Oh fall, my favorite time of year. A time when the color of the beers at my favorite watering hole seem to change with the leaves in the trees. Crisp wheats and pilsners, full of the hues of summer, give way to deeper, more robust shades of a malty Oktoberfest or pumpkin ale. The chill in the air reminds me that winter is not far off, and time spent outside should be appreciated.
What better way to welcome autumn than to raise a pint at one of downtown’s best traditions, Oktoberfest! Celebrating its eighth year, this 2-day event held outside the Hessen Haus on 4th Street, just south of Court, commemorates the world’s largest fair, held in Bavaria.
Today’s incarnation of the Munich Oktoberfest sees more than 6.5 million people through their gates from all over the world, although it didn’t always used to. This German custom began in 1810 as a parade celebrating the wedding of Prince Ludwig to Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, thus initiating what would become the most famous of all beer festivals on the planet.
Though Des Moines doesn’t quite match Munich in their 7 million litres of beer sold, we have many pints of malty deliciousness to whet your palate! Leinenkugel, along with Hacker-Pschorr and Paulaner will be available outside during the festivities, not to mention the impressive selection of imported German beers inside the Hessen Haus.
But Oktoberfest isn’t just about the beer, it’s about the German tradition. Kick off this year’s event on Thursday with a Taste of Oktoberfest inside Capital Square. The first 100 people get a free lunch of bratwurst and chips. Wash it down with a free sample of Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest while you watch a polka demonstration by the Polka Club of Iowa. Do you have some German in you? Trace your German roots with help from the German American Heritage Society!
All that and the party hasn’t even started yet! Friday and Saturday, watch the officiators Tap the Golden Keg, learn how to polka, win the Bier Maiden or Wet Bier Gut contest, or try some of the delicious German-inspired food offerings. All of that mixed in with a lineup of bands to keep your feet tapping and your partner spinning rounds out what we like to call, Oktoberfest!
Hope to see you there! Prost!
