whats-on, food-and-drink, take 5, oktoberfest, newcastle nsw, hunter valley, where to go, the bavarian, the pourhouse, the station newcastle
OKTOBERFEST officially kicks off on Saturday. And while the traditional home of the annual festival of beer is Munich, the celebrations extend the world over, including in the Hunter. Among those gearing up to celebrate is The Pourhouse (327 High Street, Maitland). The craft beer pub has a huge one-day Oktoberfest event planned for Saturday, September 28, from 11am. The venue will shut down the street at the side of the pub that extends into the beer garden, transforming the space into a German "beer hall" for the day. There will be 15 taps of imported German craft beer on offer. "We'll have everything from German lagers and pilsners, to everyone's favourite wheats Hefeweizen, Altbier and Kolsch, as well as Schwarzbier for the people that like a dark beer, and - for the season - some Oktoberfest 2019 edition Marzens," owner Benn Giles says. "We get them imported directly and they are all independent German craft beers. It's our biggest single day of the year." The September 28 event features live music (including an oompah band) and roaming accordion player, German dancers, slapstick performers, Oktoberfest games and German-style food (spit roast pork, bratwurst sausage and pretzels with traditional accompaniments). Tickets range from $35 to $55 (eventbrite.com.au). Other Oktoberfest events: Murray's Craft Brewing Co., 3443 Nelson Bay Road, Bobs Farm Oktoberfest kicks off at Murray's on September 28 for a month-long celebration, including a special event on the October long weekend. Murray's has two specially-brewed festival beers on tap for the month. "Technically, authentic Oktoberfestbier is brewed only by the breweries within the city limits of Munich. All other beers brewed to emulate the original must be labelled Oktoberfest-style beer," Murray's owner Murray Howe says. "Murray's is brewing a traditional Oktoberfest beer - or should I say Oktoberfest-style beer - which is smooth, clean, and rather rich, with a depth of malt character." Murray's will also pour a Kolsch-style beer which, Howe says "combines the best of both of the beer worlds - the complex flavours of ale and the crisp refreshing finish of lager". The food menu includes "pimped" schnitzels, Kransky sausages and pretzels. Grant Walmsley's Freebird and Friends headline a free concert on October 6. Prizes will be awarded to those dressed in Oktoberfest gear. Entry is free, but bookings advised (4982 6411). The Grain Store, 64-66 Scott Street, Newcastle East The Grain Store will sideline its all-Australian tap line-up on October 11 and 12 for their Oktoberfest event, with a full tap takeover featuring 21 imported Bavarian biers and German craft beers, including Konig, Erdinger and Maisels Weisse. Owner Corey Crooks says the Weihenstephaner Festbier is his pick. "It has a great history and is the oldest brewery in the world," Crooks says. "It's a full, rich-bodied, hoppy seasonal lager brewed especially for the Festbier season. This beer truly represents the Bavarian way of celebrating. It has a deep, gold colour with a great mouth feel and lots of flavour." The craft beer pub - just named best regional beer cafe/wine cafe at the Restaurant and Catering NSW Awards for Excellence - will offer a tradition beer hall menu, including a Bavarian share platter. The event will include German dance performances and oompah tunes from Rockordian. Lederhosen and dirndl dress not essential, but encouraged. Starts 11am both days. Entry is free. The Bavarian (Charlestown Square and Stockland Greenhills) Oktoberfest celebrations kick off on Saturday, September 21, with an opening party. The two venues have exclusive Oktoberfest beers on tap and a line-up of special menus, games (such as the stein-holding competition), yodelling and slap dancing, and prizes for best dressed. The Bavarian has four Oktoberfest beers on tap: Hofbrau, Munchen, Lowenbrau, Spaten and Paulaner, all imported from Bavaria. Australian brewers will also feature, with Pirate Life's Festbier and 4 Pines' Keller Door Schwartzbier both made exclusively for their Oktoberfest celebrations. During the six-week event, The Bavarian is offering an Oktoberfest package for $79 per person (three courses of Bavarian dishes, a 1-litre stein of beer and a schnapps shot, plus a goodie bag). The closing party is October 26. Beerhaus at The Rooftop Westfield Kotara With its communal tables and one-litre steins, Beerhaus offers the Oktoberfest experience every day. In celebration of Oktoberfest, Beerhaus has added four new biers to the tap line-up (which is 40 beers), as well as exclusive beers from Australian labels Pirate Life and 4 Pines that are brewed in Oktoberfest styles. Beerhaus offers The Ultimate Oktoberfest Experience: a signature pretzel, stein of bier, a traditional hearty Bavarian main dish, a shot of schnapps or Jagermeister and dessert. Those who complete the challenge receive a tote bag with an Oktober Boss T-shirt, a mini stein, a book of vouchers and other extras. The challenge costs $79 per person. Oktoberfest Newcastle, corner of Scott and Watt streets, Newcastle The Station hosts Oktoberfest on October 5, with entertainment, German food and German beers. Food vendors include Rolling Schnitzel, Berlin Bangers (gourmet sausages topped with sauerkraut) and Baclerei (pretzels and pastries). Southern Smoke will be serving burgers, ribs, fries and slow-cooked meats. Hofbrass will play traditional Bavarian music and oompah versions of pop songs, and The Frank Charles Band will lead the chicken dance routine. There will also be a stein race, beer barrel rolling and a bratwurst eating comp. It's an over-18s event, 1pm to 9pm. Tickets $39.90 at moshtix.com.au.
READY: The Bavarian Charlestown's staff members Tegan Ison, Hayley Telford, Jasmin Burnett and Jack Piercy. Picture: Marina Neil
OKTOBERFEST officially kicks off on Saturday.
And while the traditional home of the annual festival of beer is Munich, the celebrations extend the world over, including in the Hunter.
Among those gearing up to celebrate is The Pourhouse (327 High Street, Maitland).
The craft beer pub has a huge one-day Oktoberfest event planned for Saturday, September 28, from 11am.
The venue will shut down the street at the side of the pub that extends into the beer garden, transforming the space into a German "beer hall" for the day.
There will be 15 taps of imported German craft beer on offer.
CELEBRATE: The Pourhouse has big Oktoberfest plans.
"We'll have everything from German lagers and pilsners, to everyone's favourite wheats Hefeweizen, Altbier and Kolsch, as well as Schwarzbier for the people that like a dark beer, and - for the season - some Oktoberfest 2019 edition Marzens," owner Benn Giles says.
"We get them imported directly and they are all independent German craft beers. It's our biggest single day of the year."
The September 28 event features live music (including an oompah band) and roaming accordion player, German dancers, slapstick performers, Oktoberfest games and German-style food (spit roast pork, bratwurst sausage and pretzels with traditional accompaniments). Tickets range from $35 to $55 (eventbrite.com.au).
Other Oktoberfest events:
Murray's Craft Brewing Co., 3443 Nelson Bay Road, Bobs Farm Oktoberfest kicks off at Murray's on September 28 for a month-long celebration, including a special event on the October long weekend. Murray's has two specially-brewed festival beers on tap for the month. "Technically, authentic Oktoberfestbier is brewed only by the breweries within the city limits of Munich. All other beers brewed to emulate the original must be labelled Oktoberfest-style beer," Murray's owner Murray Howe says. "Murray's is brewing a traditional Oktoberfest beer - or should I say Oktoberfest-style beer - which is smooth, clean, and rather rich, with a depth of malt character."
Murray's will also pour a Kolsch-style beer which, Howe says "combines the best of both of the beer worlds - the complex flavours of ale and the crisp refreshing finish of lager". The food menu includes "pimped" schnitzels, Kransky sausages and pretzels.
Grant Walmsley's Freebird and Friends headline a free concert on October 6. Prizes will be awarded to those dressed in Oktoberfest gear. Entry is free, but bookings advised (4982 6411).
FUN AND GAMES: The Grain Store is encouraging people to dress the part.
The Grain Store, 64-66 Scott Street, Newcastle East The Grain Store will sideline its all-Australian tap line-up on October 11 and 12 for their Oktoberfest event, with a full tap takeover featuring 21 imported Bavarian biers and German craft beers, including Konig, Erdinger and Maisels Weisse.
Owner Corey Crooks says the Weihenstephaner Festbier is his pick. "It has a great history and is the oldest brewery in the world," Crooks says. "It's a full, rich-bodied, hoppy seasonal lager brewed especially for the Festbier season. This beer truly represents the Bavarian way of celebrating. It has a deep, gold colour with a great mouth feel and lots of flavour."
The craft beer pub - just named best regional beer cafe/wine cafe at the Restaurant and Catering NSW Awards for Excellence - will offer a tradition beer hall menu, including a Bavarian share platter.
The event will include German dance performances and oompah tunes from Rockordian. Lederhosen and dirndl dress not essential, but encouraged. Starts 11am both days. Entry is free.
The Bavarian (Charlestown Square and Stockland Greenhills) Oktoberfest celebrations kick off on Saturday, September 21, with an opening party.
The two venues have exclusive Oktoberfest beers on tap and a line-up of special menus, games (such as the stein-holding competition), yodelling and slap dancing, and prizes for best dressed. The Bavarian has four Oktoberfest beers on tap: Hofbrau, Munchen, Lowenbrau, Spaten and Paulaner, all imported from Bavaria.
Australian brewers will also feature, with Pirate Life's Festbier and 4 Pines' Keller Door Schwartzbier both made exclusively for their Oktoberfest celebrations.
During the six-week event, The Bavarian is offering an Oktoberfest package for $79 per person (three courses of Bavarian dishes, a 1-litre stein of beer and a schnapps shot, plus a goodie bag).
The closing party is October 26.
Beerhaus at The Rooftop Westfield Kotara With its communal tables and one-litre steins, Beerhaus offers the Oktoberfest experience every day. In celebration of Oktoberfest, Beerhaus has added four new biers to the tap line-up (which is 40 beers), as well as exclusive beers from Australian labels Pirate Life and 4 Pines that are brewed in Oktoberfest styles. Beerhaus offers The Ultimate Oktoberfest Experience: a signature pretzel, stein of bier, a traditional hearty Bavarian main dish, a shot of schnapps or Jagermeister and dessert. Those who complete the challenge receive a tote bag with an Oktober Boss T-shirt, a mini stein, a book of vouchers and other extras. The challenge costs $79 per person.
Oktoberfest Newcastle, corner of Scott and Watt streets, Newcastle The Station hosts Oktoberfest on October 5, with entertainment, German food and German beers. Food vendors include Rolling Schnitzel, Berlin Bangers (gourmet sausages topped with sauerkraut) and Baclerei (pretzels and pastries). Southern Smoke will be serving burgers, ribs, fries and slow-cooked meats. Hofbrass will play traditional Bavarian music and oompah versions of pop songs, and The Frank Charles Band will lead the chicken dance routine. There will also be a stein race, beer barrel rolling and a bratwurst eating comp.
It's an over-18s event, 1pm to 9pm. Tickets $39.90 at moshtix.com.au.
TUCK IN: A traditional Bavarian feast at Beerhaus, Westfield Kotara.
