WILK Friday BeerBuzz – 10 Sept 2010 (Stegmaier Oktoberfest)

There’s a different energy in the studio when we have guests, and when we welcome two guests that I consider friends, it’s even more fun.  Today we welcomed Leo Orlandini and Darel Matthews from Lion Brewery to taste their Stegmaier Oktoberfest.  Now I know you may be thinking we’re pushing the season, but keep in mind the real Oktoberfest celebration in Munich Germany actually starts on Sept 18th and ends by Oct 3rd…so we’re right on.

Oktoberfest as we know it started as a wedding celebration in 1810.  Prince Ludwig of Bavaria wanted his subjects to share in his wedding celebration so he organized a horse race and a pretty major party attended by over 40,000 guests.  Today the 16-day celebration draws close to 7 million people, and perhaps even more this year as they celebrate the 200 year anniversary.  It’s also fun to note that each year 5.5 million litres of beer are consumed in Munich and the tents can hold close to 100,000 people. 

Lion Brewery produces a seasonal Oktoberfest beer every year in support of the Oktoberfest tradition.  It’s a really interesting and tasty fall beer and a seasonal beer I look forward to every year.  It’s fun to hear the brewing details of this beer from the guys that brew it, and really fun to taste Oktoberfest with Leo & Darel as well.

It was also interesting to hear the capacity that Lion Brewery has to brew beers.  We’re all too used to talking to brewers with 100-gallon capacities so it’s an interesting contrast to compare that to Lion’s 45,000-gallon lagering tanks (see photo).  Fortunately this makes Lion products available to more and more beer lovers.

I really enjoyed having two friends on as guests…and of course the Oktoberfest was yummy.. 
Thanks
to Leo, Darel, John, Nancy, Joe & Bosco for yet another fun Friday. 

The Friday Beerbuzz…bringing good beers and good people together. 
As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday Beerbuzz page by clicking HERE