Cigars, Oktober and Gemütlichkeit

If you haven't experienced one of your local Oktoberfest events (I'm talking about the U.S. ones), I really suggest you give them a try this year. They start in late-September and run through October, depending on where you are. No matter where you live, this is the best time of year to spend a day outside drinking a few brews, eating brats and smoking cigars.

I know a little bit about German beer festivals. I lived and worked in Germany for two years, in my favorite beer town of all: Cologne. There, they don't drink the huge 1-litre glasses you find at the world renowned Munich Oktoberfest. In fact, it's just the opposite. In Cologne (spelled Köln, in German), they drink Kölsch, which comes in small, thin cylindrical glasses, and which is always served very cold (8° C). The taste is crisp and refreshing. When you're there, drinking Kölsch fresh from the tap in a traditional Cologne brewery, you are experiencing one of the best beers in the world, without a doubt. Now, add to that the fact that Germany is very cigar-friendly, and what more could you ask?

Munich has its own incredible beers, and Oktoberfest is legendary. Drinking 'ein Mass' of Märzen beer, the traditional Oktoberfest beer, is a feat of its own. 'Ein Mass' is a full liter of beer, and getting through just one takes dedication and perseverance. Have two or even three and you’re done. Kaput! In Munich's famous Hofbrauhaus, they will give you your tenth 'Mass' for free. I would equate that feat with climbing K-2 or finishing an Ironman triathlon -- it's pretty darn impressive, and it isn't done very often.

The U.S. version of Oktoberfest rarely uses the traditional 1-litre glassware (we Americans would make a complete mess of ourselves), but you can typically choose from a variety of Bavarian beers -- from a fresh Oktoberfest brew to the lighter Spaten and Hefeweizen beers, the very popular Bavarian wheat beer. You can also expect a nice selection of German sausages, including Bratwurst, Weisswurst and Nachwurst, along with sauerkraut, German potato salad and delicious pan-fried potato pancakes. And you typically enjoy all of this in a great beer-garden setting with live Bavarian music. To find one near you, simply Google 'oktoberfest' and the state you live in. They're easy to find.

What makes these beer experiences so great is the fact that you are enjoying more than a beer -- you are living the culture. Plus, you get it all without shelling out a couple of grand to visit the old country. Don't get me wrong, if you can make it to real Oktoberfest in Munich, you’ve got to do it. It's the same with wines and, of course, cigars. Offer me a GrayCliff Chateau Grand Cru in New York City and I'll be happy. Share an El Ray Del Mundo and an espresso in Pinar Del Rio, and I'll be in heaven.

No, you're not going to experience the same level of cultural nirvana at a home-made version of Oktoberfest. But if the day is beautiful, the beer is fresh and cold, and you’re out there smoking one of your favorites while you're taking in the traditional music and all its revelry, I guarantee that you will remember that moment for a very long time. And that, after all, is what life is all about. Prost!

John von Brachel

9/24/08

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