Oktoberfest: Enjoy the festival at these Mumbai restaurants

Gateway Brewing Company

Free-flowing beer, folksy music and dancing, over six million people and a giant feast - Munich's Oktoberfest is a merry-making paradise. No wonder then that pubs across the world want to cash in on the spirit. Abhishek Basu, executive chef, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, reveals that the 19th century fest signifies the Bavarian sense of cordiality, and celebrates abundance.

1810
The fest was started to mark the wedding of Bavaria's crown prince, and later combined with an agriculture fair

Stein alive

Roast chicken is a must-have at Oktoberfest, and Gateway Brewing Company's Gateway Taproom, BKC, offers this delicacy along with a house-baked pretzel. Beer lovers can opt for the fest-special brews - bomberg and festbier - other than their flagship German varieties, white zen and doppelgänger. To get into the mood at home, call for their Oktoberfest stein glass.

At Ground Godrej Unit No 3, G Block Rd, BKC.
On October 1 onwards, 12 pm to 10 pm
Log on to shop.gatewaybrewery.com to order home

Bun time

The much-loved Beer & Burger Festival hosted by Woodside Inn is back in an Oktoberfest edition this year. The month-long fest features six gourmet burgers alongside three specially-brewed craft beers. Pankil Shah, director and co-founder, Neighbourhood Hospitality Pvt Ltd, which runs the establishment, shares that the idea was to recreate the essence of the Oktoberfest tents. "This year we couldn't do the fest in July. When we first thought about doing it in October, we wanted to make it even more special as the month is associated with the world's biggest beer festival," he tells us. The traditional beer styles consumed in Oktoberfest - helles, rauchbier and gose - will be served in classic stein glasses, the way they do it in the Munich tents, he reveals. One can pair these with kartoffelpuffer burger with German potato pancakes, Herta's currywurst burger, or the dúnkel schwein burger with a slow-braised Belgian pork belly, among others.

At Woodside Inn, Colaba, Bandra and Andheri.
On October 4 to 31, 12 pm to 10 pm
Call 7718900099

Go traditional

Lotus Café is curating a vast collection of German brews alongside a traditional feast comprising classic German potato salad, maultaschen poached chicken dumpling with flavoured chicken broth, braised sticky baby pork ribs, sauerbraten and more. For an authentic touch, associates will be dressed in traditional dirndl dresses and lederhosen breeches, and there'll be Bavarian music, too.

At JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu.
On Every day until October 3, 1 pm to 10 pm; special brunch on October 3, 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm
Call 9136660755

Hoppy high

Light, malty and mildly-hopped, Toit is serving their version of the Oktoberfest lager. From schnitzel and sausage schwarzen platter to buff rouladen and berry pie, there's lots to pair with your lager.

At Mathuradas Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel.
Till October 17, 12 pm to 10 pm
Call 9323555223

Märzen memories

Drawing from his own fun experience of Oktoberfest, Anand Morwani, co-founder, Brewbot, shares that they've brewed a beer called Alphabot, which is inspired by the German Märzen lager style. "We've conditioned this style for more than 45 days. In terms of flavour profile, it's clean, crisp with complex bready notes," he promises, adding that it'll be available for growler delivery across Mumbai.

From October second week
Log On to brewbot.in

Lager than life
Brew Whale has brewed their version of the popular Munich helles lager. Called The Oktoberfest lager, it is pale gold with a frothy white head, and packs a bread-like malty flavour. It retains the crispness of a lager with a fairly non-existent hop flavour.

LOG ON TO: airmenus.in/brewwhalebeer/order

Also check out

Drifters brewery is offering a Märzen festbier that's amber with a clingy froth, and has a well-rounded and tidy sweet-bitter finish. The limited-edition festive brew is available for deliveries across Mumbai.

Log on to driftersbrews.com