IT MAY STILL be September, but Oktoberfest has already arrived. Slightly less humid weather is beckoning revelers to hit a shaded biergarten and celebrate the season of frothy beer and savory German fare. Here are six delicious ideas on where to hoist a pint!
Bayou Heights Bier Garten
Enjoy Oktoberfest flights and food specials throughout the month. Its annual Weeniefest & Oktoberfest celebration is on Oct. 12; bring your furry friends for weenie dog races beginning at noon. Games and prizes will take over with a weenie tossing contest, stein hoisting contest, and costume contests. Goodtime Muffin will perform from 3pm-6pm.
Heights Bier Garten
Heights Bier Garten (photo by Emily Vitek)
Houstonians can celebrate the spirit of Oktoberfest and a day full of music, food, and friendly competition on Oct. 5. Doors open at 11am, and The Monicas will take the stage with live music from 6pm-10pm. Before that, games and prizes include a beer chugging contest, yodeling contest and costume contest. Reservations can be made at Resy.com or here.
Karbach Brewery
On weekends through Oct. 6, the annual Karbachtober Fest will offer an oompah band on the patio, stein-hoisting competitions, and wiener dog races. Its menu includes burgers, pizza, loaded pretzels, Korean fried chicken, and even a kid’s menu.
Little Woodrow's
Live music and stein-hoisting will be on tap this Sat., Sept. 28 at the EaDo outpost of this Texas icehouse built for fun. Also, Sept. 28, the Heights location will offer a stein relay, stein hoisting and cornhole games; meanwhile, in Bellaire, there will be backyard Oktoberfest games and more beer. If in SugarLand, bring your pup for the Dachtoberfest, or come for the stein hoisting later in the evening.
Postino
Postino's Oktoberfest special
Bring the wine drinkers, cocktail fans and beer lovers for grazing delights at this wine café. Enjoy a happy-hour draft beer pitcher of Sierra Nevada Brewery’s limited-release Oktoberfest Festbier paired with Nick’s Board. The spread features warm soft pretzels, Italian sausage and Spanish pork links, dippable pimento cheese, and pickles ($27). Specials last through Oct. 31.
Saint Arnold
Houston’s original brewery promises the biggest Oktoberfest yet. The party has already started and continues through Oct. 5, so giddy up! Oct. 2 the beer garden menu will feature Schwarzbier and brat burgers. Come back for the big weekend celebration Oct. 4 and 5 and bring your appetite for chicken schnitzel sandwiches, Big Dill pizza, brat burgers, bratwurst and sausage plates or a schnitzel plate. Featured beers made with hops from Germany include Festbier, Helles, German Pils, German-style Hefewizen and more.