Wunderbar! Do Oktoberfest at home this year

HELD annually in Munich over 16 to 18 days, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest bierfest. An incredible six million visitors descend on the Bavarian city every October to enjoy wurst, fun fairs, stalls, oompah bands, drinking songs and, of course, beer. Lots of beer. It’s a huge and welcoming part of Bavarian culture, popularly known for jolly serving staff, leather aprons, lederhosen and brimming two- pint stein glasses and has been held since 1810, spawning imitations around the world. Sadly, like everything, it’s been hit by coronavirus and this year’s event has been cancelled.

However, you can still enjoy delicious German lagers in the comfort of your own home. Best known for its traditional pale lager, known as Pilsner after the Czech city of Pilsen where it was created, they are straw- coloured with a distinctive earthy taste and attractive head.

The modern version of strict purity laws ( Reinheitsgebot) limits ingredients to water, barley malt, hops and yeast.

Graham Archibald, of beer importer the Morgenrot Group, says: “German beers have always had a popular following among UK consumers but the craft beer boom and yearly Oktoberfest celebrations have helped further interest.

“The buzz around craft beer has changed the way people feel and think about beers and helped to put the beer- making processes, ingredients and provenance under the microscope. As a consequence, German beer has benefited greatly.

“Strict brewing laws dictating rules to ensure quality and Oktoberfest, have definitely resonated with the UK consumer making German beers very much on- trend.”