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How to get ready for Oktoberfest

September 15, 2015

Get in the Oktoberfest spirit with this series of little-known facts about Germany's beer culture, from hops to glasses, to how beer gardens all began.

Typical Bavarian meal, Copyright: Fotolia
Image: Fotolia

It's that time of the year again: Oktoberfest always starts in September.

From September 19 to October 4, Munich will be once again celebrating the joy of sharing beer.

This year, visitors can look forward to a snazzy multi-colored official beer mug, as well as some high-powered carnival rides and even beer-flavored ice cream.

Those who prefer to drink their beer instead of lick it, can click through this gallery of trivia on Germany's famous beverage.

This year, some 6.5 million visitors are expected to attend the festival - and consume 7.5 million liters of beer. The liter price has been raised to as much as 10.40 euros ($10.13).

Half a million roast chickens, 100 oxes and some 60,000 pork knuckles are expected to be eaten during the two-week event.

While heading to Munich, there's plenty for beer lovers to experience even outside of the Wies'n, the field equipped with tents and carnival rides where Oktoberfest is held every year.

Bavaria doesn't only host the world's most famous celebration of beer - it's also home to nearly half of Germany's nearly 1,300 breweries.

Watch this video for a personal tour of the Bavarian capital with a young man who is learning the age-old techniques of German-style brewing.

Three cool tips for Munich

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Click on the links below for lots more on German beer culture.

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