Cultural Feast — Oktoberfest

Bob Ruggiero September 15, 2011 4:00AM

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While the beer drinkers rarely need a historical reason to imbibe, they should all raise a glass to King Ludwig I of Bavaria. That’s because in 1810, to celebrate his upcoming marriage, he proclaimed 16 days of nonstop partying for his subjects. Houstonians can learn (and drink) a lot when Saint Arnold Brewing Company and the Houston Museum of Natural Science team up for Oktoberfest: The History and Science of Beer.

Featuring tastings, beer-centric lectures and demonstrations, accordion music, and lots of sausage, sauerkraut and pretzel tasting, it’s not just about getting loaded. “The history of the world can be told through culinary history. What people ate and why they ate it all tells the story of their culture, technology and relationships to those around them,” says Amy Potts, Director of Adult Education for the HMNS. There’s also the religious angle of brewing, as laid out in “The Hymn to Nikasi,” a divine little poem about brewing dating back about 6,000 years. “Many people today consider drinking beer a religious experience, but for those in ancient times the fermenting process brought a safe, drinkable beverage — with medicinal and mystical benefits that were considered a gift from the heavens,” Potts says. Praise the Lord and pass the keg! 7 p.m. Saint Arnold Brewing Company, 2000 Lyons Avenue. For information, call 713-639-4629 or visit www.hmns.org. $38 to $48.
Wed., Sept. 21, 2011

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Bob Ruggiero has been writing about music, books, visual arts and entertainment for the Houston Press since 1997, with an emphasis on classic rock. He used to have an incredible and luxurious mullet in college as well. He is the author of the band biography Slippin’ Out of Darkness: The Story of WAR.

Contact: Bob Ruggiero

Cultural Feast — Oktoberfest

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