Dust off your lederhosen and practice the chicken dance - it's Oktoberfest. And if there's anything that New Orleans residents love, it would be words that end in "fest."
Traditionally, the Germans celebrate Oktoberfest in Munich for the 16 days leading up to the first Sunday in October. However, here in the New World, we choose to look at Oktoberfest as being celebrated throughout the entire month of October.
Here are a variety of bars, restaurants, and event venues that are offering specialty beer and food to mark the holiday, as well as a few specific, one-time special events. Prost, y'all.
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Every year, Polly Watts, owner of the Avenue Pub, imports several special unpasteurized, unfiltered casks of small German family breweries in the Antioch region, including beer from Weissenohe, Bayer Theinheim, and Brauerei Zehendner. Tappings will occur on October 3. 10, and 17. This is the real deal for authentic German beer. Also check out the Pub's specially curated German cheese to go with the traditional brews, provided by St. James.
According to owner Jason Comboy, Aline Street provides Oktoberfest all year round. With its dozens of German imports as well as local versions of German styles, the opportunity to drink out of a 3 liter glass boot, oom-pa-pa music on the jukebox, this is the place to be for the full Oktoberfest experience.
Throughout October, the Uptown Bulldog is offering an Oktoberfest punch card free to any customers who would like to participate. Every fall/Oktoberfest brew purchased will lead to completion of a 12-punch card which will serve as a chance to win a free ice chest full of fall seasonal beer.
The Mid City Bulldog is also offering a punch card ticket to mark off fall and Oktoberfest beer, including beers from Abita, Brooklyn, Tin Roof, Southern Tier, Blue Pants, Terrapin, Crown Valley, St. Arnold and other pumpkin, fall/harvest, and Oktoberfest beer.
The Irish House is celebrating Oktoberfest as well, offering a special of Spaten Optimator to pair with beer braised pork sausage with homemade red cabbage sauerkraut topped with parmesan cheese and arugula salad for 20 bucks. Special good for all of Oktoberfest.
Germany native Wolfram Koehler has a solid lineup of German style beers at the French Quarter brewpub. Every fall, the brewery brings back the traditional Oktoberfest style as their seasonal.
Executive Chef Dustin Brien has prepared five German-inspired courses, each paired with a selection of German beers - König Pilsener, Erdinger Champ Hefeweizen, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, and Augustiner Maximator Doppelbock - to give diners an authentic Oktoberfest experience. Dishes include Kartoffel und Biersuppe (beer and potato soup), Knackwurst und Kartoffelsalat (garlic sausage), Schweinshaxen mit Kurbis Spaetzle (pork shanks) and more. The pre-fixe menu costs $40 (beer pairings will be an added cost) and are also available a la carte. Available through October.
The ultimate New Orleans Oktoberfest celebration is sponsored by the Deutches Haus, which is still in exile and therefore holding its party in Kenner on the weekends of October 10-11, 17-18, and 24-25; Friday hours are from 4-11 and Saturday hours are 11-11. Local brewery 40 Arpent is brewing an exclusive Oktoberfest beer for the Deutches Haus celebration as well.
Come on down for the seasonal Festbier along with the Fall Fest menu which includes Oktoberfest favorites like a traditional German sausage platter and German soft pretzels.
Even though Barrel Proof already had its Oktoberfest celebration in late September (when Oktoberfest actually takes place in Germany - crazy, right?) they still deserve props for busting out liter mugs and filling them with German beers. Check their beer list out for German treats through the rest of Oktoberfest season.
St. James is teaming up with NOLA Brewing, Crescent City Brewhouse, Cleaver & Co., and Bellgrade bakery to create an Oktoberfest Beer Garden on October 12. The courtyard will be set up family style and the food will be served family style as well, not a pairing but an enjoyment of germanic style cuisine; also the owner of Saint James Cheese, Richard Sutton, has promised to turn up in lederhosen that alone is worth the admission. $30, go to website to purchase tickets.
On October 16, the Royal Sonesta is hosting a round table luncheon that will celebrate Louisiana craft beer and German roots. Beer from NOLA Brewing and Bayou Teche will be paired with fresh interpretations of classic German cuisine. For reservations, please email nscallan@sonesta.com.
40 Arpent managed to sneak out a couple of kegs of its Oktoberfest beer from going to Kenner for the Deutches Haus celebration and Ale will be throwing a mini-Oktoberfest on October 17 featuring the beer paired with their housemade soft salty pretzel. Prizes and giveaways too.
Enjoy Oktoberfest inspired food from this German bistro like Chappapeela Pork Schnitzel
cucumber and tomato salad, carrot salad, potato salad. Also try the Choucroute Maison, which is a platter of housemade sauerkraut, crispy pork belly, bratwurst, smoked pork shank with plum mustard
Every year, Polly Watts, owner of the Avenue Pub, imports several special unpasteurized, unfiltered casks of small German family breweries in the Antioch region, including beer from Weissenohe, Bayer Theinheim, and Brauerei Zehendner. Tappings will occur on October 3. 10, and 17. This is the real deal for authentic German beer. Also check out the Pub's specially curated German cheese to go with the traditional brews, provided by St. James.
According to owner Jason Comboy, Aline Street provides Oktoberfest all year round. With its dozens of German imports as well as local versions of German styles, the opportunity to drink out of a 3 liter glass boot, oom-pa-pa music on the jukebox, this is the place to be for the full Oktoberfest experience.
Throughout October, the Uptown Bulldog is offering an Oktoberfest punch card free to any customers who would like to participate. Every fall/Oktoberfest brew purchased will lead to completion of a 12-punch card which will serve as a chance to win a free ice chest full of fall seasonal beer.
The Mid City Bulldog is also offering a punch card ticket to mark off fall and Oktoberfest beer, including beers from Abita, Brooklyn, Tin Roof, Southern Tier, Blue Pants, Terrapin, Crown Valley, St. Arnold and other pumpkin, fall/harvest, and Oktoberfest beer.
The Irish House is celebrating Oktoberfest as well, offering a special of Spaten Optimator to pair with beer braised pork sausage with homemade red cabbage sauerkraut topped with parmesan cheese and arugula salad for 20 bucks. Special good for all of Oktoberfest.
Germany native Wolfram Koehler has a solid lineup of German style beers at the French Quarter brewpub. Every fall, the brewery brings back the traditional Oktoberfest style as their seasonal.
Executive Chef Dustin Brien has prepared five German-inspired courses, each paired with a selection of German beers - König Pilsener, Erdinger Champ Hefeweizen, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, and Augustiner Maximator Doppelbock - to give diners an authentic Oktoberfest experience. Dishes include Kartoffel und Biersuppe (beer and potato soup), Knackwurst und Kartoffelsalat (garlic sausage), Schweinshaxen mit Kurbis Spaetzle (pork shanks) and more. The pre-fixe menu costs $40 (beer pairings will be an added cost) and are also available a la carte. Available through October.
The ultimate New Orleans Oktoberfest celebration is sponsored by the Deutches Haus, which is still in exile and therefore holding its party in Kenner on the weekends of October 10-11, 17-18, and 24-25; Friday hours are from 4-11 and Saturday hours are 11-11. Local brewery 40 Arpent is brewing an exclusive Oktoberfest beer for the Deutches Haus celebration as well.
Come on down for the seasonal Festbier along with the Fall Fest menu which includes Oktoberfest favorites like a traditional German sausage platter and German soft pretzels.
Even though Barrel Proof already had its Oktoberfest celebration in late September (when Oktoberfest actually takes place in Germany - crazy, right?) they still deserve props for busting out liter mugs and filling them with German beers. Check their beer list out for German treats through the rest of Oktoberfest season.
St. James is teaming up with NOLA Brewing, Crescent City Brewhouse, Cleaver & Co., and Bellgrade bakery to create an Oktoberfest Beer Garden on October 12. The courtyard will be set up family style and the food will be served family style as well, not a pairing but an enjoyment of germanic style cuisine; also the owner of Saint James Cheese, Richard Sutton, has promised to turn up in lederhosen that alone is worth the admission. $30, go to website to purchase tickets.
On October 16, the Royal Sonesta is hosting a round table luncheon that will celebrate Louisiana craft beer and German roots. Beer from NOLA Brewing and Bayou Teche will be paired with fresh interpretations of classic German cuisine. For reservations, please email nscallan@sonesta.com.
40 Arpent managed to sneak out a couple of kegs of its Oktoberfest beer from going to Kenner for the Deutches Haus celebration and Ale will be throwing a mini-Oktoberfest on October 17 featuring the beer paired with their housemade soft salty pretzel. Prizes and giveaways too.
Enjoy Oktoberfest inspired food from this German bistro like Chappapeela Pork Schnitzel
cucumber and tomato salad, carrot salad, potato salad. Also try the Choucroute Maison, which is a platter of housemade sauerkraut, crispy pork belly, bratwurst, smoked pork shank with plum mustard
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