“Just because you’re drunk and it’s October, it doesn’t make it Oktoberfest,” says Bill Maher. “When you drink in November, it’s not November-fest; it’s just Thanksgiving and you hate your relatives.” That’s harsh, but Bill has a point; the big draw for Oktoberfest celebrations, such as this weekend’s at St. Arnold’s Brewery, isn’t the lederhosen-clad choral groups; it’s the dark, frothy, pungent ale that’s brewed at the time of the barley harvest. The festivities include a sauerkraut-spiced German dinner and the polka group Brave Combo, but again, most folks will be there for St. Arnold’s autumnal brew, which has won the bronze at the Great American Beer Festival twice and the silver at the World Beer Championship. Oh, and here’s a fun fact: Oktoberfest has added a new word to the German language: Bierleichen (“beer corpses”) for the hopelessly inebriated. Don’t trip over any at St. Arnold’s. 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 2522 Fairway Park Drive. For tickets and information, call 713-686-9494 or visit www.saintarnold.com. $55.

Sat., Oct. 20, 6 p.m., 2007

This article appears in Oct 18-24, 2007.