Start slipping on those lederhosen and practicing your oompah–Oktoberfest 2014 is upon us here in Brooklyn and there is much beer guzzling fun to be had.
If you missed the official Oktoberfest 2014 kickoff last weekend, not to worry–there are lots of free and affordable fall-themed Oktoberfest events, dinners and drink specials still happening around the borough between now and the appropriate month of October (appropriate, at least, for those of us who are ignoring the significance of the German holiday and using Oktoberfest as an excuse to ramp up post Labor Day drinking).
SEPTEMBER 25 – October 5
Oktoberfest at Black Forest Brooklyn
733 Fulton St., Fort Greene
Lasting through Oct. 4 (the “true” Oktoberfest duration), Fort Greene’s German indoor biergarten and kaffeehaus Black Forest Brooklyn will be full stocked with kegs of Hofbräu Oktoberfest, a rich, full-bodied Bavarian brewed specially for the Oktoberfest occasion. Not so coincidentally, the beer pairs perfectly with the two food specials being offered only through the fourth–schweinshaxe, which is a fancy way of saying “pork shank,” and schweinebraten, which is a slightly less fancy way of saying “pork roast.” The quintessential Oktoberfest dishes are served with red cabbage and homemade potato dumplings. Mmm.
Oktoberfest 2014 at Die Koelner Bierhalle
84 St. Marks Place, Park Slope
Through October 5, Die Koelner Bierhalle (AKA the KBH) is supporting general good times and merriment in the Oktoberfest season with their featured Oktoberfest beer, Hacker Pschorr. Add that to the 30 draft lines and 40 bottles, and we’d say you’ve got pretty good evening ahead of you. We can’t make any promises about the next morning, though.
As for food, the munchies at KBH consist mostly of authentic German bratwurst, as a traditional beer hall’s menu should, but it also includes burgers, Spaetzle, Bavarian pretzels and desserts.
SEPTEMBER 27
Oktoberfest at Dirck the Norseman
7 North 15th St., Greenpoint
On Saturday, starting at noon, Dirck the Norseman will kick off Oktoberfest in Greenpoint with weekend long pours of both German imported and German-inspired beers brewed on site in the restaurant’s resident brewery, Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co.
The beer-centric celebration will feature Oktoberfest classics like Gaffel Kolsch, Jever Pilsener and Riegele, lots on tap from Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co. itself, and some unique beverage experiences. Pouring directly off the bar in oak barrels will be Schneider Edelweisse and Brauerei Hofstetten Hochzeitsbier Von 1810, and pouring from authentic Franconian gravity kegs, a Weissenohe-heavy selection that will not disappoint. And, rumor has it the executive chef will be preparing a special dish, so if schnitzel, brussels sprouts and house made semi-sour pickles sound up your alley, you’ll definitely want to stop by (and never leave.)
SEPTEMBER 28
Oktoberfest at Sycamore
1118 Cortelyou Rd., Ditmas Park
Everyone knows that when you’re drinking beer, wurst is the best. If there’s one thing Oktoberfest celebrates other than beer and brats, it’s that being outside is still fun in the fall. On Sunday, Sycamore is partnering up with Two Brothers Brewing of Illinois to shower stein enthusiasts in beer (served in steins) from outdoor taps and bratwurst from Johnny Lupiani’s Awesome BBQ. Trust us, you’ll be remiss to miss the festivities at this flower-shop-by-day, bar-by-night oasis.
SEPTEMBER 29
Good Bye Lenin! at Der Shwarze Kolner
710 Fulton St., Fort Greene
Die Stammkneipe and Der Schwarze Kölneris are pretty much always celebrating being German, but this Monday, the German restaurant and beer garden will screen German film, Good Bye Lenin! as part of their weekly Movie Mondays: Biers, Brat and a (German) Blockbuster. Nothing screams “Oktoberfest” like Wolfgang Becker’s son-protects-East-Germany-loving-mother account of the fall of the Berlin Wall!
OCTOBER 1
Specials on German Fare at Greenwood Park
555 7th Ave., Greenwood Heights
Kicking off on October 1 and lasting the entire month of October, the volks over at Greenwood Park are offering daily specials on German beer and fare like Germanwurst platters, spaetzle, sauerkraut and warm soft pretzels with beer cheese and a beer and brat special for $10.
They’re also touting a three day long Fall Beer Festival with music and activities beginning with a Day of the Dead Party on October 31. This is all in addition to Greenwood Park’s weekly specials, which include 50 cent wings and $13 pitchers during football games, free buffets on Monday nights during football season, two-for-one Tuesdays and $10 Radeberger and burger deal (beef or veggie) on Wednesdays.
OCTOBER 3
Oktoberfest is for Lovers Party at Babeland
462 Bergen St., Park Slope
Beer, food, music and sex? Yes, please. Your mama may have told you not to play with your food, but she never said anything about not playing with yourself or your partner with food, right? (If she did, comments section, please.) In the spirit of Oktoberfest and a body positive Brooklyn, Babeland is giving a mini-workshop on Friday at 7pm serving sex tips and hot dogs and of course, beer. The workshop is free but we recommend you get there early–it’ll only last 15 minutes. SEX JOKE!
OCTOBER 4
Spuyten Duyvil October Fest
359 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg
At noon on Saturday, Oct. 4th at Spuyten Duyvil, gravity kegs galore will pour Franconcian truth like Weissenohe’s traditional festbier, marzen, doppelbock, dunkel and zwickel, more biers von fass (that’s “beers on tap” for you fakers) will include the likes of Freigeist’s Hoppeditz and Geisterzug and Monarchy’s Munchhausen and Preussen Weisse, and lots of good bottles and bratwurst will be available for glutenous consumption, too.
Radegast Hall & Biergarten Celebratory Keg Tapping and Pig Roast
113 North 3rd St., Williamsburg
Although the beer hall already started celebrating Oktoberfest 2014, a second celebratory keg tapping and pig roast is going down at Radegast Hall on Wednesday, October 4 from 1pm to 9pm. Live music acts include the Johnny Koenig Band from 1 to 4pm and the Sunny Side Social Club from 6pm to 9pm, and the Oktoberfest beer selections include Hofbrau, Erdinger, Hacker Pschorr, Hofstetten Hochzeitsbier Von 1810 (based on the original 1810 celebration recipe) and Schneider Edel-Weiss (originally brewed in Munich for Oktoberfest though no longer an “official” selection).
Mission Dolores Oktoberfest Weekend
249 4th Ave., Park Slope
If you’re into awesome Oktoberfest beers, gravity casks, pumpkin ales and other autumnally themed brews, then you’ll want to head over to Mission Dolores Oktoberfest Weekend at Mission Dolores on October 4 and 5. From 2pm to 8pm on both days, the aforementioned fall brews will be available along with sausages by Brooklyn bangers. No cover, pay as you eat and drink. Specific beers TBA on the Mission Dolores blog.
OCTOBER 10
Roth-toberfest Pig Roast at The Diamond
43 Franklin St., Greenpoint
Friday, October 10 at 7pm, another bar we love will be celebrating Oktoberfest in its own style: “uniting a flamboyant Jewish singer [Van Halen] with German beer culture” at the Roth-toberfest Pig Roast where you can get slammin’ pork and two sides for $15 per plate and 100% unique German or German-style beers on tap at the bar. Tapping into your head will be DJ Das Trainwreck and DJ Whattayathinktheteachersgonnalooklikethisyear.
OCTOBER 21
“Dogtoberfest” at Brooklyn Brewery
79 North 11th St., Williamsburg
What would a beer event round-up be without a dog related party thrown in? On Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, celebrity dog groomer Jorge Bendersky will be the center of celebration at a “Dogtoberfest” book signing party at The Brooklyn Brewery. The celebration will also mark the launch of his newest pet shampoo on the market, Jorge Bendersky at M Boutique.
The event is free to attend and open to the public with tickets available on Eventbrite. Beers are $5 each or 5 for $20. Dogs are welcome, too, but must be on a leash.