Free the Hops Oktoberfest

September 15, 11:22 AMBirmingham Baking ExaminerAnne-Harris Jones

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I will stray a bit from my normal baking recipes to tell y’all about the amazing upcoming Free the Hops Oktoberfest this weekend!

As most people know, Alabama recently “freed the hops” by making high gravity beer legal to sell and consume. Until the Gourmet Beer Bill passed during the 2009 legislative session, Alabamians were restricted to buying beer that was under 6% ABV. This limited the many wonderful specialty beers that we could enjoy here in Alabama. However, with the passing of the bill, the hops have been freed. Check out the article written by the Birmingham Craft Beer Examiner or Free the Hops to get more information on the issue.

This weekend Free the Hops is sponsoring the first ever Free the Hops Oktoberfest. The event takes place on Saturday September 19th and it has two ticket sessions: Session one is from 12 pm to 4pm; Session two is from 6 pm to 10 pm. The sessions were created to maximize space and keep people from waiting in long lines. The event takes place in downtown Birmingham on Morris Avenue between 21st and 22nd street. Tickets cost $15 per session and this buys you a limited edition 12.5 beer glass, access to great German cuisine and music by Die Mitternaechters, a German waltz and polka band.

Beer costs $3 per glass and high gravity beer is $5 per glass. Those who buy their tickets in advance will get 2 free beer samples! More than 25 German and German-style American beers will be available at the event.

Now for the food….

Authentic German cuisine will be provided by The J Clyde, Rogue Tavern and Angels Cakes and Confections.

The J Clyde will be providing both meat and vegetarian options. They will have beer poached Bratwurst with mustard and sauerkraut served on a Kaiser Bun for the meat eaters. German style potato salad with olive oil instead of bacon grease as well as Kasespaetzle which is a German version of Mac and Cheese will be served for the non-meat eaters.

Rogue Tavern will be providing Kalbsschnitzel Cordon Bleu which is basically a Veal Cordon Blue and Berliner Pfankuchen which are German jelly doughnuts.

Angels Cakes and Confections will be providing the large soft pretzels that will be served on a wooden dowel by lovely ladies in German costume. Cornish pastry and Apfelkuchen with caramel and almonds will also be served. Cornish pastry is a hand held meat pie that is filled with onion, potato, rutabaga, pork, and beef.

As a resident Berliner for two years of my early life, I am anxious to surround myself with this incredible German atmosphere!

Keep in mind this event is solely for people 21 years of age and older. Remember to have a designated driver and as a bonus they will receive free food and non alcoholic drink from the lovely “Rojo Designated Driver’s Café.”

Free the Hops would also like you to drink responsibly, savor the beer you are drinking and learn more about the beer available. Be sure to bring cash and drink lots of water between your beers.

Buy your tickets now before they sell out!

For more information about Free the Hops, Oktoberfest or beer legislature, check out their website.