Pre-Oktoberfest encounter

Australians and New Zealanders learn the hard way that Bavarian beer is very strong.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Oktoberfest began the day after we left Germany, but we learned that some folks cannot wait until then. When we visited Andechs monastery and brewery, we learned that it has become a tradition of nearly 1,500 Australians and New Zealanders to descend upon the brewery and have a "warmup" celebration in anticipation of the start of Oktoberfest on Saturday. Our tour guide was horrified as bunches of completely smashed kids (and most of them were around college-aged and early 20s, it seemed) stumbled down the walkway away from the monastery restaurant's huge outdoor drinking area.

I was very disappointed that the monastery allowed this "tradition" to develop there, and this was the first year that they had police and medical crew on hand in case anything got out of hand (we noticed that two ambulances left during our meal, but we're not sure if they were for alcohol poisoning or something else). No fights broke out, thank goodness, but in that area, you would have thought you were at a college party more than a monastery. The guide surmised that they were not prepared for the strength of the monastery's beer, which may be partly right... and the restaurant refused to serve Doppelbock Dunkel, its strongest beer, too. Regardless, this party had no business being on monastery grounds. And they're struggling with vocations there, too. Hmm....

The guide said the other 364 days of the year are quiet and beautiful and that this is something that has gotten more out of hand each year, so who knows if it will continue. The monastery is a very holy place and the brewery tour is fascinating. Both are must-sees when passing through this part of Bavaria. Just don't go the Thursday before the start of Oktoberfest.