Where to find an Oktoberfest in Kitsap, and what to order to drink
Time to unpack your lederhosen and dirndls for Oktoberfest. This multi-day beer and food festival began in Munich over 200 years ago and today runs from mid-September to the first week in October.
So, why Oktoberfest, you may wonder? Why not Septemberfest?
One answer is an outdoor festival in October in a northern climate could mean a chilly night in the beer tents in your lederhosen while drinking a cold liter or two of Märzen. So, over time the festival crept into typically warmer September, but kept the name Oktoberfest.
The first Oktoberfest in 1810 was a week-long country fair with a horse race as the star attraction. It was also the celebration of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Saxe-Hildburghausen. The festivities, held on the fields in front of the city gates, celebrated the royal event with many stone steins of beers, cups of wines, links of sausages, roasted chickens, and gallons of kraut.
In the years following the first celebration, the event grew beyond the initial week. Today, festival-goers enjoy sitting in the beer tents quaffing beer, visiting the food stalls, listening to oom-pah bands playing and strolling the gardens.
Today’s events include the Parade of Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, the Official Tapping of the Keg, Oktoberfest Mass, Böllerschießen (cannon salute) and an agricultural fair.
The Lord Mayor of Munich has the honor of tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer. Once the first barrel has been tapped, the beer flows for the more than 6 million people attending the event. Upwards of 8 million liters of beer are consumed during the 16-day festival.
Food stalls serve up Hendl (roast chicken), Haxen (pig’s feet), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Würst (sausage), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Brezen (pretzels), Knödel (potato dumplings), Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Blaukraut (red cabbage), and Obatzda (spicy cheese spread).
Oktoberfest - the festival - has grown into an international festival of beer, music and food with festivities popping up all around the globe including here on the Kitsap Peninsula.
Poulsbrew Beer Festival is Saturday, September 16, from noon until 6 p.m. This year it features brews from Dog Days Brewing, Echoes Brewing, Hood Canal Brewing, Moment Brewing, Rainy Daze, Ridgeline Brewing, Sister’s Cider House, Slippery Pig, Valholl, and Western Red Brewing. Beer, food, and music sounds like fun to me! Tickets available at poulsbochamber.com. (Poulsbo Village Shopping Center, 19351 8th Ave. NE)
Bremerton’s Chaos Bay also celebrates Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 16, with a selection of local beers and traditional menu items at its Bremerton location. (2901 Perry Ave., Bremerton)
The following Saturday, join the fun at Bushel and Barrel just off Highway 3 north of Poulsbo for cider and local beers. The festival is September 24 from noon on. Good food, Oktoberfest beer, and the entertaining Hometown Band from 2 to 6 p.m. And then compete as a yodeler, stein hoisting or even sausage carving! (201 NW Beaver Ridge, Poulsbo)
And then there is the popular and oh-so-entertaining to watch Poulsbo Beer Run which happens twice a year – St. Patrick’s Day and Oktoberfest, at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 30. Participants wear costumes while running or walking the 4-mile route with stops at 5 breweries and a cider house to sample their wares. The Poulsbo Beer Run benefits the Blue Star Banner program. Sign up at PoulsboBeerRun.com.
Across the pond, the weekend of September 22 through 24 is Fremont Oktoberfest in Seattle. You’ll need the whole weekend to mosey around eight beer tents, a cider tent and a seltzer tent! It's big with Oktoberfest beers from all around the globe and many not so German-style brews.
Farther afield in Leavenworth, Washington’s recreated Bavarian village, festivities will take place over three weekends - September 29 and 30, October 6 and 7, and Oct. 13 and 14. Three beer gardens, Bavarian cuisine and music with over twenty plus musical acts and a free, fun play area for kids. More info and tickets at www.Leavenworth.org.
Oktoberfest - the beer - is a lager (bottom fermenting yeast and longer, cooler fermentation) that originated in caves of Bavaria. Traditionally, it was brewed in March just before the hot summer months when temperatures interfered with the fermentation process and then lagered over the summer in the ice caves.
Märzen beer is medium to full-bodied and varies from pale to amber to dark brown. It also has a higher ABV than other traditional German lagers to preserve the beer through the summer months and then enjoyed in the fall. Märzen is now known as Oktoberfest.
A few suggestions for some very good German and American Oktoberfest beers you should try.
Ayinger Oktoberfest-Märzen has a deep golden color tinted. It is slightly sweet with a malty nose that is balanced with floral hops. It’s medium bodied and is aged longer than most.
Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen was developed to celebrate the original Oktoberfest over 200 years ago. This beer is full-bodied with rich malt flavor, dark toffee notes and underlying fruitiness.
Spaten Oktoberfest Ur Märzen was created in 1872, with aromas flavors of biscuit, caramel malt, and hints of spicy, grassy noble hops.
Weihenstephaner Oktoberfestbier is a full, rich-bodied, hoppy lager brewed for the Festbier season. Deep gold color, malty with great mouthfeel and lots of flavor.
Locally, Silver City Oktoberfest is an authentic interpretation of the classic style. The rich malty sweetness comes from a combination of Pilsner, NW Pale, Caramel, Munich, and Carafa malts spiced with German Hersbrucker hops. IBU: 21 ABV: 6.3%
Moment Brewing Timeless Peak Oktoberfest Märzen is a collaboration with Ridgeline Brewing. This rich, amber lager is ready for the festivities. 5.8% ABV
Echoes Brewing Oktoberfest Märzen is one of the higher ABV at 7% but perfectly balanced. They also brew another German style ale called Kölsch brewed with German barley malt and noble hops, then lagered. 5.1% ABV 23 IBU
Prost!
Mary Earl has been educating Kitsap wine lovers for a couple of decades, is a longtime member of the West Sound Brew Club and can pair a beer or wine dinner in a flash. She volunteers for the Clear Creek Trail and is a longtime supporter of Silverdale.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: The origin of Oktoberfest and where to celebrate this September
