THINGS TO DO
Jeff Guertler gets decked out for Oktoberfest every year at Redlefsen’s Rotisserie and Grill.
It’s Oktoberfest!
F
rom Germany to the South Coast, it’s time to raise a stein and celebrate the season of beer and brauts. Whether you fly to Munich or toast at home, Oktoberfest is a good transition between summer and fall. In the states, for some weird marketing reason, Oktoberfest beers begin appearing in August. Kudos to Foolproof brewing in Pawtucket for calling their tasty treat Augtoberfest – at least that’s honest. Where did this whole oom-pa-pa begin?
A Princely Party
Since 1810, Oktoberfest has been celebrated in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. What
12
October 2017 | The South Coast Insider
By Michael J. Vieira
began as a wedding celebration for King Ludwig I and Princess Therese has become an international event. Each year, more than six million people attend the 16-18 day festival, which runs from mid to late September to early October. Guests will consume about eight million litres – that’s about seventeen million pints of beer – or twenty-three million twelve-ounce bottles of beer on the wall. It all happens in more than thirty “tents” which feature music, food, and beer. But there are also attractions like rides and games, and tons of rubbish, which the city picks up daily. Oktoberfest is considered to be the largest Volksfest or “beer festival and travelling
funfair,” according to Wikipedia, which also provided most of the data above. All I know is that it’s on my list of things to do.
Bavarians in Bristol & beyond
When Walter Guertler opened Redlefsen’s Rotisserie and Grill in Bristol in 1993, he wanted to create a relaxing restaurant with a European feel. That spirit continues under the ownership of his son Jeff and is probably most alive when Oktoberfest comes to town. Included in the cost of your meal, expect Alpendblumen Bavarian dancers, authentic German food and brews, and accordion music. The louder you sing, clap and toast, the better the experience will be.