Germany’s Oktoberfest is back after Covid, but inflation may take away some fun

Oktoberfest is back in Germany after two years of pandemic cancellations — the same bicep-challenging beer mugs, fat-dripping pork knuckles, pretzels the size of dinner plates, men in leather shorts and women in cleavage-baring traditional dresses.

But while brewers are more than glad to see the return of the Bavarian capital’s sudsy tourist centerpiece, both they and visitors are under pressure from inflation in a way that could scarcely be imagined the last time it was held in 2019.

For one thing, the 1-litre mug of beer will cost between 12.60 and 13.80 euros this year, which is an increase of about 15% compared with 2019, according to the official Oktoberfest homepage.