FROM A LITTLE BEERTENT TO A HUGE FESTIVAL HALL
1867
THE OLDEST, MOST TRADITIONAL BEER TENT,
was founded by Michael Schottenhamel (1838–1912), a carpenter from Upper Palatinate, when, in 1867 and newly married to an innkeeper’s daughter, he moved from his guesthouse “Drei Mohren” in Luitpoldstrasse to a small shack behind the king’s tent with room for 50 guests. The venue is now into the fifth generation of family ownership.
1872
IN THE HOT SUMMER OF 1872 THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED:
The lager beer and summer beer kept for the festival was all drunk before the celebrations drew to a close, paving the way for Michael I to introduce a new beer to the event that the Franziskaner-Leist Brewery had brewed in Viennese style in March. The beer was coined “Märzen” after the German word for the month in which it was brewed. The beer was pale for its time and despite being significantly stronger and more expensive than other beers thanks to having an original gravity of 16 percent, it became one of Oktoberfest’s classic beers.
1896
THE BEER TENT’S FIRST OWNER, MICHAEL SCHOTTENHAMEL,
1898
MICHAEL II. TAKES OVER,
and continues to expand the family business. This applies to the festival hall as well as to the hotel and the pub.
In 1913, the square meters for the marquee and beer garden are doubled. The Schottenhamel tent also defies the world economic crisis.
By giving a personal guarantee, he enables the Oktoberfest to take place in the year 1931.
1950
AFTER ASSUMING HIS FATHER’S MANTLE IN 1912, MICHAEL II,
made sure that nothing ground to a halt even during the Great Depression. In fact, in 1932, Oktoberfest was only able to take place at all thanks to funds provided by him personally. The first festival to be held after the Second World War was celebrated in 1949 and when, in 1950, Munich’s mayor Thomas Wimmer shouted out his legendary “O’zapft is!” (“The keg is tapped!”), the Schottenhamel tent fulfilled its destiny of becoming the location in which the beer is first tapped and the festival is officially opened.
1988
MICHAEL II’S TWO SONS TOOK OVER IN 1968.
Max (1906–1983) and Hans (1913–1993) were succeeded by Peter Schottenhamel (born 1941) and his cousin Christian Schottenhamel (born 1962) as the managers of the beer hall in 1987. The family’s fifth generation (Michael P. (born 1965) and Thomas K. (born 1968) are already helping out at Oktoberfest’s oldest beer hall, which has been managed by Michael F. and Christian Schottenhamel since 2010.
Tapping the barrel
THE MAYOR ANNOUNCES “O’ZAPFT IS!” WHEN THE BARREL IS TAPPED
The world famous beginning hour of the Oktoberfest was initiated in the “Schottenhamel” tent by the legendary post-war mayor Thomas Wimmer.
With its “most important” official function as Munich’s Mayor, the well known and popular Wimmer Dammerl made the “Schottenhamel” tent in 1950 to the greatest attraction of the Oktoberfest opening ceremony which was kept until today.
During the Oktoberfest, politicians, famous people and Munich’s scene, all gather in the “Schottenhamel” tent. The tent is a gathering spot for all the important and famous people.
The traditional students’ associations also have their special area in the tent were they meet every day. The “Schottenhamel” is deemed to be youthfully. And after the Oktoberfest they all spread out in munichs night life.
Our October festival tent has the capacity for 10000 people. The served beer is called “Spatenbräu” beer. Annually at noon of the first day of the Oktoberfest, the mayor of Munich traditionally taps the first Oktoberfest-barrel.
According to his skills, he mostly only needs three hits, before he can call out the famous word “Ozapft is”. From this moment on, all the beer draughts in each Oktoberfest tent may begin. The people who are allowed to be on the gallery in the Schottenhamel tent on this special day to cheers with Munich’s mayor can be counted to Munich’s most important people.
The first Maß (measurement for 1 Litre) will be given to the Bavarian Prime Minister. Many other members of the government will enjoy the atmosphere on that day in the tent, that is constructed in the style of a large farmers house. They will definitely try some of the specialities, for example grilled giant-turkey thighs out of the oven.
