Berlin, Germany (Weltexpress). At Hofbräu München – Wirtshaus Berlin on Saturday, 20 September 2025, it was time to say: „O’zapft is!” At noon, model and presenter Micaela Schäfer tapped a beer barrel sex times. Sorry, six. There’s no question that it was a lively performance.
But the highlight of the day was to come in the evening. Long queues formed in front of the Hofbräu München – Wirtshaus Berlin before 6 p.m. Hundreds of people wanted to see Tim Raue tap the keg. The Berlin chef and operator of several restaurants needed two blows. The keg and the festival were opened!
Cheque presentation! Björn Schwarz, Karsten Speck and Tim Raue at the traditional barrel tapping on 20 September 2025 at Hofbräu München – Wirtshaus Berlin. © Agentur Baganz, caption: Stefan Pribnow, place and date of photograph: Berlin, 20 September 2025
Björn Schwarz then presented a cheque for €5,000 from Bayerisches Wirtshaus Verwaltungs GmbH & Co.KG to Kiez Perspektiven und Chancen e.V., represented by Tim and Katharina Raue. This was fitting, as Raue was still in the pub, where the mood was rising as fast as the temperature had earlier.
Tim Raue was visibly delighted with the barrel tapping and cheque: “Since the opening of Sphere Tim Raue in Berlin’s TV tower, I have been a neighbour of Hofbräu Berlin, so to speak. I am therefore very happy to be here today and to be able to tap the barrel for a good cause.” If that wasn’t a win-win situation for everyone, what was?
Fanfare from the Hofbräuhaus Showband. And they played until after midnight in the packed Berlin pub. Even the beer garden was well attended. Among the approximately 1,500 guests, almost all of whom were dressed in traditional costume, were Rainer Meifert, Jan Hartmann, Karsten Speck, Katharina Gerhardt, Annemarie Waldeck, Thomas Drechsel, Kader Loth and many others, who enjoyed pork knuckle and beer steins.
The Oktoberfest beer flowed like sweat, especially from the many people on the dance floor. Again and again, hundreds stood on the benches singing and sometimes roaring. One polonaise after another wound its way around the tables. This added to the Oktoberfest atmosphere on this hot night at Hofbräu München – Wirtshaus Berlin.
In a Berlin Hofbräu press release dated 21 September 2025, Björn Schwarz is quoted as saying the following at the start of Oktoberfest 2025 Berlin: “Today was a complete success. We are delighted to welcome so many guests who are enjoying Oktoberfest fun with us in Berlin. We are looking forward to the next three weeks – to a great Wies’n time“. N’guten! Grab grub and many a mug in the heart of Berlin!
