A Bier for all Seasons

I am a huge fan of seasonal biers. The industry is rich with special biers for every season, and even for the transitions between seasons.

Currently we are just at the end of Oktoberfest season where Germans drink a bier they call "wiesn" or "festbier" (they don't refer to is as oktoberfest). Oktoberfest began as a celebration of a wedding between King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12th, 1810 in Munich. All of the citizens were invited to come help celebrate, and the place that the celebration took place was named Theresienwiese (Theresa's Fields). That word, Theresienwiese, has been shortened over time to the German word wiesn (pronounced "veesun") to refer to the bier which is consumed out of the tradition started in Munich in 1810. The oktoberfest celebration is still running today- it typically goes from the third weekend in September until the first Sunday in October. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest)

So there's your history, all for a great purpose. Oktoberfest biers (wiesns) are traditionally a little higher in alcohol than a simple light lager and are also of a color that is quite magnificent. Think of the bright red-oranges of autumn and you're well on the way. Being lagers of high quality, wiesns are also vividly clear, smooth, and rich with the flavors of fall. Not to mention easy to drink. Many folks who come to the Stube for the first time ask what bier they should start with. If they like bier, then I will recommend a wiesn. If they don't have much experience with bier, I may go for something lighter like a hefeweizen or a light lager (but I secretly want them to drink something with some color in it).

The point of all of this is to say that I think seasonal biers are incredibly valuable because they help us to enjoy each season for the great things about it, instead of so often waiting life away until winter (if it is the fall) or until summer (if it is the spring). I feel that of all seasons, fall gets slighted the most for its cooler weather, increased precipitation and the beginning of classes for young scholars.

I find fall as an excellent time to wind down from the near-explosive amount of activity found in summertime. We're all trying to get every last drop that we can out of summer and somehow we still feel slighted when it's gone.

It is also a time to break out some of the cool weather gear for afternoon and evening walks through the neighborhood. I love that- getting to wear clothes you haven't worn in months. Something about that feels fresh and new and exciting to me, which is quite contrary to the language of decay and murk that gets attached to fall by weathermen and cynical Seattleites.

So cheer up student and warm weather enthusiast! Carve a pumpkin, eat hot pie with ice cream and drink some wiesn. Go to a state fair and look at livestock and eat crazy fried foods. Go hike in the rain and snuggle up around the fireplace afterward. Go to a football game and cheer with all you've got, then go get a celebratory bier afterward and try to carry on a conversation with your ridiculous hoarse voice. You have been given the opportunity to enjoy life today. I'm sure tomorrow could also be great, but please don't slight today because it carries in it as much potential for fun as yesterday did, and look at how great that was. So it can be today.

Prost!