German Waiter Sets New ‘Beer-Carrying’ Record

There’s a record for just about everything, including who can carry the most beers. Back in my days of waiting tables, I remember comfortably topping out at 10, carrying 5 frosty beer-filled mugs in each hand.  Apparently, however, there’s someone out there who can carry much more than my measly 10 mugs, as a new world record was recently set for carrying the most beers.

A 38-year-old German tax inspector and waiter set a new world record for carrying the most beers at one time. Oliver Struempfel supplements his income by waiting tables at the annual beer festival in the Bavarian town of Abensberg. During the 2014 festival, Struempfel and one other competitor went head-to-head to see who could carry the most beer-filled mugs over a distance of 40 meters without spilling them, and it was Struempfel who came out on top.

So, how many beer-filled mugs was Struempfel able to carry? According to media reports, the German tax inspector/waiter carried an impressive 27 one-litre mugs, without spilling any of the prized German brew. Spectators cheered on as Struempfel hauled the massive load of beer-filled mugs to the finish line.

Struempfel isn’t a newcomer to this activity, as he’s been working the tent at the annual beer festival for approximately 17 years. During this time, he’s refined and honed his beer-carrying skills. In an interview with the local press, Struempfel says that his previous record was 26 one-litre beers — just one shy of his current record.

To practice for the event, Struepfel would reportedly fill one-litre mugs with water and attempt to carry them without spilling them. But the task of carrying several dozen mugs isn’t as easy as it sounds. Struepfel dropped some 23 beer-filled mugs three years ago, sending them crashing to the floor below.

“I have worked here in the beer tent for the past 17 years, so I have had lots of training in carrying the beer mugs. However, my personal best is 26 mugs at once, which is more than 60 kilogrammes and so it is no longer enough to just carry the mugs , but you have to support the training by going to the gym, especially in winter when you don’t get much time carrying the beer mugs,” said Struempfe. “Of course it has happened to me before that some beer mugs have fallen down. Three years ago 23 beer mugs fell down at once.”

Think you beat this guy’s record? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section below!