Celebrate Maifest by Drinking Beer, Eating Meat, and Putting up the Maybaum at Paulaner Bräuhaus, May 1-3

This May holiday, if you're staying in town, why not get a little bit of an education on German festivals at the Paulaner Bräuhaus at the Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center for their Maifest?

Maifest, the traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring, involves drinking a special brew and putting up the maibaum, or Maypole (pictured at top), which is traditionally decorated to show off the history of crafts in specific towns throughout the country.

For the occasion, Paulaner Bräuhaus have brewed a special Maibock with the keen oversight of master brewer Wolfgang Sesser (pictured above). The Maibock comes in at 6.5 percent ABV, slightly higher than their regular 5 percent lager, and will be released on May 1 between 11.30am to 3.30pm. RMB 298 (plus 15 percent service charge and VAT) will bag you a large buffet on the terrace, unlimited soft drinks, local mineral water, juices, and the beer. You'll also get to experience a traditional Maypole ceremony.

Want more? On May 2 and 3, between 11am and 1pm, you'll still have the opportunity to knock back some Maibock beer: RMB 228 (plus 15 percent service charge and VAT) will buy a special Maifest sharing platter for 2-3 people, which includes crackling pork knuckle, baked meat loaf, smoked pork loin, grilled garlic sausage, Nuremberg sausages, Thueringer sausage, Frankfurter sausages, fried egg, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes. Did we mention sausages? Speaking from experience, this thing is a beast but you won't be able to stop yourself from devouring the whole thing, and there's no better time to work on the rebirth of your belly than during Maifest.

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Photos courtesy of Paulaner Bräuhaus