By Nikki Coward
It's that time of year again - all over South Africa people with German origins, and even those with none at all, are getting together to plan Oktoberfest celebrations. Someone, somewhere, probably at the German School, hit on the idea that the South African tendency to booze could be milked for a buck for charity and the idea was born to bring the Oktoberfest Tradition over here. There can be no doubt that it was a brilliant idea, bringing together a bunch of South Africans in a tent with beer flowing like water and lots of fatty sausages could not fail as a money-making exercise. Few of the Oktoberfests are particularly discriminating about what beer they serve other than a bit of Castle draught, but nonetheless the spirit cannot be faulted. And with the Boks playing the Scots on October the third, who could ask for anything more.
Anyone who has been to the original Oktoberfest in Munich can tell you that it is an unbelievable experience. Munich is simply jollier than the rest of Germany, and more so during Oktoberfest. Traditionally the festival runs from the second to last Saturday in September to the first Sunday in October. Although it appears as if the festival must have been going since beer was first brewed, it is in fact, a relatively new thing. (Well, new for Europe anyway.) Hundreds and thousands of Germans (and beer and party lovers from all over the globe) each year celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The fact that the wedding took place in 1810 doesn't appear to bother anyone a bit. Even when there is no festival taking place Munich prides itself on being the beer capital of the world. The six great city labels are Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Paulaner-Thomasbrau and Spaten-Franzinskaner. Each brand has its own beer hall and they are open throughout the year.
Munich's world-famous Hofbrauhaus has been tapping barrels since 1859, but is hopelessly touristy. But there's no harm in that most of the time. In the Forschungsbraurerei, or research brewery on Unterhachinger street, you can quaff mystery brews still in the experimental stage. And reportedly the best outdoor Stein hoisting is to be found at the Chineisischer Turm beer garden in the Englischer Garten. Not content with all that beer drinking in September and October, Munichers go on another binge just four months later called Fasching. Traditionally all sorts of bizarre behaviour is acceptable during this festival period that proceeds Lent. The Oktoberfest itself is not without it's bizarre traditions. In the latest issue of the medical magazine, Lancet, the "Wad'lbeisser" or "calf-biter" tradition has been described as potentially extremely dangerous. It warns that those bitten could even lose a leg. Wad'lbeisser arose over the years when, as the beer flowed and people danced on tables, patrons lost their inhibitions and started to bite people on the lower leg. Lancet has described the resulting infection as necrotising fascinitis, otherwise none as the flesh eating bug. Doctors have warned that a human bite is potentially deadly as humans could pass on the Group A Streptococcus virus. So let's hope no calf-biting or any other bizarre behaviour went on during our local versions of the Oktoberfest. So what is Oktoberfest beer? Oktoberfests can range from golden to reddish brown. Sweet or toasty maltiness should dominate slightly over a clean hop bitterness. Malt character should be toasted rather than stongly caramel. Hop aroma and flavour should be low but notable. Fruity esters are minimal, if perceived at all. Diacetyl and chill haze should not be perceived. During our recent visit to the Farmers' Brewery in Hattingspruit we tasted their Oktoberfest beer. It is described in their Beer List as ": Also known as Vienna Lager of Marzen, this rich lager beer is characterised by its amber colour and creamy foam. It is made from a secret proportion of three different malts. It has a lower hops content and as a result is less bitter, with a complex malt taste predominating." The alcohol content: 5,5 per cent.