Philly is a great beer town, but there’s one thing that’s been missing: A real Bavarian-style Oktoberfest.
Brauhaus Schmitz proprietor Doug Hager to the rescue.
The annual block party that draws thousands of people to South Street each fall will still go down, but the folks behind the city’s only authentic German bierhall are planning something even bigger.
From Friday to Sunday, Oct. 7-9, the 23rd Street Armory in Center City will be completely transformed into a Munich festival grounds.
If you’ve been to beer festivals before, this is what they’re all based on. This is the original.
Think hundreds and hundreds of kegs, pounds and pounds of brats and picnic table seating for 1,500 people. Think servers in lederhosen and dirndls carrying giant liter steins of cold amber lager. Think stages with German music and huge blue and white tents strewn with ribbons — the budget for decorations alone is $30,000, according to a Brauhaus staffer.
Tickets are on sale already, and there are five sessions to choose from. The $45 ticket includes all the food you can eat, a commemorative glass mug and your first liter of beer. There’s also a VIP option with reserved seating, table service and a brotzeit (meat and cheese board) on the table when you arrive.
Prost!
