April 2006

Free Beer

Free Beer No, we’re not kidding. On April 24, between 11 am and 2 pm, beer, instead of water, will flow from the fountain at the Oskar-von-Miller Ring in Munich, and it’s free for all to go help themselves! The annual event marks “Bavarian Beer Day” (Tag des Bayerischen Biers), which is on April 23 and celebrates the passing of the famousof 1516. This law was introduced to limit the ingredients used in Bavarian beer to just four—water, malt, hops and yeast. Three sorts of beer—and—will be gushing from the fountain, although it is never revealed which local brewery is supplying the ale. The event marks the start of a week-long celebration of Bavaria’s most famous export, with a series of beer-related celebrations taking place around the region. For full details, seeThere’s more free beer up for grabs at the opening of this year’s Frühlingsfest on April 21. Get your share by heading to Theresienhöhe, outside the furniture shop XXXLutz, from 2:30 pm. From here, the official procession will head down the hill for the start of the annual festival, considered by many to be the little sister of the Oktoberfest. The celebrations at the Theresienwiese continue until May 7 and feature a number of events, including a musical firework extravaganza on April 28, a Harley Davidson gathering on May 6 and what is expected to be a Guinness Record-breaking Smart car convention on May 7. What’s more, both Augustiner and Paulaner will be erecting beer tents and serving fresh draft beer from wooden barrels. So good, it’s worth paying for…