This could be you!

In 2020, the most famous Oktoberfest celebration in the world was canceled for just the 25th time in two centuries. And this year it’s canceled for the 26 time thanks to the resurgence of COVID-19.

But 2022 is still a go and Samuel Adams (the second largest craft brewery in the US) is sponsoring the trip of lifetime for five lucky winners and three of their friends.

The Why

Munich’s Oktoberfest may be the best beer drinking event is the world. In 2019 almost 17 million visitors attended the festival where they consumed more than 7.5 million liters of beer so this thing’s serious.

Oktoberfest started in 1810 when King Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria invited his subjects to celebrate the marriage of his son, Ludwig, to Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

Held in a pasture outside of Munich, which became known as Theresienwiese (‘Therese’s Meadow’) in honor of the new Crown Princess, the first gathering was a welcome respite for the war-torn nation.

Today that same land (15 acres now surrounded by a bustling German metropolis) is home to Munich’s annual Oktoberfest celebration although its scope and scale has changed considerably.

In addition to the 17 beer tents, all hosted by Munich breweries which provide their own take on the traditional Otoberfest beer, the world’s biggest beer festival now comes with countless food opportunities, music, museums, a petting zoo and amusement park rides. So this is like the Disneyland of beer-drinking on steroids.

But you won’t find Samuel Adams Oktoberfest beer if you’re lucky enough to win. Only beer conforming to the Reinheitsgebot, and brewed within the city limits of Munich, can be served at Munich’s celebration.

Only six breweries are allowed to serve beer at Munich’s Oktoberfest and they’ve all huge tents on the grounds where things get crazy. They’re all big names in Germany and none of them are youngsters.

Augustiner is Munich’s oldest brewery, it was founded in 1328. Spaten was established in 1397. Hacker Pschorr in 1417, Hofbräu in 1583, Löwenbräu (1383?) and Paulaner, a relative newcomer to the club, was founded in 1634.

(Courtesy Samuel Adams)

The How

So now that you know why you should attend…here’s how you could potentially win one of five trips to Oktoberfest 2022 for you and three grateful friends

Boston Beer (which makes Sam Adams beer) is currently selling specially marked 12 packs of Sam Adams Octoberfest. Five of those will have a golden bottle. And if your 12-pack contains one of those golden bottles you’re going to Munich next year.

Winners will get a round-trip economy flight to Munich, admission to four Oktoberfest activities, two rooms for four nights, and one $1,000 gift card for drinking money. And if you want to find out if any golden bottles have been found yet Samuel Adams has built a special tracker so you’ll know where you stand.