A trip to the Augustiner Keller in Munich for the Starkbierfest (Strong beer festival). First up, Maximator - a hefty dark brown, almost black sweet brew that weighed in at 7.5%. Then Edelstoff vom Holzfass - a typically dull Bavarian lager which did indeed visibly come from a wooden barrel but might as well have come out of a can for all the flavour that was imparted. Then another Maximator. Which might in retrospect have been a mistake. The only size available for any of the brews was a Mass - a litre - but they were pretty good value at around €8 a pop.
The Bavarians may not have much imagination when it comes to brewing beer (or indeed dress - Lederhosen and Dirndls de rigeur - or music - oompah bands obligatory) but they don't faff around when it comes to drinking. The point is, very clearly, to get you pissed.