Oktoberfest, Groningen-style

The 182nd Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival and fun fair, takes place in Munich from 19 September to 4 October this year. The festival originally began as a celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Nowadays, the over 6 million visitors can enjoy a mixture of attractions, such as amusement rides, side-stalls and games, parades, and horse-racing, as well as a wide variety of traditional food and, of course, beer.

If you weren’t able to attend the Oktoberfest in Munich this year, you are in luck! Connect International is organizing a mini-Oktoberfest on Friday evening, 30 October, right here in Groningen. We will begin with a brewery tour and beer tasting at De Stadsbrouwerij De Kromme Jat and then change locations to Oberland Groningen for a three-course German meal.

‘Best Bier uut Stad’ (Best Beer from the City) is the motto of Stadsbrouwerij De Kromme Jat.

“Real Grunnegs is special beer brewed with largely local ingredients from the city and environs, plus hop from all over the world. In the future, De Kromme Jat will develop its own hop grown just outside the city”, says co-owner Jaap Lindeman. “The name De Kromme Jat comes from the former name of the Turftorenstraat, a region where many brewers were located in the 15th century and the location of our first brewery in 2011. At that time, there were more than 250 brewers registered with the Brewers Guild in the city of Groningen.” Jaap, who will be our host for the tour and tasting at the new location on Sontweg 18, has spent much of his life in professional horeca (hotels, restaurants, cafes), and together with his brother Wim (the master brewer), started De Kromme Jat business to resurrect craft beer brewing within the city limits of Groningen.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and More

Oberland Groningen, a restaurant located in the Ebbingekwartier, features an authentic German menu devised by chef and Oberland co-owner Frank Mulder. The building itself is a unique, monumental building of the former pump house for the Municipal gas plant, located on Langestraat 66 between the Invoversum and Boterdiep. Frank spent months working on the remodeling and the result is a special mix of industrial and modern design. Open in February 2014 for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Oberland quickly became a popular spot in the neighborhood and city. With a large and sunny terrace, and menus that refresh often, it is a great place to meet friends and sample the excellent cuisine. Frank, who will be our host for the evening, will provide us with a soup, choice of fish, meat or vegetarian main course and, of course, a yummy German dessert.

To find out more details and to register for this event, please visit our website: www.connect-int.org/events-activities/

Further information about De Stadsbrouwerij De Kromme Jat can be found on their website:
www.krommejat.nl/

Information about Oberland restaurant can be found on their website:
www.oberland.nl/