Bier Bauerein

It is very likely that i have got the spelling wrong, then again i don't think it matters, does it? Paid 9 eurs for a visit to the Sparten beer factory located fairly close to where i am living, no i am not living in a factory estate, just that the beer factory happens to be sitting in one of the residential estate. Organised by Tandem, attended by all my classmates, so i thought why not? Plus they did mention that there will be free beer and Bretzels at the end of the tour. Well not exactly free since we paid 9 bucks for it, an equivalent of 3 half litre beers. So unwillingly dragging myself into the sorching afternoon sun to meet up with the group in Karlsplatz. I think for the first time, i dare claim that it was as hot as Singapore. The kind of hotness that leaves your skin burning even after 10 mins of standing in the shade. Made our way on foot to the Beer factory, in the direction of where i came from. 30 mins later, we finally arrived at the factory and were immediately urshered into a room that looked like a lecture hall. It was not air conditioned. Air was still and with our skin still burning from the afternoon "Singapore" Sun, it was far from comfortable. To make matter worst, there was a "supposed" dress code. So no slippers or shorts allowed. We were showed a film about how the factory was started all the way back into the 1500s till the success they have achieved today.., wasn't paying too much attention as i was busy rolling up my jeans, fanning myself and wiping off beads of pespirations from my head. Soon boredom became sleepiness. Very much like the classroom lessons after lunch back in NJC (the yellow room), only differences were, it was dark and with a german film rolling away. Fought off the drownsiness with the occasional fiddling with my camera and fanning. 20 mins never felt longer since i came to Germany 2 and a half months ago. When the film ended and the curtains drawn, you could clearly see the look of relief on the faces of my classmates. Knowing that i am not the only one in the ordeal made me feel much better, only for a moment until the tour guide brought us out back into the sunshine. Could understand much of what she was saying until she began describing the beer making process in technical terms. It was then as if she was speaking a totally foreign language, my mind switched off and the words sounded just like some noise coming out from an animal. Clearly from the confused looks on our faces, she stopped and tried explaining in English. Then it made some sense before my mind drifted off into screensaver mode. After that introduction, we were finally brought into the factory, climbed up several flight of stairs to see some tanks from above, down again to the underground storage facility, back up into another section, through an "exhibition" room, across the car park lined with cartons of beer bottles, up more flights of stairs, to another section of the factory where the used beer bottles are washed, recycled, refilled and repacked and then finally back to where we first started. Only this time with beer waiting for us. By the time we got out into the open area again, the sunny skies were gone and we were greeted by big evil looking grey thunderstorm clouds. No kidding. Got pictures to prove it. Have never experience such extreme weather thoughout my 2 and a half months stay here, not that its long, but such extreme weather together in a day!? The wind picked up and not long later it became real dark and gloomy. We scurried quickly back into the shelter and help ourselves to the "free" flow beer and bretzels. I drank 3 mugs, 2 mugs alcohol free as i had to cycle back. Soon it started drizzling. What really pissed me off was that i took the mudguard off my bike, expecting the weather to stay sunny but here i was, taking it off for the first time and had to cycle back in the rain. So once more, braving the freezing wind, without a jacket and cap, enduring the back spray from the back wheel, swerving and braking avoiding all puddles at all cost before finally arriving home drenched and shivering. Its really one way to redefine what cold really means. Truly a unique day i must say.