PHILADELPHIA (August 19, 2009) -- Local breweries start producing Octoberfest beers in late August. Instead of storing it for a month - McGillin's Olde Ale House will start pouring the coveted seasonal brews on Tuesday, August 25. Adding to the festivities on August 25, American Crime Novelist Duane Swierczynski will be on-hand to discuss the newly-released trade paperback about Frank Castle's escapades in Philadelphia for Marvel Comic's "The Punisher." Besides modeling the décor of the pub in his comic book after McGillin's, Swierczynski is also well-versed in its beer, having written The Big Book o' Beer: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Greatest Beverage on Earth. In fact, he plans to buy a pint of McGillin's 1860 IPA for anyone who buys his book that night.
The event on August 25 featuring Swierczynski and German beers begins at 6 p.m. No cover. Pints of the newly-released McGillin's 1860 IPA by Stoudt's Brewing reduced to $2. Plus, McGillin's newly installed beer tower will be stocked with Stoudt's Festbier, Flying Fish's Octoberphish, Victory's Fest, Jack's Pumpkin Spice, plus a variety of rotating Octoberfest and other seasonal beers.
The Octoberfest beers and German cuisine will be served at McGillin's Olde Ale House, Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern, from August 25 through October 3. The lunch and dinner menus will feature German cuisine including Mussels steamed in Octoberfest Lager and served over Hay and Straw Noodles with German-style Toasted Cheese Bread; Grilled Pork Loin served with Sweet and Sour Cherry Sauce, Braised Cabbage, Apples and Potato Dumpling; and German Style Grilled Sausage Platter with Bratwurst and Knockwurst with Red Cabbage and Warm German Potato Salad served with German-style Cheese Toast and Dark Mustard; and Kasebrotchen Chicken, Chicken Breast topped with German style Spread (Ale, Brown Mustard, Sharp Cheddar Cheese) baked to a bubbly finish and served with Heaven and Earth (Himmel Und Erde), Potatoes sautéed with Apples and Bacon, served also with Red cabbage and German-style Cheese Toast.
The historic tavern's Octoberfest celebration will run through the 4th annual Midtown Village Fall Festival, on Saturday, October 3, when Drury Street will be transformed into a giant Beer Garden, complete with live entertainment, German beers and foods. Deejay Joe will start playing tunes at 12 noon and McGillin's popular outside karaoke will begin at 2 p.m. Plus, the entire neighborhood -- from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street and 12th to Juniper -- will be enlivened with a day of performances, family activities, food vendors with outside seating and more.
The first Octoberfest was part of the wedding of Princess Theresa von Sachsen-Hildurghausen to Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig in 1810. The celebration evolved into an annual event and over the years, horse races, performances and beer were added to the celebration. Eventually it was moved to September to avoid chilly Bavarian Octobers. Today, the celebration marking Ludwig's wedding day falls during harvest time and features large German beer festivals.