Oktoberfest Battles Stench of Stale Beer

For the first time in its 200-year history, Munich's Oktoberfest plans to do something about the stench of stale beer. Countless gallons of beer end up sloshed onto the floor of beer tents during the 3-week festival, leaving behind a stink that in previous years was largely masked by cigarette smoke. A smoking ban comes into effect for the first time at this year's festival, so organizers plan to rely on microbes instead, the Independent reports.

"The night club owners say the smell has become very bad since the smoking ban was enforced," says beer tent manager Ricky Steinberg. A special odor-killing bacteria will be poured onto the floorboards of beer tents during the festival, a move Steinberg says will create a better-smelling environment where revelers can better enjoy their beer, roast ox, and grilled pigs' trotters.
(More Oktoberfest stories.)