By Stephanie Thara Metzinger
The Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest has been hailed as the number one Oktoberfest in the western US – and now I know why. With an impressive beer selection, captivating Oompah band and around-the-clock German contests and entertainment, Big Bear’s Oktoberfest was one of the most impressive beer-centric celebrations I have been to.
Let’s get into it.
Venue
As you enter the event, you are hit with the joyous melody of “Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit” reverberating from the Oompa band atop the massive dance floor and Oktoberfest go-ers throughout the room. It’s honestly hard not to join in on all the singing…even if you don’t understand the language.
Check out the profusion of flowers.
You are then greeted by a massive arch adorned with brightly colored flowers—and a statue of a cow. Yes, a cow. As BeachRock Bill explains in his Oktoberfest origin story post, the arch is probably attributed to the fact that Oktoberfest started out as a wedding celebration that grew into a cultural phenomenon. However, I am unsure the significance of the cow…perhaps we can dig into that in a future blog post. To the right, you see a bar with taps as far as the eye can see. I head over to immediately grab a beer and was happily surprised at the wide selection of drinks available. As you all know from Chancey B’s Great Expectations post, I am a sucker for when breweries go beyond their comfort zone and offer a HUGE variety of beers.
Beer and Other Drinks
The beer line-up included three German beers (two of which are the very same beers poured at the original Munich Oktoberfest) and a variety of beers from Spaten, Hofbräu and Warsteiner. They also had American beers on tap including Rougue’s Pumpkin Patch Ale, Golden Road’s Mango Cart, Second Chance’s Hazy IPA, Harland Brewing’s Hazy IPA, Elysian Space Dust IPA, Stella. Here’s my take on the ones I did try:
- Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier: This Hef has the clove and banana notes that I love in a Hef. Though it got the job done, I still prefer Paulaner only because I like the notes a bit heavier than just subtle offering of Franziskaner.
- Hofbräu Oktoberfest: Full-bodied, well-rounded and tastes exactly what you think an Oktoberfest should taste like.
- Spaten Lager: This is the epitome of a German Lager. If you want a light beer that gives your tastebuds a break from Oktoberfest, this is a solid choice.
- Rougue’s Pumpkin Patch Ale: This pumpkin beer is not too sweet and includes the right amount of spice. Oftentimes, pumpkin beers are too artificially sweet; this is not that. Rougue crushed it. However, drinking more than one pint could be tough if you are not a huge fan pumpkin beers. If you are looking for a beer to break up the non-stop flight of German beers, this is definitely a top contender.
- Second Chance’s Fluffy Tangerine Clouds: This is supposed to be a Hazy IPA, but it tasted more like watered-down juice. No hops, no carbonation and no indication that this is an IPA in any shape or form. After two sips of drinking what tasted like juice, I threw it away.
- Elysian Space Dust IPA: Because Second Chance’s Hazy IPA was a total letdown, I opted for an IPA that’s always consistent and reliable: the Space Dust.
To my surprise, the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest sold mini-kegs of Warsteiner and Hofbräu (original and Oktoberfest). I’ve partaken in numerous Oktoberfests over the years—including Alpine Village in Torrance (RIP), Old World Village in Huntington Beach and Phoenix Club in Anaheim (RIP)—and none of them sold mini-kegs that could easily and conveniently be enjoyed at your table. Talk about a bang for your buck!
Inside the venue, there were 2 bars available to serve beer – which allowed lines to move quite quickly. Outside, there was an additional Tiki bar which served beer as well as hard liquor. Unique to this Oktoberfest was a Slushie Bar, which offered alcohol and nonalcoholic options.
Outdoor Market
The tiki bar was part of the outside festivities, which featured outdoor seating that was very kid-friendly, a small dance floor, a craft market, food vendors and typical beer-centric games such as beer pong and cornhole. I loved that Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest offered both inside and outside options—so I could grab my beer, shop around, play some friendly yet competitive games and enjoy the mountain view.
However, paying the extra few bucks to reserve a table inside is definitely the way to go if you want to experience the entirety of the event. Being inside, you have easy access to both beer bars and the main food nook which served the best brat and sauerkraut I’ve ever had. You are also up against the dance floor, so are able to see the entertainment up close – everything from Log Sawing to Steinholding. There are smaller versions of these competitions outside, but the inside spectacle is where Big Bear Lake places the most focus on.
Overall, the vast selection of beers along with breathtaking mounting views and the spectacle of beer-happy festival goers rigorously sawing through a thick piece of wood for fame and glory won me over. I recommend that the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest is placed on the bucket list of beer lovers across Southern California. To learn more about the event, visit the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest website here.
Have an Oktoberfest that you think tops the Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest? Share them below in the comment section or email us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!
Until next time, prost!
— Stephanie
Instagram @stephzinger
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniethara
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