Every year around this wonderful time when the leaves are changing colors, the weather is getting a bit nippier, and the Halloween decorations start to come out in droves - another great celebration of fall returns with Oktoberfest. It's the celebration of good beer, food and festivities, and it kicks off officially every fall in Germany around the end of September for 16 days.
Oktoberfest originated in Munich, Germany on Oct 18th, 1810 and the tradition has continued, though changed, for the next almost 200 years. Once organized around a horse race commemorating Prince (later King) Ludwig's marriage, Oktoberfest now kicks off with a twelve-gun salute and the tapping of the first keg by the incumbent Mayor of Munich. "O'zapft is!" -- "It's tapped!"
This world famous fest brings images to mind of Germans in Lederhosen, women in Dirndl, any type of Würstel you can imagine, and "Bierleichen" - the infamous "beer corpses," or rather those stumbling around after too many libations. It may be mostly stereotypical, but it sure brings the crowds, year after year... over 6 million people, making it the largest Volksfest (People's Fair) in the world.
Those who aren't lucky enough to be traipsing to Europe for a fun filled and intoxicating 2 1/2 weeks, can enjoy smaller but just as entertaining, festivals around the U.S. Such include, the 20th Annual Harpoon Oktoberfest in Boston; the 30th Annual Oktoberfest and Honk in Harvard Square, Boson; one of the biggest Oktoberfests in the U.S. in La Crosse, Wisconsin; and the fasting growing in the country, the Soulardo Oktoberfest - happening this weekend in St. Louis, Missouri.
From the Bostonist.com (again, Boston, are we detecting a pattern here?), "a traditional Oktoberfestbier is full-bodied, rich, toasty, typically dark copper in color. In other words, it doesn't taste like pumpkin pie in a bottle." So whether it's that pumpkin-spice-flavored beer with the brown sugar coating on the rim that sure is delicious, or a more traditional German recipe - salute the fun that happens around the world in your hometown this fall!
Friday, October 9, 2009
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19 comments:
After the terrible losses we have suffered in New England this weekend (No Sox in the playoffs and the Pats lose to the Broncos!) we are all going to need to drown our sorrows in some Octoberfest activities!!
Whew! In the 4th quarter of yesterday's Steeler game I decided to start drinking. Maybe it helped, because the Steelers pulled it out. I think a beer is appropriate when Ben gets sacked! Regardless, GO STEELERS and GO OKTOBERFEST!
Kellie,
I have to second that with a third and a fourth Sam Adams Octoberfest (one of thier better seasonal beers) What are we going to do without them Sox for the rest of the month? I know! Drink more beer!
Nothing like dedicating a month to joys of drinking beer with friends! The Germans really came up with a good idea with that one!
Here in Florida we mix Harley Davidsons with our beer, AKA Biketoberfest!!
Baltimore is celebrating it's first ever Baltimore Beer Week - Over 50 establishments will hold over 300 seperate events.... all centered around BEER! Now THAT's a good week LOL www.baltimorebeerweek.com
Eins, zwei, drei, g'suffa! What a month for celebration, clam bakes and some of the best beers in the world! I wanna party with you, man. Thanks for the story. Ein Prosit!
This brings to mind Sam Adams' Octoberfest beer and visiting the Samuel Adams Brew Pub at the Holiday Inn Conference Center - where I recently celebrated the Phillies victory over the Rockies. Sorry Sox fans - I was hoping to meet up with you in the WS.
Harpoon Octoberfest is good and all - But it's certainly not sam adams ... A beer that is near and dear to my heart <3
I've been to your Brew Pub and welcome the invitation to tip a few with you. Let's hope that the Damn Yankees get to the WS and meet up with the Dodgers. What a great series that would be. And I'll even buy when the Dodgers win!
On Amelia Island we have great places for all kinds of different beers.....GA/FL football game will really bring out the beer drinkers in October!
In Ohio, beer and football go hand in hand. We need the beer to make us forget how horrible our Cleveland Browns are! It serves you right in Boston to come and take our great catcher Victor Martinez. You get the post-season jinx to go with it! As we say here..."OIC" Only in Cleveland!
my family has had our own Oktoberfest every year...a family tradition! Nothing like toasting the fall with the fam!
There are a lot of nice places in Baltimore's Fells Point that offer great Oktoberfest & fall specials. We were at a nice bar where they served bier out of a pumkin - what a cool idea. And to have a cold Warsteiner was a nice treat!
yumm... beer out of a pumpkin.. I'm coming to Baltimore!!
My father was stationed in Germany in the sixties. His best memories are of Oktoberfest there! While they were stationed there, my mother bought a drindl, which my sister has now inherited. She goes every year with her fiance to our local oktoberfest. Her fiance's birthday is in October, so this year, she threw him an Octoberfest themed birthday party, complete with Jaegermeister, and of course, Sam Adams "Oktoberfest" beer!
My personal favorite fall beers are Sam Adams Octoberfest, and Saranac Pumpkin Ale :)
cp says; I prefer a good 'Bloody Beer' to celebrate the end of tomato season and the beginning of fall by pureeing tomatoes and adding to a good 3/4 glass of Iron City Beer. Feels good ..Taste good.
Nothin' like a good ol' Sam Adams Oktoberfest to bring in the fall season!
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