The Globe Gastropub, the noted Belgian restaurant and bar in Garden Grove known for bringing in new and special beers and ales from Belgium and other European breweries every month, has started off with a traditional choice for Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is an important part of German and Bavarian culture, a combination of festival and party started in 1810 as a citywide celebration of the wedding Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and centered around Germany’s capital, Munich. With Ludwig’s coronation as King Ludwig I, Oktoberfest took on even more significance as not only city folk but also citizens from the outlying towns and rural countryside of Germany began adopting this event. Nowadays, many Americans like Samantha Krieger, an OC based college student, travel to Munich expressly to take part in this great festival. “I am over studying for a semester in Europe and one of the best ways to study their culture is to attend festivals like this”, Samantha said. With over 6 million attending last year and all of the ceremonies, events, parades and tents for food and drink, it’s hard to even see small bit of the event. Samantha added, “Oktoberfest is just amazing though and everyone seems to have a lot of fun Plus, the beer out of these casks is exceptional!”. Fortunately, though, for most of us in the LA/OC area, we only need to travel as far as Garden Grove, where this month’s menu at the Globe reflects the special festival foods and beers of Germany.
On tap will be Spaten Optimator, the classic Double Bock Beer brewed in Munich. It has a strong, dark malty flavor that is full-bodied and has a slight kiss of hops to it. This is a seasonal beer, brewed strictly in Munich for Oktoberfest. It is so special that the traditional opening of Oktoberfest in Munich is a ceremony that revolves around the Mayor of Munich personally tapping the first keg of Optimator and proclaiming, “It’s tapped!”. Considering that the first listing in Munich of Weiser Prew was in 1397 and that there are drawings of the Spaten Brewery from 1572, they do have a vested interest in the history of Munich and the Oktoberfest. As another note, Germany has a very strict law called the ‘Reinheitsgebot’ which defines under a German Putity Law that only six beers that are brewed within the city limits of Munich can be served at Oktoberfest. On of them is the Spaten which the Globe has imported by the keg, so this is a treat very few places outside of Munich will have.
Other beers that owners Michael and Marijke Pauwels have brought in especially for October are some of their popular Belgian Trappist Beers. A La Trappe Quad Trappist, a delicious amber ale with a sweet yet slightly burnt and bitter flavor, with a whopping 10% alcohol, is a good choice to toast the season. The St. Bernardous ABT 12, one of the Globe’s most popular ales, is also on the beer menu this month. As with all beers and ales that the Globe imports from Europe, they also import the appropriate glassware from that brewery. The idea is that each brewery has special glassware designed to accentuate the flavors that they want to highlight in a specific beer, so the drinker can be sure they are getting exactly what the brewmaster intended.
Second only to the beer at a proper Oktoberfest are the traditional foods and the Globe has developed an excellent menu for the month of October. To begin, guests can enjoy a large, freshly baked Bavarian Pretzel, served with Dijon Mustard for dipping. This ‘Brezen’ is an excellent way to enjoy with a nice glass of beer. Würst, otherwise known as sausages, are also at the top of the list for favorite Oktoberfest foods. The Globe has worked with the famous Mattern Sausages of Orange, known for the delicious sausages they make, to create traditional, artisanal sausages for the Oktoberfest. A large, artisanal grilled bratwürst is placed in a fresh-baked pretzel bun and then topped with caramelized onions and peppers and then slathered with Dijon Mustard. A Nürnberger sausage, coarse ground with hints of spices, makes one choice, while a knackwürst, softer and more finely ground and with stronger seasonings including garlic garlic as part of the flavor is another artisanal option.
Sauerbraten, besides being a favorite Oktoberfest food, is one of the national dishes of Germany. Chef Christof has taken smoked pork loin and boneless ham shanks, marinated them in a traditional Riesling marinated sauerkraut and topped it all with a grilled bratwürst. It is served the Bavarian way, with steamed red potatoes and a choice of mustards. In addition, there will of course be the sandwich named after a major seaport in Germany, the city of Hamburg. The Globe has four different hamburgers on the menu this month, all served with the distinctive and delicious Belgian Frites.
The Globe will be celebrating Oktoberfest all month, so make sure to stop by to enjoy ‘gemuetlichkeit’ (a relaxed, fun feeling), sip a nice glass of beer and share the toast ‘Prost!’ with friends at the Globe Gastropub.
The Globe Gastropub
12926 Main Street
Garden Grove, CA 92840
PH: (714)-537-7471