Time to say Prost!
The Oktoberfest is all about celebrating beers from Bavaria
By : ernest d’souza
Update: 2014-09-28 00:46 GMT
Hyderabad: In the world of beer guzzlers, it does not get bigger than Oktoberfest. Yes, critics of the world’s largest funfair will have you know that the beer is inordinately expensive in this duration, but the overall experience of being in Germany’s Bavarian city of Munich, with more than six million people from around the world indulging in the best beer of the region, is truly unmatched.
The 16-day beer fest runs from late September right until the first weekend of October. This year, the festival commenced on September 20. Locally, the festival is called called Wiesn, after the colloquial name of the fairgrounds (Theresienwiese).
The beer was traditionally brewed all the way back in March, when the summer’s heat and rampant bacteria wouldn’t interfere with the brewing process. This beer, called Märzenbier (or simply Märzen), was typically higher in alcohol so it could last all summer. During October, the rest of the year’s beer was consumed to make room for a new year’s worth of beer.
Only beer conforming to the Bavarian Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot), and brewed within the city limits of Munich, can be served at the Oktoberfest. Beers meeting these criteria are designated Oktoberfest Beer and are often sold with that printed on the labels.
Only six breweries are allowed to participate in Oktoberfest, all brewing within the Munich city limits: Hofbräuhaus München, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, Paulaner Bräu, Löwenbräu, Hacker-Pschorr Bräu and Augustiner Bräu. Each brewery has a tent where only their beer is served.
The Oktoberfest beer is typically around 6 per cent ABV, far stronger and sweeter than typical German lager. As it is sweeter (by beer standards), people often mistake the beer to be milder, a misunderstanding that causes them to down the beer faster. This also leads to them drinking more than they can handle, causing dehydration and exhaustion.
The Germans, since they have much fun at this event, also have a name for people who pass out from a combination of inebriation and exhaustion: Bierleichen (German for “beer corpses”).
Needless to say, if and when you decide to attend the Oktoberfest, make sure you’re well hydrated. You don’t want to become a German laughing stock now, do you?