Bier, Pivo or a Pint: Berlin’s Beer Fest this Weekend
Well, it’s not Oktoberfest — yet that’s probably a good thing. Starting Friday, 1 August and running through Sunday, 3 August is the “Internationale Berliner Bierfestival,” the self-proclaimed “longest biergarten in the world.” Some 240 breweries from over 80 countries serving up some 1,800 types of brew will be lining the “biermeile” along Karl-Marx-Allee in Friedrichshein. The good news (for those of us who have a preference that we often, given the present surroundings and fear of the small print in the Reinheitsgebot, keep to ourselves) is that this year’s theme is Czech beer — with 32 Czech breweries, big and small, in attendance. But never fear, as this is still very much a German festival, with breweries grouped by region (with freaky groups such as “Middle Ages beer“? Beats me.) And for Americans missing a taste of home, of course, the U.S. Belgian concern Budweiser will be there.
Entrance is free; the beer will cost you. Here’s a list of participants. Zum Wohl!
Tags: beer, berlin, czech, festival, internationalRelated posts
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July 31st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Thanks for the info — that was a lot of good news.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:06 am
What is Budweiser doing at a beer festival?
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:27 pm
For the German-reading amongst you: here’s a review from a previous year. It generally reflects my (thankfully brief) experience while inadvertendly walking along the K-M-A during a Bierfestival - though, as far as I can tell from the official website, ‘Odintrunk’ is not on offer this year.
http: //www. nadir.org/nadir/periodika/jungle_world/_2002/34/28a.htm
August 4th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
ben: so, did you go? we, er, took a rain check.
paul: who knows. they are, at least, now an international concern. that said, i was shocked — shocked — at the number of pubs in london that offered Bud ON TAP. there had to be something sinister behind it.
d.z.: thanks for the link! your report is making me quite pleased with myself that i took that rain check…