Beer Tokens
Hi
A friend and I are heading to Oktoberfest this year. We will be arriving early on September 19th.
What time do you think we should head round to the tents to try and get seats?
Also, we are unsure where to purchase beer tokens. Are they readily available in the tents or do you buy them elsewhere?
Thanks
Philip
Reply by Marion
Hi Philip,
The 19th of September is the first day of Oktoberfest. The so-called Anstich to open the first barrel of beer is done at noon (12 a.m.) by the mayor of Munich in the Schottenhamel tent.
Before that time you won't get any beer, only soft drinks. And even after the Anstich it can take up to one hour until the waitress is finally bringing your beer, because everyone orders at the same time...
Therefore I would recommend to watch first the Festive Opening Procession and head afterwards to the Theresienwiese.
You don't have hurry, it might even be better to arrive there after 1 p.m., when everyone already had their first beer and the waitresses are more relaxed and faster.
You don't need to purchase beer tokens. They are only given to people with a reservation, because you have a minimum consumption of 2 beer and 1 chicken per person when making a reservation.
Don't buy tokens from strangers, as many of them are false !!
Beer is always paid in cash (around 8 Euro per Mass) and off course, it's readily available :-)