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Munich’s Starkbierfest: like a tavern, only bigger

by jul on March 4th, 2008

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In honor of Tavern Day, here’s a little post about drinking in Munich. (I know what you’re thinking… “There’s drinking in Munich ?” I was shocked, too.)

This weekend we partook of the annual Munich Strong Beer Festival (or Starkbierfest), a fabulous Bavarian tradition. Each year for a few weeks during Lent, the local breweries open their banquet halls and cellars for this festival celebrating Starkbier - a heavy, sweet, dark brew thought up by fasting monks who wanted some nourishment (but weren’t so interested in sobriety). These days each brewery produces its own brand of Starkbier, with names that usually end in -ator (eg. Salvator, Triumphator, Unimator…).

I’m a big advocate of off-season travel, and here’s yet another example of why. Although a much smaller scale than Oktoberfest, the Starkbierfest is a great way to experience drunken Bavarian revelry. There’s live music, large beers (only served in 1-liter krugs), traditional food, and a big crowd of revelers dancing on long wooden benches. Not to mention the adorable Dirndls and Lederhosen worn by locals and visitors alike.

Munich’s most well-known Starkbierfest takes place at the Paulaner brewery at Nockherberg, but there are several others, too, including the Löwenbräukeller and Augustiner-Keller, all of which are easily reachable by public transportation. Here’s a listing (in German, but pretty easy to understand).

[see also: my post about our trip to the Starkbierfest on my personal blog for more photos and fun]

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POSTED IN: Culture, Germany, Holidays and celebrations

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