“Most breweries will make one, maybe two different beers for Oktoberfest,” says Shara Pathak, founder of Brewlando,” but we thought it was such an important event in the beer world that we should create something more in-depth.”
The result? Ruindreise!
In German, that’s a circular journey, and in this case, one modeled on a seven-city, eight-beer trip via the nation’s legendary Autobahn.
“We mapped it,” Pathak says, referencing the team of brewers who took its task very seriously. “It’s a loop that starts and ends in Munich and begins with a Helles, a traditional, pale, malt-focused lager that was invented right here in the late 1800s.
“It’s the beer of choice for many German drinkers,” she says. “Full-flavored without that pilsner, hoppy bite.”
It’s a great one for Florida weather as well, but the tour will take participants on a journey through Germany, experiencing signature beer styles beloved across the region.
Eight pours. Seven cities. One road.
For Oktoberfest, Brewlando’s team has prepared a “round trip” on Germany’s famed Autobahn, including eight German-style pours. So many they had to design an all-new flight tray to include them all! (Courtesy Brewlando)
It begins on Friday (Sept. 17). Live polka from The Brussel Sprouts, a local German band, will kick things off at Brewlando’s flagship location (6820 Hoffner Ave. in Orlando), but the same pours and goodies will be available at their Sanford location, as well (400 Sanford Ave.).
The Ruindreise event will run through Oct. 4, with beers available as long as the batches last.
On deck after the Helles: a Kölsch to represent Cologne (“it’s more of a hybrid beer,” says Pathak, “where everything sits in perfect balance: the malt, the hops, the yeast”), an Altbier for Düsseldorf, a sentimental favorite of hers for the many times she and her husband have visited, then a Gose for Leipzig.
“The Rauchbier, a favorite from Bamberg, is known for its beech-smoked barley,” she explains. “Fun fact about this one: It’s a whopping 8% ABV, but it drinks shockingly easy.”
I’ll watch myself as I round that particular curve, leaning into Austria’s Vienna Lager and Freising’s Hefeweizen before landing back in Munich with a Märzen to close it all out. With eight 5-ounce pours under my belt (literally), I will be able to suss out a favorite for a longer pull on a pint.
UCF alum’s craft brewery debuts 2 pours as Knights charge into new season
I won’t go without sustenance, though, and Brewlando thought of that, too. Along with an all-new, custom flight tray to house all eight sips, they’ve also put together a food platter for pairing, featuring one giant Bavarian pretzel and two snappy brats, each in its own bun.
“It’s totally made for sharing,” says Pathak. As are all the beers for as long as they last. Customers who find a favorite can take it home from either brewery in a crowler, if they wish.
Pathak and her team are excited to host beer fans for the special event.
“We wanted to do something that no one else was doing to showcase a full range of German and Austrian traditions.”
Want more information? Visit brewlando.com and read on for more Oktoberfest fun around the city.
PROST! À La Cart will be pouring a bunch of German-style beers for their 8th Annual Oktoberfest event. (Courtesy Christina Petsos/À La Cart)
À La Cart
It’s the 8th annual Oktoberfest for À La Cart, now a two-location party, with German-style beers celebrated at both Orlando food-truck/craft-beer parks: Milk District (609 Irvington Ave.) and SoDo (2207 E. Michigan St.), from Sept. 19-27.
“This is a centuries-old celebration as we know, so these beers are not the flashy sort that we see hyped around the country right now,” says owner April Williams. “These are traditional beers, brewed by German purity laws. Each has just four ingredients.”
That said, À La Cart favors American craft brewers, in particular those in Florida, so you’ll see (and taste) some of that on its flights this year. Fans of Kölsch will appreciate a new element this year: Keep the Kölsch Day, which they’ll be celebrating specifically on Sept. 26.
Got delts? Show ’em off at À La Cart for the stein-holding competition. (Courtesy Christina Petsos/À La Cart)
“Guests can come in and purchase a Kölsch glass to keep, fill it, and then get refills all day long for a dollar each.”
Williams says Oktoberfest brings with it a joy, in particular when guests wear the traditional trachten, dirndls and lederhosen, when they come to celebrate.
“There’s always happiness and uplifting music,” she says. “And this time of year, you see a lot of Festbier, which is a little lighter, and Märzens, which has an amber hue and more roasted caramel malts that come through.
Nona Street Pizza at À La Cart SoDo will have a bratwurst pie on the menu for Oktoberfest. Samuel Adams will sponsor the stein-holding competition at both locations. (Courtesy Christina Petsos/À La Cart)
Another first this year: live music for the kick-off part at their SoDo location on Sept. 19, beginning at 5 p.m. with a stein-holding competition at 6 p.m.
“We will also offer specials for folks dining at the trucks,” she says. “Anytime you get any of the Oktoberfest specials, you can come back to the bar for a discounted Oktoberfest flight.”
Varieties within: Festbier, Märzen, Dunkel and Kölsch.
Over at À La Cart in the Milk District, Sri Lankan truck Ceylon Hut is doing up traditional kartoffelsuppe … but serving it with a side of roti. (Courtesy Christina Petsos/À La Cart)
Among the food specials: a bratwurst pizza from Nona Street Pizza, Bavarian pretzel with beer cheese from Brick & Butter, both at the SoDo location, as well as a traditional German potato soup (kartoffelsuppe) from the folks at Ceylon Hut in the Milk District. For a Sri Lankan touch, it will come with dunkable roti on the side. Each truck will be offering its own spin on something German.
More info: alacartorlando.com
Sidetoberfest brings with it two days of enjoying Sideward Brewing’s biergarten, an entire special menu of German-inspired fare, litres and litres of Sausage Fingers (our festbier) and more. New this year: live entertainment! (Courtesy Sideward Brewing)
Sideward Brewing
At Orlando’s Sideward Brewing (210 N. Bumby Ave.), Sidetoberfest is sliding into place this weekend, Sept. 19 and 20, marking its seventh consecutive year and the return of Sausage Fingers, a fan favorite and the Milk District brewery’s official Oktoberfest-style beer.
Trachten (traditional clothing), says co-owner Garrett Ward, is always encouraged, and this year’s new addition, live music, should kick things up a notch.
“Saturday is the serious party day, with Hot Pink (facebook.com/hotpinktheband) doing hits from all the decades,” he says. “We’ve been out to the Oktoberfests in Germany, and they throw these really big parties and don’t ever really play polka music, so we just decided to follow their lead and do the same.”
Traditional trachten (clothing) is encouraged at Sidetoberfest, this year taking place Sept. 19-20 at Sideward Brewing in Orlando’s Milk District neighborhood. (Courtesy Sideward Brewing)
Sunday, he says, will have live music as well and be a little more mellow, as folks enjoy pours of Sausage Fingers, as well as another returning favorite: Goat Snacks, a darker-style Hefeweizen.
“Inspired by a big beer trip we took that includes a stop in Bamberg, a city known for a smoky beer called Rauchbier, we brewed a Bamberg-style Helles that features a touch of smoke.”
Look for a special menu, too, he says.
More info: sidewardbrewing.com
Lauren Delgado / Orlando Sentinel
Hofftoberfest is Ten 10 Brewing’s annual salute to both Oktoberfest and David Hasselhoff. (Courtesy Ten10 Brewing)
Ten 10 Brewing
It’s Ten 10’s annual salute to Germany’s favorite party, Oktoberfest, and Germany’s favorite American pop music/TV star, David Hasselhoff. It’s Hofftoberfest! And it returns on Sept. 26, with all the usual oompah-pah fun, says owner and head brewer Mike Wallace.
“We’ll be releasing our Festbier, offering food specials and we’ll have a brass band playing some tunes. It’s really just a silly party!”
Truth, and with a killer spent grain pretzel from Olde Hearth Bakery and my personal favorite beer cheese in the city.
Check ’em out at 1010 Virginia Drive in Orlando.
More info: ten10brewingcompany.com
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.