Photo Courtesy of Twin Cities Oktoberfest
The eleventh annual Twin Cities Oktoberfest begins this Friday at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds! Check out selections from Minnesota breweries, German-inspired cuisine, and shop from local merchandise vendors like German Specialty Imports and International Cigars.
Drink vendors include three beer brewers, one cider company, and one winery, so there’s plenty of variety.
For authentic Oktoberfest beers, try the Reception, a German festbier brewed by Utepils Brewing Company, or Waconia Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest beer made with German Mittelfruh Hops and 100% German malts.
For fans of traditional fall flavors, try the Maple Märzen, Castle Danger’s seasonal lager brewed with maple syrup, or some of Sociable Cider Werks hard cider, pressed from Midwestern apples.
While Germans are known for beer, Chateau St. Croix is also sharing a German wine tradition with their Federweisser, a fermenting white wine and a traditional German drink available only in the fall.
And don’t worry, there’s plenty of food, too, with five food vendors on site. Try potato pancakes and schnitzel from Burbach’s European Pancakes, bratwursts and potato salad from Gerhard’s Brats, or “sweet and savory” pies from Sara’s Tipsy Pies.
Aside from the great food and drink, there will be several live performances highlighting local talent and German music traditions.
On Friday, Alpensterne will perform Bavarian-inspired folk music, highlights of which will include traditional yodeling by singer Jim Strehkle, and performances from the E.G. Edelweiss dance troupe.
On Saturday, the festivities begin with the Bavarian Musikmeisters, a 35-member wind-instrument band that performs traditional Germanic band music, before the dynamic Shirts and Skins Band takes over to play in the evening.
