So as I swung by Whole Foods to pick up a few items today, I was drawn to the outdoor seating area where Whole Foods and one of our local microbreweries, Uinta Brewing Company, had teamed up to host an Oktoberfest event complete with a Polka band. Unfortunately for me, I got there ten minutes before the event ended but I still had the pleasure of hearing the band play a couple of songs. This made me think of two things: First, it's really October which means 2012 is almost over; second, this reminded me of my 2007 trip to Germany where I got to have a beer at the world famous Hofbrauhaus in Munich (or Munchen).
In July 2007 I headed across the Atlantic with my parents for a trip to celebrate my graduation from college. This was a 16-day journey through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (and a couple of places in Northern Italy like Cortina D'Ampezzo and Lake Como). As part of our tour package, we got to enjoy a beer with traditional music and dance at the Hofbrauhaus. I enjoyed a Radler which is beer with lemonade. It is a drink I have not been able to find in the United States. I had something similar on my first trip to Ireland called a Shandy. I wish someone in the US would get on this!
One of the things about the Hofbrauhaus that impressed me was the ability of the waiters and waitresses to carry six (sometimes seven) full steins of beer in one hand. I decided I had to see if I could do it (of course this was after we had all finished our beers).
If you look closely, you can see that the stems of the steins form a full ring around your fist. That ring is where the seventh glass fits. Arms of steel!
Oktoberfest began as events leading up to the wedding of Ludwig I to Therese on October 12, 1810. Contrary to popular belief, Oktoberfest actually begins in September and runs through the first weekend in October (only). This year, it's too late to hop a plane to Munich but the dates for next year are already set for September 21 until October 6, 2013. If you don't think you can make it across the pond next year, Cincinnati seems to have one of the biggest Oktoberfest celebrations in the US.
(photo courtesy of Cincinnati Regional Chamber http://www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com/)
With German games, Alpenhorns and the World's Largest Chicken Dance, this sounds like a wonderful three days celebrating all things German. I think I would go just to see the Running of the Weiners! Each year dachshunds, dressed in their best hot dog bun costume, race 75 feet into their owners' arms in heats until 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places are determined.
I have a feeling that any town with a strong German presence will have something going on to celebrate Oktoberfest. In Salt Lake, Squatters (another local microbrewery) has a specially brewed beer and this year held two days of special food and music at their pub locations. Snowbird Resort also hosts an Oktoberfest on weekends from mid-August through the first weekend of October.
Last opportunity to experience Oktoberfest at the Snowbird Resort this year will be tomorrow, October 7 from noon-6pm. See you there!
