School’s back in session and it’s also harvest season. So what better time to give you a quick history lesson on every beer fan’s favourite time of year, Oktoberfest!
I’ll try not to bore you with too many details and, if you’re impatient, you can just skip to the end and find out about the best Oktoberfest celebrations in BC. But I must warn you, if you do that, you may be robbing yourself of some important Oktoberfest knowledge that could come in handy over the next couple of weeks. You wouldn’t want to get caught with your lederhosen down when your friends at the Wiesn yell “Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa!”*
While we in North America often think of Oktoberfest as a two-week-long bender in the streets of Germany filled with people in silly costumes, the reality is a bit more nuanced.
It all started way back in 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen had a Bavarian royal wedding. It was the first royal wedding held in Munich in almost a century, making it a particularly special occasion. But it was also a chance for the newly formed Kingdom of Bavaria (est. 1806) to demonstrate its National pride.
As with any good wedding, when the ceremony is over you need to celebrate with… a horse race? Okay, remember, this is 1810. They did things a little differently. They also celebrated with music, a free opera, a play, and, of course, beer. This folk festival was held in the meadow outside the city gates in an area that was renamed Theresienwiese (Theresa’s Fields) to honour the princess. That name still stands today but has been abbreviated by locals to Wiesn, which is what they also use to refer to modern-day Oktoberfest.
I told you you’d learn some great facts!
Of course, when a great party is thrown there needs to be a sequel, so, in subsequent years the horse races and folk festival continued, commemorating the Royal wedding, but they also added other activities like tree climbing, bowling and carnival booths through the early 1800’s.
While beer has always been a central part of Oktoberfest, the iconic beer tents didn’t appear until the late 19th century. The oldest and longest-running beer tent, Schottenhamel Festhalle, opened its festival doors in 1867 with a modest 50-seat venue but in 1886, they expanded by adding a canvas tent on the Theresienwiese.
Schottenhamel also holds a special significance beyond its longevity. Since 1950, it has been the official starting point for Oktoberfest. Each year, at noon on opening day, a 12-gun salute echoes through the air as the Mayor of Munich taps the first keg and proclaims “Ozapft is” (“it is tapped“) to the cheering crowd. The mayor then presents the first maßkrug (1-litre stein) of beer to the Minister-President of the State of Bavaria and Oktoberfest is officially underway.
But why is Oktoberfest partially in September and why do the dates change every year?
For a country known for its precision and accuracy, they’re pretty laissez-faire when it comes to setting dates for the world’s biggest beer celebration. Well, it’s actually pretty simple, Oktoberfest always ends on the first Sunday in October and begins on the preceding Saturday, two weeks prior. The only exception occurs when Tag der Deutschen Einheit (German Unity Day), which is on October 3, falls on the Monday following Oktoberfest’s conclusion. In this case, they extend the festival one day to coincide with the National holiday.
This still doesn’t answer why Oktoberfest is primarily celebrated in September though!
That’s an easy answer as well….weather. Bavaria is cold in October. The original festival ran from October 12 to 17, but as it grew and the dates were extended, organizers decided to move it to the current dating system to allow for longer, warmer nights that are experienced in September.
But What About The Beer?
Traditionally, and for about a century, the official beer of the festivities had been a Märzen, an amber-coloured malt-rich pale lager with an aroma and flavour resembling toasted bread or biscuits. However, this designation has become a little more ambiguous in recent years. Some people argue that it’s now a festbier, a lighter and less toasty version of a Märzen. Others maintain that the Märzen remains the standard, while still others contend that there is no official style at all. Regardless of the specific style, one thing remains constant: all Oktoberfest beers must adhere to Reinheitsgebot, the German Beer Purity Law.
Reinheitsgebot, say it with me…”rine-hites-kuh-bowt”, mandates that brewers use only water, malted barley, hops, and yeast in their beer. Sorry, marshmallow fruited sours, you’re a no-go in Deutschland. In fact, if you’re a brewery in Germany and you don’t follow Reinheitsgebot you legally cannot call your product “bier”.
To add another layer of complexity, the beer served at Oktoberfest in Munich must not only adhere to Reinheitsgebot but also be brewed within the city limits. Only six breweries currently meet these stringent requirements: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschor, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten.
Although I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Munich and sampling brews at some of the famous beer halls, I’ve unfortunately yet to experience the full spectacle of an authentic Oktoberfest. It’s definitely on my beer-ket list though, as I’m sure it is for most ale aficionados. Fortunately for us beer nerds in BC, we have a plethora of great Oktoberfest events to partake in. With that beautiful segue, here’s a list of all the remaining Oktoberfest celebrations over the next couple of weeks. See you there! PROST!
*”one, two, three, drink!”
Oktoberfest Events Around BC
Oktoberfest Features at Black Kettle Brewing (North Vancouver) • September 12 – October 6
Featuring authentic Munich beer: an Oktoberfest Marzen from Hacker Pschorr, as well as house-brewed German beers and a German-inspired food menu.
Oktoberfest Feature Menu at BREWHALL (Vancouver) • September 12 – October 2
The Feature menu includes returning favourites, a new Bratwurst board, and limited release beer.
Oktoberfest at Parallel 49 Brewing Company (Vancouver) • September 20 – October 5
Featuring: A tented biergarten; live music Thursdays – Saturdays; German-style food, beer and music; prizes for best dressed.
Oktoberfest Feature Menu at Howe Sound Brewing (Squamish, New Westminster and East Vancouver) • September 21 – October 6
Feature menu includes: fresh baked pretzels with mustard and bratwurst, and two beer specials.
Oktoberfest Feature Menu at Main St Brewing (Vancouver) • September 21 – October 6
Feature menu by Rosie’s BBQ and Smokehouse includes their take on Bavarian classics like pretzels and beer cheese sauce, bratwurst, schnitzel and currywurst with a special ham hock dinner available only on the weekends. On the beer side, look for special Oktoberfest brew releases.
Oktoberfest at Two Peaks Brewing (Kitimat) • September 25 – 28
Featuring: A full Oktoberfest-inspired menu – Oktoberfest attire highly encouraged!
Oktoberfest at Trading Post Brewing (Langley) September 27 and October 4
Featuring: German beer fest flights, German food, a live oom-pah-pah band, costume contest and more. Food and reserved seating are limited – walk-ins are welcome, but to ensure a table for your group book tickets at the link above to reserve a table and German Platter(s).
Oktoberfest at BNA Brewing (Kelowna) • September 27 & 28
Featuring: Traditional Bavarian music, a special Oktoberfest menu from BNA Burger, an exclusive Festbier and more
Oktoberfest at Beva Brewing & Blending (North Vancouver) • September 28
Featuring: Oktoberfest-themed food specials, pretzels, a new Festbier and two more beer releases. The brewhouse will be open for extra seating.
Oktoberfest at Five Roads Brewing (Langley) • September 28
Featuring: A German-inspired food menu, music, beers and good times. Call to make a reservation: 604-539-6754
Oktoberfest at Kelowna Beer Institute (Kelowna) • September 28
Featuring: A German-inspired menu, beer, steins, and, yes, giant pretzels. Oh, and Felix will be back for another year.
Oktoberfest at Lakesider Brewing (Kelowna) • September 28 and 29
Featuring: New beer release, German food, games and prizes, live music on Saturday. Wear your lederhosen and bring your stein!
Oktobeer Feast at Mayne Island Brewing • September 28 and 29
Feature menu for the weekend includes artisan Bavarian eats from Das Nest Restaurant, paired with six German-inspired beers.
Oktoberfest at Old Yale Brewing Abbotsford • September 28
Featuring: Live music, best dress competition, stien holding competition, an exclusive Festbier and Oktoberfest-inspired food features
Oktoberfest at Railside Brewing (Kelowna) • September 28
Featuring: Special release Fest Das Bier, BBQ Bratwurst and music
Steel & Oaktoberfest at Steel & Oak Brewing (New Westminster) • September 28
Featuring: 8 German beers, both flagship favourites and limited releases, with great deals on German beer flights and glasses; German-insipired food from Between 2 Buns; a pretzel bar; extra banquet hall seating; Bavarian decorations; a costume contest, and beer stein holding competition.
Oktoberfest at The Beer Farmers (Pemberton) • September 28
Featuring: New beer release: Country Gold Märzen; bratwurst, sauerkraut, gingerbread soft serve, and a live 3-piece Oktoberfest band from 4-6 PM
Oktoberfest at Sidekick Brewing (Chilliwack) • September 29
Featuring: limited edition steins available for purchase, live music, games, challenges and prizes, a special beer release and feature Oktoberfest menu. Costumes highly encouraged!
Note: this is a ticketed event – get yours at the link above.
‘r’Oktobeerfest at Shore Line Brewing (Kelowna) • October 4 – 6
Featuring: A non-traditional Oktoberfest with live music all weekend, new beer release, Bavarian food specials, and more.
Oktoberfest at Salt Spring Brewery (Salt Spring Island) • October 5
Featuring: A special menu from South End Sausage, a specially brewed cask, music, and more. Dressing up is encouraged, but not mandatory.
Oktoberfest at Sooke Brewing Company (Sooke) • October 5
Featuring: Randy’s Rod Dogs will be on site serving up Bratwurst alongside tasty brews and and pretzels.
Oktoberfest at Another Beer Co (New Westminster) • October 6
Details to come!
Oktoberfest at Abandoned Rail Brewing Co (Penticton) • October 12
Featuring: Live music, food trucks, traditional beer hall tables and a dance floor – all under an Oktoberfest festzelt (tent) in the barley fields. Tickets include your beer, shuttles to and from the Lakeside Resort, and an exclusive stein.
NOTE: this is a ticketed event, with two seatings available. Tickets available at the link above.
