Nine Great Oktoberfest Celebrations to Check Out This Fall

Artwork provided

1. Drink’s Links and Lagers

Call it an early weekend and head over to Drink in Fort Point to check out Barbara Lynch’s version of Oktoberfest. In addition to stellar craft cocktails, Drink will be serving $6 pints of Jack’s Abby Cooper Legend poured from a gravity keg and a full menu of sausages. Choices include “The Cajun” (andouille, pickled brussels),  “The Frenchie” (country pate, cornichons, pickled shallots), “The Billionaire (boudin blanc, foie gras, black truffle), and many more.

Sept. 26 from 1-3 p.m., 348 Congress St., Boston; 617-695-1806 or drinkfortpoint.com.

2. Olde Magoun’s Saloon Paulaner Biergarten

A traveling Paulaner Biergarten will be making a two-day stop at Olde Magoun’s Saloon in Somerville. The portable, outdoor biergarten will feature over ten different German Oktoberfest beers on tap, all served in authentic German beer steins. To add to the ambience, Olde Magoun’s will be grilling traditional Oktoberfest food such as a ruben knockwurst, jagerschnitzel,and Bavarian stew. Then on Sunday, as part of their weekly “Roast Night,” Olde Magoun’s will serve German Sunday dinners like Schweinschaxen (crispy pork shank) with potato dumplings, cider-glazed cabbage, and mushroom pan sauce.

Sept. 27 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sept. 28 from noon-6 p.m., 518 Medford St., Somerville; 617-776-2600 or magounssaloon.com.

3. The Boston Harbor Hotel Biergarten

The outdoor Pavilion at the Boston Harbor Hotel will transform into a harborside beer fest on September 30. Guests are invited to sample brew-inspired fall dishes by Chef Daniel Bruce including wild mushroom fritters with a stout aioli, crepe wrapped beer-braised pork rillettes, and steak and Vermont cheddar cheese sliders. Owners and representatives from Harpoon Brewery, Jack’s Abby, and Slumbrew will all be serving a variety of beers and a harvest charcuterie display will feature three kinds of wursts, jumbo pretzels, strudels, and freshly-baked pumpkin, Anadama, and Boston brown breads.

$41.50 per person, Sept. 30, From 5:30 – 8 p.m. 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston; 617-439-7000 or eventbrite.com.

4. Beer and Sausage Pop-Up at Bergamot

Bergamot celebrates Oktoberfest with a casual night of German beer and a trio of sausages created by chefs Keith Pooler, Dan Bazzinotti, and Scott Schuyler. Beer will include selections from Ayinger, Weihenstephaner, Brauerei Heller, and more. For the event Pooler will prepare liverwurst, Schuyler a beer sausage, and charcuterie guru, Dan Bazzinotti, a smoky Mettwurst. All dishes will be served with grilled corn, German potato salad, house-made pretzels, and spicy mustard.

$15 per person, 10 p.m. – 1a.m., Oct. 1, 118 Beacon St., Somerville; eventbrite.com.

5. The 25th Annual Harpoon Octoberfest

Harpoon Octoberfest has become a beloved fall tradition in New England, and this year—on their 25th anniversary—they’re expecting their best turnout yet. On October 3 and 4, Harpoon is anticipating close to 15,000 people to come down to the harbor to enjoy chicken dancing, German chocolate cake-eating contests, three stages of live music, keg bowling, bratwursts and sausage from The Sausage Guy, and dozens of Harpoon beers on draft. CEO Dan Kenary will be tapping a ceremonial keg of Harpoon Octoberfest each day. The price of admission will get you a souvenir cup and a drink ticket toward Harpoon’s wide selection of fall beer.

$20 per person (cash only), Oct. 3 from 5:30 to 11 p.m. and Oct. 4 from 2 to 9 p.m., 306 Northern Ave., Boston; harpoonbrewery.com.

6. Formaggio Kitchen’s Oktoberfest Barbecue

Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge is hosting two great Oktoberfest events. First, on October 4, the shop is throwing a big outdoor barbecue with special Oktoberfest-inspired items such as house-made bratwurst and weisswurst, soft pretzels, red cabbage slaw, and Filderkraut German sauerkraut. Regular offerings such as brisket and sausage will also be on display. Then on October 12, in their classroom annex at 67 Smith Plaza, Formaggio’s experts will teach you how to make some of Germany’s best cuisine. Taste meats stewed in Riesling and butter, sweet Kirschspätzle (dumplings in clarified butter with cinnamon sugar and cherries), and, of course, plenty of beer.

Oct. 4, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge; 617-354-4750 or formaggiokitchen.com.

7. Oktoberfest Der Beehive

This year, at the Beehives’ annual Oktoberfest event, Chef Orfaly will be serving up items such as German sausages, oven fresh pretzels, and house roasted pork knuckle to complement a full range of beers from Harpoon and Cape Ann Brewery Co. In addition to dinner and drinks, The Bavarian Hofbrau Band—whose members have performed across the globe—will take the stage to play oompah music, beer songs, and polka.

Oct. 8, 5 p.m.- 1 a.m., 541 Tremont St., Boston; 617-423-0069 or beehiveboston.com.

8. Bronwyn’s 10-Day Oktoberfest Bash

For 10 days, chef Tim Wiechmann’s Union Square restaurant will offer a special menu of traditional German fare, rare beers, folk music, dancing, games, and raffles. In addition to Bronwyn’s famous pretzels and wurst plates, Wiechmann will be serving specialties such as spicy Jagermeister ribs, a schnitzel sandwich, pumpkin soup, Bavarian cheese dip, and an Oktoberfest wurst (veal sausage with pig’s head and sweetbreads). And what would an Oktoberfest bash be without great beer? Bar manager Billy Weston will tap five German gravity kegs, a dozen Oktoberfest marzens; he’ll even have four types of personal kegs on offer.

Oct. 3-12, 255 Washington St., Somerville; 617-776-9900 or bronwynrestaurant.com.

9. The Beat’s Bavarian Beer Hall

On October 12, The Beat in Harvard Square will roll out community tables, a special German food menu from Executive Chef Ignacio Lopez, a live Oompa band, and a waitstaff adroned in lederhosen. Guests can take a break from all the outside festivities taking place at Harvard Square’s annual Oktoberfest and the legendary HONK! parade, and enjoy beers from Harpoon Brewery and Cape Ann Brewing Co. German fare will include Bavarian sausages, roasts, sauerkraut, schnitzel, pretzels, strudel, and more.

Oct. 12, noon-midnight, 13 Brattle St., Cambridge; 617-499-0001 or beathotel.com.