Munich: Starkbierfest 2014

Wilkommen to Starkbierfest!!!

Celebrated at the 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.

Frank… and the other Frank!
The beer is real… (and super strong, thus the name Starkbier!)…
The food is real…
The pretzels are real (fresh and enormous!)…
The people are real…
The comaraderie is real…
The good-natured fun is real…
The dancing is 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!