Bow Your Heads... A Sad Day for Dayton Beer Drinkers

It was announced yesterday (27 Jul 05) that our local and most beloved Micro Brewery, the Thirsty Dog, will no longer be brewing beer . The brewing equipment has been sold, and the brew room will become just another dining area for large groups.

We new something was in the air because management actually tried to sell the place to Einfahrt and Chugger twice. As recently as the past two months a partner is quoted as saying... "make me an offer and I'll push it through".

While we do not know when the final drop of on-site brewed beer will flow, we are sure a worldwide moment of silence would be appropriate as we down our last mug of Goldings Retriever, Wheat Weiler, Robinson' s Pale Ale and the signature brew.... Old Leghumper
.

Please raise your glasses, your mugs, and especially your Maß in honor of our loss. While they will still carry other microbrewed beers on tap, it will never be the same drinking a fresh one right from the premises. .

Training Before the New Oktoberfest Mug

New Standard Oktoberfest Beermugs 2005

Ziegfried von Stuebben ...............

Barbus & Schlumberger Lady out for vacation

Our dear Oktoberfest Visit Friends,
After a long year of hard working we believe we deserve a short vacation :). As a result we will be off-line from July 28 till August 20. The tour is planned through Germany, Switzerland and Italy (Rome). We will miss your postings, but promise we will get back to you by the end of August and inform you about our beer, sorry wine tastings.
Grtx, Barbus & SchlumbergerLady

Hotel Food

I have been worried about the restaurant and fanciness of the Excelsior and here's what I found out about the Hotel food. I am worried about a culture clash.
--------------
Michael Huesken
Executive Chef de Cuisine


Dear Barley Man,

I have worked as a Chef for the last 12 years, having gained expertise while working at several famous Parisian hotels. For the last three years I have been working at the neighbouring Hotel Konigshof's Michelin Star Restaurant and the Excelsior's Vinothek, known as one of the hottest spots in town.

My style is Mediterranean, using local and seasonal ingredients, so the menu changes every two weeks. We are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, offering a wide variety from Italian pasta dishes to new German specialities. We are famous for our wine list, with over 400 different brands, ranging from a wide variety of German and Austrian white wines to rare and old Bordeaux, many of them served by the glass. The Vinothek is very lively and has a fun and relaxed atmosphere and is always popular with locals.

Michael Huesken,
Executive Chef de Cuisine,
Hotel Excelsior, Munich

________

I then got a note on my request to the Hotel Alfa:

Ziegfried von Stuebben
Executive Chef de Cuisine


Dear Barley Man,

I have worked as a Cook for the last 47 years, having gained expertise while working at several famous Hauptbahnhof pizza stands. I pioneered the first Tuna Fish Pizza (served only past 11pm). For the last three years I have been working at the neighbouring Gryo To Go restaurant and the Alfa's premium breakfast buffet, known as one of the hottest spots in town.

My style is simple, using local and seasonal ingredients, so the menu changes every day. I buy what is cheap off the truck driven by a Hungarian gypsy that meanders through the streets looking for gullible customers. We are open seven days a week for breakfast, offering a wide variety from Italian pepperoni slices to new German specialities such as warm orange juice to Limburger cheese. We are famous for our coffee and dry toast. The Alfa is very lively and has a fun and relaxed atmosphere and is always popular with locals. The morning time is especially fun, as most guests are just trying to keep thier food down from a night of heavy drinking.

Ziegfried von Stuebben,
Executive Chef de Cuisine,
Hotel Alfa, Munich

Hotel Rooms

Chugger-

Anything we need to do prior to arriving in 60 some odd days? Send them our Name & Credit Card #?

What's the room rate anyway?

I did check out Grumpy's hotel.. looks very nice. The excelsior is magnificient. I think all of us are going to be too soft from this luxury. The roughness of the Alfa put an edge on that lasted all day. God forbid if the excelsior has Orange Juice that is not warm in the breakfast buffet. ;-) They may even have ICE at the bar.

Train Passes Revisited: Yes or No ?

I believe it is time for a final discussion/decision on whether we should get train passes or not. My current opinion is No. What do you think?

I base my opinion on the following...
A twin pass costs $135US per person. So, assuming my math is correct, that's about $270 for the passes. Now, those passes will provide unlimited Deutsche Bahn travel and S-Bahn travel around Munich (not the U-Bahn). Looking at our proposed trips, the only true Deutsche Bahn travel would be to Kloster Weltenburg. This is approximately 18.8 Euro per person each way. At an exchange rate of $1.25 per Euro, that is about $93 for two people round trip.

An U-bahn single day/all zone pass, with a partner is 16 Euro ($20). So, even if a pass was purchased for four days, that's another $80. Total expenditures for train travel approximately $173; saving $100 over the passes. Now, I know I've probably underestimated a few things, but even with that, it seems like the pay-as-you-go method works out better.

Let the discourse begin......

Munich Preparation Day Has Arrived ! ! !

Eight members of this year's team begin the long and arduous training tonight at the Hofbrauhaus in Newport, KY. Beer and pork fat to be consumed, and reports to be delivered as early as Friday.

Dangers of Drinking Beer

Chugger specially for you reading your last HofBrauHaus posting about "Babes in Deutschland".

Police are warning all men who frequent clubs, parties and local pubs to be alert and stay cautious when offered a drink from any woman.
Many females use a date rape drug on the market called "Beer". The drug is found in liquid form and available anywhere. It comes in bottles, cans, from taps and in large "kegs".
"Beer" is used by female sexual predators at parties and bars to persuade their male victims to go home and have sex with them.
A woman needs only to get a guy to consume a few units of "Beer" and then simply ask him home for no strings attached sex.
Men are rendered helpless against this approach. After several "Beers", men will often succumb to the desires to perform sexual acts on women whom they would never normally be attracted.
After drinking "Beer", men often awaken with only hazy memories of exactly what happened to them the night before, often with just a vague feeling that "something bad" occurred.
At other times, these unfortunate men are swindled out of their life's savings, in a familiar scam known as "a relationship." In extreme cases, the female may even be shrewd enough to entrap the unsuspecting male into a longer-term form of servitude and punishment referred to as "marriage".
Men are much more susceptible to this scam after "Beer" is administered and sex is offered by the predatory females.
Please forward this warning to every male you know. If you fall victim to this "Beer" and the women administering it, there are male support groups where you can discuss the details of your shocking encounter with similarly affected like-minded guys. For the support group nearest you, just look up "Golf Courses" in the phone book.

Some Thoughts as Munich Preparation Day Approaches

Unlike others, I have had the pleasure of sampling several (or should I say large quantities) of Hofbrauhaus brew in the last two months. Initially during the first week of May in Las Vegas I was able to consume the golden nectar at the Hofbrauhaus. One of those nights was with the pleasant company of BarleyMan. A few weeks later, I was also blessed with a three day visit to Munich, and actually stayed in the Hotel Platzl, right across from the Hofbrauhaus. Needless to say (but I will anyway), serious consumption was undertaken. I was even able to accomplish this with my traveling companions, the "Babes in Deustchland".



So, for you first timers, or at least for those of you that have not experienced a "Hofbrauhaus Moment" for some time, just remember....

1. "Ein Bier Bitte" will get you a bier. A litre that is!
2. Always visit a Hofbrauhaus with friends. If you cannot go with a friend, order "Ein Bier Bitte" and make some new friends.
3. Always document the occasion.
4. Your horrible singing voice will always sound great after a few biers, so please join in the singing. Especially if "Alice" is involved. (story to be told in person).
5. John Denver is the patron saint of German bier drinking. (another story to be told later).

Just that we know. Shopping !

When is Shopping ?

Shopaholics are in for a treat in Munich. The city's shops combine international names and designer goods with traditional Bavarian crafts. The main shopping areas are Neuhauserstrasse and Kaufingerstrasse, both lined with large department stores and international chains. Smaller, more exclusive boutiques can be found around Maximilianstrasse and Theatinerstrasse.

Fashion & Accessories, Shoes, Jewelries and Design.
René Lezard, Anne Fontaine, Louis Vuitton, Valentina & me, Bally, Burberry, Etro, Dolce & Gabbane, Gianfranco Ferre, Versace, Klamotte, Chanel Boutique, Tod’s, Hugo Boss, Prince of Wales, Hermes, Gucci, Unützer, Ralph Lauren, Bottega Veneta, Loro Piana, Escada Sport, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dior, Gil Sander, Petit Faune, Giorgio Armani, Wolford, Malo, Reiter, B&O, Mont Blanc, Rene Lezard, Jil Sander, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co, Loro Piana, Donaldson, Max Mara, Laurel, Georgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Hermes, Bogner, Longchamp.

Good News to Einfahrt !

Drink beer and lose weight
By Dr. GIFFORD-JONES

How would you like a doctor who says, "You must lose 40 pounds or you're headed for trouble! That means no more fancy desserts and other goodies. But I've got good news for you. You can have a pint of beer a day!" I'd wager this would make dieting more palatable. But it would raise the eyebrows of a few puritans. Dr. David Williams is a professor of chemistry at the Universioty of Wales. He reports in the journal Chemistry In Britain that a pint of beer a day can be part of a weight-loss program. He states that beer is 93% water, contains no sugars or fat and only low levels of additives. In fact, he says beer is the complete food because it contains carbohydrates, protein and vitamins. More .............. >


Beer and Fitness? Can It Be?
By Stew Smith - U.S. Naval Academy

I was asked an interesting question concerning drinking beer and exercising. It seems that a former Navy Radioman has developed quite a gut since retiring, and was curious about whether he should give up his beer to lose weight? Not only does the gentleman enjoy drinking about 2-4 beers daily, he also has quit exercising. Moderate beer consumption is actually healthy, so I set out to define "moderate" as well as educate on the basics of caloric intake and caloric expenditure. The radioman is not suffering from a beer belly but an INACTIVITY BELLY! Yes, you can still drink beer and be very fit. More...................>

Beer Pouring Technology At Its Best !

Nothing better than technology that pours beer fast and accurately. Even a Guiness in record setting time. Check out TurboTap, then see how it can pour Guiness quicker than you can drink it.

QuickTime Movie, or if you prefer, a Windows Media Player Movie.

I Think This Construction Looks Real ! ! !

While my previous post about the Wiesn transformation may have been premature, this visual evidence seems to prove that the tents are rising from the ashes of past Oktoberfests.

Oktoberfestvisits May Be Shut Down :-(

Well fellow Oktoberfestians, it seems that our blog may be caught in the "lack of use" category. Like many free internet services, it appears that if you don't use it, you may lose it. That's the case here.

I received a message from Blogspot (who is actually part of Google), that said our site is under review due to lack of activity. While they are dedicated to providing a mechanism for internet users to freely share ideas and thoughts, the resources required to maintain blogs that are not used creates a tremendous overhead. Therefore, unless our Blog experiences a significant increase in posting activity, it may be delegated to a "secondary support" category (whatever that means), or set as inactive.

So....... Assuming that this Blog is useful, fun, and more importantly a way to share our ideas and thoughts on this year's trip.... get your butts a bloggin'.

Munich Preparation Day Has Been Scheduled

Thursday, July 21st.... Mark your calendars.

The event: Eating and drinking training for Munich
The venue: Hofbrauhaus Newport (aka Cincinnati)
The time: Still to be determined
The attendees:
Einfarht, Mrs. Einfarht, Chugger, Designated Walker, Jane, Herr Dell, "Little John"

The event is open to the public. Litres of Beer and Pork fat will be available.

Come if you can.

Idyllwild Trip report

Hi everyone,

In our run-up to Oktoberfest, Paulaner Girl and I have been busy sampling brews, and low and behold, we found a spot of Nirvana.

Idyllwild is a small mountain town located about 85 miles North East of San Diego. It's a great town, full of good restaurants, bars, Antique shops, and great views of the mountains. We went hiking and camping. The climbing is great there too. Idyllwild is located on the west side of San Jacinto Peak, which is next to Palm springs. You may have seen the Tram that goes up to the top. People who go from the Idyllwild side climb up Devil's Slide.

A friend recommended a place called Motzart. It is just out side of town. The first time we stopped it was closed for a hour between dinner and lunch. But it looked promising.



The second time was the charm. And the featured bier of the restaurant is... Weltenburger Kloster Bier!



They had the Dunkel, so I partook of the fine brew, on a sunny afternoon in their Beer Garden. Superb.

This makes it required that we visit the fine monks... I give it 4 1/2 Steins!

Get the Humor Flowing ! ! !

This is in honor of our Scottish friends at the bachelor party at Augustiner Keller during our last trip.....

The Transformation of the Wiesn Has Begun ! ! !

Construction has begun. That means time is approaching.....



Check out the progress at the Web Cams...

Web Cams

It's Time for Some Humor ! !

... and since the posting of the Men's Rules caused such a stir, let's get things a little more irreverent. Post a picture of the strangest, funniest, most ridiculous item you have. I'll go first, and since I don't know if you can actually post a picture in the comments, just post the link to your picture.

Here's mine, and click it to make it bigger...