Great European Beer Tour (PM-090911) Photos

Where did we go?

1. Frankfurt-Schlüsselfeld (Sternbräu Brewery)-Bamberg (UNESCO)-Kulmbach-Neuhaus-Windichechenbach-Overnight Zoigl Land (Germany)
   
2. Pilsen Urquell Brewery-Overnight Prague
3. Prague Castle-Strahov Brewery-PRague (UNESCO)-Overnight Prague (Czech Republic)
   
4. Zvikov Castle and Brewery-Lipan Brewery-Budweis Brewery-Overnight Cesky Budejovice (CZ)
   
5. Cesky Krumlov (UNESCO) and Eggenberg Brewery-Sumava Scenic Drive-Schnapps Museum!-Overnight Eck Brewery Guesthouse (Germany)
   
6. Zwiesel Brewery-Braunau-Salzburg (UNESCO)-Augustiner Brewery-Overnight Salzburg (Austria)
   
7. Kehlstein (Eagles Nest)-Tegernsee-Oberammergau-Overnight Zum Stern, Oberammergau (Germany)
   
8. Ettal Monastery-Plansee (Austria)-Neuschwanstein Castle-Andechs Monastery-Munich-Overnight München (Germany)
9. Munich walkabout and Hofbräuhaus-Overnight München
10. Oktoberfest 2009-Overnight München
11. End tour, München
    

Oktoberfest 2009 and Alps Special (MB-091002)

For those of you on our Oktoberfest 2009 and Alps Special to the Bavarian/Austrian Alps and Munich's Oktoberfest from Friday 02-Monday 05 September 2009, the Final Itinerary is now out!
Looking forward to seeing you all in Munich!
Cheers,
Andy

Oktoberfest 2009 and Alps Special (MB-090925)

For those of your on our Oktoberfest 2009 and Alps Special, the Final Itinerary is now out.
Looking forward to the tour.
Cheers,
Andy

Great European Beer Tour (PM-090911) Final Itinerary NOW OUT!

Well it's that time! Off on the road for a month of tours starting on Friday with the amazing 11-day Great European Beer Tour starting (Friday 11-Monday 21 September 2009).
For those on the tour, the Final Itinerary is now OUT!

So for those who aren't on the tour, a brief outline to what you are missing out on! Don't worry, we run the tours all year on demand, just shoot us an email andy@bier-mania.com
You will also be able to see tour photos via this blog.

Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Friday 11 September 2009
Frankfurt Airport-Sternbräu (breakfast)-Bamberg-Kulmbach-Zoigl @ Windischechenbach
Overnight-Windischechenbach
Day 2 Saturday 12 September
Pilsen (CZ)-Prague (CZ)
Overnight-Prague
Day 3 Sunday 13 September
Prague Walkabout!
Overnight-Prague
Day 4 Monday 14 September
Zvikov-Lipan-Budweis
Overnight-Budweis
Day 5 Tuesday 15 September
Cesky Krumlov-Sumava Scenic Drive-Eck
Overnight-Eck Brauereigasthof
Day 6 Wednesday 16 September
Zwiesel Dampfbierbraueri-Braunau-Salzburg
Overnight-Salzburg
Day 7 Thursday 17 September
Ber´chtesgarten and Eagles Nest-Tegernsee-Oberammergau
Overnight-Oberammergau
Day 8 Friday 18 September
Etal Kloster-Neuschwanstein-Andechs-Munich
Overnight-Munich
Day 9 Saturday 19 September
Munich Walkabout!
Over night-Munich
Day 10 Sunday 20 September
Oktoberfest @ Hacker-Pschorr beer tent
Overnight-Munich
Day 11 Monday 21 September
Tour ends!

Tour Map
See our tour map


View PM-090911 Great European Beer Tour in a larger map

Cheers,
Andy

Oktoberfest Tours 13% DISCOUNT

Good news for Oktoberfest 2009.
ALL TOURS ARE NOW €695.00 IF BOOKED BEFORE 7th AUGUST!

This year we have the following 5 tours, 8 people maximum on each tour.

Dates
Tour 1 MB-090918 (18-21 September) FULL
Tour 2 MB-090922 (22-25 September) 6 places left
Tour 3 MB-080926 (25-28 September) 4 places left
Tour 4 MB-090929 (29-02 October) 6 places
Tour 5 MB-091002 (02-05 October) 6 places

Cheers,
Andy@bier-mania.com
Bier-Mania!

Oktoberfest 2009 The Hofbräuhaus Song!

We're getting very excited about Oktoberfest this year and thought we'd get you in the mood, we know it is only 87 long long days until the 176th festival but hey, why not!

As part of this year's Oktoberfest Training Package (OTP), it is recommended that you learn certain things before the Big O.
One of Munich's finest songs In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus we find to be very emotional and makes us think of singing, large large beers and chicken. Not to mention Dirn'dls...

This year we have included 2 very useful videos to guide you along your way and ensure that when in Munich you sing like a local. We do however recommend that you listen very carefully to the words, sing this very quietly at first and gradually build up to a higher volume, then when you are confident you can introduce the song to your mates down the pub or at work, sit on a bench and roll side to side.

Good luck, one two, three.....

In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus: Eins, zwei, ... g'suffa!
Da läuft so manches Fäßchen aus: Eins, zwei, ... g'suffa!
Da hat so manche braver Mann: Eins, zwei, ... g'suffa!
Gezeigt was er so vertragen kann
Schon früh am Morgen fing er an
Und spät am Abend kam er heraus
So schön ist's im Hofbräuhaus.

In English this would sound something like this...

In Munich stands a Hofbräuhaus: one, two ... cheers!
There run out so many steins: one, two ... cheers!
There are so many brave men: one, two ... cheers!
Show what he can endure
Already early in the morning he begins
And late at night he comes out
So beautiful it is in the Hofbräuhaus!

The Extended Version!



Prost,
Andy

Great European Beer Tour/Oktoberfest 2009

Proposed Itinerary
The Proposed Itinerary for THE Great European Beer Tour/Oktoberfest 2009 is now out.

This really is the tour of all tours! 3 countries in 11 days, we even take in Munich’s famous Oktoberfest at the end with our reserved tent reservation at Hacker-Pschorr.
We take you from the oldest known remains of a brewery in Europe in Kulmbach (no longer functionaing!), through the amazing ‘Zoigl Land' (Zoigl at Wolframstuberln) and into the Czech Republic and the home of Pilsner beer.
The it is Budweis, Salzburg, the Alps and ending in Munich's Oktoberfest!
Read on, a truly awesome tour!

The itinerary can be seen by clicking the link-Proposed Itinerary.

Tour Map
Click on PM-090911-Tour Map.

Cheers,
Andy

It is planned to run this tour all year, rain, sun or snow! Please email for further details and give dates you would be interested in. Be good to see you on a tour.

Not Just Oktoberfest!

Our Oktoberfest and the Alps are not just about Munich's Oktoberfest, we think that it's a good idea to see some more of Bavaria and of Munich so we have designed our tours with that in mind! The tours start with a drive into the Alps and an overnight at an Alpine guesthouse in the village of Oberammergau (famous for the Passion Play), we then have day 2 in Munich with a walkabout and then the highlight of the tour being Oktoberfest on day 3. If you do want to go to the Oktoberfest grounds on day 2 then feel free.

Day 1-After we meet you all, we get ourselves out of Munich and visit Ludwig's castles at Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau as well as having lunch there in a beer garden if the weather lets us, normally at the Bräustüberl!
After lunch we then take you south across the border and into Austria, stopping at the border though to have a look at the Lechfall, a gorgeous waterfall. After the Lechfall, we then have a breathtaking drive on the back road from Füssen to Oberammergau and around the Plansee, an Austrian Alpine lake surrounded by high mountains. This is an opportunity to relax and take in the scenery, get to know your companions and chill out!
If we have time we usually go to the Benedictine monastery in Ettal-the Ettaler Kloster, the church is truly amazing, walk left for the church and monastery, walk right for the 'pub'! Choice is yours! The monastery still brews beer which can be drunk from their brewery tap across the road from the monastery grounds.
After some religion and beer we then check into our gorgeous guesthouse in Oberammergau, Zum Stern, this is a really rustic guesthouse in the middle of town, we also eat in the Stuberl-a traditional cosy room just under our rooms! We also hit the brewery pub Maximillian, they go a great Weizen as well as an unfiltered Hell beer-both delicious and brewed right by the bar!

Day 2-After our 'Alps' night in Oberammergau we then drive into Munich and check into our hotel, this year we will be using the 4* Hotel Concorde for all tours. This hotel is located just around the corner from the Hofbräuhaus and excellently located for our stay in Munich. Incidentally, all our tours start and end at the Concorde.
We then get ourselves out and about, first stop is normally the world famous Hofbräuhaus for lunch, food and a sing-song! Atmosphere is amazing! After the heavy food and litres of beer you will probably be wanting some fresh air, so we then have a much needed 'walkabout' around Munich picking up some of the sights. If you wish to do your own thing then feel free, maybe you want to get over to the Oktoberfest grounds!

Day 3-This is the highligt of the tour when we get over to the Oktoberfest grounds and usually the Hacker-Pschorr Festzelt (beer tent) and to our reserved tables. We normally have the reservation from midday (or 1pm) until around 5pm, plenty of time.
The rest of the day is yours. Cheers!

Day 4-All our Oktoberfest tours end at the hotel after breakfast unless we have arranged to drop you off.

We hope this gives you some more of an insight into these wonderful, low key tours, designed for small groups to give you a real holiday experience in Bavaria!
Cheers,
Andy
Bier-Mania!

Bier-Mania! will be running 5 Oktoberfest and Alps Special tours this year 2009. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Oktoberfest 2008 Tour 3

Photos from tour 3 can be seen here.

Oktoberfest 2008 Tour 3

This was our 3rd and final Oktoberfest and Alps Special of 2008 and wow, what a tour! Everyone was from the States and travelled a long way to be in Munich, as we had a total of 12 people we used 2 minibuses for this tour and all finally meeting up in Oberammergau after picking up the last 3 people in a very lonely and cold Oberau train station! Great to see you guys.

Day 1-Friday
After Neuschwanstein and a scenic drive around the Plansee lake, it was onto Ettal monstery for a looka round a naturally a beer brewed ont he premises.
After checking into our guesthouse, we ate in their cosy restaurant and a full meal and beer at Zum Stern in Oberammergau was followed by the presentation of 'Certificates of Competence', (or in German Urkunde) which Bier-Mania! awards to all guests who have been on a tour! Cheers!
After Zum Stern we got ourselves down to Maximillians brewery for a few more beers fresh from their bar, good beer!
Day 2-Saturday
Next day (Saturday) was Munich 'walkabout' day when we had, well.... a walkabout around town, pick up a few sights, have a few beers and take in Munich. After having lunch and warming up in Hofbräuhaus (some people warmed up very quickly!), as it was perfect blue skies, we walked down by the River Isar, had a look at the Müllers Volksbad (a swimming baths dating from the 1800s) and on to see some surfing. Surfing? Yep.
We stopped in the beer garden at the Chinese tower in the Englischer Garten for some more refreshments.
Day 3-Sunday
Sunday was the Big O and after taking a short U-bahn ride we finally hit the Oktoberfest grounds and to our reserved tables in the Hacker Festzelt. Beer, chickens and singing....
By the way, you guys looked great in your Bavarian outfits, real cool!


The Oktoberfest grounds.....




The balcony in Hacker Festzelt......



And in the middle.....




Hope to see you again next year!
Cheers,
Andy

Bier-Mania! will be running 5 Oktoberfest and Alps Special tours this year 2009. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Oktoberfest 2008 Tour 2-The Babe and the Hooligan

Oktoberfest is just one of those very special occasions in your life. You've just got to go, the atmosphere is just incredible, as you can see....

Oktoberfest 2008 Tour 2

Our 2nd Oktoberfest 2008 tour started on the morning of Tuesday 23 September and ended on the Friday.

Again we went straight to Neuschwanstein for lunch and then across the Austrian Alps via the scenic back road and the Plansee lake and over to Oberammergau and to our guesthouse, the rustic Zum Stern stopping at the Ettal monastery on the way for a quick beer or 2!
We then went to Munich on the Saturday and after checking into our hotel we had a Munich 'walkabout' and lunch in the Hofbräuhaus.


Sunday was the Big O with some serious dancing!
We also met up with Kenneth and the guys and girls on his Thirsty Swagman tour.

Click here for tour photos.



Some action from inside the Hacker festzelt...

Oktoberfest 2008 Tour 1

Bier-Mania!'s first Oktoberfest tour of 2008 was from Friday 19-Monday 22 September, great time and good to be back in Munich!
The tour started on Friday morning in Nuremberg after which we drive to Neuschwanstein for lunch and then across the Austrian Alps via the scenic back road and the Plansee lake and over to Oberammergau and to our guesthouse, the rustic Zum Stern. Oberammergau also has a brewery, bit chicky-micky but great beer!
We then went to Munich on the Saturday and after checking into our hotel and meeting up with our other guests from Canada we had a Munich 'walkabout', see some sights people don't often look at during the Ofest period.
Sunday was the Big O where we had our reservation in the Hacker Festzelt, beer, chicken, songs.... great time.
Hope to see you all again next year!
Tour photos can be seen online.

During the tour we became very 'focussed' on hats and feathers, particularly the size of feathers in people hats! So lads and lasses, a message from Big Andy.....



The following shows the Malerei in Oberammergau, call it grafitti if you like! Oberammergau is a really cool place in the Bavarian Alps.



Cheers,
Andy

Bier-Mania! is running 5 Oktoberfest 2008 and Alps Special tours this year. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Oktoberfest 2009

Oktoberfest 2009, don't miss it!
Oktoberfest & Alps Special

Tour 1
Friday 18-Monday 21 September (MB-090921)
Tour 2
Tuesday 22-Friday 25 September (MB-090922)
Tour 3
Friday 25-Monday 28 September (MB-090925)
Tour 4
Tuesday29-Friday 02 October (MB-090929)
Tour 5
Friday 02-Monday 05 October (MB-091002)

These 4-day tours take in the Alps as well as Munich's Oktoberfest. More information can be found on our website. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

Oktoberfest 2009 Chickens and Beer!

If you do wish to go to Oktoberfest in Munich next year, please contact us as soon as possible, the sonner the better!
What's a koala beer doing with 2 Mass Kruges?
It was given to us when we met up with Kenneth Hart on his 10-day European Thirsty Swagman tour with a group from Australia, cheers Kenneth!
We also met Kenneth and his group at the weekend in Düsseldorf when we visited the 4 brewery-pubs there, hope you all had a great tour guys!
Cheers,
Andy

Oktoberfest 2008-It's Over!

Finally back from this year's 175th Munich Oktoberfest, great time and a total of 3 tours this year, the Fest ended on Sunday after 16 days and some 7 million litres later...we didn't drink all of them but we did contribute!
Our tours are not just about Munich's Oktoberfest, we also see the Alps where we spend a night at a rustic guesthouse then followed by a walkabout in Munich before we go to the Oktoberfest on the 3rd day of tours, works well!
All tours visited mad Ludwig's Neuschwanstein and Höhenschwangau Castles then we headed into Austria and around lake Plansee in the Austrian Alps, a gorgeous drive through some stunning scenery. Most tours we also stopped at the Benedict Ettaler Kloster, a monatery in the village of Ettal, they not only have a terrific church but also brew their own excellent beer as well of course making their own liquor and cheese!
The first night we stayed in the village of Oberammergau, well known for it's Passion Play when the villagers made a pact with God in 1633 and performed every 10 years since 1634.
After a few Maxbräus at the brew pub Maximillians, we ate at Johanna's Zum Stern Gasthaus, also our accommodation for the night.
On the first day of tours in Munich we went to the world renowned Hofbräuhaus for some beer and traditional Bavarian food, great atmsposphere and some good singing! This was followed by a much needed walkabout in Munich visiting sights such as-

• Altrathaus and the Glockenspiel on Marienplatz
• Theatrekirche and Odeonplatz
• Hofgarten
• The River Isar and Müllersvolksbad
• Englischegarten and Chinischeturm

Not only did we see the usual sights, we also went to beerhalls such as Schneider's Weisse Brauhaus on Talstrasse for some Weizen beer as well as Augustiner Bierhalle for their excellent Hell Lagerbier (featured in London later this week), Edelstoff, Dunkles and Weizen.
The last day of tours we had a tent reservation for around 6 hours in the Hacker Festzelt, not only a great atmosphere with over 60% of the 9000 revellers in traditional 'Trachten' dress but also one of the most authentic of the tents.
Overall a great time!
Cheers and maybe see you in London!
Bier-Mania!

Oktoberfest Update

Just returned from Munich and can report that the beer tents (Festzelt) are nearly completed ready for the start of the Oktoberfest in only 17 days time!

We currently have 8 places available at our beer tent on Sunday 28 September. There is one thing that potential candidates must know though-the words to a certain song!
Please email andy@bier-mania.com for more details of how to be at the largest Volksfest in the world!

The scene of the left is the main throughfare looking north, the scene will be rather different in 17 days time!

For more information see www.oktoberfest.de


Cheers,
Bier-Mania!

Oktoberfest 2008 Last Minute Bookings

Bookings for this year's Oktoberfest tours will end this Sunday 24 August!

Only 32 days to go.....
We have only a few places left.
Don't wait another 12 months!

Oktoberfest Training-Part 1-Song-In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus

Hope everyone is looking forward to the 175th Otoberfest this year.
As part of your Oktoberfest Training Package, it is imperative that you learn certain things before the Big O.
We recommend that you sing this very quietly at first and gradually build up to a higher volume.

In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus
Good luck, one two, three.....

In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus: Eins, zwei, ... g'suffa!
Da läuft so manches Fäßchen aus: Eins, zwei, ... g'suffa!
Da hat so manche braver Mann: Eins, zwei, ... g'suffa!
Gezeigt was er so vertragen kann
Schon früh am Morgen fing er an
Und spät am Abend kam er heraus
So schön ist's im Hofbräuhaus.

In English this would sound something like this...

In Munich stands a Hofbräuhaus: one, two ... cheers!
There run out so many steins: one, two ... cheers!
There are so many brave men: one, two ... cheers!
Show what he can endure
Already early in the morning he begins
And late at night he comes out
So beautiful it is in the Hofbräuhaus!

You can see sort of how it goes at the Hofbräuhaus. Oh dear!
Cheers,
Andy

Oktoberfest Tours Bookings

Bookings for this year's Oktoberfest tours will end on Sunday 24 August!

So book your places now and avoid disappointment, we have only a few places left.
Don't wait another 12 months!

Our first Oktoberfest tour starts on Friday 19 September.
Oktoberfest 2008 kicks off on Saturday 20 September and finishes on Sunday 05 October.
Cheers,
Andy Bier-Mania!