While Oktoberfests in Fort Worth and Munich were in September, the food and beer action is just getting started in cities around Tarrant County.
Southlake hosts its festivities Oct. 17-19, and Arlington brings on the beer Oct. 24.
Oktoberfest began in Munich Oct. 12, 1810, as a wedding celebration for the then-Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Over 200 years later, that reception has become an approximately 16-day folk festival, during which millions of attendees drink about 2 million gallons of alcohol, according to Britannica.
Why is Oktoberfest held in September? Organizers eventually decided to move the beer fest up a month to compensate for Germany’s unpredictable October weather, according to the Hofbräuhaus Newport website.
From sausage to spaetzle, we’re looking at spots around the county where diners can grab some Bavarian dishes and “Prost” with the best of them.
Also, forgive me if I sound like your mom, but please bring a designated driver if you’re planning to party hard. It’s dangerous and I have better things to spend my money on than bailing you out.
German-style autumn beers on tap at Hop and Sting Brewing Company
Foodies aged 21 and older can sip some lager and see how things work behind the scenes at Hop and Sting Brewing Co. in Grapevine Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Oct. 26.
The beer garden and brewery is among the stops on the Oktoberfest Beer & Bites Tour by Grapevine Food Tours. Among their limited-time, autumnal German-style pours are the Rheinhart festbier and the Local 3113 Oktoberfest märzenbier.
They had 17 full kegs of Rheinhart left as of Oct. 10, which staff said should yield 16-ounce drafts until later this month, while the Local 3113 Oktoberfest should be available until the first week of November.
Festbier is an Oktoberfest staple in Germany, according to Hofbräuhaus Newport, and is lighter in both color and flavor than märzen. Märzenbier, they write, translates to “March beer” and is an amber-colored, medium-bodied beer brewed in March and served in the fall.
The Beer & Bites Tour requires a ticket, which goes for $114 and is available on the Grapevine Food Tours website. The tour includes a barbecue stop at AJ’s on Main and sweets at Chocolate Hangover. Diners looking to purchase Sunday tickets are requested to contact the organizer via email, over the phone or text.
906 Jean St., Grapevine; 817-488-2337
Vegan bratwurst at Spiral Diner
Those looking for pub dining vibes will find an Oktoberfest Blue Plate Special at Spiral Diner on West Magnolia Avenue.
The vegan restaurant’s Pub Pretzel Burger features an Impossible burger patty with vegan bacon, grilled sauerkraut, onions and Dijon mustard on a pretzel bun, according to their online menu. There’s also the Brat & Brew Sandwich with Beyond Meat bratwurst which comes with sauerkraut, onions and Dijon.
To round out the tavern vibes, they’re pouring Rahr & Sons’ Oktoberfest lager, which the brewing company’s website describes as a “full-bodied” märzen lager with “malty sweetness.” Spiral’s serving it for $5.59. The pretzel burger is $18.99 and the bratwurst sandwich is $17.99.
1314 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth; 817-332-8834
Little Germany celebrates all month long
The German eatery on Camp Bowie is keeping the decorations up and celebrating all month long, according to waitress Ingrid Adcock.
“We decided, it’s October, what the heck,” she said, “so we’re still celebrating Oktoberfest.”
Their menu shows appetizers of German potato pancakes, fried mushrooms, sausage and sauerkraut, rouladen and a knockwurst sandwich. Lunch entrees include Vienna schnitzel, jaegerschnitzel and sauerbraten, and dinner options include rib eye, tenderloin and chicken fried steaks.
Sides range from sauerkraut and potato dumplings to spaetzle and creamed spinach.
For dessert, obviously German chocolate cake is on the table, as are Black Forest cake and apple strudel.
Diners can choose from German wines and beers like hefeweizen, Hofbräu and Schmidt-Söhne liebfraumilch.
Adcock said diners can always expect to find the simple pleasures at Little Germany, namely German beer, sausages and polka music, adding “and what else do you need?”
6737 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth; 682-224-2601
We’d love to hear from you! Send your restaurant tips and hot takes to erin.ratigan@fortworthreport.org.
Erin Ratigan is a freelance journalist and writer specializing in narrative news features. You can find her on X @erinratigan.
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