OK, I admit wavering on my goal; but only for the best of reasons – my health.  The steady, relentless consumption of beer has started to weigh a little heavy on me.

But first, let me describe the self-imposed rules of the endeavor:

– It is 100 different beers; repeats don’t count toward the total.

– It must be an honest taste, not a sip.  This means at least a 1/4 of a beer (German beers are usually .5 liters).  On average, I have been drinking between 3/4 to a full beer at every go.

– Research is an integral part of the process.  If I don’t know what it is, I must find out.

– At all times I must strive to not get drunk.  So far so good… although I have been borderline “tipsy”.  The key to maintaining this point is pacing (starting early) and eating (consuming above-average quantities of food).

So back to my dilemma.  I can feel my body struggling a little.  Surely this is not healthy.  And what about my previously svelte waistline?  Will this lead to American mid-westernizing of my stomach?  50 beers in 7 days is still a victory is it not?

But that’s the rub… 50 beers in 7 days just doesn’t have that ring to it.  One of the reasons I committed to this undertaking is my respect for stories. When I am old and grey, what else will I have?  How else will I define the years?  Isn’t the past but a vast library populated by average books?  Isn’t it our duty to insert as many great tales as possible?  I think so.

But I wax poetic.  Thankfully, while I wavered on the fence my wife came along and pushed me over:

WIFE: “You cannot be a quitter.  If you set a goal for yourself you must accomplish it, no matter how foolhardy.  Imagine this task as if it were every task you set yourself.”

And so, we push forward…

Today’s beer tally:

50. Franziskaner Weissbier Naturtrüb, b

51. Eku Pils, b

52. Kapuzinier Weizen Dunkel, b

53. Warsteiner Premium Verum, b

54. Felson Bräu Weihnachts Bier, b

55. Aktien Zwick’l Kellerbier. b

56. Kulmbacher Edelherb Premium Pils, b

57. Hetzelsdorfer Weihnachts-Festbier, b

58. Die Franken Halbe Helles Vollbier, b

59. Neumarkter Lammsbräu zzzisch Edel Pils, b

— Loscher Premium Pilsner, b

60. Spalter Bier Helles Vollbier, b

*Note: b=bottle, d=draft

Beer for breakfast (it’s all about the pacing)…

…followed by a day trip to Bamberg.

Bamberg

I THINK I TOOK A BAZILLION PICTURES IN BAMBERG. It made my top ten list of the most beautiful cities I’ve visited. Bamberg is embraced by charming landscape, populated by amazingly preserved buildings and blessed by graceful architecture, but the one quality that left the strongest impression on me was its “livability”. Yes, people actually live there. Children walk the streets, choirs practice, elders sip wine in their favorite watering hole. It didn’t have that touristy, I-only-work-here feel to it like some other places I’ve been. But hey, this blog isn’t called MY BAMBERGIAN ADVENTURE so let’s get to the meat of it. In this case… Rauchbier.

Rauchbier is defined by Wikipedia as “smoked beer” – a type of beer with a distinctive smoke flavor imparted by using malted barley dried over an open flame. The Rauchbiers of Bamberg in Germany, Schlenkerla in particular, are the best-known of the smoked beers.

After a day of exploring the city (a world UNESCO site by the way), we were exhausted and hungry.  It seemed every eating establishment we tried was closed.  Finally, we stumbled across a small, unassuming tavern that was serving food.  At that point they could have served us warmed-over roadkill and we would have been happy.  Lucky for us, we had unwittingly discovered an eating venue that would perfectly exemplify the best of regional food and drink.

My glorious meal

I ordered pork belly with Sauerkraut and potato dumpling… and of course, my first smoked beer: Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier.

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier

Today’s beer tally:

39. Weltenburger Kloster Barock Dunkel, b

40. St. Georgen Bräu Kellerbier vom fass, d

41. St. Georgen Bräu Pils vom fass, d

42. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier vom fass, d

43. St. Georgen Bräu Hefeweizen vom fass, d

44. Weltenburger Urtyp Hell, b

45. Krug-Bräu Breitenlesau Weihnachtsbier, b

46. Engel First Lady Spezial-Bier, b

47. Engel Weissbierpils, b

48. Engel Bock Hell, b

49. Brauhaus Altenkunstadt Steinbier Original, b

*Note: b=bottle, d=draft

Christkindelsmarkt (Christ child market) is a long-standing tradition in Germany.  Christmas markets have been documented as far back as the 1300’s.  We were lucky enough to sample both the Frankfurt market and the Nuremberg market.  The Nuremberg market is one of the most popular in Germany attracting between 1.5 and 2 million visitors a year.

Nuremberg Christkindelsmarkt

OK, enough of the Wikipedia regurgitation; here are my first hand observations: Jam packed with Glühwein-guzzling Germans and tourists it’s really something to see.  Most of the booths are authentic – selling traditional treats, drinks and crafts.  Very few sold anything that felt cheap or “commercial”.

I was surprised how “social” it all felt, like it was just some great big excuse to meet, drink and be merry.  I was particularly amazed to notice barely a phone or PDA in sight.  Had this been a Toronto event, half the revelers would have some techno-device attached to their face.  I actually felt a little self-conscious brandishing my iPhone – like some crass “Ami” (American).

Tucher’s addition to the merriment comes in the form of their Christ-Kindlesmarkt Bier.

Today’s beer tally:

30. Loscher Pils Premium, b

31. Spalter Premium Pils vom fass, d

32. Spalter Export Dunkel, d

33. Zirndorfer Landbier, b

34. Tucher Hefeweizen vom fass, d

35. Tucher Kristallweizen, b

36. Tucher Pils vom fab, d

37. Ubersee Export vom fab, d

38. Tucher Christ-Kindlesmarkt Bier, b

*Note: b=bottle, d=draft

Today’s beer tally:

21. Turmherren Urhell, b

22. Zirndorfer Kellerbier Naturtrub, b

23. Kulmbacher Monchshof Weihnachts Bier, b

24. Veldensteiner Festbier, b

25. Weltenburger Kloster Asam Bock, b

26. Losch-Zwerg Wurzig Lagerbier, b

27. St. Georgen Bräu Buttenheim Helles, b

28. Gutmann Dunkles Hefeweizen, b

29. Felson Brau Solarbier Felsentrunk, b

*Note: b=bottle, d=draft

various "festbiers"

TODAY I HAD MY FIRST WEIHNACHTSBIER.  “Weihnachten” is German for Christmas.  Weihnachtsbier (sometimes called Festbier, Starkbier, Winterbier) is a seasonal brew intended to provide the winter-inflicted body with a more substantial quaff.  It’s normal for these beers to pack a 6 – 8 % alcoholic punch.  In Bavaria, winter is sometimes refered to as starkbierzeit – strong beer time.  You gotta love that!

BUYING-BEER-AT-THE-MARKT-STRATEGY:  In truth it is still early days in my education of German beers.  With my wife and her aunt grabbing bottles willy-nilly and sliding them into the plastic beer case I was forced to think on my feet lest I find myself with an error to compete with my Day 2 blunder.  Quickly I announced two rules: “The smaller the better” (although I wasn’t holding my breath as most everything appeared to be dressed in half-litre bottles) and “no well-known brands” (like Becks or Löwenbräu) as I surmised that I might very well find myself at the Frankfurt airport on my last day, red-nosed and bloated, desperately racing from one tiny airport bar to the next trying to consume the final beers to achieve my goal – and finding only the well-known exports.

Today’s beer tally:

16. Turmherren Pilsner , b

17. Kostritzer Schwarzbier, b

18. Staffelberg-Braun Leffelder-Dunkel, b

19. Breznak Original Bohmisch Pils, b (Czech)

20. Erdinger Weissbrau Dunkel, b

*Note: b=bottle, d=draft

TRIPLE STARS FOR TURMHERREN PILSNER.  Without question my favorite beer so far.  With the typical crispness expected in a proper pilsner but with an additional “earthyness” that makes it refreshingly different.

NOTE THAT TODAY MARKED MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH MR. SCHWARZBIER.  A tip of the hat goes to my wife’s cousin Peter for the introduction.  Mr. Schwarzbier proved to be a very palatable companion and after meeting him I felt obliged to research his background.  I came across a very informative site called tastings.com which had the following to say:

BEER FACT: Schwarz Beer (black beer), originally brewed in Thuringia, a state in eastern Germany, these lager style brews were known to be darker in color than their Munich counterparts.  Often relatively full-bodied, rarely under 5%ABV, these beers classically feature a bitter chocolate, roasted malt note and a rounded character.  Hop accents are generally low.  This obscure style was picked up by Japanese brewers and is made in small quantities by all of Japan’s major brewers.  Schwarz beers are not often attempted by US craft brewers.

For the full article go here:

http://www.tastings.com/beer/lagers.html

My impression of the beer?  Yummy (see, I told you I wasn’t very technical).

My wife and I drove from Frankfurt to Nuremberg in our rental Citroen Picasso hatchback.  No beer today.

I’m fearful – one day of abstinence will only add to my burden.  Did I say burden?  It’s only day three and somehow my adventure has turned into a burden?

Disaster strikes!  While I was gleefully entering the title of my latest barley beverage conquest I was surprised to see that my iphone was providing a spelling suggestion.  How could this be?  Surely “Schofferhofer” isn’t part of my iphone’s built-in dictionary?  That’s when the awful truth dawned on me – I had already entered the word.  A glance at the previous day`s fallen soldiers verified my worst fear:  “Schofferhofer Dunkles Hefeweizen b” was nestled smugly between “Schoferhoffer Hefeweizen d” and “Krusovice Cerne d”.  For one whose goal is 100 beers in 14 days this was  a setback of enormous proportions.  Point five glorious liters of uncountable, duplicated, same-as-yesterdays-seventh-bier-of-the-day hoppiness was staring me in the face; a tall, dark sentient thing, cooly indifferent to my predicament…

Today’s beer tally:

9. Henninger Pilsner, d

10. Kulmbacher Pils Von Fads, d

11. Naturtrubes Bier, d (specific type unknown)

12. Hefeweizen Hell, d (specific type unknown)

13. Binding Pilsner

— Schofferhofer Dunkles Hefeweizen, b

14. John Smith’s Ale, d  (England)

15. Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale Draught, d  (Ireland)

— Krusovice Cerne, d (Czech)

*Note: b=bottle, d=draft, “—” before the beer means an accidental repeat and thus the beer cannot be counted! Aargh!

BEER FACT: Look up the German word for “storage” and you will get lagerung. Thank the Germans for this glorious word – Lager is a type of beer that is stored for at least three weeks before being served, often chilled.  It is a general term that includes several variations or styles, such as Pilsener, Export and Märzen.  The most common form is pale lager.

Before I get to the fearsome Paulaner Creature, I must comment on the first casualty of my holy campaign: Radeberger Pilsner.  Located conveniently in our hotel mini-bar, Mr. Radeberger Pilsner was a welcome jetlag-fighting refreshment; crisp and clean, he was a soldier of good character.

The first soldier

Frankfurt’s Paulaner Restaurant was a perfect introduction to German gastronomy.  I was prepared to be disappointed as I’ve had previous encounters with German cuisine that were, let’s just say, less than successful.  Fortunately, my wife and I were more than pleasantly surprised.  I ordered a Bratwurst dish (a regional specialty whose specific name has escaped me) and I enjoyed every iota of its Deutschland goodness.

It was also the perfect location to begin the barley beverage crusade.  I tried a Hell (pale lager), a Pilsener, a Hefe-Weissbier (unfiltered wheat beer) and a Dunkel (dark beer).

Today’s beer tally:

1. Radeberger Pilsner, b

2. Paulaner Original Munchner Hell, d

3. Paulaner Premium Pils, d

4. Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtrub, d

5. Paulaner Original Munchner Dunkel, d

6. Schofferhofer Hefeweizien, d

7. Schofferhofer Dunkles Hefeweizen, b

8. Krusovice Cerne, d (Czech)

*Note: b=bottle, d=draft

Oh yeah, for the Paulaner Creature watch this video:

Let me begin by saying that when it comes to beer I am no expert.  Terms like “hoppy” and “malty” are fairly abstract and do not bring to tongue any specific liquescent memory.  Hopefully, by the end of my crusade in Germany, I will be able to be a bit more technical in my observations.

What you need to know:  My wife and I leave Toronto Canada for two weeks of Christmas fun with her family in Germany.  Her main goal: to reconnect with her relatives during a special time of year.  My main goal: to reconnect with her relatives during a special time of year and taste 100 different beers in two weeks. 

The big question in my mind is: “Can I do it?”  The small question in my mind is: “Will I get sick?”

B. Hunter

In choosing the seasonal beers for my Beers of Winter article, I employed techniques from several scientific fields, including aerodynamic engineering (how else was I supposed to calculate my maximum speed when traveling from the liquor store to my fridge?). Ah, who am I kidding? I just chose the beers with the coolest labels. Which brings up a fascinating question: Do pretty labels mean better beer?

You’re not going crazy; the question seems stupid only because it is. Yet we judge books by their covers every day, and not just when the books have beer inside of them. Our world bombards us with advertising, and in the world of marketing, presentation is everything. Even I, beer(ein)stein, have purchased beers based on the appeal of their packaging.

The real question is, does the label make a difference? Before I give the short, logical answer (“of course not”), I’ll provide a broad suggestion about discerning the good from the bad by looking at the label. First, if a beer brandishes a flashy label covered with stuff that resembles Windows 98 clipart, it’s probably an adjunct lager like Bud Light or Natty Ice. These labels also usually lack any information about the actual liquid inside. It’s just “beer.” Craft breweries, however, often use one of two styles: those that showcase a unique sense of style and creativity, and those that look a bit crude or cheap or even like an afterthought. Should we assume that breweries who pay more attention to their packaging might also put extra effort into crafting better beer?

With this question in mind, I went with my wife to a local liquor store. She’s a skilled photographer who studied graphic design in school — and she likes pretty stuff, so her guidance seemed invaluable to my experiment. Together we surveyed hundreds of bottles. Our conclusion? Some beer labels look good, others look gross. Impressed, Watson? Just wait. This articles still has time to become more pointless.

OK, some labels rubbed us the wrong way. Anderson Valley, Hoppin’ Frog, Moylan’s … on each, the label-work seemed lazy, recycling the same elements on every bottle. And don’t get me started on imports such as Unibroue, whose labels look like ‘80s fantasy novel covers. This is all based on personal preference, of course. For example, I interviewed some buyers who disliked Flying Dog’s Gonzo-themed labels, but several others would make you bleed for insulting Ralph Steadman’s art. But here’s the M. Night-style twist: Each of those breweries makes great beer!

Now that you’re good and confused, I’ll complete my experiment by drinking the beer I bought at the liquor store. Fade to Black is an export stout from Left Hand Brewing, a brewery I’ve subconsciously snubbed until now because I didn’t like their labels. But this new seasonal beer inflamed my interest with its etched black and white artwork and Gothic lettering. The ale inside also enchants; it pours bulletproof black with a compact, light-mocha head that exhales coffee and roasted wood. Chocolaty malt sweetness and darkly toasted bread hit the palate first, followed by an onslaught of burnt espresso beans and smoke. Even the aftertaste evokes freshly brewed coffee.

In conclusion, my research suggests that some good beers have good labels, while labels on others are ugly as sin. On the other hand, some bad beers have good labels. And other bad beers … bad labels. Or something. Let’s look at this a different way. Instead of picking the prettiest bottle, take a look at what’s written on those labels. Does it name a style like dunkel or wheatwine or bière de garde? Does it list ingredients, alcohol content, or IBUs? If you see at least a few of those items (or others, e.g., info about specific gravity or degrees Plato) somewhere on the label, it’s a good sign that the brewers are serious about beer, regardless of their proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite. Respect brewers who respect beer and you’ll always drink the good stuff.

Blättert man in diversen Katalogen auf die dunkle Szene spezialisierter (obwohl das schn fast ein Oxymoron ist) Onlineshops, stechen zwei Bekleidungsstile hervor, zwei unleidliche Extreme. Die einzigen als alltagstauglich einzustufenden Stücke sind letztendlich einfach schwarze Blusen oder T-Shirts, aufgepeppt mit einer gelangweilten Rüsche, einem umheimlich subversiven Emily the Strange Aufdruck oder einem - wenn er doch zu Staub zerfiele ! -  Totenkopfemblem. Der Gegenpol wird von Tops und durchsichtigen, corsagen-artigen Gebilden repräsentiert, für die sich keine Domina schämen müsste – selbst zu Events ist ein Großteil davon eher ungeeigent. Dazu müsste man das WGT in den Hochsommer verschieben, dann würde aber auch die Latex/Lack-Fraktion ihre Ästhetik einbüßen, von barock inspirierten Damen mit mehrere Unterröcken ganz zu schweigen. Für letztere dürfte dieser Bekleidungstrend allerdings auch keine Bedeutung haben. Für die anderen…vielleicht sind mit SEX beschriftete Halsbänder und Boleros zum BH vorzeigen tatsächlich weniger dem Mainstream zuzuordnen und stattdessen auf feinsinnige Weise gesellschaftskritischere Phänomene als dies der Fall zu sein scheint (..?). Was daran aber auch nur ansatzweise verbindend zu irgendeinem Aspekt, den man gemeinhin als “gothic” deklarieren könnte, ergibt sich mir nicht.

Wings of Sirus – by someday-evermore

Lichtflügel

Lichtflügel
Lichte Flügel
Flügellicht leicht
Licht erreicht
Herz entweicht
Flügelmüde
Im Dunkeln
Reicht

Barbara

As today is Thanksgiving and, by most standards, the start of the ‘holiday season’, I thought I’d give this Texas brewery’s holiday brew a chance. I’ll probably need a lot of them once the Christmas carols start in earnest, a month before the actual day arrives.

Spoetzl Brewery
Shiner, TX
Holiday Cheer

The color is deep copper – almost garnet, and the head rushes up the confined base of the weizen glass and creates a tan pillow at the rim.

Caused little cheer in the house of the Brew Yorker

The nose is somewhat diaper-like, but sweet, negating any unpleasant association. Certainly, the peaches that Shiner claims to add are evident in the nose and create much of the very sweet, but not saccharine, aroma. There is no real hint of wheat, though perhaps more than an inkling of hops. The brew is supposedly a Dunkel and supposedly has pecans in it as well, but the sweetness overwhelms any hint at nutty or roasty notes.

The mouthfeel is reasonably good – full, to start – but gives way to a thinner fruity spread. The sip is surprisingly complex with a semblance of hop character on the sides of the tongue and a malt-coating quality. The initial peach-and-apricot flavor overwhelms the finish but, after a few slightly squeamish sips, settles down a bit to let the rest of the brew come out.

There might be an inkling of pecans in the top of the palate, but it is quickly washed away in a flood of soft, pitted fruits. The surest hints of a wheat beer are in the bubbles – the effervescence matches an active bottle-condition wheat, but there is no soapy banana and bubblegum touch; neither the tangy zest that you get when you sip a golden wheat nor the surprisingly buttery cleanliness of a dunkelweiss.

The beer would succeed more, I think, without the fruit essence spoiling the finish. This is more akin to Magic Hat #9 than any German dark wheat, and Spoetzl needs to tone down the sweetness. Try one, it’s not unpleasant. In fact, you may love it, but this one’s not for me.

Es gab mal wieder eine Sitzung und ich brauchte mal wieder weig, um mir auszudenken, was man darüber schreiben könne…. Ich schreibe jetzt hier einfach Zitate hin, die an dem Abend hätten fallen können oder gefallen sind (je nach dem; nciht extra gekennzeichnet)

Kann das Pferd eine Fackel tragen? Nein? Dann zünde ich den Schweif an.

Lasst das Pferd entscheiden, in welche der dunklen Höhlen wir wandern!

Warum müssen wir uns in dieser dunklen Höhle umgucken?

Wie kann ich bitte sehen, dass es künstliche Wände sind, wenn ich ganz hinten stehe? Ähm… Er hats dir gesagt.

Ich setze versengende Explosion ein! Du weißt aber schon, dass du nicht weißt, das er Feuerressistent 5 ist?

Klapp doch das Spielerbuch nicht zu!

Ich möchte meditieren. Du wurdest aber bereits erschlagen.

Du bist genau diese Felder gelaufen? Gut, dann passiert nichts.

Okay… die anderen Felder springe ich! Das geht nicht! Doch! Begegnunsaktion springen.

Tiergarten Hannover

Im weiten Felde stirbt der Tag.
In Schatten harrt die müde Welt,
Was nun mit ihr geschehen mag,
Eh’ Mond und Stern die Nacht erhellt.

Im Felde steht ein alter Baum.
Nun, da das letzte Licht verblich,
Erwacht er, wie aus einem Traum.
Er dehnt und streckt im Dunkel sich,

Und wächst empor und löst sich los
Und breitet seine Arme weit,
Und wird im Dunkel riesengroß
Und dunkler als die Dunkelheit.

Und hat kein Maß und wächst empor
Bis durch des Himmels heiliges Zelt:
Da quillt das Silber draus hervor
Und rieselt auf die klare Welt…

(Hugo Salus)

Findet heute der Tiefpunkt der Woche in Wunderbärchens Leben statt? floskel4. Kurz nach Ankunft bei der Arbeit wurde es düster auf der Praktikanteninsel. Zuerst die Nachricht, dass die Nachbarien krank im Bett liegt, gefolgt von Chefin´s 1000 Mails, die Wunderbärchens ganze gestalterische Arbeit von letzter Woche (zum Thema ERFOLG!) zum versiegen brachten. Soll nun tatsächlich alles nochmals neu aufgebaut werden?? Die ganze NGW?? floskel2, die Frage bleibt im Raum stehen.

Wunderbärchen denkt sich nur floskel11 und und fühlt sich wie floskel15. Nach ersten Gesprächen mit der Chefin, wir versuchen das Mailchaos aufzuklären, liegt schliesslich ein Hoffnungsschimmer am Himmel, Wunderbärchen erholt sich vom Schock.

floskel17

Die Chefin gibt schliesslich dem Wunderbärchen eine gaaanz andere Aufgabe, sie soll sich mit der neuen Videokamera vertraut machen. Das Aussehen der Kamera erinnert uns übrigens mehr an eine Pistole, als an eine Kamera.. (“Hände hoch oder ich filme!!!“wagt man glatt zu sagen.)“

Die Stimmung auf der Praktikanteninsel bleibt trüb, auch cinzelinskis Aufmunterungsversuche nützen nichts, um die Insel aufzuhellen. floskel5

Nach einem genüsslichen schweizerischen Mittagessen (Hörnli & Ghackets mit Öpfelmues) scheint sich die Stimmung auf der Insel und im Meer zu verbessern. Vielleicht liegts aber einfach am Koffein und der Ansicht, dass der Tag nun doch schon halb um ist. floskel2

Das Wunderbärchen hat seine gestalterische Arbeit auf jedenfall wieder aufgenommen und macht in gewohnter Ruh und gewohntem Fleiss weiter. Das freut besonders cinzelinski. Auch die Hoffnung über Nachbariens morgige Rückkehr lässt die Insel aufhellen.

cinzelinski freut sich auf heute abend, um mit dem Wunderbärchen im Nirgendwo den heutigen Tag zu begiessen und schliesslich auch zu vergessen. Das Wunderbärchen kann sich dann gedanklich bereits auf die bevorstehende Reise gen Süden nach Stuttgart vorbereiten, dann ist es bestimmt wieder auf dem Aufweg!

…es die “dunkle Jahreszeit” genannt wird, wenn Du um 14:45 schon das Zimmerlicht anschalten musst!

003 Als niemand niemand war.

Dann war ich ein spiegel und ich existierte nur in meiner eigenen welt meiner mir eigenen vorstellung meiner mir eigenen wirklichkeit. Doch schon bald rief mich das nichts aus meinem traum, zog mich aus der tiefe des nirgendwann, in eine welt, eine sonderbare, eine seltsame welt, und weil es damals diese welt nicht gab, weil es damals nichts gab das sich in mir hätte spiegeln, das sich mir hätte einbilden können, bildete ich mir ein nichts zu sein, nicht zu sein, niemand zu sein! So stellte sich mein spiegel vor, bildete sich mir mein spiegel ein, mein spiegel den es niemals gab, niemals gab, niemand kannte diesen spiegel, keiner, niemand wusste von mir, niemand nicht einmal im entferntesten hatten sie jemals von mir gehört, glaubten mir kein wort, keiner bildete sich mir ein, niemand, niemand unterhielt sich mit mir, denn es war niemals zeit.

… und dann. Dann erweckten sie mich aus meinem traum, erschreckten mich aus meiner fantasie, beschworen meinen spiegel aus nirgendwann, flüchteten und fürchteten sich vor mir, vor meiner gewaltigen fantasie, vor meinem gefängnis für die ewig ewigkeit. Ich sperrte diese spiegelgeister ein in meinem verstand. Dann sah ich das nichts und nichts mehr, tauschte verstand gegen fantasie, sie sperrten mich ein in eine zeit eine welt, in eine schwarze, schwarze dunkle welt, in eine kammer aus schwarzem, schwarzem glas. Nichts gab es in diesem glas, ausser schwarzem, schwarzem licht. Und grauen, grauen, grauenhaften buchstaben, welche niemand, niemals las.

003 Als niemand niemand war.

Dann war ich ein spiegel und ich existierte nur in meiner eigenen welt meiner mir eigenen vorstellung meiner mir eigenen wirklichkeit. Doch schon bald rief mich das nichts aus meinem traum, zog mich aus der tiefe des nirgendwann, in eine welt, eine sonderbare, eine seltsame welt, und weil es damals diese welt nicht gab, weil es damals nichts gab das sich in mir hätte spiegeln, das sich mir hätte einbilden können, bildete ich mir ein nichts zu sein, nicht zu sein, niemand zu sein! So stellte sich mein spiegel vor, bildete sich mir mein spiegel ein, mein spiegel den es niemals gab, niemals gab, niemand kannte diesen spiegel, keiner, niemand wusste von mir, niemand nicht einmal im entferntesten hatten sie jemals von mir gehört, glaubten mir kein wort, keiner bildete sich mir ein, niemand, niemand unterhielt sich mit mir, denn es war niemals zeit.

… und dann. Dann erweckten sie mich aus meinem traum, erschreckten mich aus meiner fantasie, beschworen meinen spiegel aus nirgendwann, flüchteten und fürchteten sich vor mir, vor meiner gewaltigen fantasie, vor meinem gefängnis für die ewig ewigkeit. Ich sperrte diese spiegelgeister ein in meinem verstand. Dann sah ich das nichts und nichts mehr, tauschte verstand gegen fantasie, sie sperrten mich ein in eine zeit eine welt, in eine schwarze, schwarze dunkle welt, in eine kammer aus schwarzem, schwarzem glas. Nichts gab es in diesem glas, ausser schwarzem, schwarzem licht. Und grauen, grauen, grauenhaften buchstaben, welche niemand, niemals las.

Last Saturday, after the Texas game, I made the 45 minute trek to New Braunfels to experience the Wurstfest. This was a festival of German culture. Crucial to that culture would appear to be food and beer. And there were plenty of both at Wurstfest – along with some good times and great polka music. The festival was packed full of thirsty people looking for fun!

Drink tickets were worth their weight in gold.

The beer selection there was adequate, with I think around five or six different varieties of German beers, alongside the domestic standards. Getting your hands on these beers became quite a task as the night fell. You had to purchase beer tickets, for a dollar a ticket. Six tickets (dollars) got you a 12 ounce cup of imported beer and a whopping 25 tickets purchased a pitcher.

Learning the right phrases.

The place was packed so getting a new round was a guaranteed 25 or 30 minute wait to boot. After getting the beer or food and sitting down with friends, the good times could then roll. There were hundreds of tables inside tents with polka music jamming. Me and my friends could not find a table, so we relaxed on the hillside, by the river. It is there that I taste tested a couple beers:

Very fashionable.

Warsteiner Dunkel: This beer was pretty average, brewed by Warsteiner. It was was a little hoppy and somewhat flat. 2.5 out of 5 mugs on the Austin Brew Scale.

Warsteiner KL Weiss: This was my favorite beer from the Wurstfest. It was more aggressive and hoppy. I give it 3.5 out of 5 mugs.

Spaten Oktoberfest: This was another good beer, brewed by Spaten. For some reason it seemed a little lighter than the other two, but it was very crisp. 3 out of 5 mugs.

The most fun part of the festival for me wasn’t the ubiquitous beer, it was the fun and friendly atmosphere – everyone was smiling and for some reason, many people were wearing odd hats. So make sure to check out Wurstfest when it comes back in town next year!