In September/October, Austria and Germany go beer and sausage crazy. I realised it was that time of the year again when I opened a piece of junk mail from a local supermarket and found it absolutely plastered with different kinds of sausage and beer.
Along with the official Oktoberfest in Munich, there are all kinds of smaller ‘Oktoberfests’ happening around the place. However, this post isn’t about one of these festivals, it’s about what my (new) family does every year to celebrate the occasion – kind of like how you celebrate someone’s birthday or Easter.
The night revolves around (obviously) sausages and beer. Very specific ones, I might add, they’re called Weißwürste. The beer is specially bought for the occasion: Oktoberfestbier von Paulaner. And naturally, you couldn’t have a meal like this without bread and sauerkraut.
Take note, because there is a particular and slightly unusual way you have to eat these special sausages.
First you have to slit them from end to end.
Then you peel the skin off… slowly… but not too slow… because then it feels a bit like you’re in a cheap porno… not that I would know!
Once you’ve got the naked, white Würste on your plate you dip him in special, sweet mustard (bought specifically for the occasion) and follow him up with a bite of bread, and a swig of beer. Shovel some sauerkraut in occasionally, and you’re well on your way to becoming a bone-fide Austrian sausage muncher!
After dinner, some of us swap beer for wine, and then we all watch a movie together. Actually, I’m not sure if this is actually a tradition, or if it’s just become an excuse to make we watch a Schwarzenegger movie in German without complaining. Note: I fell asleep at the end, but it didn’t matter – I know Arnie won.
an aussie in austria 