Xaver Krenkl– had what it takes!
Xaver Krenkl was a famous regular at the Hofbräuhaus. Bavarian through and through, he was not easily unnerved. A repeated winner of the famous Oktoberfest horse race, he even had the gumption to overtake the carriage of King Ludwig I. in the English Garden with his own splendid four-in-hand. When the king called out, “Doesn’t he know he’s not allowed to pass?” Krenkl loudly responded with, “Some people just have what it takes!”

The Hofbräuhaus Radish Gals
They had names like “Rosi, the radish gal”, and “Kate, the nut gal”. As market women, they sold radishes and nuts at the Hofbräuhaus, while entertaining the guests with their banter and good cheer. During Maibock beer season, these Munich characters were the stars of the Radish Gal Races. Although they were no longer the youngest, the girls gave it all they had, to the cheers of the thousands of onlookers.

Watchmaker Falk
For Watchmaker Falk, precision was not something reserved exclusively for watches and clocks. With a shop in the arcades near the Karlstor in the 1890s, Falk, also a beer expert, was highly regarded - and feared - by the local taverns. The reason: Falk published the results of his own beer tests on a board outside his shop. No wonder the waiters at the Hofbräuhaus always tapped a fresh keg whenever Falk entered the premises.

Advice in Any Situation
Niki Gerstmeier called himself a “state certified beer and literature expert.” In the 1870s, his place of business was the Hofbräuhaus. The beer connoisseur regularly offered his services to those seeking advice on various and sundry life issues. His prices were reasonable. For a beer or lunch, you could walk away with Niki’s words of wisdom.