Durban - If you’re going to be the “round-getter” at this month’s Bierfest, you might want to challenge the world record for carrying mugs of beer.
In Bavaria, home to Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest beer festival, Oliver Struempfel cradled 31 beer-filled
tankards stacked up in two tiers, walked 40m and then set them down.
But two tipped over at the last minute, so the record is 29 jugs, or more than 69kg of beer and glass.
“I first did 27, because I wanted to be sure and then at the end I said, ‘Let’s add another one and get over 30’,” Struempfel said. “Unfortunately it didn’t quite work, but having managed to put 29 down… I think it’s amazing.”
To prepare for the attempt, Struempfel said, he trained at the gym three to four times a week since February.
“When I think about it, it’s 200 hours for about 40 seconds of walking,” he said after the weekend feat.
He had set the previous world record of 25 jugs in 2014. – Reuters
German Oliver Struempfel set a world record in carrying one litre beer mugs over a distance of 40m last Sunday. Struempfel carried 29 mugs. Picture: Reuters
Fab festival facts
- It spans more than 103ha of land, attracts about 7 million people and sells close to 280 000 sausages every year. Here are some facts associated with Munich's Oktoberfest.
- Record-busting beer sales: In 2011, Oktoberfest set a new record for the most beer consumed at the festival – 7.5 million litres. The average hovers between 6 and 7 million litres each year. Other beverages are also served. Last year this included 1.1 million litres of water and lemonade, nearly 300 000 litres of tea and coffee, and 95 000 litres of wine.
- lThat special Munich brew: The beer at Oktoberfest is exclusively brewed for the festival by six local breweries. Called Märzen beer, it takes its name from the month of March (März) as it was traditionally the last beer to be brewed before the summer. It was brewed as a slightly stronger beer to ensure its freshness come autumn when it would be served at the festival. This tradition eventually became a standard for Oktoberfestbiers.
- lThe Einstein connection: The story goes that Munich resident Albert Einstein helped electrify one of the tents at the 1896 Oktoberfest when he worked in his family’s electrical business. He was 17. Stories abound of Einstein introducing the first electric lighting to the festival, but these have been refuted, with the official Oktoberfest resource claiming the festival was first electrified in 1885 (which would have made him six at the time).
- lA wedding anniversary you’ll never forget: Oktoberfest has its roots in the public festivities and horse races held to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The celebrations were held at the local festival grounds, and included a tent for the king serving beer and wine. – Staff Reporter
The TOPS at SPAR Bierfest, presented by The Independent on Saturday, takes place on September 29 and 30 at Sibaya Sun Park in Durban.