Märzen Attacks!! The Final Installment

Oktoberfest brings a few things to mind in the way of food giant pretzels, sausages, and more sausages. There is more to it than that. Sooo Let’s explore the world of Oktoberfest foods and this way you can throw your own bash and have some fun, if you can’t get to any number of fests around the country. If you throw your own party here are some good fest beer pairings with some traditional foods. The best thing about the food for Oktoberfest is that it is relatively simple to prepare which leaves you more time to spend eating and drinking.

 Here is a sample menu we will be doing this year at the Whole Foods where I am employed in Henderson, Nv as the beer specialist. We are doing it in plated courses but at home you can do it in larger portions buffet style as well.The pairings are what we are using for our dinner because of availability and other reasons. I will list a couple of alternatives for each dish

Oktoberfest Menu

Obatzda (German cheese spread), soft pretzel sticks, and Beef Thuringer(summer sausage) and Gherkin style pickles.

 Pairing: Beck’s Oktoberfest- alternate pairings: Hofbrau Oktoberfest,Weinstephaner fest beer

 Hendl (Rotisserie chicken)  served w/ German potato salad

 Pairing:Spaten Oktoberfest- Aternate Pairings: Paulaner Oktoberfest, Brooklyn Oktoberfest

 Knockwurst and Bratwurst served with sauerkraut and stone ground mustard

Pairing: Gordon Biersch festbier- Alternate Pairings: Great Lakes Oktoberfest, Warsteiner Oktoberfest

 Beer Braised Pork Loin with Blaukohl (red cabbage with apples) and spatzles

Pairing: Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen- Alternate pairing: Sam Adams Octoberfest, Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

 Apple Tart with Caramel Sauce

Pairing: Gordon Biersch Blonde Bock Alternate Pairings: any german style pilsner or pale bock

 

  There are many varriations to each dish and they are easily found on varrious food web sites, but if you would like my recipies please feel free to comment and ask for them I will be glad to give them to you. Just a note on the menu itself, if you  are in the area and would like to attend the dinner  it will be on September 25th from 6-8 at the whle foods in Henderson, Nv. The cost is just $20 and all proceedes will go to the Lunchbox Revolution program.Untill then  break out your lederhosen grab a fest beer and have some fun!! Probst!!!

[Via http://bobsbeerblog.wordpress.com]