The 2022 Bier Immersion onslaught and Oktoberfest visit are in the history books. What will 2023 bring for our intrepid band of bier connoisseurs? Here's the countdown to the start of Oktoberfest 2023...

Visit Dave Finlay's Oktoberfest Resources site to learn more about our past visits, some history and interesting anecdotes.


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Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Change in Posting Method

Since we have begun to experience some SPAM posting (especially to BarleyMan's posts), I have enabled a new feature of the blog. This requires visual verification before a comment can be made. This ensures a person is posting, and still allows anonymous posts; we need to protect the ability for Herr Larry Hawthorne to visit our blog ! !

Anyway, check out the explanation here and let me know your thought...

Explanation of Verification

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Is Dayton Under Water?


How are things going in the land of Wilbur and Orville? Hope all is well....

Monday, August 29, 2005

Some bad news today...

You have to hand it to the French... they really suck.


The Associated Press Monday, August 29, 2005; 11:00 PM PARIS, France

Lance Armstrong's record setting seventh Tour de France victory, along with his entire Tour de France legacy, may be tarnished by what could turn out to be one of the greatest sports scandals of all time Armstrong is being quizzed by French police after three banned substances were found in his South France hotel room while on vacation after winning the 2005 Tour de France.
The three substances found were toothpaste, deodorant, and soap which have been banned by French authorities for over 75 years. Armstrong's girlfriend and American rocker Sheryl Crowe is quoted as saying "we use them every day in America, so we naturally thought they'd be ok throughout Europe."

Along with these three banned substances, French authorities also physically searched Armstrong himself and found several other interesting items that they have never seen before, including a backbone and testicles.

Our Tour Guide !!


The one and only !!
Herr Chugger von Hier bis Weltenburg.

Weltenburg Bus Trip is Confirmed!

The trip to Weltenburg, via a bus to Kelheim, then boat ride to Weltenburg is finalized. The bus will pick us up at 8:00 on Sunday, October 2nd. Right now, the plan is to be back in Munch at approximately 17:10; negotiable, but probably only earlier not later.

After the comments of BarleyMan concerning the "Tour Guide", I did take it upon myself to arrange for our own personal, English speaking guide...

Time Is Approaching

Well fellow Oktoberfestians, that side show of political discourse was fun, refreshing, and even a bit disheartening. However, we can pursue further discussions in person, back to the topic of bier ! ! !

As I pen this (electronically speaking, of course), it is now less than 30 days until the first arrivals in Munchen. Who would have thought back in January that the day would be so close. Plans are unfolding, a Munich Training Day was had, and most day trips seem to be agreed to. What more could we ask for?

With regards to day trips, the trip to Kloster Weltenburg will certainly be unique in our travels... all these people... a charterd bus... almost like a real tour. If you haven't responded yet to my email about going on Saturday instead of Sunday, please let me know.

While this event almost seems to be over-planned, I look forward to the ad hoc "screw it, let's go here" attitude. Maybe we can plan something, and the original '93 Oktoberfestians can just sit back, relax and have a brew!

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Bavarian Dining

From Fodor's:
Munich claims to be Germany's gourmet capital, and it certainly has an inordinate number of ritzy French restaurants. However, genuine Munich cuisine is to be experienced in those rustic places that serve simple, robust Bavarian specialties in ample portions. The city's renowned beer and wine restaurants offer superb atmosphere, low prices, and as much wholesome German food as you could want.

Typical dishes include Tellerfleisch, boiled beef with freshly grated horseradish and boiled potatoes on the side, served on wooden plates (there is a similar dish called Tafelspitz). Among roasts, sauerbraten (beef) and Schweinebraten (roast pork) are accompanied by dumplings and sauerkraut. Hax'n (ham hocks) are roasted until they're crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. They are served with sauerkraut and potato puree. Game in season (venison or boar, for instance) and duck are served with potato dumplings and red cabbage. As for fish, the region has not only excellent trout, served either smoked as an hors d'oeuvre or fried or boiled as an entrée, but also the perchlike Rencke from Lake Starnberg.




Food choices are good in Munich. We'll have a variety of international restaurants from which to choose. German cuisine is also good. The most local of foods are Bavarian. I'm up for at least one night's dining to be somehwere locals would go for traditional Bavarian.

Shameless Plug for a Movie




Last night my friends and I got together with the Producer and the Director of the movie 'Blowing Smoke". We spent the evening eating, drinking, and smoking great cigars. I woke up at 6 this morning on a couch in my friends back yard. That's how much fun it was.

This is a guy flick, and definately worth the $15 for the DVD. I highly recommend that you go to the link below and buy it, get together to watch it, and tell your friends.

Einfahrt... You need to make sure Rang and Denny are there.

http://store.blowingsmokethemovie.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=34

Back To Beer - Hofbrauhaus !




Our daughter Charlot and friend were in Hofbrauhaus only 4 weeks ago. I was greatfull to see the pictures which I like to share with you.

Intelligent Design II

I love it when a plan comes together...

Friday, August 26, 2005

Intelligent Design

So let's see....

1st. Our economy is staggering under a deficit like never before, and spiraling housing and gas prices.

2nd. Our military is overextended in far reaching empire building.


So now... we have the Conservatives trying to sell us that Intelligent Design belongs in Science classes in our schools.

Shouldn't we be investing in our kids education to compete on a global scale? Can't wait to hear the Nobel prize offered for "Voodoo Science".

Leave Sunday School to Sunday.

Camp Casey

While I'm not one to pick on a mother who has lost a son, and lord knows stirring up more left vs. right wing rhetoric is the last thing we need, I thought I would offer some thoughts that might bring some added excitement to our blog. Who knows, it might even get us on a list that brings more visitors.

Mostly rhetorical questions to follow, but opine if you like...

Why does everyone say Bush lied about WMD? Ok, we now know that he (and everyone else by the way) was wrong about WMD. Just because you are wrong doesn't mean you lied. Even Teddy "Give me another Drink" Kennedy and John "Reporting for Duty" Kerry acknowledged there were WMDs.

What does Cindy Sheehan really expect to accomplish by meeting with Bush? She's set in her mind and he in his; one will not change the other. He met with her once, and she was thankful then. While I certainly do not believe the President is "holier than thou", I think he probably has more pressing things to do than to meet with everyone who demands to see him. Ok, this is different, but where do you draw the line?

When does Michael Moore's (yuck, I didn't think I would ever type that) Camp Casey movie debut?

I'm certainly tired of all the do gooders complaining about Bush "stealing their sons and sending them off to die". Last time I looked, this was still a volunteer military.

While I believe Cindy Sheehan started her vigil with the best of intentions, she has now gotten caufght up in the left-wing, kool-aid drinking, Kerry got more votes than any other candidate in history B.S.

And finally, August is typically a slow news month, as evidenced by even the lack of Natalie Holloway news. Maybe in five days the focus of all this blather will change. Who knows, I'm almost longing to hear about Michael Jackson again.

I'm Absent One Day and...

you guys let everything go to Hell. First, the wrath of God is threatening the holy elixor. We are so lucky our favorite monks treasure their beer as much as we do and have contingency plans to protect the glorious nectar. Secondly, it appears BarleyMan created a post that attracted SPAM advertising comments; good work BarleyMan, just what we need.

So, can we get back to normal? Or is that something impossible to expect? Of course, as we all know, normal is relative with this crew.

Prost !

Weltenburg in the News (with Video)

Reuters... Hold steady Brother Benedikt
In southern Germany, a 28-year-old man drowned when he ventured out with two friends in a dinghy which capsized on the River Mangfall near the town of Feldkirchen-Westerham.
He was Germany's first victim of the floods, which have turned regions of Bavaria into disaster zones.
At the Benedictine abbey of Weltenburg, Bavaria's oldest monastery, monks were forced to take safety in upper floors.
"It's a war of nerves," one monk, Brother Benedikt, told Reuters Television.

The Guardian.... Go Go Gerhardt Go!
With just over three and a half weeks until Germans go to the polls, Mr Schröder stopped off in the Bavarian city of Augsburg. As the Danube continued to rise, and water even started seeping into the basement of Bavaria's famous Weltenburg monastery, the chancellor promised generous assistance. "We have to show solidarity with those affected," he said.
The village of Staubing, near Regensburg, was largely under water. In the nearby medieval monastery of Weltenburg, visited by half a million tourists each year, the prior, Father Benedikt, told Spiegel magazine: "We have been inundated. The water keeps coming into our rooms."

iol (SA)... Quit wining and start brewing Benedikt (promoted to Father)
Water levels were falling on Thursday in the tributaries of the Danube in Germany, and officials were hopeful that the cities of Ingolstadt and Regensburg would avoid serious damage.
However, the river flooded part of the south-eastern town of Kelheim, including its Weltenburg monastery, founded in the seventh century and described as the oldest in Bavaria.
The ground floor of the Benedictine monastery, which draws 500 000 visitors a year, was submerged early on Thursday, said Father Benedikt, the monastery's prior.

MSNBC... ALL HAIL FATHER THOMAS!! YOU ROCK!

But then— finally— prayers seemed to be answered.

At 4 p.m., the Danube river peaked at just over 24 feet, not enough to trigger a disaster. But no one here pretends to know what this abnormal weather will do next, least of all, Father Thomas, who has more earthly concerns: like, re-opening the beer garden.
“The flood will not enter the brewery so the beer will have the same quality!” he says.
And even if the forecast calls for rain, the priceless art, and the beer are safe — for now.

(Best Article & Video http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9077650/)

Thursday, August 25, 2005

KLOSTER WELTENBURG latest news .....




Weltenburg, Previous High water marks


Fear not Oktoberfestians, the good Monks have preserved the beer before as evidenced by this photo:


(And I was worried.... sheesh!)


http://www.erik.org/photogallery/Weltenburg/D30_2269.jpg

BREAKING NEWS! .....FLOOD in WELTENBURG...














The flood which the last few days hits Austria, Switzerland and the South of Germany, now has reached WELTENBURG and KELHEIM. I have not been able to get pictures of the Kloster, but people mentioned the water reached the first floorlevel. All monks work hard to stop the beerbarrels swimming the Donau. Here you see the stricken area and pictures of the Weltenburg village. More news in the next bulletin.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Hotel Charge is Calling


The Excelsior Hotel policy requires an upfront credit card charge for the rooms we booked.
So far all has been booked (and guaranteed) by my “poor” credit card account :).
Now that charging time is called (August 30), I believe it is wise that all individuals send in their card information.
It saves a lot of calculation and currency loss afterwards.
And secondly it will not alarm VISA when suddenly Excelsior charges my account for more than € 8000,00.
Please fill in a.s.a.p (before August 28) the emailed attached document and fax it to the Excelsior Hotel. Please note the charge is € 210,00 p/room p/night (no breakfast included).

What Do You Think???

Are these a required element of apparel for our trip?

Now There's Some Head !

Monday, August 22, 2005

Proposed Trip to Weltenburg

For those of you reading this blog, you know that we have a proposed trip to Kloster Weltenburg on our agenda. While this seems like a great place to visit, getting there is a bit of a challenge. In addition, it even breaks our rule of a 2 hour or less trip. Nonetheless, it certainly seems well worth it. With that said, please reference this Web Page for a proposed itinerary for getting there. If you have any issues, problems or suggestions, let them be known and/or figure out a better way.

Prosit!

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Back, but what a mess !

We have been three weeks off-line and see what happened;

  • Bavaria's buxom barmaids could be forced to cover up
  • Chuggers starts a Trivia but is still in the closet
  • Einfahrt abuses the Pope
  • Barleyman and Paulaner Girl addicting to the Orthodox Church
  • Grumpy still doesn't know what train tickets to buy
  • The Thirsty Dog has been sold

What did we miss ?

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Deckels, deckels everywhere

OK. We're in Germany. We're sitting in a bier hall. Our Weisen, helles, lager, or pilzen is finally brought to our table. The dirndl-dressed help whacks Chugger on the head. Why?

'Cause he's playing with the deckels. Again. He won't leave them alone. From the second he sat down, he picked up the stack of deckels and has been shuffling, flipping, and passing them from hand to hand.

If we want our bier, we'll have to get Chugger to remember to put the things down for us to be served our biers.

So, a little on the humble deckel. The deckel was first intended to keep flies out of one's bier. Then it became the annoying thing that stuck to the bottom of one's condensation-moistened bier glass. Now its an article of post-modern art. A sort of Andy Warhol commercial art thing.

This week's edition of Der Spiegel has a few things to add. Here's a slideshow collection. Finally, there are games - drinking games - to be played with the things. All-in-all deckels will provide some distraction for us while we are there. While we are waiting for our dirndl-dressed bier provider to whack Chugger's head.

OK, I Couldn't Wait... Logo Challenge #3

This is a two part question, and by definition, if you get the first part, you also get the second part. However, you can get the second part without getting the first part. Follow that?

Come on troops, the game now seems to be "Beat BarleyMan".

Part 1.
Name the years.

Part 2.
Which logo came first?



Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Logo Trivia #2

Ok, the first was almost a "gimmee" in celebration of the first excursion to the land of brew. While this next one raises the bar just a bit, it is still rather easy. Who will beat BarleyMan to the punch?

Monday, August 15, 2005

A Trivia Challenge

As we count down the final days before departure, it is time to test your Oktoberfest Logo knowledge. This is the first in a series of "Name That Logo Year"! ! !

The Grand Oktoberfestian will publish a picture of a logo, and the first to identify the year of that logo gets a point. The highest point total prior to departure will win. Don't ask what the prize will be, it has yet to be determined. But be assured will certainly be related in one way, shape or form to beer. Some of the logos are from years we have attended (ah, who saved their mug?), and others will not.
Disclaimer.... the logos are small, and the words not very readable on some. This is 1) good so you cannot read the year and 2) good since they all say the same, it is really the logo that is different.

So, let the challenge begin. Name the year of this logo....


Friday, August 12, 2005

This is Wrong in so Many Ways



The new pope is, well, Catholic; but also German.



From Prof Bainbridge, through Instapundit.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Hear Yee - Hear Yee - Hear Yee ! ! !

All rise and pay honor and tribute to the most recent appointments to the Royal Court of Oktoberfestians.

The Honorable Sir Barleyman, First Duke of Dunkle and his consort, Paulaner Girl, Dutchess of Brew.

Attendance Barometer for Our Visit Times

This is the current crowd forecast for the Oktoberfest days. I have marked out the days we will not be there.





Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Responsibilities Being Assigned

Since every excursion requires key contributions from select people, it is time to apportion out some of those responsibilities. The first responsibility is ensuring that people get where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be. This is most important on the first day, and even more important for "newbies". Typically a veteran is assigned to a rookie to watch out for the unexpected and to guide that rookie through the trials and tribulations that can occur. So, as the self appointed Grand Oktoberfestian of this year's trip, after in-depth consultations with others more knowing and exulted, I make the following proclamation...

... Whereas the first veteran is scheduled to arrive in Munich at 9:50AM on UA #906, and

... Whereas the next contingent of Oktoberfestians, including three "newbies" is scheduled to arrive in Munich at 10:35AM on US #14,

... It is now proclaimed that.....

BarleyMan, the first of the aforementioned veteran Oktoberfestians is the first arrival in Munich and is hereby assigned the ultimate responsibility to ensure the first day's "newbies" arrive on time and safely. This responsibility includes directing the sojourn through the maze of the Munich U-Bahn/S-Bahn. In addition, this responsibility requires ensuring that the first Oktoberfest Brew (or any liquid with a head) is available to the Grand Oktoberfestian and his court as they arrive at the appointed Oktoberfestian Residence (aka the freakin' hotel). This entrance is expected to occur at approximately 13:15, depending on the cooperation of Delta Airlines and Air France.

After pleasantries are exchanged and initial brews are sampled, it is then off to the promised land to explore the limits of our livers and bladders.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Top 10 Thoughts as Arrival Day Approaches...

Please extend the list if you deem appropriate:

1. Will there be sufficient brew to accommodate our requirements?
2. Will any of our Oktoberfestians cancel out at the last moment?
3. How many Dirndls must we investigate?
4. Will not getting a train pass actually save us money?
5. How will we handle the inconvenience of not being close to the Giro Stand?
6. Will this be our last visit to Oktoberfest?
7. Will a group of this many Oktoberfesters resemble the EDS Cat Hurding commercial?
8. Will Einfahrt go shopping?
9. Will everyone arrive on time, as scheduled?
10. What if we get bored?

and the bonus thought of the day...
Really now, Who the Fuck is Alice anyway?

Recommendation

I reviewed Chuggers recommended Day Trip brochure. I found it to be a fine document worthy of an MBA. I have also taken count of the bier gardens. Here's a list:


- Englischer Garden (Seehaus, Chinese Turm)
- Hofbrauhaus
- Weis'n
- Kloster Weltenburg
- Kloster Andechs
- Braustuberl-Zieglerkeller Dachau
- Braustuberl Tegersee

We definately need to backfill the agenda with some additional beer halls...

Recommended (2 old, 1 new)

- Augustiner Keller
- Place with the huge trees, music, and fun time (see picture of Einfahrt in previous post)
- Augustiner Grossgaststatte
- On Karlplatz, near the HofBrau. Good if we can't make it that long without a beer
- Forschungsbrauerei
- A new place which is a highly regarded experimental brewery.
- http://www.forschungsbrauerei.de/tradition.html

I strongly recommend we continue to keep the agenda fresh. I will never forget our first time at WaWi. What a magical place it was.

Monday, August 08, 2005

Master of Beer Appreciation

The latest Master of Beer Appreciation is honored....

A Matter of Balance

Your political reporter continues his series investigating the proposed EU regulation - Optical Radiation Directive. Brussels regulators are taking some heat. Oktoberfest officials: " [...] which habitually attracts more than six million visitors a year, were particularly angry at the proposed ban. "This is an attack on the traditions of a region," said a spokesman."

The researchers who talk to barmaids (interesting job there) for their information report: "I have spoken to lots of waitresses and none of them have told me that sunburn in the décolleté area has ever been a problem."


Luckily the jugs are ignoring the kerfuffle.

Your intrepid reporter - delivering the news that matters - fair and balanced.

Sunday, August 07, 2005

What Happened Did You All Leave Early?

I am beginning to think you people ALL decided to go to the Fest early or else you are all in Japan, Switzerland, San Diego or whatever. I STILL need to know whether I need to get train tickets; oh wise ones. Based upon being at the Marriott and also since we might take some trips. I DON"T KNOW WHAT TRIPS OR WHERE! This is your chance to tell me "where to go " and how to get there.

Happy Day

Friday, August 05, 2005

Nice Jugs Indeed ! !

While they are not as impressive as the jugs discussed in the article about the Dirndls, these jugs are nonetheless impressive...

God bless the delivery man.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Proof That You Can Sleep While Standing ! !

Optical Radiation Directive


According to Der Spiegel:
The potentially dull-sounding EU "Optical Radiation Directive" has got British tabloid The Sun in near hysteria today, as the paper fears it will lead to the end of the traditional English busty barmaid. According to the paper, the directive will ban barmaids "from wearing low-cut tops" as "barmaids run a skin cancer risk if they expose themselves to the sun when they go outside to collect glasses." The paper's ire was roused by recent reports that waitresses at the Munich's famous Oktoberfest would be forced by the directive to cover a little more cleavage. Waitresses at the festival wear the traditional 'dirndl' dress which accentuates the bust line and carry drinks to tables in the summer sunshine. In response to rumours that the dress would be outlawed by the directive, Munich's mayor threatened never again to go into a beer garden in the city if the dirndl was done away with.

Luckily the caption for the picture says: "Don't worry, nobody is going to stop you looking at their jugs."

Whew!

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

I Know This Blog is PG-Rated, but......

Who's hand is that up the Beer Babe's dress?

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Brew Trip report - Israel


I recently returned from Israel, where I enjoyed the hospitality immensly. There was generally good beer to be found, including the local brews, Goldstar and Maccabi. Both are great to drink in the heat. There is another beverage called Malty which is non-alcoholic, and very sweet, like wirt. Yuch.

Tel Aviv is a great party town, with bars & beaches galore, great restaurants. Here's a photo of yours truly enjoying a Weinhenstephan, from the oldest brewery in the world (729 AD). Good brew, good times.... gearing up for the big one in 57 days!

Be Careful at Oktoberfest... the results of too much beer!

Monday, August 01, 2005

Find an Oktoberfestian ! ! !

With only 57 days until arrival, activity is increasing both locally and at the Wiesn. It is even more appropriate now to continue our discussions, get more serious, get less serious, and just plain communicate. You never know who may be watching. And speaking of watching, there are Oktoberfest Police everywhere. Can you find the Traveling Oktoberfester amongst some of Munich's finest?