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Oktoberfest. Just by saying the word, phrases, memories, and presumptions flood my thoughts. After spending five months in Europe, it was difficult not to get excited about the festival of beer. Even here in Colorado, October and beer has found translation through our own interpretation of Oktoberfest. The pints, the parties, the steins, and das boot!
But how was it we came to love our German bier? After all, what else would get us to pull on our sennerhut, lederhosen, and dirndl for men and women alike but BEER?
Why mention Oktoberfest in September? Fact is, starting on September 19th, Oktoberfest runs for 16 days in Munich, Germany concluding on October 4th. The first fest documented was in 1810 by Crown Prince Ludwig in celebration of his marriage to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen with a horse race. Between the Napoleonic war, cholera, Austro-Prussian war, Franco-Prussian war, World War I and II, Oktoberfest has been cancelled twenty-four times due to war, disease, and other mishaps. But this event of national pride has continued to thrive. Now, over six million people flock to the largest people’s fair and consume close to seven million liters of beer (that’s 1.8 million gallons). Oktoberfest adheres to the Bavarian Purity Requirements decreed by Duke William IV in 1516. It specifies that only water, hops, and barley are allowed to be part of the brewing process.
I’m looking forward to many Oktoberfest pints featured this month: Paulaner, Hacker Pschorr, Hofbrau Oktoberfest, Erdinger, Sam Adams Harvest, Coney Island Oktoberfest, Avery Imperial Oktoberfest, Breckenridge Autumn Ale, Blue Moon’s Harvest Moon, Dogfish Head Punkin, Left Hand Oktober Märzen Lager, Boulevard Bob’s 47 Oktoberfest, etc etc etc. So raise your stein and shout, “O’zapft is!” (“It’s tapped!”) because it’s time for Oktoberfest!
