Oktoberfest to tackle stink of stale beer with microbe Published duration 17 September 2010

image caption More than six million litres of beer were consumed at last year's Oktoberfest

Organisers of Munich's Oktoberfest have unveiled a new addition for its 200th anniversary - a microbe which eliminates the stench of stale beer.

The bacteria, Elbomex, will be poured on the floorboards of tents at the beer festival, which begins on Saturday.

This year's Oktoberfest is the first since a smoking ban came into force in Bavaria.

Without the smell of tobacco smoke, organisers fear the stink of lager will be unbearable.

More than six million litres of beer are expected to be drunk at the event.

'Bad smell'

Elbomex is produced by a Bavarian company which sells commercial dishwashers.

It is sold as a tool in rejuvenating soil, yet the company's website also promotes its use in covering up foul smells found near cess pools, wastewater treatment facilities, compost heaps and barn stables.

Publicans hope it will freshen up the atmosphere at the world most famous beer festival and persuade punters to keep downing the traditional litre mugs of lager.

"The nightclub owners say the smell has become very bad since the smoking ban was enforced," said Ricky Steinberg, the manager of the Hofbrau tent.

He told Munich's Merkur newspaper that he already started testing the bacteria last year, with good results.

In July, voters in Bavaria cast ballots in favour of a state-wide ban on smoking that went into effect in August.

There is an exception for Oktoberfest until 2011, but organisers want to conduct a test run of the smoking prohibition during the event, which runs from 18 September to 4 October.