It’s OktoberFABULOUS all week long! You can really take your Munich themed fiesta to the next level with Oktoberfest beer pairings. Host and Toast like a Bavarian!
Traditional Oktoberfest Marzen is a beautiful copper colored lager with toasty, malty notes and sweet caramel flavor. *Photo courtesy FiestaZaragozas.com
The traditional beer of the Munich celebration is Oktoberfest Marzen served in 1 Liter mugs. Marzenbiers have toasty, malty notes, with a mild sweet caramel flavor and some spicy hops. It’s a bready beer, so it’s going to pair well with a plate of brats and German potato salad. The maltiness will accentuate the spices in the meat and the earthiness of the potatoes.
Traditional German Weissbier, or “Wheat Beer” has yeasts that remain in the bottle and create the beer’s hazy glow. *Photo courtesy SixPackTech.com
German Weissbier, or wheat beer is really popular as well– Traditional German yeasts remain in the bottle and create the beer’s hazy glow, and that helps produce notes of spicy clove, nutmeg and actually a hint of banana. The hops are mild, so it really lets whatever you serve with it be the star.
Closer to home, pick up a German style pilsner, like Stella Artois, or a classic Belgian lager, like Beck’s
If you don’t have access to some of the more authentic German style beers, a little closer to home you can pick up a German style Pilsner or a Belgian lager, both are super versatile. They can also stand up to the richness of German cuisine– and the salty profile of some of the cured German meats like Fleischkaese which is like German Bologna.
Weisswurst or white sausages are served with pretzels and sweet mustard. *photo courtesy Wikipedia
German pilsners and Belgain lagers are also beautifully paired with Weissworst— the classic white sausages that are served with pretzels and dipped in sweet mustard.
You can find more information from the experts at Let’s Grab a Beer for tips on entertaining, beer pairings and the history of brews!
*This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.
Skewer your Oktoberfest favorite eats like brats and bread to dip in a rich, beer and cheese fondue
Oktoberfest runs through this weekend, so PROST! (That’s German for Cheers, y’all!) One beer style reigns King at Oktoberfest– the Oktoberfest Marzen. It’s a beautiful copper colored lager brewed by 6 select breweries in Munich– aged for 3-4 months and traditionally served in 1 Liter mugs.
With Jamarcus from Studio 62 and traditional 1 Liter mugs of beer.
German Weissbier, or wheat beer is really popular as well– it has hints of cloves and a little spice– it just tastes like fall and the hops are mild, so it really lets whatever you serve with it be the star. If you don’t have access to some of the more authentic German Beers, you can pick up the American versions we all know and love, like Stella and Beck’s.
Look for American favorites like Stella Artois and Beck’s!
For a really fun display, cut the top off a pumpkin, scoop it out, fill it with ice and fill with your favorite beers! Let’s Grab a Beer has awesome advice and info about all things beer and Oktoberfest!
Stunning assortment of bread and pretzels from Bernhard’s Bread Bakery
Some of my earliest and fondest memories growing up were in my German grandmother’s kitchen– well, I walked into Bernhard’s Bread Bakery and I was immediately transported to Grandma Ronnie’s kitchen. Bernhard Bleeken, the owner and exquisitely talented baker is one of those people you meet and you are immediately drawn in by his sheer passion for what he does– you can taste the LOVE factor- baked into every single bite. This is a guy who was doing the corporate thing in Germany– but was spending every single weekend baking– he’d make his dough on Friday, bake all day Saturday and then his friends and family would be lining up to taste the goods every Sunday. Well, he took a chance– moved his entire family here in 99 and launched his passion project….16 years later, he has a fantastic location in Marietta and he’s been wowing the community with his bread and baked goods. THIS is the place to go to order for your Oktoberfest party. Forget the cooking– let Bernhard do it for you!
His bread has no sugar– it’s also bromate free– and certified organic. It simply doesn’t get better than that. His most popular bread is called Harvest Festival– filled with pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, which have such beautiful texture. And– you want brats and authentic German meats? He has it all. Imported groceries and the best German delicacies you can imagine.
Try his classic Bavarian Breakfast- Weissworst— or white sausage with Pretzels (breitzels) dipped in sweet mustard. Or double dip in his Bavarian cheese dip and homemade mustard. Fleischkaese which is like German Bologna, is delicious with sauteed onions on a kaiser roll….And of course you have to have your brats.
Oktoberfest Bounty on the set of Atlanta & Company
Looking for fun stuff to do with the kiddos?
Atlantic Station always throws a fantastic Oktoberfest Party– but the fun doesn’t end when Oktoberfest does. They have 3 family friendly festivals going on this month.
Annual Fall Festival – Celebrate fall at Atlantic Station on Oct. 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with this family-friendly festival. Purchase festival activity tickets in Central Park for face painting and mask and necklace decorating hosted by Midtown Bridge Church to benefit City of Refuge. Activity tickets range from $1 – $5. Retailers are also getting in on the fall fun: decorate cookies with Great American Cookie Company and enjoy a rice krispy treat from Kilwin’s. Afterwards, settle in for Hocus Pocus on the big screen in Central Park as part of the Spooky Film Festival.
Spooky Film Festival – Every Friday evening starting on Oct. 9 at dusk, a spooky movie will lure guests into Atlantic Station’s Central Park, where they’ll find fall family fun, giveaways and much more. Bring a blanket and snacks to enjoy a night under the stars with a variety of family-friendly spooky flicks.
The movie schedule is as follows:
Oct. 9: Edward Scissorhands
Oct. 16: The Goonies
Oct. 23: Addam’s Family
Oct. 30: Hocus Pocus
Trick or Treat with Atlantic Station – On Halloween night from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., guests are invited to don their best costumes and trick or treat around Atlantic Station, visiting participating retailers for treats and goodies. Look for the Trick or Treat decal on the retailer’s door!
Here is my Beer and Cheese fondue recipe– it only has a few ingredients and it’s scrumptious!
