2016
AUBURN / OPELIKA, AL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
16
LOCAL FOCUS OKTOBERFEST
2016
Where will you be the evening of October 8th? The air will be crisp, the leaves will be changing, and downtown Auburn will be hopping in more ways than one! If you already have plans, change them. If you don’t, make them. Join The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, APR LLC, and AlaBev for its yearly Oktoberfest. It is a rain or shine event, so there are no “ifs,” “ands,” or “buts.” The seventh annual Oktoberfest will be a wonderful time.
T
he original Oktoberfest, one of the most famous parties in history, and the world’s largest beer festival, is an annual tradition in Munich. It lasts about sixteen days and attracts more than six million tourists to Germany each year. The party started in 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) married his princess, Teresa of SassoniaHildburghausen. In celebration of their union, Ludwig invited the citizens of Munich to attend a rousing party among royals in the fields outside the city gate. To commemorate the closing of the celebration, a horse race and and an enormous feast was enjoyed by all of Bavaria. Each year since then, save for occasions in which wars prevented it, that race and feast which came to be known as Oktoberfest has been a permanent fixture in the lives of German citizens. The horse racing ended in 1960, but the tradition of enjoying good brews lives on. 2016 marks the 206th anniversary of the historic Oktoberfest. Auburn’s festival first began seven years ago, a much smaller celebration. Only ten to twelve
breweries attended, each one setting up its station by the hotel pool or inside the conference center’s Terrace Room. Festival guests were invited to sample a beer or two from each vendor. At that point in time, each brew was paired with a complementing hors d’oeuvre. As the festival evolved, however, the number of craft brews available surpassed one-hundred, and a smaller, simpler, and more traditionally German hors d’oeuvre menu became more appropriate. Popular festival snacks like Lager Braised Bratwurst with Sauerkraut and Grilled Onions, Smoked Kielbasa, Grilled Knackwurst, Chicken Legs, Giant Pretzels with Beer Cheese, and Bavarian Cream Puffs will be the stars this year. But do not forget- Oktoberfest is all about the BEER! At the 2016 Oktoberfest, around thirty breweries will man tents in the hotel parking lot along College Street, showcasing more than 100 beers and several German wines. Brewers will offer handpicked, seasonal selections for Oktoberfest tasting, a couple of them even specifically created for the festival under limited release. Guests will have the opportunity to taste many beverages which are prides of both the Yellowhammer State and the greater Southeast, but there will be selections from beyond as well. Just to
Blue Pants Brewery, Madison, Alabama Cheaha Brewing Company, Anniston, Alabama Fairhope Brewing Company, Fairhope, Alabama Red Clay Brewing Company, Opelika, Alabama Yellowhammer Brewing, Huntsville, Alabama Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, California Stone Brewing, Escondido, California Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, Colorado Oskar Blues, Longmont, Colorado Monday Night Brewing, Atlanta, Georgia Red Hare Brewery, Marietta, Georgia Sweetwater Brewing Company, Atlanta, Georgia Boston Beer Company, Boston, Massachusetts Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan Lazy Magnolia, Kiln, Mississippi Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, Pennsylvania Total Beverage Solution, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina Duvel Moortgat, Breendonk, Belgium Merchant du Vin
This event has earned itself quite the stellar reputation among Auburnites and visitors to the Plains alike. So much so, in fact, that last year, attendees from twelve states bought tickets. Once you attend Oktoberfest, we promise you will be back for a second go ‘round. Adam Keeshan, Executive Director Food and Beverage at The Hotel at Auburn University says he is excited about growth the festival has experience in recent years: “Our Executive Chef, Leo Maurelli, has established some great relationships with breweries both local and beyond. As a result, very little promotion has been required on our part to recruit them. So many have emailed us asking to be a part. It’s really neat to be able to transform the food and beverage scene in Auburn where small, local breweries have not had a huge presence in the past.” Just a few years ago, only a few people sold their local brews in area restaurants and stores. That number has since grown tremendously. Not only does Oktoberfest promote and grow tourism in Auburn and surrounding areas, it also brings something new to local life and culture
that has gone unmatched for many years. It is worth mentioning that very few Southeastern cities or towns have beer festivals so large and so well-loved as our Oktoberfest. Local business owners and downtown merchants are thrilled with the public’s response to the festival as well. It gives them the rare chance to gain exposure among individuals who might not otherwise venture to the downtown district. Marketing and Social Media Manager at The Hotel at Auburn, Allison Duke, was happy to share that many downtown businesses plan to stay open late on the night of the 8th, and that some might even offer promotions and discounts to those enjoying Oktoberfest. “It’s a non-home game, the weather will be nice, and the location of the festival will give people a chance to have some really good brews and a few hors d’oeuvres before walking downtown for dinner or strolling through campus,” she said. “In the past, it’s really been a hit.” Allison added that you do not have to be a beer connoisseur to take advantage of Oktoberfest fun, and that you can sample as little or as much as you like. “There will be more than just beer. We’ll have hard cider from Angry Orchard and other brewers and the wines will be fantastic as well.
Televisions will be set up so that ticketholders can watch the Auburn at Mississippi State game, too.” Oktoberfest also enriches relationships between The Hotel at Auburn University and the brewing companies, themselves. “We are thankful that we get to know these individuals, become familiar with their products, and bring what they have to offer to our community. We’re a small town, but we have a lot to bring to the table. We are unique in that way, and the brewers know that I think,” Keeshan said. Several special guests will be attending this year’s festival, including musicians Tim Chambliss and Kidd Blue. They will be entertaining ticketholders for the duration of the festival. Sam Adam Brewing Company will be hosting a Stein Hoisting Competition as well, which will be an official qualifier for the national competition later this year in Las Vegas. Sam Adams will also crown the 2016 Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest. Local home brewers will have a chance to show off their finest concoctions in a special contest called “Homebrew Alley.” Ten participants will be chosen to provide samples of their own craft beer to festival goers. One home brewer will be selected as the crowd
favorite, called the “People’s Choice,” and will go on to to be presented with his title and a special prize on the Oktoberfest main stage. He will then be paired with an Alabama brewery to create a one-off beer using the winning recipe. The Hotel at Auburn University’s A.T.- Ariccia Trattoria, will feature the beer on draft until its supply runs out during the fall season. The winner of Homebrew Alley and fifteen guests of his choosing will also be invited for a congratulatory reception featuring the winning brew and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Oktoberfest’s presenting sponsors are already gearing up for a monumental event. This year’s festival should be the best one yet! So, you want to join in on the fun yourself, but you’re now sure how? It’s easy to find a ticket, but get yours fast, because they sell out quickly and none will be sold on the day of the festival. First, visit www.auhcc.com/oktoberfest and scroll down the page until you see “Ticket Information.” You may then select the ticket or package you would like to purchase and enter your payment information. Presale ends on the first of October. Until then, general admission tickets are $45 each. General admission includes entry into the event and a tasting glass on a lanyard for sampling the various beers and wines. For $55, enjoy the “Eat, Drink, and Be German” Package which includes entry into the event, a tasting glass for sampling beer and wine, an event t-shirt, and two food tickets
to use during the event. Tickets are also available for Designated Drivers. These are available at no cost and include entry into the event and two non-alcoholic drinks. Want to make the 7th annual Oktoberfest a weekend vacation (or staycation)? You can book the Oktoberfest Hotel Package, which includes overnight accommodations in one of The Hotel at Auburn University’s luxurious rooms, entry into the event, a tasting glass, an event t-shirt, and two food tickets, plus breakfast in the hotel’s award winning restaurant, A∙T the following Sunday morning. Rates start at just $219 for a single occupancy Superior Room. The hotel package is a great option for those festival attendees who would like to retire to a comfortable bed after a night on the town without worrying about finding transportation back home. It is also a great choice for those who want to make the event a weekend-long retreat. The Hotel at Auburn University would like to thank the festival’s presenting sponsors, APR and AlaBev, for their continued support. The hotel is grateful for such valuable partnerships and is excited about what they can accomplish together. “It’s going to be cool,” Keeshan smiled. “Sampling great beer and looking at racecars- what could be better?” Safety has always been and will continue to be a priority at Oktoberfest. The Auburn City Police Department plays an
integral part in ensuring the safety of everyone involved, and will be on the premises throughout the entirety of the event. In closing, we remind you of a popular song traditionally played at the “real” Oktoberfest in Munich. It might be familiar to you:
“ Ein Prosit” Ein Prosit, ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit Ein Prosit, ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit.
OANS! ZWOA! DREI! G’SUFFA! In English:
“A Toast” A toast, a toast To cheer and good times A toast, a toast To cheer and good times.
ONE! TWO! THREE! DRINK UP! As a side note, we encourage you to enjoy yourself, but be sure not to enjoy too much! Again, the 7th annual Oktoberfest, presented by The Hotel at Auburn University, APR, and AlaBev, will take place on October 8th from four until nine p.m. There are no rules. This event is going to be a blast, but be sure to drink responsibly! Throw on your Lederhosen, grab a date, and prepare to enjoy a night in downtown Auburn sampling some of the region’s (and the nation’s) most delicious brews, as well as a few that are authentically German! We are sure you will make it an annual tradition. Who knew you could attend one of the world’s best Oktoberfests right here in Auburn, Alabama?