Time To Study German, Eat, Drink, And Be Happy Because Oktoberfest Is Here!
Friday, November 21st, 2008From September 20 thru October 5, 2008, Munich, Germany will once again hold Oktoberfest. The Oktoberfest is an extremely valid reason to learn how to speak german online, if only for the enjoyment of actually being able to eloquate the multitude of food and drinks available in the sixteen-day event.
It is All About the Dishes
The “wurst”, or sausage is the first thing that comes to mind during Oktoberfest. Studying German to be able to say the numerous sausage names is recommended. You need to be able to eloquate and tell the difference between the bratwurst (beef, veal, and/or pork), bockwurst (lamb, chicken, turkey, pork with chives, white pepper, parsley, and paprika), knackwurst (beef or pork with fresh garlic), and the common frankfurter.
You’ll also have the chance to sample the many types of spatzle, or noodles, the ideal accompaniment to beer. These noodles are made from basic ingredients such as salt, eggs, milk, flour, and various spices. Sample the cheese noodles with fried onions, the kasespatzle. These are so scrumptious that learning German, if only to express your appreciation, is a must.
You can also taste other Bavarian delicacies like hendl (roasted chicken), sauerkraut (fermented cabbage), and Apfelpfannenkuchen (apple pancakes). As if these aren’t enough reasons to learn german, wait until you get to the beers.
Wines and Beers
More than the costumes, music, and food, the Oktoberfest is known for its beers and wines. Be able to differentiate the various beers and wines in the fourteen tents of the event by learning the German language.
With high carbon dioxide levels, the sekt is made fizzier than most sparkling wines. Find the Deutscher Sekt if you know your wines well. Or, you can look for sekt formulated from Riesling, Pinot gris, and Pinot blanc grapes for that extra special date.
Brush up on your German to enjoy German wheat beer. You can avoid mixing up one from the other if you speak german because the names hint of the potency of the alcohol. Also, the alcohol levels increases as the wheat gets darker. Enjoy the traditional Dunkelweizen (dark wheat beer), Weizenstarkbier (strong wheat beer), Kristallweizen (crystal wheat beer), and the unfiltered Hefeweizen.
To top it all off, get drunk on the specially-brewed Oktoberfestbier, also called marzen (pale lager). There are numerous more types of wines and beers available on the Oktoberfest, with the Weinzelt tent serving as much as fifteen wines!
Obviously, to drink bacchanalian pleasures, dine on good food, meet new friends, and appreciate Oktoberfest, you need not learn German. Still, it will not hurt to study German free to get yourself heard above the noisy party that the Oktoberfest is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bZB9oi9HT4