iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

I thoroughly enjoyed getting Jack's perspective on Zoigl for my article for @pelliclemag.com earlier this year. I mean, how many other people can boast having visited more than 4000 drinking establishments across Europe? He def has a few points of comparison. 🍻🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Which pattern in the glass is that? You've yet to go on about it when we've had beers together 🙂🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Good to see you're drinking a porter to go along with your reading.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I wrote something about Märzen/Festbier in Brewery History a handful of years back. Here's a link. Let me know if you have trouble opening it: franzdhofer.com/wp-content/u...

franzdhofer.com

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

As far as I've been able to make out, the beer that was served on the Wiesn prior to 1872 was a Braunbier/Sommerbier—so, technically a Märzen, tho' I think the name had fallen out of fashion. It wasn't till Selmayr released his homage to Dreher and called it a Märzen that the name caught on (again).

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I never said it was a colour thing. I'm well aware of both examples you mention. Flötzinger's Märzen also tends toward gold. Etc etc. Then there's Austrian Märzen, which is below the gravity category of German ones. So I guess we should also be clear about that. Märzen is, after all, a shape-shifter

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Well, then there's Austrian Märzen (well under 13º P), which muddies the waters even more. At any rate, I find it amusing how we all tie ourselves into knots (myself included) at this time of year trying to split hairs over beer styles have been in flux since the get-go. 🍻🙂

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Sure. Sommersudverbot and all. As you point out, the meaning of Märzen has changed (and keeps changing) since then. I'd call Märzen a Festbier if it's brewed for a festival, but I wouldn't call the golden Festbier on the Oktoberfest Wiesn a Märzen, tho' I suppose you could make an argument for that.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

By that logic you could call any Lagerbier a Märzen ...

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Yup, they're definitely different beers! (But they're still "Festbiers," even if one is a Märzen and the other can be labeled "Oktoberfestbier" on account of H-Pschorr being locaded in Munich.) Here they are side by side last year at Poschners.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Hacker-Pschorr releases both a golden-hued Oktoberfestbier and a Märzen. The only place on the Wiesen to get the Märzen is at Poschner's, a tiny tent where you can also get their Festbier. 🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Technically, ANY beer brewed for ANY festival is a Festbier. And Festbiers run the gamut from gold to chestnut brown. At Oktoberfest, though? That's slightly different. So you're partially right: amber-hued Märzen was eclipsed entirely by golden-hued Festbier in the early 90s.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Hasn't been Märzen since the early 90s, when the changeover to golden-hued Festbier was more or less complete. Only one tent — and a small one at that, Poschners — sells Märzen from Hacker-Pschorr. A recent but welcome development. I love the amber Märzens! 🙂🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A few scenes from yesterday in Olomouc (Moravia), courtesy of Jack, the man and the legend behind @europeanbarguide.bsky.social

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Great catching up with you, too, Jack! I just realized this morning that it was exactly one year to the date since we hung out in Brno. Looking forward to seeing you soon on your home turf!

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Dvakrát pour ... so that's what the 3-stage pour is called in the Czech language? They're absolutely not going for a hladinka pour at the Schweizerhaus. There's also not a Lukr in sight.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Schweizerhaus, Vienna. The way a beer *should* look 🙂🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Franconian beer between Bamberg and Coburg. Been a minute or two now. Busy start to the semester and all that. But I did manage a five-day jaunt to Franconia. One of those days I spent hiking between breweries and Bierkellers along the Main River Valley. tempestinatankard.com/2026/09/23/f...

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I could be wrong, but I wouldn't worry too much. Most folks visiting Bamberg won't make it to these places, especially with so many top-notch breweries, Wirtshäuser, and Bierkeller vying for their attention. 🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

You've heard of Schlenkerla and Spezial, those temples of Rauchbier in Bamberg. But what about that motley crew of beer-serious taverns and cult classics that line the city’s lanes? Introducing Bamberg's beer underground. 🍻 tempestinatankard.com/2026/08/17/b...

Kellerbier from Brauerei Sauer, Galerie am Stephansberg, Bamberg

Behind the bar at Schlenkerla in Bamberg

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Pipevine swallowtail butterfly near our rain barrel. I'm contemplating upgrading my ancient iPhone, so I took my wife's newer phone for a stroll around the yard today. Really loving the telephoto lens feature.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

That's not so great. We had an orange sunset a few nights ago, but other than that so far, just a gazillion days over 100F.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Saxon Switzerland to the east of Dresden is a breathtaking landscape of rolling hills, narrow gorges and rugged rock formations perfect for wandering. Add in beer and you have a beer hike or three. 🍻 tempestinatankard.com/2026/08/04/i...

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Still, enjoy that time off recharging! 🙂🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Too bad you had to drive a car and couldn't get a train out to your expedition point ...

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

It seems to be an annual rite to whine about the amount of foam on a Maß at Oktoberfest. Nine times out of ten, if you wait a few minutes, you'll see see that you get your full measure. Foam is good. Prices? That's another story.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Saxon Switzerland is a breathtaking landscape of rolling hills, narrow gorges and rugged rock formations. The region has attracted wanderers since the time of the Romantic painters. Add in beer and you have a beer hike. I’ve got three hikes for you here. 🍻 tempestinatankard.com/2026/08/04/i...

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Rose Red has some of the best food of any beer cafe, pub, tavern, you name it.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Just read the first line (and will get back to the rest anon). Suffice it to say, any historian knows that history isn't linear.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Annafest in the woods above Forchheim is a celebration of beer cellars and Kellerbier. It begins today and runs through 3 August. Check it out if you're anywhere in Franconia/Bavaria. More about Annafest in my latest blog post. 🍻 tempestinatankard.com/2026/07/24/t...

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Annafest begins today! If you're in Franconia between now and 3 August, check out this celebration of what the Franconians call Bierkeller (beer cellars) in the Kellerwald above Forchheim—especially if you're a fan of Kellerbier. More in my latest blog post. 🍻 tempestinatankard.com/2026/07/24/t...

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I'm not sure how far they ship out of Franconia, if at all. But do let me know if you find it in the Netherlands. Cheers! 🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I'm sure it is! Even the stuff from large breweries is usually halfway decent.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Beers that I write about on my lists in any given year are beers that I had the previous year. 😏🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Just head over to Bavaria and then cross over into the Czech Republic and you've got more than half the beers on the list covered 🙂🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Lindenhardt Pilsner from Brauerei Kürzdörfer in Franconia. Looks great, and tastes even better after a 10-km hike through the meadows and rolling hills of Franconia. One of the 25 delish beers on my summer beer travel list. 🍻 tempestinatankard.com/2026/07/21/t...

Lindenhardt Pilsner from Brauerei und Landgasthof Kürzdörfer in Franconia.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Always lots of fun reading these weekly roundups of beer writing. 🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Great spot! Plan to spend the entire afternoon and early evening there.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Maybe reframe the question the way you've framed it here? I read it the way more than a few commenters have read it. 🙂🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Nice to hear you were able to push through the pain and get out for a walk! 🍻

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Writing it made me want to get on a plan forthwith. Less than two months now till I touch down in Vienna, then head over to Munich.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Jack's stuff's always worth a read, and his site is a resource second to none for pubs n such.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Thanks for the kind words, @andymoorhouse.bsky.social . Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit. I can't wait to get back!

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

For me, one Munich brewery stands a few centimeters taller than the rest: Augustiner. What I love about the places where you can drink Augustiner is that each has a unique feel, and many have unique histories. More about those unique spots here: ⬇️ 🍻 tempestinatankard.com/2026/07/07/o...

An Augustiner Lagerbier at the Schützengarten beer garden in Munich.

Inside the Augustiner Bräustuben in Munich.

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Franz D. Hofer @tempestinatankard.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Do what @andymoorhouse.bsky.social suggests when you have a free moment this weekend! La Fleur en Papier Doré is one of my favourite beer spots in Belgium. 🍻

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