Last Chance to Experience Oktoberfest 2011 (September 12-25)

If a three piece band consisting of three old men wearing white button downs, green shorts with matching green suspenders, and a green felt hat with a feather sticking out the back, playing Journey, is your kind of thing, then get over to Hofbräuhaus in the South Side ASAP.
 
Don’t be mistaken by its misleading name! Oktoberfest begins and ends in September (in Pittsburgh), and this is your last change to participate in the festivities. But Hofbräuhausis always a great time, even if you can’t make it out this weekend.
  

In the main hall, there are ten long wooden tables. Atop the tables stand people of all ages and races, clanking their heavy glass beer mugs together, and enjoying not just each others company, but the lively and joyous atmosphere. Women stand in a group wearing big yellow Bier Betty hats. A man in a flannel shirt who has curly poofy hair, and could be Hagrid’s doppelganger, dances to “Blister In The Sun,” by The Violent Femmes.
 
Hofbräuhaus brews all of its own beer: Hofbräu Premium Lager, Hofbräu Munich Weizen, Hofbräu Light, Hofbräu Dunkel, and a seasonal, which this month is Oktoberfest – the same historical beverage that will be served at Hofbräuhaus in Munich for this years celebration. I recommend the Weizen – it is not too heavy, and Hofbräuhaus describes it as, “Rich, fairly sweet Old-Style wheat beer with a wonderful combination of banana and clove flavors.”

 
The band kicks in again, and we scream in unison and clank our beers. The waitress, who wears a scantily-clad German Beer Girl Outfit, delivers our four pretzels and cheese (19.00 but so worth it). We devour them immediately, and join in the next song: “Alice, Alice who the #*@* is Alice.” And when the band shouts, “Ziggy zaggy ziggy zaggy,” the crowd unites and shouts “Oy oy oy.” If you have no idea what’s going on, you won’t be left in the dark for long. Everybody sings, everybody drinks, everybody dances. 
 

For a second you might think you’re actually not in Pittsburgh anymore, but the giant flat screens playing college football next to the band will remind you—that yes you are in America. But soon enough, the music will kick in again, the dancing will ensue, and even though you are not in Europe—you will still be having a great night.