Getting in the mood for Oktoberfest with Fall beers

By SOMDATTA SENGUPTA

No one can beat Germans in celebrating Fall. As the first dew drops of the season sparkle in Autumn sunlight, the mood is set for Oktoberfest and Fall beers. In Munich, the countdown is on.

Historically, Oktoberfest originated in Germany and is celebrated as a 16-day festival each year, according to Wikipedia. In 1994, the schedule was modified in response to German reunification so that if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or 2nd, then the festival will go on until October 3 German Unity Day. Thus, the festival is now 17 days when the first Sunday is October 2 and 18 days when it is October 1. The festival is held on an area named the Theresienwiese (field, or meadow, of Therese), often called d’ Wiesn for short.

Traditional festival fare includes Hendl (chicken), Schweinsbraten (roast pork), Haxn (knuckle of pork), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), Würstel (sausages) along with Brezel (Pretzel), Knödeln (potato or bread dumplings), Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), Reiberdatschi (potato pancakes), Sauerkraut or Blaukraut (red cabbage) along with such Bavarian delicacies as Obatzda (a fatty, spiced cheese-butter concoction) and Weisswurst (a white sausage), according to Wikipedia.

The festival is usually celebrated during late September and early October. This year the 176 Munich Oktoberfest will be held from September 19 to October 4, according to the official festival site.


Reportedly, it is claimed to be world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year, Wikipedia reports. In a news release, this year’s special attractions are listed as the brand new The Tower.

Designed by Charles Blume, The Tower is like a big playground with a numerous spectacles inside. One can feel the forces of nature as one will see a volcano erupt and get the feel of space travel with special 3-D glasses.

The Tower also has traditional elements like spinning wheels and rocking conveyor-belts. However, the most notable feature of The Tower is the view of the festival and the city of Munich from the top.

The next fun ride is billed as the Silberturm, that is also a tower but smaller, which one usually rides up on the side, according to the news release. The trip includes experiences ominously named as Free Fall or Jumping Effect.

If you are not planning to travel to Munich this fall, then just a short trip to the Spirits Unlimited store in Middletown will get you there virtually.

Our huge selection of Fall beers is easy to spot and will be brought to you online through this blog. Today, our feature beer is the Spaten Oktoberfest Beer, which was created in 1872.

It is the world's first Oktoberfest beer, the company claims, and was brewed for the greatest folk festival in the world. It is amber in color, medium-bodied, and its flavor is achieved by balancing the roasted malt flavor with the perfect amount of hops. It has a rich textured palate with an underlying sweetness which is true to tradition, according to the brewing company.

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spiritsmiddletown@gmail.com

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Image Sources for this article http://www.oktoberfest.de/en and http://spatenusa.com/6_what_new/6_3_promotions/index.htm