Ciders and seasonals invade Oktoberfest at Royal Oak Farmers Market this Saturday

A short history lesson: Oktoberfest is the largest Volksfest in the world. Each year, halfway through September the 16-day festival attracts upwards of six million people to Munich, Germany where countless ounces of Oktoberfestbeir are consumed by the masses. Oktoberfestbeir (also known as Marzen, also known as Munich Beer, also known as Bavarian Beer) is a pale lager that's made especially for the festival.

Americans, who generally love the idea of binge drinking over a 16-day period, are often enamored by the festival, but don't usually enjoy being restricted to one type of brew. Couple our need for variety with our love for everything apple- or pumpkin-flavored come fall and you can see why our Oktoberfest celebrations see fewer Marzens and more hard ciders. 

Oktoberfest, part of Metro Times' Royal Oak Beer Fest series, will take over the Royal Oak Farmers Market this Saturday and ciders and fall seasonals will be a-flowing. 

Fifty breweries from around the world will be represented at the festival and at least a quarter of those will be presenting ciders or seasonal brews that feature pumpkin or otherwise fall-flavored brews.

Among some of the most coveted selections are McKenzie's Hard Cider, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, and Small Town Brewery's Not Your Father's Root Beer. Others ciders being presented include Angry Orchard, Crispin, Smith & Forge, Woodchuck, and Michigan hard cider makers Blake's Hard Cider. Seasonal and limited release selections will include Coney Island Brewing's Hard Root Beer, Griffin Claw's Norm's Pumpkin Spice IPA, Liberty Street Brewery Company's Punkin Pie Ale, and Motor City Brewing's Pumpkin Ale. Sam Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin, Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat, and Labatt Prohibition Series Maple Ale will also be available. 

Oktoberfest takes place tomorrow from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at Royal Oak Farmers Market. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $15 for VIP entry. For more info click here.