YOU wait all year for something German to happen in Manchester and then suddenly the steins are filling and the sausages are sizzling all over the place.
First up is Albert’s Schloss, opening to the public on Sunday, October 18 after spectacular pre-launch parties. This self-styled Bier Palace and Cook Haus on Peter Street is big on pretzels, doughnuts, cinnamon knots and sourdough bread with mains of schweinshaxe (pork knuckle), sauerbraten, meatballs, sausages and schnitzel.
The house beer in this Alpine Bavaria meets Bohemia palace of pleasure is Pilsner Urquell from Prague, but it is flanked by a huge array of Teutonic tipples, including home-made schnapps.
Rivalling it for October oompah from Wednesday 21st is the Curious Old Fashioned Teepee back up outside The Oast House in Spinningfields, hosting ‘Oastoberfest’. This celebration of all things German and seasonal runs until Saturday October 24 and then again from Wednesday the 28th to Friday 30th.
By which time the city’s German Markets will only be a fortnight away and we’ll all rediscover our lust for poor wine disguised by being warmed up and dosed with spice (adds TOM’s resident Herr Scrooge).
Tickets for the very jolly sounding ‘Oastoberfest' cost £15 and include a stein of Paulaner, traditional German Frankfurter with sauerkraut and onions and live music from Twisted Tubes with their unique contemporary brass sounds.Those who choose to wear Lederhosen will be in line for a free drink!
On top of this the Oast House’s beer guru will be hosting a very special one-off Masterclass on Tuesday, October 27– featuring all six of the Oastoberfest Beers alongside a BBQ. Tickets for that event are priced at £30.
Not had your fill of Bavarian beer yet? Catch up with the annual Oktoberfest (October 21-25), which can fit 2,000 happy swiggers into its tent on First Street. Foodwise it offers the usual fare of bratwurst, sauerkraut and frikadeller (mincemeat dumplings), served by waiters in traditional German costume, who may also hand over the odd foaming stein or two. Entrance is free on Wednesday, October 21, while on Thursday, Friday and Sunday it’s £5 and on Saturday £10.
The official after show party will be held at the Bierkeller Entertainment Complex in The Printworks with a host of themed offers and the obligatory oompah band on Friday and Saturday. Customers can receive 25 per cent off the first round of drinks at Bierkeller by presenting an Oktoberfest ticket at the bar.
For more info on Manchester’s Christmas Markets, which start on November 14, visit this link. Picture below by Mark Waugh.
The Oast House, The Avenue Courtyard Spinningfields, Manchester. 0161 829 3830, www.theoasthouseuk.com
