The Fifth Season

The Bavarians love any excuse to throw a festival.  If it includes beer, all the better.  And since we haven't had a large beer drinking party since February's Fasching it was high time for another.  Starkbierfest - literally translated to Strong Beer Festival - was started by the Paulaner Monks in the 14th century as a way to get through the fasting required of them from Shrove Tuesday until Easter.  The beer is brewed to have much more "wort" (malt) than usual -18.3%  or about 1/3 of a loaf of bread worth in one liter.  This provided the nutritional values needed for the Monks to sustain themselves while fasting.  It also has a much higher alcohol content (7.9%) which add to the full-bodied, malty taste.   Nowadays the beer is produced only during the three weeks of the festival (it starts the third Thursday after Ash Wednesday) and is drunk for much less pious reasons.  Since we missed it last year, we knew we had to secure a table this year and invite a few of our friends.  

Last Saturday, we donned our Dirndl's and Lederhosen, ate a hearty meal to soak up the alcohol, and tickets in hand headed off for an afternoon of beer, fun, and friends.  And it was everything it was supposed to be - music, dancing, and beer!  What a fabulous way to spend a snowy Saturday.

*The Fifth Season - This season starts at Fasching (leading up to lent) and runs through Easter.  Mostly here in Munich.

Prost!

Brezels and Beer - nothing better!