Though bartenders would not pour until noon, the tents were packed for hours before Mayor Ude, a Social Democrat - smarting from a bitter defeat in the September 15 Bavarian state elections - inaugurated the annual beer festival. He ceremonially opened the first keg with two whacks of a large wooden hammer. Like two centuries of mayors who have preceded him (and whoever will replace him next year), Ude called out "O'zapft is" - it's tapped. And, he issued a warning to revelers, sure to be ignored Read more [...]