In less than a month, Melbourne’s German institution Hofbräuhaus will kick off more than a month of festivities for its most anticipated event of the year, Oktoberfest.
Running from Saturday 21 September through to Saturday 26 October, Hofbräuhaus’s celebration of Oktoberfest is now in its 56th year, promising to be the biggest yet.
The six-week-long festival will begin with the annual Opening Party held on the same day as the celebrations in Germany, before a series of festivities begin including yodelling, polka dancing and bratwurst-eating extravaganzas.
Inviting revellers to immerse themselves in the spirit of Germany’s famous beer culture, authentic live music and entertainment will take place throughout the festival, showcasing the essence of vibrant Bavarian traditions.
Both the Hofbräuhaus Haus Band, a four-man traditional Bavarian band, and Die Oachkatzl Musi, a six-man band dressed in traditional costume, will perform traditional polkas, sing-alongs, Oktoberfest classics and Oompah-style music from Thursday to Sunday throughout the festival.
During live music performances, patrons will have the chance to win bier for an entire year at the stein holding competitions, with 100 customers set to win the prize over the six-week period.
Home to one of Australia’s largest selections of imported premium German beer, every beer sold at Hofbräuhaus adheres to the German Bier Purity Law, which dates back to the 16th century and still forms the basis for laws governing beer production in Germany today.
Along with the usual line up, 16 Oktoberfest Biers will be imported especially for the event.
German native and Hofbräuhaus Brand Manager, Philipp Hockenberger, commented: “For over 56 years, Hofbräuhaus has brought Gemütlichkeit (good vibes) to this 350-seat venue. Serving hearty portions of authentic German food, it’s certainly value for money. This year’s Oktoberfest promises to be our biggest and best yet.”
Feeding into the authenticity of the festival, traditional Bavarian food offerings will be available, including schnitzel, pork knuckle, currywurst and German sausages, all cooked in-house to old family recipes.
Executive Chef Sunny Gilbert says: “The food at Hofbräuhaus is some of the most authentically German cuisine you’ll find anywhere in Australia, and in classic German style, one plate of food is more than enough to keep you full – though you should always save room for dessert.
“We’re proud that the majority of our sauces, pastries, sourdough and desserts are made in-house – but the food is just one part of the package that makes the entire Hofbräuhaus experience.”
As the oldest Hofbräuhaus outside of Germany, more than 15,000 patrons are expected to descend on the venue throughout the festival.