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Taureaux Tavern

From September 25th - October 6th, Taureaux Tavern will offer an Oktoberfest special featuring their Pretzel Plate and a 16oz Krombacher Pilsner for $20.

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Photo courtesy of C|Louise PR

Whirlyball

WhirlyBall is ringing in the spirit of Fall with an Oktoberfest edition of their signature craft beer event, Beat the Brewer, partnering with Samuel Adams Brewing. Guests can join on September 19th from 7pm-10pm to meet the brewery team of Samuel Adams Brewing.

Tuesday, September 19; 7:00 p.m. Meet The Brewer | 8-10 p.m. Beat The Brewer

  • Free WhirlyBall, with Samuel Adams beers, giveaways, and raffle prizes including a $100 WhirlyBall Card and Samuel Adams giveaways.

  • Beer of the Month: Samuel Adams Octoberfest - $5 Pints

  • Angry Orchard with a shot of Fireball 

  • Pretzel specials

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Photo courtesy of Whirlyball

Chicago Gourmet

Chef Sarah Grueneberg (Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio) will reprise her role as host of Prost! In the Park, an Oktoberfest-style beer and spirits festival with brews, bites, and boozie bevs. Guests will be offered takes on classic German dishes, polka performers, cocktails, and frosty pints.

“Chicago is a beer town,” said Ray Stout, Executive Director, Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, who helped to curate participating breweries.  “How many Oktoberfest celebrations combine this caliber of brewer and chef talent in one place? Prost! In the Park presents an incredible chance to meet a wide variety of up-and-coming breweries forging a name for themselves in our city.”

Prost! In the Park takes place on Sunday, September 24 from 1-4 PM. 

Participating 2023 Prost! In the Park chefs include:

  • Nikhil Abuvala, Roux 30a and Nanbu Noodle Bar
  • Joey Beato, Community Tavern
  • Lexus Culinary Master Michelle Bernstein, Michelle Bernstein Catering
  • D'Andre Carter, Soul & Smoke
  • Richie Farina, Adorn Bar & Restaurant
  • Paul Fehribach, Big Jones
  • Sarah Grueneberg, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
  • Kurt Guzowski and Thomas Rice, Four Star Artisan
  • Brian Jupiter, Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods
  • Nikolaos Kapernaros, Avli on the Park
  • Kim Leali, Hogsalt
  • John Manion, El Che Steakhouse & Bar
  • Guy Meikle, Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar
  • Devon Quinn, eden
  • Jason Qureshi, River Roast
  • Tigist Reda, Demera Ethiopian Restaurant
  • Bailey Sullivan, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio
  • Greg Wade, Publican Quality Bread

Nearly 20 Chicagoland breweries to watch, including several female and BIPOC-owned businesses, will serve up a variety of brews and special seasonal pours at the “Prost Pub.” They include:     

  • Krombacher
  • Alter Brewing Co.
  • Around the Bend Beer Co.
  • Art History Brewing
  • Casa Humilde Cerveceria
  • Church Street Brewing Co.
  • Energy City Brewing
  • Exit Strategy Brewing Co.
  • Half Acre Beer Co.
  • Leinenkugel's
  • Moor's Brewing Co.
  • MORE Brewing Company
  • Old Irving Brewing Co.
  • Pilot Project Brewing
  • Pipeworks Brewing Co.
  • Ravinia Brewing Co.
  • Sketchbook Brewing Co.
  • Soundgrowler Brewing
  • Twisted Hippo Brewing

Hannah’s Bretzel 

Hannah’s is introducing an expanded Oktüberfest Menu of three specialty menu items available until October 31. Starting with the return of their Oktüberfest Sandwich made with pan roasted Niman Ranch antibiotic and hormone-free pork bratwurst, Grandma Nina’s probiotic Bavarian sauerkraut, whole grain honey mustard and caramelized onions. Hannah’s is also introducing two new specials for the holiday season, the Oktüberfest Bratwurst + Kale soup made with Niman Ranch antibiotic and hormone-free bratwurst, sliced olive oil kale, diced carrots, white onion, touch of garlic and bay leaf, and their Oktüberfest Bratwurst Kale Bowl. 

Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk 

In partnership with Pup's Pet Club, Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk is hosting Barktoberfest along the Riverwalk on Saturday, September 23 and September 30 from 11 AM - 4 PM. Barktoberfest will feature a market of local pet businesses selling their wares and offering interactive, dog-focused experiences to the public. Furry friends can also order from the pup menu at Chicago Burger Company, featuring options like a Barkuterie Board, Bark Burger, Cookie Treat or a Pup Cup.

Aloft Chicago Mag Mile 

Aloft Chicago Mag Mile is teaming up with Shiner Beer, for an Oktoberfest party on Friday, September 15 from 5 PM - 7:30 PM. Aloft’s party will feature live music from Die Musikmeisters Band. 

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Photo courtesy of Hannah's Bretzel

Millennium Hall

Millennium Hall's Double Clutch Beer Garden, seating 800+ guests, is hosting its 2nd Annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 30th. Situated under Millennium Park’s Cloudgate, the event will feature German beers and cuisine, family entertainment and traditional Oktoberfest activities such as Hammerschlagen, a German game that involves a tree stump, hammer and nails.  

BEER – For the event, Double Clutch’s Blacksmith of Beer Scott Frank has crafted select German lagers in the company’s brewery and flagship location in Evanston, IL.  The brewery features German brewing techniques, malts and noble hops from Europe combined with purified Lake Michigan water. Featured brews include:

  • Oktober Festbier is a medium-bodied pale lager that is an homage to the bier served in Munich’s Oktoberfest.
  • Märzen is a full-bodied, malty lager that honors the traditional beers of Munich's Oktoberfest.

MENU - Executive Chef Michael "Wally" Wallach’s special Oktoberfest menu includes traditional favorites such as:

  • Bratwurst, schnitzel, Bavarian pretzels, frankfurter, German chocolate cake, etc.

ACTIVITIES – Includes entertainment for the whole family such as:

  • Oktoberfest games such as a stein-holding contest, a pretzel-eating contest and Hammerschlagen. Prizes will be awarded to contest winners from Sam Adams and the Boston Beer Company.
  • Family-friendly activities such as face-painting, cookie-decorating, among others.

The event will take place from 11am to 5pm and is free and open to the public. 

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Photo courtesy of Millennium Hall

The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant

The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant will offer a multi-day Oktoberfest Celebration from Thursday, September 21 through Saturday, September 23. The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant will offer diners to a special menu highlighting German culinary options and festive folk music by the Die Musikmeisters Band in Bar 104 on Friday, September 22. In addition to this special Oktoberfest menu, diners will also have access to The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant’s full menu.

The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant has curated a menu for the occasion with specials including: 

  • Housemade Giant Bavarian Pretzel: served with warm beer cheese and spicy brown mustard. 

  • Sauerkraut and Sausage Platter, for two: a spread of weisswurst, bratwurst, knackwurst and smoked pork belly braised in sauerkraut with apples, riesling and potatoes, housemade beer mustard, pickled beets and rye bread.

  • Pork Loin Schnitzel: served with housemade spaetzle, dill and lemon.

  • Grilled Bratwurst: served with caramelized onions, sauerkraut, dȕsseldorf mustard on a pretzel bun and german potato salad.

  • Apfelkuchen: a traditional german apple cake

German beverages will feature the following on specials:

  • HB Hofbräu Original: a slightly malted beer from Munich 

  • Schmitt Söhne Riesling: a peach and fine apple based lively, firm, and fruity wine.

“We’re so thrilled to be bringing the spirit of Oktoberfest to Chicago this September”, said Oscar Montesinos, Chef de Cuisine of The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant. “Our tasty takes on German classics from pretzels and schnitzel will offer our guests a fun way to celebrate, and we look forward to seeing everyone to help us celebrate.”

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Photo courtesy of The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant

City Works Eatery & Pour House

From September 16 – October 3, German-inspired beers and bites will be available for a limited time including: 

  • Smokehouse Currywurst: Spicy hot link, currywurst sauce, bacon-braised sauerkraut, caramelized onions, steak roll
  • Pork Schnitzel: Hand-pounded bone-out pork chop, brown butter spaetzle, braised red cabbage, dijon-herb cream sauce
  • German Flatbread: Smoked hot link, bacon-braised sauerkraut, spicy mustard bechamel, swiss cheese, scallions 

They will also have Oktoberfest specialty beers: the Wheeling and Vernon Hills locations are offering Half Acre Lagertown and Schaumburg will have Metropolitan Afterburner on tap.  

Bottleneck Management (Old Town Pour House, Sweet Water and South Branch)

Old Town Pour House (1419 N. Wells) is kicking off the beginning of Oktoberfest on Friday, September 15 from 6 -9 p.m. Tickets are now available for an evening filled with German-inspired bites, festive beers, and lmusic. $25 tickets include:

  • German Bites
    • Pretzel Bites: Pretzel salt, spicy ale mustard, beer cheese sauce
    • Beer Brat Bites: Beer-braised hot link, currywurst sauce, caramelized onions
    • German Flatbread (Flammkuchen): Smoked hot link, bacon-braised sauerkraut, spicy mustard bechamel, swiss cheese, scallions
  • Two Drink Tickets
    • Each redeemable for a beverage up to $13.50 in value
    • Festive beers like Sam Adams Oktoberfest, Goose Island Oktoberfest, New Belgium Atomic Pumpkin, and Silver Branch Oktoberfest will be available.
  • Oktoberfest Music
    • Guests can sing and dance to tunes throughout the event

From September 15 - October 3, diners can select three dishes inspired by the occasion:

  • Smokehouse Currywurst ($15): Spicy hot link, currywurst sauce, bacon-braised sauerkraut, caramelized onions, steak roll
  • Pork Schnitzel ($25): Hand-pounded bone-out pork chop, brown butter spaetzle, braised red cabbage, dijon-herb cream sauce
  • German Flammkuchen (Flatbread) ($15): Smoked hot link, bacon-braised sauerkraut, spicy mustard bechamel, swiss cheese, scallions

Seasonal beers will be on-tap at Old Town Pour House locations throughout the celebration as well including New Belgium Atomic Pumpkin, Sam Adams, Oktoberfest, Goose Island Oktoberfest, and more.

Beer Group

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