Gambrinus: Beer Stories on a Friday Night

So how much fun is it sitting around a campfire with a group of fellow beer drinkers and enjoying stories about the history of beer and, most importantly, Gambrinus, The King of Beer?

There is a long and storied past behind Gambrinus and stories of him seem to attest to his origination in either Belgium or one of the German states several hundred years back. He may or may not have been based on an actual person, but what we do now is that today the figure of "Gambrinus" has come to be synonymous with good beer and a rolicking good time with beer, much like the Michelin Man is known for tires.

The legend of Gambrinus was brought to the US by German migrants in the 1800's. By this time he was portrayed either as a fast, slovenly old Falstaffian type man, or a young, vibrant Zeus like figure hoisting a beer stein high in the air triumphantly. These German migrants, some of who were brewers, used him as a marketing gimmick, and in large part it worked.

In Delaware, the Diamond State Brewing Company (no longer in existence) commissioned an 11 foot zinc statue of Gambrinus to place over the entrance to their brewery. Two days after the brewery was sold and closed the right arm - the one hoisting the beer stein triumphantly toward the heavens - broke and crashed to the ground.

The original Delaware statue today is in pieces. There is a fundraising effort underway to repair it to its former glory.

During the event I was able to "sample" (and by that I mean enjoy fully) two different Paulaner beers: the Double Bock (pictured) and an Octoberfest (of which I had two). The Double Bock was a good bock, heavy, not quite stout like, but with a full, mouth filling taste. It was very good for a campfire beer.

The Octoberfest was much lighter, easier to drink, but with a touch of an aftertaste that followed me. I had the second one because the other attendees felt the Double Bock was really good too and by the time I went back, only the Octoberfest was left.

Some great beer to share with stories on a cool autumn Friday night.

(c) All images and photographs, unless otherwise specified, are created and owned by me.
(c) Victor Wiebe

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