on THE TAPHANDLE

Oktoberfest Northwest, a collaborative project between Festivals Inc. (producers of the Bite of Seattle and Taste of Tacoma) and the Western Washington Fair Association.

I am disappointed with this event for the second time in two years. Its inaugural year in 2005 had much to be desired, and according to the event's website the two producers (Festivals Inc. & WWFA) listened to the requests of those who attended and "made it better." I am not sure what they mean by that phrase because this Oktoberfest event still has a long way to go.

The child and I arrived ready for some polka music, some good German food, and some good beer. We arrived shortly after the fairgrounds opened for the event. We paid the $6 admission fee and were on our way. When we entered the Festhalle Biergarten it felt as though they still needed another half hour or so to finish preparations for the arrival of attendees. Therefore, the child and I wandered over to the Scandinavian Heritage Festival, which runs concurrently and under the same admission. This is where most people were. There was also a wide variety of moderately priced Norwegian food—lefse, lutefisk, Swedish meatballs, pastries. The child and I wandered around until she began to complain that she was hungry. So, back to the Festhalle we went.

We went and bought one beer ticket for $5. Then we went and purchased some lunch from one of the food vendors. Bavarian Bratwurst Schnitzel Haus served us Hungarian goulash on homemade spätzel noodles with a green salad and house dressing. The small portions were served on a small paper plate. This cost $8. We found a table close to the stage so we could enjoy the music of the Gordonairs Canadian Alpine Folk Band. We set down our food and headed off to one of the "bars" for the $5 beer.

One of the things that the Oktoberfest Northwest website promises is "extended choices in German beers." There were five—Lowenbrau, Lowenbrau "Traditional" Oktoberfest, Paulaner, Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen, and Warsteiner. Becks and Hofbrau, which were supposed to have beers at the event according to the website, were not represented. I was hoping to try a beer I had not had before so I ordered the Lowenbrau Oktoberfest. The beer I recieved—served in a 12-ounce plastic cup!—seemed too pale for an Oktoberfest so I stated that I had ordered the Lowenbrau Oktoberfest and not a regular Lowenbrau. I was assured that I did receive the Lowenbrau Oktoberfest.

The child and I returned to the table with our beer and began to eat our goulash. The goulash and spätzel were wonderful, but the small portion we received was not worth the money that we paid. And, to top it off, I took a drink of the "Lowenbrau Oktoberfest" to discover that it was indeed a "regular" Lowenbrau. I know what it tastes like. I also know what every other Oktoberfest I have drank looks like—they all have a reddish amber color, not the pale straw color of the beer I was given.

Anyway, we ate and drank. We listened to the Gordonairs play polkas and drinking songs. They were quite talented and helped to remove some of the sourness of the day. The visuals of this Oktoberfest were rather good as well, with the hall full of flags, color, and German "flavor." However, I will not be duped for a third time. I will have to find some other way to celebrate Oktoberfest, and it will definitely not be at Oktoberfest Northwest.

[For the record, I am not cheap when it comes to good food and good beer. However, I do expect to get that for which I pay, which I did not, in more ways than one. Since Oktoberfest Northwest is geared toward eating and drinking German food and beer, with the only real entertainment being the bands that play—with a half-hearted attempt to include other German entertainment such as Hammerschlagen and Corn Hole Toss—why not get rid of the $6 admission? It seems to already be built into the prices of the food and beer.

I can go the Gast House Bakery in Sumner, Washington and get some reasonably priced goulash that is as good or better than that served at Oktoberfest Northwest. I can also get some good beer and pub fare at The Powerhouse, Fritz, Silver City, or a dozen other quality pubs, without paying an admission fee. Most of these pubs also have their own "flavor" or ambiance, so I am not missing anything and my wallet is $6 heavier.]