Category: Activities & Places

 

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Munich is known for its beautiful sights and scenes, one of the most popular cities in Germany. What makes it more famous to over six million people across the globe is its yearly beer festival called the Oktoberfest. I was lucky to visit Munich Last September 2018 with a close friend who had German relatives. As the event was fast-approaching, I could not explain the growing anxiety inside me. I had a lot of expectations about the festival, and at the same time, I was afraid I’d be so drunk that I won’t even last a day!

Then when the first day came, I just could not contain my excitement and my fear. As I saw women in white dresses and aprons all made up, and groovy men wearing suspenders with a beer in hand, I knew I had to survive. This was the biggest fair that I was yet to attend. The first day became several days and a taste of the best flavors of Germany. And as the festival was ending, I realized that not all of my expectations turned out to be a match to what happens at Oktoberfest.

Expectation Vs. Reality

If you’re a lover of beers who had dreamt of the Oktoberfest even before you were permitted to drink, you would have also imagined what would happen when you attend something like one of the biggest beer festivals in the world. But news flash – there are some things you thought that you wouldn’t know unless you were actually there. Here’s my list of what I thought the beer festival would entail versus what it really was.

Expectation 1. Of course, Oktoberfest begins in October.

Nope! It starts in September and ends in the early weeks of October. The beer fest is a representation of royal matrimony that happened in October of 1810. However, as the event was celebrated, it progressed into a two-week affair with the city customs and traditions beginning earlier so that the locals and the tourists can witness the changing of the weather.

Expectation 2. It’s going to be a dry season so it’ll all be tank tops for me.

Nope! Despite the festival happening in fall where the weather is expected to be dry and warm, temperatures in Germany drop low at times with a few rain showers after the summer months. So you better bring along your jacket or coat.

Expectation 3. It’s okay to ‘dress down’ all the time.

Nope! Munich knows a lot about fashion, and the adults make sure their kids will rock their dresses. You have got to get your traditional Bavarian costume ready, dress up, or don’t go to the festival at all.

Source: hickerphoto.com

Expectation 4. There’s No Call Time So You Can Get In Anytime.

Nope! The festival has prepared several tents that open at 10 in the morning – so there is call time. Plus, the lines are long, and they start at 7 AM. If you’re planning to visit the most popular tents for that day, you’ll need to wake up earlier than usual to save you an hour or two of waiting rather than drinking already.

Expectation 5. You’ll be the last man standing because you can party all night.

Nope! First, it is so difficult to drink successive glasses of beer while walking around the tents all day. You’ll be drained physically and mentally (I was!). Second, and the most obvious reason why you can’t do it all night long, is because all the days of the two-week event always end at midnight! So you don’t have to consume a lot of energy drinks. Take a rest, please. Tomorrow is another day.

Expectation 6. There’s nothing else you’ll do but drink beer.

Nope! Much as you want to believe that the beer fest is just all about beer, it’s not. There’s a range of delectable German cuisine served around the different tents, and you’ll see waitresses bringing oversized bratwurst and pretzels on their trays. In the evening, you can check out the exciting festival rides that are decorated with beautiful lights. But perhaps you can do that when you’re not drunk!

Expectation 7. You’re used to beer, and you can manage your beer drinking.

Nope! Don’t be so sure, because the fact is that German beer is a lot stronger than our usual Bud Light. Also, the beers served during Oktoberfest are made extra special – or stronger – just for the festival. So if you think you can handle it because you are a beer drinker, think again. Or else panic attacks and anxiety after drinking will just visit you, and you can’t finish the whole event!

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Expectation 8. It’ll be the grandest time of your life.

Hmm. Perhaps you might lose your watch in one of your drunken days, or spoil your best shirt with your puke, or maybe spend more cash than you planned, but this I will agree – you’ll have the grandest time of your life.

In case the ending of Oktoberfest upsets you too much, or you have other worries in life, you should know that BetterHelp is only one chat, text, or call away. Try to reach them for psychological advice whenever you need to.

 

 

 

Moscow mule is a type of cocktail drink that friends and members of the family can enjoy. It was invented in the early 1940s by John A. Morgan of The Cock and Bull restaurant in Hollywood, Rudolph Kunett of Pierre Smirnoff, and John G. Martin, the owner of the G.F. Heublein Brothers, Incorporated. Its first production occurred in Chatham Hotel, New York as a result of the trio’s experimentation when they have mixed their primary products – ginger beer and vodka – with a lemon. Success has come to them since the initial taste test, and the beverage has been introduced to a lot of bars and clubs in the United States afterward.

Nevertheless, Moscow mule’s story does not merely end with a happily ever after. Meaning, not all consumers felt contented with the classic blend of the drink, considering they have come up with various additional ingredients to enhance its flavor.

Below are the six best Moscow mule recipes.

Mint Mule

The #1 concoction on the list has mint in it. Similar with any beverage or food that consists of this herb, it adds a refreshing flavor to the drink.

Ingredients:

70 mL of vodka
70 mL of ginger beer
30 mL of lime extract
20 mL of maple syrup
Mint ice cubes

Instructions:

Start by preparing the mint ice cubes. While boiling a cup of water, chop a handful of fresh mint leaves and combine with a ¼ cup of sugar. Once you have the hot water, drop the dry mixture into it and don’t stop mixing until all the sugar granules are gone. Allow this flavor to combine with the water before you strain it and pour onto the ice tray.

When the mint ice cubes are ready, get them from the fridge and add to the liquid blend. Once the ice melts, the distinct taste of the herb will also fuse into the drink.

Pear Mule

Liking beverages with alcohol do not mean that you cannot look after your well-being. Since every individual on the planet requires a high amount of fiber in their diet, there is a variation of this cocktail that can aid you with that – the pear mule. Among the nutrients one can obtain from the fruit are vitamins B, K, and C, which are responsible for strengthening your immune and nervous systems.

Ingredients:

150 mL of ginger beer
30 mL of vodka
15 mL of lime extract
¼ ripened pear

Instructions:

Dice the pear finely to let most of its juices out. After that, pour in the lime extract, vodka, and five pieces of ice. You may or may not remove the crushed pear when you serve the beverage to add extra texture to it.

Healthy Mule

Some of the best Moscow mule recipes sometimes have ingredients which you may only expect to see in a garden salad or on your face, helping you rejuvenate your skin. A great example of that is the healthy mule, which contains cucumber and berries of your choice (read further here: verywellfamily and bounty)

Ingredients:

100 mL of ginger beer
60 mL of vodka
20 mL of lime extract
10 mL of water
5 rounded cuts of cucumber
20 mL of crushed blueberries (or any berry)

Instructions:

Thinly slice the cucumber before letting it sit with the crushed berries at the bottom of a shaker. This way, their juices will infuse with the other ingredients longer. Add the remaining liquids, shake the container for a few seconds, and then use a filter to get rid of the solid pieces when you are ready to pour it in a mug.

Honeydew Mule

Many look forward to summer not because they all like to be sweaty, but because it is the time when they can devour their favorite tropical fruits. However, if you want to try consuming honeydew differently, why don’t you follow this recipe to make a mule?

Ingredients:

100 mL of ginger beer
1 cup of honeydew (diced)
20 mL of vodka
10 mL of lemon juice

Instructions:

Crush the honeydew squares in a container, then dispense the vodka, the lemon juice, and the ginger beer.

Apple Cider Mule

In recent years, apple cider has been proving that it is a superfood that can lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, as well as body fats. You may include it to your meals or drink it directly. Furthermore, you can use it to create an apple cider mule.

Ingredients:

80 mL of vodka
40 mL of apple cider
20 mL of ginger beer
10 mL of lime juice
Dash of cinnamon powder (optional)

Instructions:

Prepare your cocktail by combining apple cider, vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer (in that order). If you are not satisfied with the hint of spice that the ginger brings, feel free to add a dash of cinnamon. Stir everything well.

Festive Mule

When the holiday season is being discussed, the Festive mule should not be far from your mind. You see, it can bring you back to those days when you get to wake up to the smell of freshly cooked omelet and pancakes and have nothing else to do but wait for the foods to be ready. The sweetness of this beverage can remind you as well of the happiest moments in your life.

Ingredients:

30 mL of vodka
70 mL of ginger beer
15 mL of sweetened cranberry juice
Slices of cranberry fruit

Instructions:

Mix the juice with the vodka before pouring the blending them with the ginger beer. Add the cranberry slices last.

 

Follow the drinking tradition in your family, but do not hesitate to make several changes to the ingredients that will suit your palate. Cheers!

Germany’s Oktoberfest is well known as the largest beer festival in the world. However, there’s more to it than beer drinking traditions. Besides the flooding of authentic German beer during the whole duration of the event, there are also special events, a variety of good food, parade and more fun activities that people can enjoy. Here are the lists of stress-relieving attractions that people can expect during the Oktoberfest.

Lots Of Beer Tents 

Since beer is the major attraction of the whole event, beer tents are on the number one spot. There are several large and small tents available in the location, and each one of them has its way of brewing beer. The large tents can hold about seven to ten thousand people. But take note, beer is not the only thing that can be purchased inside the tent because people can find a variety of delicious classic foods in there as well. People can enjoy both chugging beer and eating Bavarian delicacies

There are 11 tents during the event, and one of the newer tents is called Marstall. Although it’s new, its popularity rose up in an instant. That’s because of its variety of traditional beers and food. Not all that, it is accompanied by a band playing on an outstanding carousel stage where it changes the atmosphere of the tent and fields it with rustic music that enlightens every individual’s senses. On the other hand, one of the older tents called Augustiner-Festhalle is well known as the friendliest tent. The waitresses here are full of smiles even though they get rigorously flooded with a lot of tasks.

Oktoberfest Parade 

One of the major attractions of the Oktoberfest is its parade. The opening parade of the event features the different breweries and landlords roaming in the streets. Traditional style floats and carriages accompany it. A lot of traditional costumes get showcased during the parade, and thousands of musicians gather to play on an open field for the welcoming of the celebration. Typical tourist and not just the beer enthusiasts can enjoy this event. Food carriages are also available. It serves classical German delicacies and a lot more. Since it is a parade, everyone can participate. Though it’s not compulsory, it is much recommended to dress up during the event.

The OideWiesn

Located on the southern part of the Oktoberfest area is its calmer vibe-side OideWiesn, the place where everything happened. The location is filled with vintage costumes, entertaining decorations and 20th-century fun rides that can be enjoyed by kids and adult alike. Also inside the area is the Museum-tent which shows the tourists the eventful history of how Oktoberfest originated. The vicinity of OideWiesn offers two Beer tents which entirely serve great food.

Family Day

Believe it or not, Oktoberfest is also a family event. Although the majority of its attraction is the alcoholic beverages, the whole festival still covers fun and entertaining activities that can also be great for families. The festival grounds are covered with fun rides that are kid-friendly. Even the beer tents offered family shows that can be attractive for children, younger youths, and party goers.

The English Garden

The atmosphere of Oktoberfest is sometimes suffocating due to the noise, drinking and crowded surrounding. So if people want to take a quick break from all the overpowered fun, the English garden is the best option. It is one of the world’s biggest open parks.

Although it is well established that the main attraction of the event is the endless chugging of beer, people know that the three-week celebration is still capable of providing fun and exciting entertainment for all.

A lot of people all over the world love beer. But do you know that the origin of beer is traceable back to Germany? Yes, it is where beer is one of the most popular beverages in the country. The Germans love beer so much that it became a significant part of their culture, hence the creation of the Oktoberfest.

It is well-established that Oktoberfest is the largest beer festival not only in Germany but also in some parts of the world. However, attending the festival can be very expensive. Luckily, there are still some alternatives to enjoy Oktoberfest on a budget, though I have to admit, it will still cost a lot. If you are very attracted to celebrating beer festivals in Germany, here are some of the best beer parties held there.

Oktoberfest – It is the largest and the most popular beer festival in the world that can last for three whole weeks. During the Oktoberfest, the event goers wear Bavarian theme costumes. It somehow adds a twist on the celebration. There are classic German delicacies served in the tent, partnered with a glass or bottle of cold beer, accompanied with rustic music from the local bands performing on stage. The Oktoberfest is kicked off with a grand parade.

Stuttgart Beer Festival – Second to Oktoberfest is the Stuttgart beer festival. It is also a popular brew festival in Germany that most people look forward to attending. King Wilhelm founded the festival in 1818. He started the festival as a symbol of the end of the terrible German famine. The celebration features a gigantic open market that families with kids can enjoy. The fair in the festival ground features a lot of fun rides and special events that all ages can enjoy. The whole affair gets flooded with beer, 70 brands to be exact. That’s a lot of choices for a beer enthusiast.

Frühlingfest – The Frühlingfest in Munich Germany or most commonly known as the spring festival is a mini version of Oktoberfest. That’s because it was held on the same ground of Oktoberfest in the Theresienwiese (open space in Munich). It is the origin place of Oktoberfest according to history. The festival features traditional polka bands, a fair with fun rides, festive music, and lots and lots of beer. Beer tents are also visible during the event. It is not as grand as the beer tents of the Oktoberfest though, but it’s a lot more economical.

Freimarkt – The Bremen Freimarkt is the oldest fair in Germany and is scheduled after the Oktoberfest. So for those people who can’t come and enjoy Oktoberfest, they can still have the option to celebrate drinking authentic German beer in Germany during the Freimarkt. The Old classic event happened in 1035. Although it is somehow a traditional festival, it still draws approximately 4 million people from Northern Germany. The Freimarkt features carnivals, street parties, and a massive beer festivity.

Schützenfest – The Schützenfest is the world’s largest celebration for marksmen and beer that is celebrated every July in Germany. It is an event that started in 1529 where it welcomes around 5,000 marksmen. The celebration features a marksmen parade, six beer tents, carnivals, and floats. The festival can draw approximately 1.5 million spectators per year.

Gaubodenvolksfest – The first celebration of the agricultural festival Gaubodenvolksfest was in 1812. It is a ten-day festival in August that features a Bavarian parade that showcases traditional German costumes, horse carriage rides, and a wide variety of beers as well.

Next time you want to celebrate beer festivals, you can always count on Germany. They surely have enough activities to offer, not to mention tons of beers that you can enjoy.

 

One of the traditional alcoholic beverages in the entire world is beer. It is one of the world’s top three famous drinks after water and tea. With that, it is well established that the Germans celebrate beer more than anyone in the world. The Germans always have a strong affection for the favorite brewed drink and believe that it is a significant part of their culture as a country. That is why once a year they celebrate the biggest beer festival in the world we now know as Oktoberfest.

A lot of people from all over the world visit Germany and join the celebration of Oktoberfest. They believe that the three-week festival in Munich will become one of the largest and massive celebrations of all. It is their time to settle their days and nights partying with family, friends, and strangers as well as spending all their money on beers and pretzels while dancing under a giant tent.

According to a local reporter, there are more non-Germans than Germans celebrating the Oktoberfest. This fact is very peculiar since Oktoberfest is such a grand event for the Germans.  But since beer is not only exclusive in Germany, some countries extend their desire to celebrate the festivity. Germany only ranks third in Europe when it comes to per-capita in beer consumption. The country is actually behind Austria and Czech Republic. Nevertheless, the Oktoberfest in Germany is still the most famous beer event in the world.

What’s With Oktoberfest?

The Oktoberfest is as much for tourists as it is for the native Munchner or German. During the entire course of the three-week celebration, there are reportedly more than 7 million people that attend the event with only an accommodation of 14 giant tents and 20 regular ones. That’s a lot of people in a very small area. It is greatly advised for tourist to delay the visit to Munich during this time of year because the place gets undoubtedly flooded with people from all over the world. Event goers are advised to wake up early if they wanted a chance inside one of those tents because clearly, not everyone can be accommodated with the absurd number of people during the event. Parades will be everywhere during the Three-week event. Oktoberfest is known for its colorful booths along with its drunken participants, which make the whole celebration better and unique. Traditional costume parades are also present, and locals and devoted beer enthusiasts attend it.

The 2nd Weekend

The second weekend of the German beer event is commonly known as the Italian weekend. During this time, Italians come down to Munich and enjoy the festivities themselves. A lot of Italians and other tourists participate in the celebration. However, depending on their preference, people might avoid this second week due to the added crowded situation from the beginning of the holiday.

The Wiesn

People from Munich actually call Oktoberfest as Wiesn. It is the local term for the event. Although Oktoberfest is the widely popular name, Germans tend to stick with their culture. It is relevant to point out that there are certain traditions that follow during this event and tourists are advised to participate. They must know significant traditions to avoid upsetting the locals. One of the famous traditions is the singing of EinProsit. During Oktoberfest, the EinProsit is played every 20 minutes and commonly ends with everyone chugging their beers in unity.

The Oktoberfest is a very pricey event. Accommodations and travel cost are above expectations during the entire three weeks of celebration. However, the participants of this event are expected to be more than willing to spend a fortune merely to experience the most extensive beer event in the world.

Germany gives the yearly beer celebration too much importance because it is the largest beer festival known to people since the 18th century. That’s why people from different countries find it amusing to attend their Oktoberfest. It is an event where people not only from Germany gather together to celebrate, eat, dress up, sing, dance, and chug beers for three whole weeks.

Not all kinds of beer are allowed during this celebration. According to German tradition, the whole event only serves original Munich beers. These beers must follow the Bavarian Purity requirements.

Augustiner – Augustiner-Brau is the oldest independent brewery in Munich, Germany. The establishment was in the year 1328 within an Augustinian Monastery. Due to its ancient origin, the Augustiner’s first feature in Oktoberfest is somehow unknown. However, the earliest record of an Augustiner joining in Oktoberfest is on a picture dating from 1867. But even so, as one of the oldest breweries, it is preferably one of the best-tasting beers. That’s because Augustiner is still using wooden barrels in storing their original brewed alcoholic beverage. They are the only brewery that pours their beer directly from a wooden barrel. An authentic Augustiner beer served during Oktoberfest has 6 percent alcohol and can be purchased in an Augustiner-Festzelt.

Hofbräu – The Royal Brewery in Munich is also the local brewery in Germany, which is owned by the Bavarian State Government. It owns a massive tent on the Oktoberfest event. According to history, the name “Hof” comes from a royal brewery in the Kingdom of Bavaria. In 1589, Wilhelm V. who founded Hofbrau developed a beer garden that is still very famous up to this day. The Hofbraukeller beer garden of Hofbrau is one of the most beautiful beer gardens in Munich that continuously claims the country’s tourist attraction. The beer sold by Hofbrau during the Oktoberfest is the strongest one with 6.3 percent of alcohol content.

Hacker Pschorr – It is a brewery in Munich Germany established in 1972. It may not sound too old for other beers, but it is indeed a product of the merger of Hacker (founded in around 1417) and Pschorr. The Hacker brewery was the leading brewery in Munich during the 18th century. The beers sold by HackerPschorr during the Oktoberfest have an alcohol content of 5.8 percent. Considerably, it is the lightest beer offered during the festival.

Paulaner – The Paulaner is a German brewery established in 1634. The Minim Friars of Neudeck ob der Au cloisters are the founding fathers of the brewing company. At first, its beer was only available to the public for holiday seasons. However today, it now serves beer lovers anytime they want. It ranks 6th among the bestselling beers in Germany. The alcohol content of Paulaner sold in Oktoberfest is at 6 percent.

Löwenbräu – The Lowenbrau which also means “lion brew” in German is a middle size company in which became the biggest brewery during the 19th century. The tent of the Lowenbrau during the Oktoberfest can be easily spotted since it has its famous gigantic mechanical lion placed on the top of the tent. The alcohol content of Lowenbrau is at 6.1 percent.

Spaten – The brewery was founded in the year 1397 and is one of the oldest breweries in Munich. The logo of the brewery showcases a spade with the initials of Gabriel Sedlmayr. The Spaten beer has an alcohol content of 5.9 percent. Though it is one of least among the favorite, its taste still gives beer-lovers the satisfaction.

During Oktoberfest, millions of people gather inside crowded tents to enjoy a mass or even a liter of authentic brewed beer made in Germany alone. Each tent has a unique way of brewing where they set a standard on each beer to have significant taste, blend, and aroma that people can choose from.

Oktoberfest is an annual event in Germany where tourists around the world enjoy the best-tasting beer in the most satisfying way. Since beer is one of the most infamous beverages on Earth, it is basically behind water and tea. Fortunately, beer enthusiasts are not the only people allowed to enjoy Oktoberfest because kids and their families are welcome too. There are a lot of entertaining events throughout the festival. Although drinking beer is the main event of the Oktoberfest, the three-week celebration can mean so much more.

There are things to know before going to the event. Without this basic knowledge, old and new attendees might not enjoy the occasion very much. To get the full experience of Oktoberfest, one must first know the things on our list.

How Much Beer To Drink During Oktoberfest

The beers served during Oktoberfest are stronger than regular beers. They pack such a kick that too much intake may result in a lot of things, even memory loss. Therefore, one must understand the importance of knowing when is the time to cut off from drinking beer at the festival.

According to a famous organizer of the event, two mass beers or two liters of beer is the best measure for typical attendees. Though people differ in their alcohol content tolerance, most of them can handle this much alcohol and can still function appropriately. That’s an assurance to enjoy other activities like singing and dancing without passing out.

However, for some others, going for three liters is approaching borderline drunkenness. Though it’s reasonably what’s going to happen, there’s no stopping people from consuming more beers more than what they can handle. As a result, they roll over, sleep, and get wasted due to too much alcohol. So for a friendly suggestion to get a great optimal experience, it is much better to stick to two liters of beer during the festival.

Beer Drinking Is Not The Only Event During Oktoberfest

If people needed a quick break from alcohol, around the beer tents are unlimited rides and carnivals that they can enjoy. There are even special shows that they can watch on a timely basis. There’s also a costume riflemen’s parade during the opening weekend of Oktoberfest. It’s a parade of seven thousand costume performers who welcome the start of the festivities. There are also musicians, dancers, and farmyard animals that perform during the opening celebration. If the weather is good, the performance of 400 musicians in an open field also takes place.

Attendees Must Know When The Stores Close During The Celebration

The beer serving hours usually start from 10 am to 10:30 pm every weekday. However, drinking begins early during weekends since stores tend to open at 9 am and close around 10:30 pm. During closing hours, the band typically stops playing, and waitresses clean the table. From there, attendees are required to go out of the tent at around 10:50 pm.

It Is Highly Recommended To Dress Up, Though It’s Not A Requirement.

If you don’t dress up you might feel left out since almost everyone in the event is dressed up in Bavarian attires. Majority of the partygoers will be in costumes because it is part of the whole cultural experience. Locals and tourists around the world will don the famous Tracht (traditional German garments). But if ever attendees don’t want to dress up, it will still be okay.

There’s no denying that Oktoberfest is one the most fun and exciting events in Germany. Not only do people travel just to get there, but they also want to experience the fascinating culture of the country.