I’ve never been a fan of beer. I drink anything from cider to wine to cocktails to whiskey and tequila shots. I even drink moonshine. Homemade moonshine.
But I was just not into beer. Maybe because I was traumatized in college when most of my formative beer drinking days happened. Typically, it included disgusting cheap keg beers.
So when I traveled to Munich for Oktoberfest last year, I went all in! At first, my friends were skeptical about me in Oktoberfest. Their bets were on me and my unfinished glasses of beer.
But life is full of surprises.
Let’s retrace my steps a little before the scenario above happened.
For a non-beer lover like me, going to Oktoberfest in Munich was the best thing I did for my boozy lifestyle. I should’ve done it sooner! I’ve been missing out!! The crazy atmosphere just added more value to my beer journey. I was able to explore different kinds of GOOD beer, went to one beer garden after another, and shared tables with beer loving strangers. It was amazing.
It was honestly the best place for an amateur beer drinker like me to suck it up and binge. I didn’t want to be the party-pooper or the loser who cannot handle a big stein. It was also the one place I can just let loose and keep drinking beer. It was a no-judgment zone.
I LOVE OKTOBERFEST!
For some reason, my taste buds like European beer. Specifically, German beer. I can make countless theories why but let’s not dwell on those. I think my taste buds are just used to the best of the best. Ok, maybe not BUT I’m really happy that I didn’t waste any of that good quality German beer.
So for all you non-beer drinkers who are having second thoughts about going to Oktoberfest, just go. If you have to give beer a chance (or a second chance), Oktoberfest would be the perfect place to do it. That’s what I did and I left Germany with a new outlook in life. Fine, a new outlook in beer.
I’m not going to say I learned to love beer. I am going to say that since then, I’ve been more open with trying a glass of local beer in my travels. Now that Oktoberfest is upon us again, let us all have a glass of beer. As if you need another reason!
PROST!
Jen is a Chicago-based traveler and creative. She is a full-time development & communications executive specializing in non-profit organizations. Originally from the East Coast, she created The Jetsetter as a place to share her travel stories and photos with friends and family. Now, it is a place for adventurers and dreamers. Its purpose is to inspire and encourage busy professionals to see the world and achieve a better work-life balance.
Awesome, I’m going in a few weeks, is there lots more to do?
YES! There is a whole program from parades to open-air music concerts and shows. It’s not just for adults, there’s an amusement park with fun rides and roller coasters. Check out my other Oktoberfest post: http://angelofwanderlust.com/2014/10/11/overview-oktoberfest-in-munich/
Hope that helps. When are you going? I love Oktoberfest!
I am going at the end of September 🙂 all expenses trip courtesy of my job 🙂
Nice!!! Free trips are the best! I will be in Europe at the end of September as well. Gonna be there for about a month!
Cool
Where abouts?
Spain, Portugal, Southern France, London, maybe Dublin (I haven’t decided yet for the last leg of the trip)