Oktoberfest runs from Saturday, September 21 until Sunday, October 6 and this year’s event will be the 189th festival in the city of Munich.
The world’s largest beer festival is an incredible celebration of all things Bavarian, but how much do you actually know about the festival?
Here are five fun facts and three venues to say Prost to Oktoberfest 2024:
•It is forbidden to drink any beer other than Munich-brewed beer at Oktoberfest. The beer must have been brewed within the city walls and come from one of six special historical breweries.
•Oktoberfestbier is stronger than normal beer, coming in at around 6%. The variety is called ‘Märzen’ as it is brewed in March and allowed to age so it is ready to drink by late Summer.
•Locals don’t call it Oktoberfest – instead they call it the ‘Wies’n’ after the Theresenwiese field where the festival is held each year.
•More than 7.5 million litres of beer will be drunk and the Mayor of Munich taps the first keg to mark the official start of celebrations.
•There’s also food – festival-goers are expected to consume more than 100 oxen, 60 calves, 550,000 chickens, 44,000 plus fish and 300,000 pork sausages.
Enjoy German Fare and Bier
Located in Hahndorf in the heart of the Adelaide Hills, head to The Haus Restaurant on Main Street for an amazing selection of dishes created from the best in local produce. A rustic vibe of exposed brick, wooden ceiling beams and pendent lighting awaits, or dine outdoors under market umbrellas and watch the world pass by.
Stop in for German breakfast tempters such as artisan sourdough topped with fried eggs, sauerkraut, Bierwurst sausages and mustard; or dine later on starters of slow-roasted crispy pork belly, apple slaw and sticky maple glaze. For the main, think specialties like a mixed grill of smoked pork chop, bratwurst and cheese kransky sausage; perhaps pan-seared Atlantic salmon hits the mark, with crispy potatoes, orange, caper and shaved fennel salad, dill and lemon sauce, washed down with a German beer tasting paddle.
Fifth Edition of Oktoberfest
Located in the historic town of Forth, The Bridge Hotel on Leith Road is one of the longest continually running establishments in Tasmania. Nestled on the banks of the Forth River, the historic hotel hasn’t changed much – from a jilted bride to fires, floods and a murder or two, this watering hole is chock full of history, heritage listed and considered a national treasure.
Oktoberfest is back at The Bridge for the fifth edition on October 19 with all the usual carryons – think a traditional bier hall, games, live music, barrels of laughs, heaps of German food and of course, plenty of beer! Toe tap to tunes from Hugo Bladel, Uncle Gus, Kitty & The Rockets and Wotevas while devouring German-style pork knuckle with mash and sauerkraut; or chow down on a chicken schnitzel with chips and salad.
Traditional German Homestyle Cuisine
Expect authentic German cuisine, cooked homestyle to traditional recipes at Bavarian Blue on Main Road in Wellington Point. This well-loved Brisbane restaurant takes diners' tastebuds to Bavaria in surrounds of chunky wooden table settings, an eclectic mix of artwork and cuckoo clocks on the walls. Say Guten tag to entrées like organic beef goulash soup with German sourdough, or herrings and cold potato salad; before devouring signature mains such as a tasting platter with schnitzel, sausage, smoked pork chop, pan-fried potatoes and salad.
Perhaps grilled salmon tempts, served with garlic prawns, potatoes and salad; or share a whole baked duck, stuffed with prunes and apples, with potatoes and red cabbage. Finish sweetly with a Wunderbar dessert of poffertjes, fruit and whipped cream.
