Cape May’s Oktoberfest

So Saturday Matt and I drove down to Cape May to check out their annual Oktoberfest. But I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed. (In part our fault, see edits at bottom)

We got there and parked, and found downtown Cape May a really nice place. Shops, restaurants, a few bars, all that good stuff. We headed to the Historic Jackson Street section and went right to the Cape May Brewery beer garden where we each got a Warsteiner Oktoberfest and a Cape May IPA.

Warsteiner’s Oktoberfest is a solid example of the style. It’s a light-bodied and easy-drinking beer with nice mellow hop flavors and a smooth finish. It has a little bit of pine and orange peel-citrus from the hops. The hops were very subtle but enough to balance the maltiness well. The finish had a lot of bready malt flavors and notes of pumpernickel. Definitely a good choice for the season.

Cape May IPA I knew beforehand, and it was as good as always. Lots of citrus hop notes on the nose, and a strong hop bitterness throughout. It’s clean and crisp, with a little bit of malt to keep the bitter hops from being overwhelming. I prefer their Centennial IPA, but their regular IPA is a solid go-to and a good example of the American pale ale style.

Matt with his beer smile on in CMBC’s beer garden

When we left the beer garden and started checking out the rest of the event, I really thought there would be more Oktoberfest-themed things going on. If you’ve been to Somers Point’s Bayfest, or Margate’s Fall Funfest, then you’ll be familiar with the craft tables that set up for all of those events. Hand-made jewelry, painted tote bags, beach-themed stained glass, Quikrete stepping stones with colored glass pressed into them, shapeless ponchos with embroidered flowers, knit tea cozies, et cetera. If those are what you’re into, you would’ve loved it.

Thankfully, there was one stand selling bratwurst, knockwurst, and Hungarian sausage with sauerkraut. But, at least by the time we got there, that stand and Cape May Brewing’s beer garden were kind of the extent of Oktoberfest.

I wouldn’t have been so disappointed if they called it a Fallfest or something, and said it would feature an Oktoberfest beer garden. But they didn’t. “A day full of Food, Crafts, Entertainment and of course Beer Gardens.” But there wasn’t a schnitzel or lederhosen-clad Oompah band in sight. Again, though, we arrived at around 2:30 so I guess it’s possible we just missed it.

When this is what’s on the t shirts:

I expect at least a few old guys playing polka. I had to miss Brauhaus Schmitz’ Oktoberfest, and Oktoberfest weekend at the PA Ren Faire, so it was nice to get down to Cape May this weekend. And if those kinds of crafts are your thing, you would’ve loved Cape May’s Oktoberfest. But I don’t, and I didn’t. Next week I’ll be at South Jersey Oktoberfest so I’m hoping I’ll get my Oktoberfest fix there.

Edit: This morning, @shootemdropping, who it looks like is with Cape May Chamber of Commerce, replied to a tweet from yesterday when I said I was disappointed. I like when event organizers encourage feedback, and I think it’s pretty cool of them to ask.

Edit 2: So, it turns out we missed some more Oktoberfest stuff including another beer garden and the band. This is entirely Matt’s fault, because he spent all day at the gym checking out his pecs in the mirror, and food shopping at Path Mark (I don’t know why anyone would go to the Ventnor Heights Path Mark in the first place). So I’ll definitely have to give it another shot next year.

Cape May Brewing Sawyer’s Swap Barleywine Review

For the last of this round of beer reviews we tasted Cape May Brewing Company‘s Barley Wine Ale, Sawyer’s Swap. It’s an American style barleywine with more hops than others might have. At 9% it’s actually on the low end for these beers, and the balance of flavors masks the alcohol content really well. Check out the video, and scroll down for more thoughts on this awesome beer.

One thing we noticed was how much thought went into this beyond the beer itself. The labels are really well done, and the name Sawyer’s Swap refers to a bit of local history.

Colonel Henry Sawyer was shot multiple times by Confederate soldiers during the civil war before being captured and imprisoned in Virginia. The Union at the time held General Lee’s son, so a trade was arranged- Sawyer’s Swap. He went right back to fighting for the Union before being shot yet again, finally retiring to Cape May, NJ, where he built the Chalfonte Hotel, which is still there today.

Cape May Brewery makes a whole bunch of really, really great beers, and this one confirms their consistency in this. It’s got a ton of flavor, including notes of toffee, vanilla, anise, and caramel. The sweetness from the malt blends well with the hops to make this a really smooth beer.

Sawyer’s Swap is the first beer they’ve bottled, and I can’t wait to see which they bottle next. They’re really a great brewery and hopefully these will help spread the word a bit.

2013 Oktoberfest Events in and around South Jersey

Cooler temperatures, the sound of dead leaves blowing down the street, football, bonfires, hoodies, unnecessarily pumpkin-flavored things everywhere, and Oktoberfest all make Autumn my favorite season and give ample opportunities to have a few beers with friends.

Here’s this year’s rundown of Oktoberfest events in the area, because anything you celebrate with food and beer is a worthy holiday in my book.

Oktoberfest server carrying 10 liters at once. Photo from scjody

If you’re as ready as I am, Brauhaus Schmitz on South Street in Philadelphia starts their 5th annual Oktoberfest this Monday, September 16, and they have a ton of awesome stuff lined up. I hear their food is amazing, and Brauhaus Schmitz is probably highest on my list of Oktoberfests I want to get to this year. On Saturday the 21st they’ll be closing down a block of South Street and setting up a huge beer tent. Every day next week will have different contests, events, and food and beer options so plan appropriately. South Street is also pretty easy to get to using public transport, and sounds like an awesome day trip. Missing this one would be just the wurst.

The next one is probably out of reach for me and many others, but starting Saturday September 21 is the 2 legit 2 quit, official, the real deal, the 180th Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Millions of people attend Bavaria’s famous celebration every year, and for good reason. Excessive amounts of beer and food, oompah music, lederhosen, the whole nine. If you’ve been to any Oktoberfest events in the US, you’re only really getting a small taste of the world’s largest fair.

I want to go to Germany at some point before I get too old anyway, so I’m just going to make sure my trip coincides with Oktoberfest in Munich.

Entrance to Oktoberfest in Munich from 2011. photo by JasonParis

The next event isn’t an Oktoberfest, but I wanted to include it because it’s Saturday September 28 and it sounds pretty awesome. Resorts Casino is doing their first ever Craft Beerfest, and for only $25 you can try almost 100 craft beers. There will be food and live entertainment too, and it sounds a lot better than a certain other Atlantic City beer event that’s less focused on beer and more overpriced every year.

Also that weekend but lasting both days is Oktoberfest Weekend at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. When I was just a wee lad in Yardley, PA, I always used to see the commercials for the Ren Faire and wanted to go. I actually almost forgot about it altogether until last month. My friend Kyle sent me a photo of the huge turkey leg he got there and I remembered that I really do want to go check it out. Some people think it’s really corny or lame, but those people won’t be the ones with a giant leg of turkey and a stein full of beer, feasting like a king.

The following week, on October 5, is Cape May’s annual Oktoberfest. I haven’t been to it before, but I hear good things. Cape May is a nice place, especially in the off season, and the addition of beer gardens should make it even better.

Lastly, on October 11 at the new Courtyard Marriott at Rowan is the 4th annual South Jersey Oktoberfest. The building on Rowan Boulevard has been the big news at school and this is a good excuse for me to go check it out. Plus all the proceeds from ticket sales go to the South Jersey chapter of the American Red Cross.

It looks like they’ll have a lot of good stuff going on that night and a bunch of good food. And there will be wine in addition to beer, so you can bring non-beer fans too. I also think it’s pretty cool that the German-American Cultural Society will be there so you can get your Oktoberfest knowledge up.

So if you, like me, won’t be flying to Munich anytime soon, there’s still plenty of Oktoberfest happening in our area. this year I’m trying to go to at least 2 or 3 of them, and if I do I’ll be sure to report back. And just for fun, here are some German words from Oxford Dictionary to get you in the Oktoberfest spirit

Cape May Brewing Co. Tour and Tasting

This past week, I went down to Cape May Brewing Company with my buddies Matt and Dennis to tour the brewery and taste some of their beers. The two favorites, I think, were the Cranberry Wheat and the Centennial IPA. We also tried their still-sort-of-experimental homemade root beer, which was really interesting, really different, and really good. I brought the camera and (poorly) filmed the outing, then (poorly) made a video of the trip.

These guys have a great setup and make seriously good craft beers. They’re still really local, and are retaining their distribution rights, but hopefully I’ll be able to get some of their beers up this way soon. Cape May Brewing Company fits in well with the whole Cape May thing. It’s a really nice place to visit without being too quaint or gimmicky, and the solid brewery making awesome craft beers goes well there. This is a trip I definitely plan to make again as soon as possible, only next time I’ll bring my growler so I have something to review.

Dennis with the CMBC Christmas tree/Festivus pole

South Jersey Oktoberfest Celebrations Draw Near

Even more than pumpkin beers, Oktoberfest makes this a great time to be a beer drinker. Celebrating the very best and wurst (sorry, had to make one bratwurst pun) of German culture, it’s our Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Yom Kippur, a time for beer drinking if there ever was one.

Oktoberfest began as a festival to celebrate the marriage of then-Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese, but has since grown to the largest annual fair in the world. Held in Munich, Germany for 16 days leading up to the first Sunday of October, it’s a celebration of German food, culture and, perhaps most importantly, beer!

But you don’t have to fly to Munich to partake- there are plenty of Oktoberfest celebrations in our area this year.

First is this Saturday’s Oktoberfest fair in Cape May, NJ from 10 AM to 5 PM. Past years have featured traditional Oktoberfest foods and beers and live bands, in ever-quaint Cape May.

Also this weekend is Oktoberfest on The Deck at Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City. This Oktoberfest runs from Friday through Sunday and features Paulaner Hefeweizen, one of the few official Munich-born Oktoberfest beers. If you go Saturday night, they’re also having their second annual Craft Beer Festival, with over 120 craft beers.

Next weekend on October 6 and 7 is historic Smithville’s Oktoberfest.This is the one Oktoberfest event I really want to get to this year, in part just because I’m a big fan of Smithville. The place is awesome all year long, with great restaurants and beer selections, giving me high hopes for the food and beers of Oktoberfest to be found there this year.

For something a little different, you can go to the Viking Cooking School at Harrah’s in Atlantic City. They’re having Oktoberfest cooking classes on October 10, 13, and 20 where you’ll learn to make wild mushroom and spinach strudels, soft pretzels, Bavarian beer cheese spread, and a few other Oktoberfest staples.

And if you can’t wait a few days to start celebrating, Brauhaus Schmitz Restaurant and Beer Hall has had Oktoberfest all week, with three days still remaining. Brauhaus Schmitz is on South Street in Philly between 7th and 8th streets, but if you don’t mind heading into the city they have a lot going on. Thursday night there’s a Bratwurst Eating Contest, and Friday night a “Kick the Keg Lottery”, which you can win if your beer is the one that taps the keg. Finally on Saturday afternoon they’re filling the whole block of South Street with Oktoberfest.

Or if you can’t get out to these but still want to celebrate Oktoberfest, Passion Vines, where I work, has Paulaner Oktoberfest, the same beer they’ll be drinking in the Paulaner tent in Munich. Get a pint at the bar or fill your growler and bring it home.

I’m going to try to get to the Smithville Oktoberfest, and if I do I’ll definitely be taking notes.

Images from jikatu