It’s a prost-party celebration!
Brooklyn is ready for Oktoberfest, the annual German celebration of beer, bratwurst, and brass bands! The festival debuted in Munich in October of 1810, but Bavarian partiers later moved its start date to September when they noticed that October was too chilly for the outdoor party.
In Kings County, the party lasts as long as we want it to! So here are the best places to break out your lederhosen and hoist a stein of Deutsche beer this season!
Das Boot
A beer hall by the sea kicks off the season of indulgence with a special price on Warsteiner’s Oktoberfest beer, served in a gigantic boot-shaped mug that you can keep! Get a full glass boot for $20; refills are $10; and you can use it to wash down pretzels and sausages from the kitchen.
Draft Barn Beach [3029 Stillwell Ave. between Bowery Street and the Boardwalk in Coney Island, (718) 484–0161 www.draft
Stein and the City
The Brooklyn Reserve series will transform a courtyard in Industry City into a Bavarian beer garden for two Saturday afternoons this fall, with the Hungry March Band playing on Sept. 28 and polka band Chris & Ronnie on Oct. 26. You can just show up and purchase ale and food from Kotti Berliner Döner Kebab; but a $30 advance ticket will score you reserved seats, a beer stein, two drink tickets, and a t-shirt.
Industry City Courtyard 1-2 (238 36th St. between Second and Third avenues in Sunset Park, www.cityf
Block party
Forget Munich — we live in the world’s best beer city! Blocktoberfest, hosted by the New York City Brewer’s Guild, will feature 28 breweries from the five boroughs, each pouring 4 oz. samples of their best brews. Drink tickets will cost $10 for four, or slightly less if you buy in advance.
Blocktoberfest at the Well [272 Meserole St. between Waterbury Street and Bushwick Place, (347) 338–3612, www.thewe
München munches
The Brooklyn Brewery celebrates Oktoberfest with the party “Beer, Brats, and Brass,” featuring live polka music, bratwurst plates, $5 pints of the special Oktoberfest beer, and a winner-takes-all stein-hoisting contest. Pre-order your feast for a discount.
Brooklyn Brewery (79 N. 11th St. between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, www.brook
Under bar
The space under the Manhattan Bridge will become a giant beer hall for two days during Oktoberfest Under the Archway. The Dumbo Station will serve Sixpoint’s DumboWeisse (and other brews), and you can munch on pretzels, brats, veggie brats, and saurkraut while listening to Smitty’s Polka Band on Friday night, Street Beat Brass Band on Saturday afternoon, and BB and the Polkahaus on Saturday evening.
Archway Under the Manhattan Bridge (Water Street between Anchorage Place and Adams Street in Dumbo, www.dumbo.is). Oct. 4; 4–9 pm; Oct. 5; 1–9 pm. Free.
Haus party
Learn how to throw your own Oktoberfest party with all the fixings! This cooking class will teach you to make pretzels from scratch, along with homemade mustard, bratwurst, and saurkraut.
Cook Space [603 Bergen St., Suite 202, between Carlton and Vanderbilt avenues in Prospect Heights, (718) 230–8400, www.cooks
Hall pass
Williamsburg beer spot Clinton Hall will host two Oktoberfest events: a stein-hosting competition on Oct. 4, and a party on Oct. 6 with music, games, and a chance to win German hats and gear. And with every stein or half-liter of beer you order between now and Oct. 6, you will get one raffle ticket for a party for you and 10 friends.
Clinton Hall Williamsburg (247 Metropolitan Ave. at N. Third Street in Williamsburg, www.clint
Forest feast
The German beer halls of Black Forest Brooklyn will deliver a double-fisted set of Oktoberfest parties this year! First up is an evening beer bash at its Fort Greene location on Oct. 4, where the brass band Slavic Soul Party will bring down the Haus. Then, on Oct. 12, its Smith Street spot will host a party with a full Bavarian meal, a keg-tapping ceremony, and a mug-holding competition.
Black Forest Fort Greene [733 Fulton St. between S. Elliot Place and S. Portland Avenue in Fort Greene, (718) 935–0300, www.black
Black Forest Smith Street (181 Smith St. between Warren and Wyckoff streets in Boerum Hill, (718) 522–1806, www.black
Queens of the Fest
Few things can induce us to leave the County of Kings, but the Queens Beer Festival is one of them! The fourth annual festival in Long Island City will feature 25 breweries from Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and upstate, each offering unlimited pours of at least two beer types apiece. Your ticket gets you two hours of samples, or you can splurge for an extra half hour for just $10. For food, the Long Island Flea is right next door.
Queens Beer Festival (5-25 46th Ave. at Fifth Street in Long Island City, www.queen
Holy daze
Party in the church! The Zion German Evangelical Church celebrates German culture with an Oktoberfest party, featuring dancing to an oompah band, a feast of brats, saurkraut, and potato salad, and wee bit of beer.
Zion German Evangelical Lutheran Church [125 Henry St. between Clark and Pierrepont streets in Brooklyn Heights, (718) 852–2453, www.faceb
