OKTOBERFEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The One and Only Original Oktoberfest..........

Well fellow beer snobs, it is that time of year again. The wonderful time of year to celebrate the coming of autumn, Halloween, and the colder weather. What better way to celebrate this time then with an selection of fine fall brews at an Oktoberfest celebration. The best way I can think of to ring in the season!!!!!!

Now of course, if you can make it to Germany (the birthplace of the Oktoberfest) then more power to you. If not, throw one of your own parties. All you really need is some good friends, good food,  and a great selection of Oktoberfest beers.

Munich, Germany is THE home of the celebrated event of the fall season. Started in 1810, it is a 16 day festival that starts towards the end of September and runs through the first week of October. The festival attracts more then 6 million locals and tourists every year and it keeps on getting bigger. With carnival rides, games, mountains of food, and of course rivers of beer (in 2007 nearly 7 million liters of the golden liquid were consumed), it is definitely one of the biggest parties in Europe. Originally, the festival ran through the first Sunday in October, however, with the reunification of Germany in 1994, the schedule was altered a bit and now the festival culminates on October 3rd which is German Unity Day.

Started in 1810, the first party was actually for the wedding of King Ludwig to his new Queen Theresa. Held in what was know as "Theresa's Gardens" (and still is), all of the citizens were invited to attend. In the years that followed, an agricultural show was added as well as horse racing to promote German culture. The annual opening kick off parade which started in 1850, has roughly 8,000 marchers all dressed in traditional German costumes, is one of the highlights of the entire event. One new tradition that started in 1950 was the tapping of the first keg. At 12:00, the mayor taps the keg which is accompanied by a 12 gun salute. That is respect for the brew!!!!!!!!!

Traditional German food is always served which includes, Hendl (roast chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Knodel (potato or bread dumplings), and Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes). You will also find the assortment of sausages, krauts, and Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda which is a spiced cheese-butter spread.

Now this is a very important fact. Only beer that is brewed in Munich and which conforms to the Reinheitsgebot may be served in the tents at Oktoberfest. What is the Reinheitsgebot? This important (and hard to pronounce - if you do not speak German) word is the Purity Order of Bavaria. Sometimes referred to as the German Purity Order, it is a regulation of the production of beer in the Holy Roman Empire. Instated in 1487 by Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria, this order stated that beer could only be made with 3 ingredients: Water, barley, and hops. The order was passed to keep the other grains available (such as wheat and rye) so they could be used for baking bread, and thus not have a shortage and a spike in bakery prices. We Germans do like to drink!!!!!!!

The brewers that can produce beer under this order are Paulaner, Spatenbrau, Lowenbrau, Hacker Schorr-Brau, and Augustiner-Brau. These beers will be the only beer that one will find being served at Oktoberfest. Any of these fine beers pair very well with the German cuisine that is served. Or if one prefers, they can always skip the food to save more room for the liquid diet. Although, that could have some very intoxicating effects which are accelerated.

While I have never been to Munich for Oktoberfest, I was fortunate enough to attend the Oktoberfest in Dublin (hey, the Irish drink like fish too!!) on the Docklands 2 years ago. Judging by how insanely fun and festive that was (once again the Irish) I can only imagine Munich is escalated by a factor of 100. This is one party that is definitely on my bucket list. Munich AND ESPECIALLY the beer tent better be ready for me when I arrive. 

So get ready to throw back a couple of Oktoberfest brews and have a great time. Speaking of the beers, in my next post I will write and rate some of the more popular and not so popular types of Oktoberfest beers.

Cheers and HAPPY OKTOBERFEST, Charles..............