Wilkommen to Starkbierfest!!! Held at Nockherberg beer garden in München, this lesser-known springtime cousin of Oktoberfest is a celebration of life like no other in the world. A few words and pictures could never do justice to the indescribably joyous experience of being there, but I will give it a try… Prost!
I had the privilege of being perhaps the only “tourist” there, courtesy of the invitation of my friend Frank (yes Frank) who lives in München. By the way, we are alternately called “Frank” and “the other Frank”, depending on the context. : )
The people are real…
The food is real…
The beer is real. Starkbier, which comes by the liter, is strong indeed (~7.5% alcohol) and too easy to drink because it tastes SO incredibly good…
The pretzels are real… and enormous…
The cameraderie and good-natured fun are real…
“Ein Prosit, ein Prosit, …
Der Gemütlichkeit!!!”
And nothing can compare to hundreds of tipsy gentlemen in lederhosen and ladies in dirndls standing on the benches, belting out John Denver’s “Country Roads” in English at the top of their lungs with a killer band… an absolutely joyous communion of humanity like no other!
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