After Further Review...

What is that on the bar with Alkoholische and Betrunken?

Blasphemy ! !

Oktoberfest Training

Barleyman, I know your in training however you might want to step up to bigger glasses.

Alkoholishe keeping Betrunken Company. A great wingman...

Betrunken In Training at Alkokolishe Pub.

Training... Round 2

Some good German beer..  Spaten Brau!

In Training

Start heavy, go light?  Double chocolate stout... I think I threw my back out.... :-P

What's The Next Milestone...

... that we should be tracking?

It is now less than 60 days to our meeting at the Hofbrauhaus, construction has begun, we have our plane tickets, we have our hotel reservations, and some poeple have their Lederhosen.  While day trips have been discussed, final planning and confirmation typically occurs "on site".

So....  What's next?

Maybe I need to head down to the Hofbrauhaus in Newport and do some training.  Or, since I'll be in the Pittsburgh area this weekend, maybe the Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh. 

Update from the absent front

After missing a few months from the blog, I am going to try and keep up with the group and post once or twice a week.

We just got my son's school schedule and are making flight arrangements around his classes. Will post travel arrangements once solidified. It's getting exciting and we are really looking forward to the trip. Now that I caught up (a bit) with the blog

1) As of right now, we will not be wearing leiderhosen.
2) I do have a valid US drivers license, but I don't really plan on driving much. Is this a mistake?
3) Aram and I are looking at making a few side trips and will listen to the group on where to go and what to do.
4) Do we need to purchase any tickets to any events/tents? Previously I was told not to, but not sure if that changed?
5) We have actually listened to the songs a few times so we can at least fake like we know what we are doing...Alice, who the F&$^ is Alice?
6) We will live vicariously through the single guys and our sons...say no more.
7) I asked the Dr. to prescribe some Fukitol for the trip, but he had never heard of it. It's probably only a European medication and not approved by the FDA. Does it have a different name? There might be a generic equivalent named DAMITOL, but don't know if it will have the same effect.

Sorry I've been absent...I'll try to be a better blogger.

International Drivers licenses

It is not recommended by German authorities, because a US IDP is not recognized in any way. To be allowed to drive in Germany as an American tourist ALL you'd ever need is your local state drivers license. To rent a car all you need is your state drivers license and a credit card.Isn't that just great!

Oide Wisen

Following the tremendous success of the historical part of the 2010 Oktoberfest, the organisers have decided to again have a "nostalgic" Oktoberfest on the southern part of Theresienwiese: Old rides, a especially traditional beer tent and the music and folklore singer tent "Zur Schönheitskönigin" ("the beauty queen"). In contrast to the free "normal" Oktoberfest, the "Oide Wiesn" does have an entrance fee of 3 Euros with children under 14 getting in free.

When in Rome?

The current number of this blogs participants wearing lederhosen to the Wies’n this year is only 3?

I tell you…

That current picture of the Wiesn warms my heart and makes me fell a bit parched.

How many?

What’s the attendance numbers looking like on your end? We have a total of 8 on our end. With only 2 of us who have ever been to Oktoberfest… Trying to convey to the others about the upcoming experience just falls so short of the mark. I can’t wait to see the newbie’s expressions when they enter a tent get their bier unwind a bit and party gets going. As I have said before “Its one of my best experiences ever!”

Wies'n

Finally they are starting the build up for Oktoberfest on the Wies'n...

Paging der Kubaner ! ! ! !

der Kubaner.....

It's been 5 months since you posted to the blog.  Are you still going to Oktoberfest? You were the first person to post to our blog who was not a member of our core Oktoberfestian team.  Since then, Betrunken and Alkoholische have become solid members of the blog.

Inquiring minds want to know.."Gehen Sie zu Oktoberfest?"

Nice Video, Nice Song, and Understandable

Any thoughts?

A couple of the guys going with us are single and I was wondering if there was a singles spot in Munich. I know such a thing is a combination of luck, timing, and how much bier that she has consumed, but I have always believed in location, location, location…

DAS IST MÜNCHEN

ıı ʇɹɐd ǝʞɐʇuı ɹǝıq ǝƃɐɹǝʌɐ

˙ɹǝıq ɟo sǝɹʇıl 01 - 8 ɟo ƃuıuǝʌǝ uɐ ɹǝʇɟɐ ʞool ʇɥƃıɯ plɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ʍoɥ ǝǝs oʇ uǝʞunɹʇǝq pǝʇuɐʍ ʇsnɾ

Road Trip to Frankfurt...

It's in Germany, they serve bier, and we can watch the U.S. Women win the World Cup!

Your average beer intake in Munich?

Just out of curiosity, about how many liters of beer do you guys typically drink during a wonderful day in Munich.. The reason I ask is because I tested my average bier consumption rate this past weekend and came out with just over 3 liters within a space of 5 hrs. I would also like to add that the next day I felt fine. It is possible for me to go overboard when on holiday so I see me at most taking in 4 or maybe 5 liters, with one or more being a Rattler…

Exchange Rates

By my calculations,  with the current rate at about 1.39696 dollars for each Euro,  a liter (Mass if you will) of beer at the fest will cost you $8.60 Euro or $12.00,  a savings over last week ($1.43 per Euro) of over $.31 per mass.  Or a penny an ounce.

 

I would say that is inconsequential,  except for the fact of the mass quantities (pun intended) that we tend to consume.

 

But in the final analysis,  well worth it.

 

Barleyman Spaketh

Current Events Discussion

I hesitate, knowing that BarleyMan may chastise me, but....

Will the discussion on the debt limit and spending cuts positively or adversely affect the Dollar to Euro exchange rate? 

Bottom line, will a Maß be more or less expensive?

Happy Birthday BarleyMan

Let's all raise our steins to my good friend, and promise to buy him one when we get to Munich !

Prost !

Happy Friday ... A Prescription for you

Happy Friday... Every one should take one of these when the board the plane to Munich...

Not tired and thirsty??

When all the beer tents on the Theresienwiese are closed, you can party til the break of dawn at the Wiesnzelt. Located in the Löwenbräu Keller on Stiglmaierplatz, this unique festival hall is not officially a "tent," and therefore not bound to the closing hours of the Oktoberfest. A great band and freshly drawn Wiesn beer from Löwenbräu create an original Oktoberfest atmosphere, making Das Wiesnzelt an excellent place to dance the night away. Open all night long during the Oktoberfest!

Hitler and Oktoberfest

Construction Schedule

From 18 July blocking the construction area on the WiesnTheresienwieseFrom 18 The official start of construction in July of gastronomicLarge companies (14 Festhallen)From 7 After the end of August Jakobidult (7.Aug.) AreThe city stands by and by and Untilbuilt on the WiesnFrom 16 August The medium-sized businesses (22) build on(Sausage, duck, chicken grill, coffee shops,etc.)From 22 August construction start-up businessesOn 29 August All performers are (by and by,since many are still hard at other places like. e.g. Rosenheim available)From 8 The September recipients own mast sites (Mandelbratereien,Souvenir sales, etc. to build) onFrom 8 September The city stands by the feedersobtained and givenFrom 14 September bread stalls are set upFrom 17 Oktoberfest beginning September

http://www.muenchen.de/cms/prod1/mde/_de/rubriken/Rathaus/65_raw/Tourismusamt/05_oktoberfest/of_2011_termine_auf_und_abbau.pdf

Alkoholische Family Gnome

He is also getting antsy and is ready for Oktoberfest...

Prost my friends!

Little American Oktoberfest vom 03. bis 10. Juli 2011 in der Waldwirtschaft

We should go!

Subject: Little American Oktoberfest vom 03. bis 10. Juli 2011 in der Waldwirtschaft

Wenn der Newsletter nicht richtigzeigt wird, klicken Sie hier.

Liebe(r) Herr Finlay, nach jahrelanger Pause holen wir das Deutsch-Amerikanische Kultfest wieder zurück - Little American Oktoberfest is back in der Waldwirtschaft Großhesselohe!   Echten American Fun erleben Sie beim Bull Riding, Lassowerfen, Stiefelzielwurf und Hufeisenweitwerfen - selbst Zuschauen macht hier eine Riesengaudi!   Dazu gibt`s direkt vom Holzkohlegrill saftige American Prime Steaks, American Burger, Baby Back Ribs, Main Lobster und original American Sweets, wie Marshmallows, Jelly Beans und Icecream. Und American Music von und mit Linda Jo Rizzo, The Trio Minarik, Kevin Henderson und Mel Canady, wochentags ab 12 Uhr, am Wochenende ab 11 Uhr. Bringt Eure Freunde mit und feiert bei original American Flair. Gerne reservieren wir auch im Biergarten einen Tisch. Frau Sonja Wolf freut sich über Ihren Anruf unter 089-74994030! See you at the Little American Oktoberfest!   Your host, THEMEN: 01 – Little American Oktoberfest 02 – Morgendanzl

Little American Oktoberfest is back- vom 03. bis 10. Juli 2011 in der Waldwirtschaft mit allem, was dazu gehört - American Food, American Fun, American Music. Gegrillt wird auf Holzkohle alles, was die amerikanische Küche hergibt - von American Prime Steaks, Baby Back Ribs und American Burgers bis hin zu original American Marshmallows. Dazu gibt`s Musik aus den USA mit exzellenten Live Bands, von Jazz bis Country, von Swing bis Rock `n` Roll mit einem Programm von und mit Linda Jo Rizzo. Probieren Sie auf unserer American Fun-Meile, wie lange es dauert bis ein wildgewordener Bulle Sie abwirft oder wie weit Sie einen Stiefel werfen können. See you at the Little American Oktoberfest!

Morgendanzl rund um d'Musi in der WaWi am Sonntag den 10. Juli 2011 ab 8:00 Uhr Wie in den vergangenen Jahren gibt´s in der Waldwirtschaft Großhesselohe - auch dieses Jahr ein morgendliches Tanzvergnügen. Es freut uns sehr, diesmal die Schreinergeiger zum Morgendanzl begrüßen zu dürfen, welche uns schwungvoll die Müdigkeit austreiben werden. Wie immer steht bei uns die Freude am Tanzen im Vordergrund. Alle Freunde/-innen des Volkstanzes werden ab 08:00 Uhr sicher voll auf ihre Kosten kommen! Achtung! Bei schlechtem Wetter verschieben wir das Morgendanzl auf Sonntag, den 24. Juli 2011, gleiche Zeit und gleicher Ort! Bei zweifelhafter Wetterlage ist ab Samstag, 09. Juli 2011 eine Telefonansage (089 74443863) geschaltet.

Impressum Waldwirtschaft Großhesselohe GmbH Georg-Kalb-Str. 3 82049 Pullach b. München Telefon +49 (0)89 - 74 99 40 30 | Fax +49 (0)89 - 74 99 40 39 Verantwortlich für den Inhalt: Waldwirtschaft Großhesselohe GmbH Ust-IdNr: DE 129490446 » e-Mail schreiben » Zur Website » Newsletter abbestellen

I say...

Have they started preparing for the Party already??

Just the thought of Betrunken nude ...

... gives me pause. I prefer this view of Englischer Garden:

When in Rome

I have come to the wonderful decision last night, after a few beers, to take excursion to and partake in the nude sunbathing in the Englischer Garten. It is something that is way out of character for me but I figure “What the hell, why not!!”… A nice way to spend the morning getting over a hangover and it would be the easiest thing to pack for. This is the plan anyway, I still may come up short on this adventure...

Oktoberfest beer prices to crack €9-mark

A litre of beer will for the first time top €9 at this year’s Oktoberfest, continuing a steady march upward in prices at the legendary Munich festival, the city announced on Tuesday.

Well, I think the German public would be more upset if they first converted there dollars into pennies and then bought a beer...]

This is the link to the above storie..

http://www.thelocal.de/society/20110607-35507.html

What do you think??

Getting ready to order my lederhosen!!! I need to order them early and get the hang of unbuttoning them while in a hurry…

90 Day Warning

We are now within 90 days of departure. Be warned!

Delta Upgrade for $80

Spent the extra $80 to upgrade to Comfort Class on Delta flight to AMS. Figured that I would need the rest before arriving. Free snacks... yum. Unfortunately, these are recently upgraded airliners, so SeatGuru doesn't have the configuration.

Got it bad!!

Man I got the Munich bug BAD!!! I find myself reviewing the BDG2M 5 beer rating scale and google mapping directions from the hotel and finding the best routs to take to get there and from there the next closest one.. So much beer so little time...

Happy Monday Everyone

Another Potential Oktoberfestian

Hopefully he will decide soon, but our good friend John "The B-Man" might make it. B-Man is not only our friend, and local radio celebrity (http://www.wtue.com/pages/BMAN.html) but also my son's father-in-law; what a connection !

Changes at Oktoberfest

Went looking for information on Oktoberfest and found this
(I am looking forward to seeing the last one listed!!)

2010 saw a lot of changes at the Oktoberfest.
The Winzerer Fahndl tent is new and the largest ever with a central serving area and beer pumped directly from the brewery
The Augustiner tent has a tower for the first time in decades
The Hippodrom has a new balcony
The waitresses in the Braurosl have new dirndls

I know, it's Bud LIght......

But it is a great commercial anyway. Wouldn't you just love this App on your phone?

First signs of life??

Is that the beginning of tent build up I see on the Wizen?

S-Ban to the Fest?

Do you guys usually take the S-Ban to the Fest or walk from the Alfa? And if you walk, how long does it take? Thanks...

General Plans

Let's start the discussion (for lack of anything better to do today), about our daily plans for this year.

• Friday
• As always, off to the Hofbrauhaus.  No better way to get things moving, have our "first" bier, and meet the new Oktoberfestians.  Late night at either Augustiner Keller, Shakespeare's or even the Wies'n.
• Saturday
• I believe Kloster Andechs is in order.  We didn't make it last time, and I felt as if I was in pergatory the entire past two years.  We need the religious experience to pay homage to the gods and monks for the glorious elixir.
• An attempt in the evening at Lowenbrau, Pschorr Bräurosl or Paulaner; or maybe the wine tent.
• Sunday
• Late morning through the afternoon at Augustiner Feste Halle
• Monday
• Name your poison.  A early trip to the Wies'n?  Another day trip to Weihenstephan?  Englischer Garten?  Viktualienmark?  So many places, so much bier, so little time.

Let the countdown continue.....
     

Renting a car in Munich

My buddies and I plan on going to Rothenburg ob der Tauber on the Saturday we are there. Should we reserve one in advance and if so is there any place you would recommend? I saw there we quite a few in the area.

Tickets Bought

Decided to save 100 bucks and leave earlier... so now land in AMS 1pm on the 21st, depart on Chuggers flight (same row!) on Tuesday.

Yea!

OH yea, sent in room deposit.

Lufthansa Airline tickts

They are going up fast!!! Another $100 per person from just a week ago. For ours it has gone up over $300 per person all together.. Man, I am glad we got ours when we did...

I hope this is a good trend !

The dollar is gaining ground on the Euro. This means our bier will be cheaper.

Another Oktoberfestian?

It appears we have another Oktoberfestian joining our ranks this year. While the details have not yet been ironed out, Frau Jane Lynch is planning to join us.

Jane is a veteran from the 2005 "Uber Trip", and will also be joining the pre-trip in Amsterdam; although going significantly earlier than the rest of us. She will be spending more time with Schlumbergerlady, Barbus and the new grandson (and future Oktoberfestian). Travel from Amsterdam to Munchen is still up for discussion. Some think that Jane and Schlumbergerlady travel by car, while Barbus joins the rest of the crew on the train. Only time will tell.

Frau Lynch is looking forward to meeting the "newbies", and we hope she begins to contribute to the blog soon.

Best Beer Commercial

San Diego Beer Fun Round Up

He Barleyman, is this your best kept secret?

Happy Place near the office

In the process of opening a block from my office. They were up in Carlsbad, now in Mira Mesa. Happy.

Green Flash Brewing Company

Check Out the New Format ! ! !

Well Oktoberfestians, I've spent most of the weekend upgrading the blog.  It hasn't been touched since our first post back in March of 2005.  This new format gives us Blog Meisters some additional flexibility and ease of use for making changes.

As with anything knew, there may be some hiccups, but that's probably from all the Maß I had while making the change.  Please let me know what you think, especially if it is good input.

Prost to All !

BarleyMan Woke Me Up

So be careful what you drink or say...

Activity on the grounds

Am I the only one to notice the trucks parked at the grounds... Are they really starting to construct the 'fest? Wow!

Our Flights Have Changed

Just happened to check the Delta web site today, and they changed our outgoing flight from Dayton.  We were flying to Minneapolis, and this change caused us to miss our flight to Amsterdam.  So I called, and we now fly through Detroit, and get to Amsterdam almost three hours earlier.  Yippee !!

So here's our new itinerary to Amsterdam:

Maybe this guy should make the trip?

He has this whole lent thing down... Click here

Wine Proverb

Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep well, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Therefore, drink wine and be saved.
-Medieval German Proverb

Makes sense, no?

At the Wine Tent

For some reason my web server (vozels.com) is not web serving very well, and I don't have the time (or inclination) to debug it at this point in time.  So, I give you BarleyMan and Einfahrt at The Wine Tent.

Something to think about...

A glass of wine

To my friends who enjoy a glass of wine..
And those who don't and are always
seen with a bottle of water in their hand.

As Ben Franklin said:
In wine there is wisdom,
In beer there is freedom,
In water there is bacteria.

In a number of carefully controlled trials, Scientists have demonstrated that if we drink
1 litre of water each day,
At the end of the year we would have absorbed More than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli) - bacteria Found in feces.
In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.

However,
We do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor) Because alcohol has to go through a purification process Of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

Remember:
Water = Poop,
Wine = Health
Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, Than to drink water and be full of $hit..

New Day trip?

Possible Day trip for 2011? Oldest brewery in the world...

Chugger's Score Card

From The BDG2M Store...

.......
Keith...
Sent from my BlackBerry (excuzz any spelling missteaks)
Language is about communication, not spelling.

Beer Halls?

I see you mention your "favorite beer halls" in the Oktoberfest Resource Page. Which might those be?? I have been going through the BDG2M and I have so many that I want to hit. A really great book. So glad I got it...

Spike in Catholic Church attendance

Getting OLD

I'm 40 yrs. old and my biggest fear is getting old..... Until I saw this photograph.

Just Because

I didn't have anything to say I just wanted to share..

One Woman Pleasing 12 Men

Runner-up

This was the Runner up to the offical logo for Oktoberfest 2011. I think I would have gone with this one myself. It has a certain something I just like...

Inside

.......
Keith...
Sent from my BlackBerry (excuzz any spelling missteaks)
Language is about communication, not spelling.

Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh

.......
Keith...
Sent from my BlackBerry (excuzz any spelling missteaks)
Language is about communication, not spelling.

In Pittsburgh Today

Hard to say that, being the Big Browns Fan I am. However, there will be good news.

Stopping at the Hofbrauhaus later. That will make all of the "official" ones.

Photos later.

.......
Keith...
Sent from my BlackBerry (excuzz any spelling missteaks)
Language is about communication, not spelling.

Oktoberfest ! Prost!

Happy St. Patrick's day!

Hope all my good Oktoberfest friends are tipping one to the man in green today!

I expect to see photos of 6am Green Donuts and Guinesses... ;-)

Beer Facts

Beer-o-logy

• Beer is the third most popular beverage in the world, comes right after tea and water.
• In the middle ages, monks who brewed beer were allowed to drink 5 quarts of beer per day. (That’s about 5.3 litres)
• The oldest written recipe ever known is beer.
• Beer is a staple food in Bavaria.
• Baking and brewing went together in the Medieval Period. This explains why women were called ale wives as they were the first European brewers.
• During the ancient Babylonia, a merchant could be put to death for diluting a beer.
• In Germany, there is a beer ice cream in popsicle form, but its alcohol content is lower than the classic beer.
• Beer is made by the fermentation caused by the bacteria feeding on yeast cells and defecating. The excrement from the bacteria is called alcohol.
• According to the World Book of Encyclopedia, people throughout the world consume about 30 billion gallons of beer annually. It continues to rise due to an increased amount of under-age drinkers and an increase in the variety of beers.
• Oktoberfest beer in the tents is only served full strength and in a 1 litre steins.

From the Airport

I have contacted the Alfa hotel to ask about complementary transport to and from the airport. They replied that there was a bus that stops every 20 minutes for 10.50 Euros per person that would take us to the hotel. The time we went we just used the underground train to get to the hotel. And as I remember it took a bit the get there. What do you guys usually take from the airport and why?

Best German Beer Joke

When looking up information on the best beer in Germany (what can I say I work for the Goverment) I came across this joke..

After work, all the brew masters from the Munich breweries sit together in a pub. Needless to say, each brewer orders beer from his own brand, i.e. the Löwenbräu guy orders Löwenbräu, the Hacker-Pschorr guy orders Hacker-Pschorr, and so on. Last one to go is the Augustiner guy. He orders a Coke. Everybody is stunned, asking - "why?" - "Well", he finally says with a wide grin, "if you are not ordering a beer, then I won't, too."

Beer Tent Line

What time do you guys suggest for getting in line for a seat at one of the beer tents to guarantee a place in the tent?

Hotel Alfa Bar

Alfa...

Hey I see the Alfa has “House Bar you may relax in a pleasant atmosphere; Open daily 24 hours”. Do they have someone serving alcohol 24hrs a day?

Betrunken and his family

Betrunken, his dad, mom, sister, and pregnant wife at family Oktoberfest party. German food, beer, music, tent and lights. about 70 people attended.

Betrunken and Alkoholische at the National Harbor Oktoberfest 2010. Fun but not Muchen...