Bavarian Bier Calendar

In Bavaria, the changing of the seasons is just as much determined by the rhythm of the brew as it is by the rhythm of the weather. As the snow begins to melt in the spring, the Bavarians start dreaming about Bier garden time. However, since it is still much too cold to enjoy a liter in the open air, they have the party indoors, and the brews for the occasion are the malty, strong, heart- and belly-warming Bockbier and Doppelbock. This annual two-week celebration always falls in the Lenten period and is called “Starkbierzeit,” which means Strong Bier Season.

To banish the last of the winter blues, the Bavarians stage another celebration in April, during which they commemorate the glories of Bavarian Bier itself. The opener is the Bavarian Bier Day, followed by a week-long party fittingly called Bavarian Bier Week.

During the summer, Bavarians hold no Bier celebrations — or just one, depending on your point of view. As soon as the days get longer, the trees blossom, and the temperature rises to the human comfort zone, Bavarians head for their beloved Bier gardens ... where they spend their spare time in joyous outdoor togetherness until September. There are no organized Bier fests during the summer, simply because there is no need for one. In May, the Bier of choice in the Bier gardens may be a blond Maibock, a brew that is as hefty as an amber Lenten Bockbier, but as golden as a Pils. As the days get warmer, the Biers get lighter. At summer’s peak, it’s time for the classic Bavarian straw-blond lager, the Helles, the quaffing Bier of summer time.

As soon as the chill of fall is in the air, tents go up and the next Bier fest is just around the corner ... Oktoberfest. It starts near the end of September and ends in early October. The annual Munich Oktoberfest has become the world’s biggest party, and perhaps also the most famous one.

Bavarians take Christmas seriously. In many towns and cities, the traditional Christmas markets start shortly before the first day of Advent and last until Christmas Eve, December 24. Perhaps the most famous Christmas markets are in the old town of N�rnberg and right in downtown Munich. For this festive season, most Bavarian breweries come out with a special, seasonal strong Bier. These Festbiers are often very opaque to almost black, perhaps reminiscent of a Schwarzbier in color, but as strong as a Bockbier or a Doppelbock. These are the sort of Biers you want to sip slowly, with contemplation, in one of the cozy Bier halls while watching the snowflakes tumble past the window pane. They are nourishing brews which go well with some of Munich's hearty culinary specialties, such as baked pig's knuckle enveloped in coarsely ground sweet'n'spicy Bavarian mustard, and served with a bread dumpling.