To the chagrin of the flip-flop loving students of Georgetown, the cold waltzed in this week in all of its frosty glory. But if anything makes college students happier than warm weather, it’s cold beer. The advent of fall finds consolation on this front, as Oktoberfest rolls in along with the chill in the air.
Since 1810, when Prince Ludwig of Bavaria invited the entire populace of Munich to attend his wedding festivities complete with horse races and agricultural shows, Oktoberfest has been a German tradition. What began as the first national festival to include members of all social classes quickly grew into a celebration of the best German beverage to bless the tongues of the newlyweds.
As years passed the beer became more plentiful, and in 1896 the small beer stands were replaced with beer tents and halls. Nearly 200 years later, Oktoberfest takes place in Germany from Sept. 20 to Oct. 5, during which Germans ostensibly celebrating the anniversary of Prince Ludwig’s wedding with an entire week filled with dance, food, and drink.
American marketers love any excuse to encourage the imbibing of more hops and barley, so as soon as the calendar hits October in the States, a plethora of special brews hit the market. But if the taste of autumnally produced domestic beer leaves you wanting more, Oktoberfest celebrations abound at which foreign brews are waiting to be tasted.
If you want in on the European drinking revelry, you have more than one option. Take theme parties to new heights and throw your own version of Oktoberfest in your backyard, barbecuing sausages, playing oom-pah music and forcing your friends to don lederhosen. You can head to Blob’s Park, a beer garden and polka hall in Maryland, and check out the Bavarian dancers and bell ringers imported for the fall festivities.
In finer drinking halls, Oktoberfest is celebrated with fervor. In D.C., beer is synonymous with The Brickskeller, home to over 100 beers, including 95 from Germany and Austria alone. Pricey it is, but its superior selection is undisputable. Even closer to home, Old Europe is an often-overlooked restaurant in Glover Park, on Wisconsin Ave. right across from Whole Foods Market. October at this German haven means, in addition to the usual venison and other meaty delights, kegs of Oktoberfest beer imported from Munich, special menus, and (for ambiance’s sake) German music.
Break out the lederhosen, embrace your inner sauerkraut-lover, and partake in the only drinking festival that lasts longer than a mere 24 hours. Who doesn’t love a holiday revolving around beer?
Blob’s Park is located in Jessup, MD, at 8024 Blob’s Park Rd. The Brinkskeller Saloon-Bar, 1523 22nd St. Old Europe, 2434 Wisconsin Ave.
