Germans break their sombre stereotypes every year from the end of September till the first weekend of October in a flagrant burst of raucous fun and rapturous bingeing. Commemorating the wedding anniversary of 19th century Bavarian king Ludwig I and his queen, Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the now-internationally feted Oktoberfest has always been an unabashed excess of music and merrymaking, because it is traditionally the Germans’ last chance to dance before winter shunts them indoors.
1. Stick to good ol’ bier
If you’re looking for off-kilter spins to savoury Oktoberfest delights, 17-year-strong microbrewery Brewerkz Riverside Point (Oct. 3 — 4) has collaborated with Swiss Butchery to present plate specials of sausages and sauerkraut, which will each go with a pint for $30. The highlight of Brewerkz’s ode to the fatherland is an Oktoberfest-style dinner designed by db Bistro, which will feature reinterpretations of lesser known classics, such as roasted river trout, duck schnitzel, choucroute platter, funnel cake, and pear and almond tart. Follow Brewerkz on social media to obtain a password for a free pint!
2. Chug, chug, chug
Good sports that crave unconventional competition might also like to pop by Brotzeit VivoCity ‘s Oktoberfest double weekend (Oct. 10-13, 17-20). Instead of brewing their own, Brotzeit has specially flown in several gallons of sweet aromatic Märzen from Munich. Moreover, the regional nine-outlet franchise went with letting its immense following entertain themselves this year — The Server is a game that involves carrying eight 1.2kg stein mugs in a last-man-standing contest, The Builder tests one’s dexterity at building towers of mini Jager bottles under 90 seconds, and The Guzzler seeks to find the fastest drinker in the land. Bemused audiences will also be treated to music by AnTon and the Funny Guys, as well as a foray of festive foods like garlic sausages and ribs.
3. Join the crowd
Holding up in the chichi Keppel Island Plaza, Oktoberfest Asia 2013is simply put, four extravagant days of inebriation, slathered in rich goulash and swathed in tender meatloaf. This massive off-shore event will be fuelled by beers like G. Schneider & Sohn, Paulaner and Spaten, as well as Jagermeister and champagne-like craft beer Weihenstephan Infinium. Games like futsal, skittles and quizzes will be played to the beat of homegrown talent Wicked Aura and The Original HofBräuhaus Show, which has been keeping Bavarian beer hall guzzlers dancing for 23 years. Oktoberfest Asia’s official ambassador Dietmar Hamann might especially interest football enthusiasts to drop in for a pint or five.
4. Feast like a king
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For an authentic taste of Bavaria, hop over to either of the two Paulaner Brauhaus (Clarke Quay, Millenia Walk) locations. The monastic brewery’s resident brewmaster has ensured that the customary Märzen beer meant for this year’s festivities is concocted according to the Minim friars’ strict half-millenia-old recipe. 6,000 litres, to be exact, have been readied by the good people at Paulaners to wash down a generous spread of traditional Germanic treats crafted by executive chef Klaus Lukarsch. This time-honoured feast includes sausage platters, potato rostis, chicken schnitzels, braised oxtails, grilled lamb chops and caramelised Bavarian Emperor’s pancake with apple plum compote. This year, the intoxicated revelry will spill out into specially designed alfresco tentages, where the masses will be entertained by Bavarian band Scharivari Sextett and bier girls dressed in traditional dirndl dresses.
5. Hop around
Centred around its iconic fountain, Clarke Quay’s outdoor Oktoberfest soiree returns with more German food and Erdinger beer kiosks by tenants like Alegro, Aquanova, Fern & Kiwi, Shiraz, The Pump Room and Vintry Singapore. To be hosted by Max Loong, these evenings (Oct. 11 — 12) will feature festive game booths as well as tunes from Summer Oompah, Swiss Alpine Lions and local outfit Raw Energy. Autumnal revels continue throughout October – The Pump Room microbrewery will be offering Oktoberfest-style dinner for two at $78++, while Spanish tapas bar Octapas will offer suckling pigs from $22. For $45, Hot Stones’s dinner for two will include two pints of Heineken beer, as well as bockwurst and bratwurst sausages served with truffle mash, sauerkraut and pickles topped with bacon bits. The ever-popular Beer Market bolsters quayside celebrations with its own brand of crispy pork knuckles, chicken Cordon Bleu and a bevy of its beloved beers.
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