Guten tag!
Halfish-German guy here.
You know the type: Goes to Schiller’s. Bandwagons Germany as a secondary World Cup team. Tells people they’ll probably do Oktoberfest one day.
That guy.
And let me tell you, Halfish-German folks everywhere, much like our ancestral fan base, are extremely psyched that the Bucs are kicking off the NFL’s first-ever game in Munich this weekend. We just are. What we sadly cannot do, however, is guide you toward a true and ultimate German tailgate experience that all Bucs fans should be celebrating this Sunday. Unlike our unknown predecessors, we’re not authorities on the matter. We don’t have that kind of clout yet. And frankly, it would be inappropriate.
Fortunately for all of us, we know somebody who does have that kind of clout. And that’s my wonderful, too-good-for-my-brother sister-in-law, the Pride of Deutschland, Florentine Thiels Brandes.
Florentine was gracious enough to lend us a hand, with a little extra help from her cousin Felix back in Munich, in providing a straight-from-the-source German culinary guide to the perfect tailgate Sunday morning. From the bier to the ‘wursts—we’ve got you covered. Prost.
Bucs-Seahawks kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday. What’s the best German bier to start off the day? How about to end the game?
Always start the morning with a Hefeweizen. A Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen is especially refreshing in the morning. And any Paulaner brand bier will do to follow.
If we were at the game in Munich, what dishes would you most likely find at tailgates and bars around the stadium?
Pair that hefeweizen with a Weisswurst with sweet mustard, sliced radishes and salted laugenbrezel (basically a soft pretzel). Or go with a Brettljause to share.
Are there any popular German phrases or cheers that Bucs fans can shout throughout the game?
We would probably say “Auf geht’s!” to start off the game, which is a little more Bavarian. “Los geht’s!” is more Northern German. Both loosely translate to “Here we go!” Or “pack maas” is another good one, which means “Let’s get it done.”
Of course, any tailgate or football match is not complete without “Geh Mal Bier Hol’n” (“Go Get a Beer”).
And lastly, who do you think the home Munich crowd will lean toward on Sunday: Bucs or Seahawks?
We’re just going to agree with Thomas Müller on this one.