Oktoberfest is back but shadowed by 'red hot' inflation

Photo credit: iStock images, Dannko

MUNICH (AP) — Oktoberfest is on tap again in Germany after a two-year pandemic interruption.

The beer will be just as cold and the roast pork knuckle just as crispy. Mayor Dieter Reiter says the return of the city’s hallmark tourist event on Saturday is “beautiful.” But brewers and visitors are under pressure from inflation in ways they could hardly imagine in 2019.

Energy, barley, hops, even paper and glue for labels, cardboard for cases and steel barrels have all gone up in price as record inflation has taken hold across Europe.

The price of one of the hefty mugs that revelers will hoist has gone up by 15%, with the brewing industry under pressure from rising costs.

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