makes the cafeteria food taste better.
13. Bosses are more likely to hand out raises when they are wasted.
14. Salary negotiations are a lot more profitable.
15. Suddenly, burping during a meeting isn't so embarrassing.
16. Employees work later since there's no longer a need to relax at the bar.
17. It makes everyone more open with their ideas.
18. Everyone agrees the work is better after they've had a couple of drinks.
19. Eliminates the need for employees to get drunk on their lunch break.
20. Increases the chance of seeing your boss naked.
21. It promotes foreign relations with the former Soviet Union.
22. The janitor's closet will finally have a use.
23. Employees no longer need coffee to sober up.
24. Sitting on the copy machine will no longer be seen as "gross"
25. Babbling and mumbling incoherently will be common language.

Woman and Beer

From ancient Egypt up to the medieval home breweries, the course followed by this drink is directly linked with companionship. Woman was considered the muse of beer, from ancient times till today. Since its discovery in a prehistoric cave, beer is nothing but a mixture of barley and water, forgotten by a woman overnight, after a tiring day of harvesting. It is consumed by the man-hunter in the morning and it pleases him so much that it takes the place of water. Beer, with a great tradition in Babylonia as in Egypt, is the legacy of Tsabitus, the heads of the houses that offered pleasure. In the Vikings, the priestesses of Thor processed it in huge boilers for the production of the youth elixir, which was then offered to the warriors by the Valkyries, loved by Wotan as well as Odin.

In the Middle Ages woman perpetuates the tradition by including the preparation of beer in her everyday chores, as in Alsace where we talk about "Hausbrauerei" (Brewery at home).

In the beginning of beer production, woman created an eternal drink which is honored by the brewers of France in the ode that follows and is titled:

"The spirit of beer seduces women"

Women with tradition,
women of shade,
women of light,
legendary women,
goddesses,
servants and priestesses,
fertile women,
lovers of life's cycle
women brewers,
possessors of the secrets of hops and barley,
shy women,
women with passion,
from ancient times up to the present live,
inventive,
happy,
women of today,
irresistible and alleviating,
reconciled with life…

Who else aside from woman can understand better than anyone the graces of the most feminine drink. Using the basic advantage which is its femininity, beer reveals the treasures of its seduction which are hidden inside. Of course, beer is comprised of cereals and yeast, a source of vitamins, minerals and with few calories. Revitalizing, it foams in the eyes of women who desire even more their participation in its production as well as its consumption.

Someone has to defend we women

Since women are pitifully underrepresented on the site, I feel motivated to make some kind of response to Chugger's last post. I feel especially qualified to write this because I talk to a lot of women every day. Sorry guys, but this is how I see it.

• Possessing a penis does not make you genetically superior. In fact, many people consider the Y chromosone to be an inferior mutation of the X.
• Possessing a Y chromosone does not make you automatically right. Try to remember that.
• The X chromosone does not include a housework gene
• Shopping is NOT a sport. It is a religion, and therefore protected by the constitution. As you know, it definitely has non-profit status. Please do not try to compare something as superficial as football to our religion. The shopping religion is a very demanding one, and requires frequent visits to multiple places of worship, often in malls. However, sometimes we are drawn to worship at smaller temples of holiness, called boutiques.
• No one has enough shoes
• You need more shoes.
• PMS is a legal defense. However, when we get mad at you, please do not make the mistake of blaming it on PMS. Chances are you did something stupid, and it could get you killed.
• If you put the toilet seat up, put it down. We will try to do the same.
• Who gives a damn whether the toilet paper goes under or over?
• Just because you can pee outside doesn't mean you should.
• Grabbing our ass or boobs as you walk by is not a turn on. I repeat, it is NOT a turn on.
• Grabbing our ass or boobs as you walk by is not foreplay.
• Grabbing our ass or boobs as you walk by is not a substitute for kissing or hugging. Trust me. If you can remember this, you will be a happy man.
• Men doing housework IS a turn on.
• Asking if we want to "fool around" does not translate to "I love you" to us. Sorry.
• Women are not pacifiers.
• Women are not gumball machines. We are slot machines. If you ever want to get lucky, you have to keep putting in quarters. (By the way, I made that up, and therefore if you quote me, I expect to be appropriately cited in accordance to current APA guidelines).
• Hooters girls are not entertainers. They are waitresses in push-up bras. They are only nice to you because they want a good tip. Don't ask us to go to Hooters.
• Please don't ask if your outfit matches unless you want to hear the truth.
• Unless you look like Brad Pitt, please don't expect us to look like Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Anniston.
• You don't look like Brad Pitt. Sorry.
• If you think I look fat or unattractive in my outfit, please tell me before we leave the house, not after we arrive at our destination.
• My job is as important as yours.
• Surfing the net is not a legitimate excuse for getting out of helping with whatever we ask for help with.
• We do not know "where the hell your clean underwear is".
• If you don't like tears, don't swear at us.
• Crying is not blackmail. If you don't like tears, don't make us cry.
• Most men can be replaced with 2 C batteries. Try to be one of the ones that can't be replaced. It makes it all worth it. :-)

Not beer or Oktoberfest related, but......

Speaking of Rules....

We always hear "the rules" from the female perspective, and now, for everyone's education, are some rules passed along from the male perspective.

Please note, these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

Feel free to comment and correct or amend any rule; especially you Paulaner Girl ! !

1. Women need to learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports.
It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport.
And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it.
That's what we do. Sympathy is what girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both.
If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color.
Pumpkin is also a fruit.
We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched.
We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or monster trucks.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape.
Round is a shape.

1. Men really don't mind sleeping on the couch after an argument.
It's like camping.

All Hail the Euro ! ! !

The Euro continues to decline against the Almight Dollar (or is more appropriate to say the Dollar Gains Against the Euro ! ! !). Yee Ha ! ! ! It closed today at $1.21 per Euro. If this trend continues, we may actually be able to afford to drink this year.

Check out the trend....

Time to Release the Rooms at Hotel Alfa?

While I enjoy being a travel agent and trip organizer (yeah right ! ! !), we still have a significant number of rooms available at the infamous Hotel Alfa. My plan is to cancel all of them July 1st. Any reason not to?

I know there is at least one other person who will not be mentioned that still says "I'm going", but hasn't committed. I'm not a babysitter, and if you can't commit after almost 6 months, the French would say "C'est la vie". I say, "tough shit".

Here's the latest "final" assignments.

Oktoberfester Field Trip report, Tokyo

Barleyman reporting in from Tokyo. No Barley malt in sight. All beer appears to be made from Rice. Hops in minimal quantities.

Any suggestions?

Tried Sapporo Black label last night. Reminded me of Carling Black Label (Mabel, Hey Mabel, Get off of the table, the quarter was for the beer!)

Seriously, anyone know of any Japanese beer worth drinking that I can only get here in country? I like Kirin and Asahi, but both are pretty bland.

News?!

I just read this in the news:

The Australian minister Grant McBride is trying to ban the Dutch beerbrand Shag. It's a beer from the Alfa brewery in Limburg The Netherlands. He said their slogan Fancy a Shag? is indecent. :?

Hope they don't ban shags in Australia. :)

Possible new Trip?

another good tip from
BARBUS Research Team Ltd
(Division of OJEMKBDZ Corp.)

New Research Beer Price at the Wies'n

The Barbus Research Team & Co Ltd (a division of OJEMKBDZ Corp.) has published their latest report on Beer prices at the Wiessen.
another good tip from
Barbus Research Team Ltd.
(a division of OJEMKBDZ Corp.)

Although the Euro is lower the Beer price is getting higher in 2005 at the Wies'n. An average of 2% is to be expected.

The report by Barbus Research Team & Co Ltd is an in-depth study on all Wies'n Beer Tents. Reasons for the Beer price raise is mainly caused by the Bush economics Policies resulting into higher grain prices.

A spokesman of The Barbus Research Team & Co Ltd (a division of OJEMKBDZ Corp.) said that the Wies'n Beer Tent owners expect even more raise following the Euro in reverse.

Grumpy's New Hotel Looks Convenient

I did some quick looking, and the new Marriott that Grumpy and Mrs. Grumpy will be staying at is only about a 15 mins. U-Bahn ride from the Hauptbahnhof. Just take the U6 and get off at Nordfriedhof, then a few minute walk to the hotel. (all caveats apply, please check your local listings)

See the map.

Herding Cats

Well all. We have a great group of people going to the O this year. More than we've ever had. I am going to enjoy the company of all who come. But. However. In contrast. I for one have no idea how to get consensus, coordination, or even congregation of people at the same place/same time. I'd enjoy other's thoughts on this. My personal take is somewhat c'est la vie, whatever, or shit happens - in other words I'm not going to worry about it too much. But. However. I am going to go. I am going to see the sights. I am going to the grounds. I am going to dinner. I am often going in the company of Mrs. EinFahrt. I am not particularly going to try and coordinate anybody. But. However. I am not going to wait around and be coordinated either. Discussion? Help? Advice?

Ramblings as the Wedding Approaches...

Nothing of any substance today, just sitting here bored, had a beer at lunch and waiting for a fellow hops aficionado to go do some samplings. So here are the top ten things on my mind at the moment...

1. Almost exactly 9 days from now the ceremony begins.
2. That event is followed by mass quantities of consumption.
3. The mass quantities will be to avoid the non-pleasantries expected through talking with the in-laws.
4. I see the Euro is steady, and maybe even declining slightly more.
5. All hail the Dutch election. It would have been more monumental had they not "followed the French".
6. Speaking of the French, why is it called a "French Kiss"? Who would want to do that to a Frenchman?
7. This picture is especially dedicated to Paulaner Girl and her favorite traveling companion from the 1997 trip.
8. Speaking of 1997, that was 8 years ago.
9. I was going to make this item two parts, but I will combine it into one... without looking, in what year was the "German Purity Law" established? The first question was going to be what is the law actually called? (answer: Reinheitsgebot). So now, what is the year it was established? Remember.... no looking.

and now, the 10th item on my mind.....
Why are you reading this instead of contributing to the Blog?

Oh... for extra credit... What does "Reinheitsgebot" really mean?

What does this all have to do with beer and Oktoberfest? I need beer and I'm looking forward to Oktoberfest. What more do you want?

What happened to the "Available to Trade" posting?

Title says it all.....

One of Our Own is Quoted on the BDG2M Site

That's right, as part of Chugger's field research, he posted a research report to the BDG2M web site. Check it out here.

In addition, be sure to read to kind words Larry has to say about this glorious Blog of ours.


Email Larry a "Thank You".

Wheat Beer festival...

Let's go hear.... Chugger, do you think you could drink this? On web site for Brewery in Kelheim.

Schedule for Sunday Oct. 2nd - Kloster Weltenburg

Your personal Travelagent has the following schedule:

Train www.db.de
München Hbf dep 07:49
Ingolstadt Hbf arr 08:56
Ingolstadt Hbf dep 09:05
Saal/Kelheim(Donau) arr 09:47

Boat http://www.renate.de/allgemein/plan_donau.htm
Kelheim dep 10.20

Keep Cheering for the Strengthening of the Dollar (or Weakening of the Euro)

Regardless of how you spin it, if the current trend continues, we will certainly have more buying power come trip time...

"The euro, which has lost about 3.2% since France voted resoundingly on Sunday to reject the EU constitution, fell below $1.22 late in U.S. trading for the first time in eight months."

Just two weeks ago while I was "over there", the exchange rate was $1.30; about 5% change. Keep up the good work everyone.

Reflecting on the Previous New Day Trip Post

If you have not read the details on the previous post, please do so before reading this.

All I want to say here is that the potential interim destination to get to Weltenburg, Regensburg, looks and sounds so much like Reagan's Burg, we can't pass it up.

Possible New Day Trip

I may have found a wonderful new day trip opportunity. Please check this out and post your little blogging fingers off.