April 21, 2020 was a sad day for Lord Mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter. It was the day he had to announce the cancellation of the largest folk festival in the world, Oktoberfest. This week on Beer Notes, we are discussing how the Covid 19 pandemic has changed the landscape of 2020 and perhaps our world well into the future.
For now, breweries are open for take-out and even delivery. Delivery was not an option prior to the pandemic and may continue as it makes it easy to stock up on local craft beers.
When bars and restaurants are allowed to open, many may not have the seating they once were allowed. The six foot social distancing will be the norm, between patrons and staff.
The Brewers Association announced best management practices in today’s covid world on April 27th. Recommended practices include stringent cleaning protocols, hand washing stations and posted notifications in addition to the social distancing guidelines.
Festivals could also chart new territory by spreading out over time and space. The organizers of Oktoberfest hope for a return in 2021, but for 2020, we will have to be creative and celebrate State-side with our own local craft beers.
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Main image photo credit: OKtoberfest.de
