It’s every drinker’s favorite holiday.
The annual drinking fest that was first popularized in Munich, Germany has slowly made its mark across the globe. Now, Oktoberfest — or what the locals call d'Wiesn — is one of the most beloved festivals in the world.
However, how to have the most fun during Oktoberfest while being safe is another matter. Welcome to your Oktoberfest survival guide.
Stay hydrated
This one should be obvious, but it’s worth the nag.
Drinking too much alcohol without getting in some H2O is a recipe for disaster. Water can slow down the alcohol absorption into our system, and guess what? That enables us to drink even more!
After all, Oktoberfest is two weeks long. The beer isn’t going anywhere and you’ll have plenty of time to chug away.
Fill your belly up with food
Just like drinking gallons of alcohol without sipping on water from time to time, drinking without munching on some food is also bad advice.
One of the best parts about Oktoberfest are the classic Bavarian dishes you’ll get to feast on. From German-style sausages, Bratwurst, Currywurst, and pork knuckles to sweets like chocolate-covered fruit skewers and apple fritters – they all deserve some high praise.
Trust us, few things taste as good as roasted chicken after a fresh stein of beer. Plus, it’ll help soak up the alcohol.
You can’t drink everything, do some research
Even if you were to have a separate stomach for alcohol, there’s only so much one can drink. There’s no doubt that vendors and breweries will be eager to offer you their most delicious beer.
The best Oktoberfest beers use rich malt and time-tested brewing techniques to deliver copper-colored lagers that are packed with flavor.
Research doesn’t mean going on the internet and looking for the exact beers you want to try. Sure, you can do that too. But research could also mean tasting it yourself and deciding what kind of beer you’d want more of.
Part of the fun is to try new styles and flavors. Ask for a light pour to test things out.
Which leads us to the next Oktoberfest survival tip…
Don’t be shy to dump out the beers you don’t like
It’s completely fine if a beer isn’t made to your liking. Maybe it lacks the tartness you usually look for or maybe it’s not sweet enough. Dump it out and get something else that you might find yourself enjoying more. Just don’t dump it in front of the brewer.
After all, beer is to be enjoyed. So what’s the point if you’re not enjoying it?
Soak in the vibes and make friends
The atmosphere in any Oktoberfest is absolutely immaculate. There will be people from all over the world coming together for this drinking festival. There’s drinking, dancing on benches and lots of party people.
In the midst of all that, there’s bound to be some drunken brawls. Stay out of it!
Dress the part
Most people will be dressed up on some level for the festival, and a large percentage will be decked out in full tracht (traditional) outfits: dirndls for women and lederhosen for men.
It’s not a must, but it adds to the fun. You can definitely wear regular clothes and still have a great time, but you might be depriving yourself of the whole Oktoberfest experience. Plus, dressing the part makes for much better photos.
Learn some phrases
Knowing the basics of Oktoberfest vocabulary is just going to add to your experience and make you look less like a tourist.
“O’zapft is!” simply means “It’s tapped!” It’s something you won’t say yourself, but it’s probably the most important phrase to know because no beer can be drunk before it is announced by the Mayor of Munich.
“Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa” which translates to “One, two, three, drink!”
“Prost!” which translates to “Cheers!”
Zicke zacke, zicke zacke, hoi hoi hoi! Have a great Oktoberfest and stay safe, everyone!