Your Oktoberfest Round-Up: Beer, Brats, Pretzels + More Beer

Tim Sheerman-Chase

Oktoberfest in Munich

L.A. Oktoberfest -- October 20-21:
Bust out the lederhosen for this one, because it's likely to get a little crazy. This two-day festival at the Vanguard in Hollywood sounds like a scene from the movie Beerfest: busty Bavarian babes, beer song sing-a-longs, roving accordion players, stein-holding contests and sausage-eating competitions are all on the bill. Oktoberfest Hollywood-style comes at a price though, as VIP tickets are a $100 for a stein and unlimited pours, or $35 for a stein and one pour. You could even request bottle service if you like (at $1,000 a pop). Additional brews and food will cost $5 each.

Alpine Village Oktoberfest -- Until October 27:
L.A.'s oldest and largest Oktoberfest celebration is back every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Oct. 27. Inside a massive 32,000-square-foot tent will be thousands of festival-goers drinking beer from German breweries, such as Warsteiner and Konig Ludwig. Tickets cost $10, and include access to live German music and plenty of traditional eats.

Rocktoberfest -- October 15-21:
How often do you get to see Gene Simmons and Wolfgang Puck hanging out in the same room? That's exactly what's going on at this L.A. Live event which runs from Oct. 15-21 at L.A. Live. Puck's crew will be serving classic German dishes, like Wiener Schnitzel with potato salad, braised pig knuckles and sauerkraut and beef goulash with spaetzle, while steins of Beck's Octoberfest beer will be on tap to quench the thirst of the KISS Army. The last day of the festival shifts down to El Segundo's Rock & Brews and expands the tap list to over 50 craft breweries offering beer tastings. Tickets, which include a free beer stein, are $25 for the L.A. Live event, and $55 for the Rock & Brews event.

Wirsthaus -- Until October 20:
The city's newest beer and brat spot is offering its usual line-up of housemade sausage, European beers and an outdoor beer garden, but starting every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Oct. 20, there will some traditional German music to go with it (think oom-pah-pah). Order a 1-liter beer and you'll get to keep your stein, plus you might have the chance to meet special guest Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt.

Cooks County -- Until October 22:
Every Monday night, chefs Daniel Mattern and Roxana Jullapat will create a special Oktoberfest-themed menu for $24 per person. Look for house-made sausage, pretzels, weinerschnitzel, potato and mache salads, and a fine selection of imported and local beers. Check out the website for this week's offerings. And look for recipes on the Cooks County blog.

Brühaus -- Until October 31:
This Wilshire Blvd. gastropub will be slinging $20 liters of German beer (keep the glass) all month long, including offerings from Spaten, Hacker Pschorr, Weihenstephan, Paulaner, Ayinger and Hofbrau. If you're overstuffed on pretzels and sausage, try their revamped happy hour menu, touting bites such as buffalo and sweet Sriracha cauliflower and pastrami egg rolls.

BierBeisl -- Until October 31:
Recently named one of Esquire's Best New Restaurants, BierBeisel is back into the swing of things with chef Bernhard Mairinger, celebrating Oktoberfest the traditional Austrian way. Sample specialties like schweinshaze (braised and roasted pork shank) served with homemade knödel (dumplings) and sauerkraut. If you're into schnapps and Austrian wine, this might be one of the best lists in town.

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