Oktoberfest Time
What’s September without October...Oktoberfest, that is! Bretzeln, Bier, and everything Bavaria, this is a fest we can get behind. Before we pull on our dirndl or strap up our lederhosen though, we think it is always savvy to know about the history and why we are celebrating. Here are some fun facts about Oktoberfest to get you ready. Oh, and we would be remiss if we didn’t also share our favorite German beers!
Fun Facts
Oktoberfest originated on October 12, 1810 to celebrate Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.
As the festival became larger and longer, it was moved to September for the better weather and longer days.
The mayor of Munich taps the first keg to kick off festivities and shouts “O’zapft is!”, which means “it’s tapped.”
According to Brittanica.com, about 2 million gallons of beer is consumed during Oktoberfest in Munich alone.
A well-known phrase from modern day Oktoberfest is “‘Liawa bsuffa und lusdig, ois nichdan und bläd.” This translates to, “It’s better to be drunk and funny, than sober and stupid.” Very entertaining!
Favorite Beers
You don’t have to travel all the way to Munich to get an authentic Oktoberfest experience. You can enjoy one of the many delicious German beers available. Here are our top 5 favorites that are actually brewed in Germany:
Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest Amber Märzen - brewed in Munich specially for Oktoberfest, you can’t get more authentic than this with flavors of toasty bread crust and rich malts.
Kulmbacher Mönchshof Festbier - An Oktoberfest favorite even among the locals, “this special lager beer is brewed for the occasion. Slightly richer and weightier than the city’s everyday brews, but supremely quaffable, it’s made to be consumed in the classic liter stein.”
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen - This robustly malty beer that is barley forward is perfect to pair with traditional Oktoberfest foods like pretzels, weiner schnitzel, and sauerkraut. Yum!
Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier - “Hofbräu Oktoberfest beer is a full-bodied, bottom-fermented specialty beer. With its fine hoppy aroma, it’s perfect alongside a classic Oktoberfest roasted chicken.”
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier - Considered the first-brewed Oktoberfest Bier originating in 1818, this beer is only brewed for the ‘fest. According to the brewery, it is “the perfect balance of a light taste of hops and a strong note of malt.”
Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit!
