Starkbierfest 2010
Starkbier = Strong Beer. If you love beer, you will love this festival. And the best part? It is almost unknown to outsiders! Unlike Oktoberfest, this is a Fest celebrated almost exclusively by the locals.
Fri 3/12/10 - Sun 3/21/10
Starkbierfest (Strong Beer Festival) is like Oktoberfest without the tourists. Known by locals as the 'fifth season', this centuries' old festival harkens back to the Paulaner monks who used to brew an extra-strong beer to help sustain themselves throughout the fasting period of Lent. On the third Thursday following Ash Wednesday, the first barrel of Salvator is tapped at Paulaner am Nockherberg amidst great celebrations. Local beer halls like Paulaner and Löwenbräu lay on special dances, parties and other events during the ensuing three-week period.
This is a non-traditional "tour." Because it's so specialized and we attend a festival that few have heard of, we are a small group. We stay at smaller hotels and use public transport exclusively - and there's a lot of walking. But, we meet up with lots of my German friends and I'm confident that you will have an unforgetable time.
Heart of the Hallertau
This year's theme is "Heart of the Hallertau" Other than our time in Munich, we travel to the north to several towns in the heart of the German Hops growing country: the famous Hallertau.
Dates: 3/12/09 - 3/21/09
Price: $875 per person, based on double occupancy. The price includes lodging in a nice Bavarian Inn, breakfast daily, and daily ground transportation with the group.
Flights: At this time of year, flights to Munich are very competitive. We will help you arrange a custom flight schedule to meet up with our group by 11:00 AM on Saturday March 13, 2010 at the Munich Airport.
Deposit: $100
Booking is easy please contact me via email or call me at 888-MUNICH-0
Starkbierfest Itinerary
Price = $875 per person, based on double occupancy. Includes lodging, breakfast, and most ground transportation.
Day 0 - Friday, March 12, 2010:
Depart USA on evening flight. Book the flight yourself or we can help.
Day 1 - Saturday, March 13, 2010:
Arrive Munich and meet at Munich airport around 11:00 AM. Transfer to our hotel, the Hotel am Viktualienmarkt. It's basic lodging with no elevator, but it's on the edge of the famous Viktualienmarkt - the open air market in heart of Munich. As soon as our luggage is stowed, we'll meet back together for a beer and an afternoon walk before heading out at 6 PM for dinner at the Augustiner Keller in the evening. There we'll enjoy the live entertainment of Schorsch Pfeiler Band & Mañana in the Augustiner Keller's historical old storage cellar beginning at 7 PM. Admittance charge of 8,50 per person.
Day 2 - Sunday, March 14, 2010:
Eat a light breakfast since we will be indulging in the Munich tradition of Frühschoppen - Weißwurst and Weissbier at 9:00 at the Weisses Brauhaus. According to tradition, Munich families stop in after church to enjoy a snack, with beer of course, often listening to a traditional Bavarian band. Afterwards, we'll stroll through Munich's old town and discuss some of the history of the city and vist the City Museum, which features a small but excellent display of the NSDAP time in Munich. Or, enjoy the wonders of the spa called Therme Erding. It's a full fledged spa and several of us plan a visit for 2-3 hours. One side is for swimming and the other is for Sauna - no clothing allowed, so not for the bashful. In the late afternoon, we visit the Unions-bräu, the Forschungsbrauerei, and Zur Dicken Sophie's Wintergarten. In the evening, we'll stop by the Augustiner Braustub'n.
Day 3 - Monday, March 15, 2010:
After a hearty breakfast at out hotel, we'll enjoy a late morning in Munich. Join up for a WWII walking tour or sleep late. Mid-morning we'll travel out to the city of Erding where we will visit the Erdinger Brewery. Afterwards we'll make the short jaunt over to the world's oldest brewery: Weihenstephan. After the tour of the brewery and souvenior shopping, we'll enjoy dinner at the Bräustüberl at Weihenstephan. Afterwards we'll cap off the evening at the Hofbrauhaus.
Day 4 - Tuesday, March 16, 2010:
After breakfast we travel north to the Heart of the Hallertau - to the small town of Abensberg. Here we visit the Deutsches Hopfenmuseum - the German Hops Museum. In the afternoon, meet the Brewmaster of the Kuchlbauer Weissbier Brewery. This particular brewery is likley the most memorable in the world. The owner combines his love of art with his lover of beer for a unique combination that is unforgetable. In the afternoon, we'll tour the town catacombs and, possibly, meet back with Brewmaster for a short seminar in homebrewing (tbd).
Day 5 - Wednesday, March 17, 2010:
After breakfast, we'll jump on the train to the city of Regensburg. After we drop of our luggage, we head to nearby Kelheim, home of the famous Weissbier brewery called Schneider Weisse. Later we return for an evening in Regensburg, whose large medieval city centeris an UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll enjoy some great Bavarian Cuisine and visit several pubs including Spital and Kneitinger in Regensburg.
Day 6 - Thursday, March 18, 2010:
This morning we'll enjoy a guided tour of Regensburg's old town before we visit the famous Kloster Weltenburg in the afternoon. This magnificent monastery is squeezed between high cliffs along the Danube river. In the evening we can venture toward the small city of Ingolstadt or return to Regensburg of we feel there is more to be discovered there.
Day 7 - Friday, March 20, 2009:
After breakfast, we return south toward Munich. We'll stow our luggage and make our pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain - Kloster Andechs. One taste of this phenomenal Double Bock beer and you will agree that the men that brewed this are close to God. For the evening we have a table at the Löwenbräukeller. At 7:00 PM, enjoy the celebration and live music from the Jetzendorfer Hinterhofmusikanten in the Festhall. Enjoy the music and Löwenbräu's starkbier offering, Triumphator, while watching the Bavarian Hercules lift a 508 pound rock and maybe get a glimpse of Miss Starkbier 2009. Truly a memorable event!
Day 8 - Saturday, March 20, 2010:
Our last full day in Munich culminates with the big event! But first, sleep in or enjoy a little free time for some last minute shopping. At 2:00 PM we visit the most famous site of Starkbier - Paulaner am Nockherberg. With a Bavarian Band playing traditional favorites and Salvator served in Ceramic beer steins, this will be an afternoon to remember! But, be sure to pace yourself for a long afternoon of laughing and enjoying the music. This is major league fun and definately the main event!
Day 9 - Sunday, March 21, 2010:
Morning departure for Munich airport. We will assist you in reaching the airport in time for your flight. Join me for that last Weisswurst and Weissbier at the Airbräu - right at the airport. (I love this country!)
Key Features & Pricing
- Experience Starkbierfest as the locals do. Travel with a small group - not a typical "tour group."
- See the other famous sites of Munich and Bavaria (Neuschwanstein, Munich City tour, lecture and discussion of the Third Reich History and more!
- Three hotels during our visit. We use small, privately owned Bavarian Inns.
- Price: $875 per person, based on double occupancy/ This includes breakfast daily, all lodging and most transportation. Single Supplement of $250.
- This tour is suitable for people over 21. This trip is not suitable, however, for the non-stop party animal. Our guests are expected to enjoy themselves in a responsible, polite fashion at all times.
- Be aware that we do lots of walking each day. Many days will involve miles of walking spread out over the day, often over uneven paving stones. Also, you must be capable of handling your own luggage at the hotels and on public transit. If the hotels have elevators, they are small and slow. Travel light!
Key things NOT included:
- Other than breakfast, meals are pay as you go. Or, I pay as a whole and you reimburse.
- Beverages (i.e. Beer)
- Tips for beverage service - these are quite small, 1-2 Euros usually
- Guide Tips - just buy me a beer if you like my tours!
- Admission to events: Nockherberg, Augustiner Keller, and Loewenbraeukeller.
- Independent Mass transit Usage without the group.
- Transportation for optional trips
- Phone calls, postcards, souvenirs, snacks, laundry services, etc, etc.