If Instagram had been around in the early 1800’s, French Courtesan Therese Charlotte Luise would have been An IG darling. She’d no doubt be posting classy, elegant reels of herself in the #OOTD, with the obligatory motivational caption that never has anything to do with the photo itself. Therese was known and loved by the people of her city; she was so popular that even famed French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte was interested in wedding her. It was prince Ludwig of Bavaria that she eventually took as her husband, and they were married in a massively opulent and lavish ceremony on October 12, 1810.

40,000 guests arrived, a spectacular 30 horse race was held, tons of beer was consumed, lots of music was played, and everyone partied like it was 1999. After it was over, everyone decided that the royal wedding party was so epic that it needed to be done again, like yearly. The marriage of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese became recognized as the first ever Oktoberfest celebration, and the city of Munich has led a yearly celebration since.

You probably didn’t know any of that until now because as an American, Oktoberfest just represents wearing lederhosen and getting shit-faced drunk. As far as American culture is concerned, St Patrick’s Day, Cinco De Mayo, and Oktoberfest are all reasons to culturally appropriate some costumes and get drunk as a skunk (fighting, falling, and/or emotional crying optional). Drinking holidays are massively popular in the states, but why do we always seem to celebrate other countries festivities?

I’ll tell you why. The got-dang pilgrims that founded this country.

16th century English Reformed Protestants were sick of the church of England’s shit; they were ready to (figuratively) jump ship and move their grim, humorless, sex-and-alcohol-hating asses to the colonies of America. So, pilgrim they did. The Protestants thrived and prospered in the America’s, espoused traditionally conservative values, and eventually become the famed WASPs of the 20th century. While colonial settlers were originally of Angelo-Saxon origin, it wasn’t long before other nations began trekking across the seas as well to escape political unrest, strife, famine, and war.

The collapse of the Industrial Revolution in Germany was a watershed moment that caused many of the Fatherlands citizens to flee to the Americas between 1830-1860. Here in the new countries, the latest wave of immigrants found religious and political refuge, freedom from having to join the German army, and the chance to own land. Those who settled in the United States found the Midwest to be much easier to thrive in than the bustling east coast, and soon founded cities like Frankenmuth, Michigan (affectionately known as Little Bavaria). While the neighborhoods and small townships founded by immigrants undoubtedly reveled in their traditional holidays, it wasn’t until the counter-culture movement of the 1960’s that America began to shrug-off the remaining vestiges of protestant conservatism. The children of immigrants embraced their own cultural roots as well as the cultures of others, and it was in this decade that the celebration of Oktoberfest became widespread and practiced in the states by those looking to cheer on culture and tradition. The fact that beer flowed so freely at Oktoberfest wasn’t lost on the youth, and many college aged Americans were more than happy to don Lederhosen and Dirndl if it meant laughing and dancing with a Mass (liter) of lager in hand.

The appeal of German based partying grew in popularity throughout the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, and by the early 2000’s, you didn’t have to travel far to get a yearly fix of beer, polka and pretzels. Cities across the U.S like Denver, Fredericksburg, Linde, Zinzinnati, and Frankenmuth all host renowned Oktoberfest celebrations.

Marzenbier is the brew traditionally served at Oktoberfest celebrations, and it can range from pale through amber to dark brown. S27 Alehouse calls ours Das Boot, and it’s a bright, amber colored pint with excellent clarity and exceptional balance. A toasty, bready malt backbone is evened out by spicy Perle and Saaz hops, rounding this 5.6% lager into a crushable, crowd favorite.

Stop in today to have a pint, prost!

Aaron

Aaron is the brewer at S27 and has created some fun useful knowledge is going to start sharing with us and the S27 community.