Oktober Bierfest

October means it is time for the Oktober Bierfest, a local fair modeled on the world renowned Oktoberfest that attracts over 5 million visitors annually. If you’re keen for some beer drinking, oompah bands, brakworst, and extra large pretzels, visit the Oktober Bierfest from 27 to 30 October at Monte Casino.

THE EVENT

Bavarian themed draping, bunting and décor adorn every inch of the authentic Bavarian bier hall that greets guests on arrival. Take a seat on sturdy wooden bier benches and be served by Frauleins (waitresses) while the live Oompah band entertains.

Place   Monte Casino

Date    Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 October 2011

Time   Corporate events

Thursday 27th October 2011, 18h00 - 22h30

Public Events

Friday 28th October 2011, 14h30 - 22h30

Saturday 29th October 2011, 11h00 – 22h30

Sunday 30th October 2011, 11h00 – 20h30

THE FOOD

South Africa's finest purveyors of German food will provide a feast of Bavarian fare ranging from cold meats, a selection of German sausages, pork knuckles, chicken schnitzel, sauerkraut and giant pretzels. Both food and Bier can be purchased using Oktober Bierfest "crowns". Crowns come in denominations of R20, and can be purchased in packs on 5 (R100). A Bier will cost 2 crowns, and wine 1 crown, the food will start at 2 crown.

THE BIER

Genuine Bavarian Fraulein (waitressed) will serve frothing Bavarian-styled bier crafted by brew masters from the South African Breweries Ltd, South Africa's finest producer of local and international beer.  The three beers available include Munich Dunkel, Krystal Weis, and Oktoberfest, all crafted by SA Breweries.

1.    Munich Dunkel (The South African Breweries Ltd)

On bringing the beer to your mouth the rich aroma of Munich malt and specialty malts invites you to enjoy that first sip. The aroma will have hints of chocolate, caramel, and/or toffee. A slight noble hop aroma will be present.  The colour is a magnificent blend of deep copper to dark brown with a creamy, light to medium tan head. The flavour is dominated by the rich and complex notes of Munich malt. The taste can be moderately sweet. Mild caramel, chocolate, toast or nuttiness will be evident. No burnt or bitter flavours from roasted malts should be present. Hop bitterness is moderately low but perceptible, with the balance tipped firmly towards maltiness. Aftertaste remains malty, although the hop bitterness may become more apparent in the medium-dry finish.

The Munich Dunkel has a medium to medium-full body, providing a firm and rounded mouthfeel without being heavy or cloying with a medium carbonation. This beer is characterized by the depth and complexity of Munich malt and the accompanying melanoidins.

2.    Krystal Weiss (The South African Breweries Ltd)

Normal weiss beers are unfiltered or "mit hefe" with suspended yeast and thus normally have impaired clarity. This weiss beer is a filtered or krystal weiss version of the weiss beer style. True to any weiss beer is the unique strong phenol (clove like) notes on aroma and taste. This is balanced with a pleasant isoamyl acetate ester (banana like). The beer has some vanilla undertones with slight hop aromas.

Weiss beers are usually pale straw to dark gold in colour. The Kristal Weiss is slightly darker than the usual pale straw appearance. The beer has a dense, thick long lasting white head.

On taste, the Clove and ester notes dominate and carry the beer. It is balanced with some vanilla notes as well as some malty flavours. The hop bitterness is low as is the hop aroma as not to compete with the clove and ester flavours. The body of this beer is medium-light with a spritzy finish aided by the high carbonation. All the flavours combined produce a very refreshing beer ideal for summer.

3.    Oktoberfest (The South African Breweries Ltd)

This easy drinking beer will have some moderate toasted malt aromas coming from a blend of Vienna and Munich malts. There will be a very low hop aroma present. The colour will be a rich dark gold with a slight off white foam head. The flavour will be a complex and distinctive maltiness amplified by the decoction mashing process used with some toasted flavours. The hop bitterness is moderate and hop flavours low to none. The finish is moderately dry and not sweet.

These complex flavours will be carried by a medium body and carbonation. This beer will be a smooth drinking, clean beer with depth of malt character

For more information visit the Oktober Bierfest website or e-mail info@oktoberbierfest.co.za