Handlmaier Mustard Club Cincinnati

Händlmaier's Freunde Cincinnati e.V. was founded by Scott Scholz, who had become a member of the original group (http://www.haendlmaier-freunde.de) while living in Bavaria. Scholz enjoyed the club events enough to try to bring the club across the Atlantic to Cincinnati, his hometown. On October 28, 2006, the Cincinnati chapter met for the first time at the Steuben Halle in Clifton. Around 30 new members enjoyed a traditional Weißwurstessen, followed by attending the University of Cincinnati's victory over Syracuse University in the homecoming football game.

A new tradition was founded in 2007: the Annual Beer Drinking Medals. The Annual Beer Drinking Medals reward thirsty members in the month of December. One must not begin drinking the beer until 11:00, at which point a medal is awarded to the first fifty members to finish their beer.

In 2008, the Gummistiefel Rubber Boot Kicking Competition was founded. It currently features three categories: Mana, Weiba, und Oida Sack. The Gummisteifelkicking competition pits competitors against each other to see who can kick a rubber boot the furthest. The boot is worn on the foot and kicked off. 2008 also saw the addition of patriarchal and matriarchal traditions. In honor of Mother's Day, in May the club provides flowers to all of the women members of the club. Likewise, in June, the gentlemen receive the gift of a cigar.

On Valentine's Day February 2009, the club reached a record attendance of 75 members at the monthly Weißwurstessen. Then, in July, future Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Lauren Bishop of the Cincinnati Enquirer published a two-page feature spread of our club. At the August Weißwurstessen, around 150 curious mustard fans graced us with their presence, a number which we have been able to uphold today. Unfortunately, a month later the good spirits of August were dampened heavily by the tragic loss of our good friend and founding club member Rita Vosseberg. The club donated nearly $500 to Old St. Mary's Church in Rita's name.

In February 2010, a special ceremony was held in which our founder, Scott Scholz, was presented a plaque thanking him for his efforts in founding and fostering the development of our club.

Now boasting over 250 members, Händlmaier's Freunde Cincinnati has garnered a lot of interest from people in the Tri-State area and beyond. The group continues to meet once a month in a social environment.