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At Oktoberfest in Munich, they generally serve more than ten million pints of beer and close to a million sausages. Of course, they have a reputation to uphold as the birthplace of Oktoberfest back in 1810 celebrating the wedding of Crown Prince Luitpold I and Princess Theressa of Bavaria. It strikes me a little odd that we are still celebrating that union today. But, of course, it may be that we are really celebrating the perfect union of wurst (sausage) and brew (beer) instead! We have you covered with all of your Oktoberfest needs. Start off with Beck’s Oktoberfest, a Maerzen-style Lager characterized by a rich amber color and aromas of caramel, coffee and chocolate. It is full-bodied and slightly sweet, with notes of caramel and roasted malts. Then add the wurst. From Bratwurst to Weisswurst, Knackwurst to Wieners, the Original Brat Hans is a line of truly authentic German sausages. Created by lifetime sausage maker—butcher Hans from Germany—they are made in small batches to assure the highest quality and consistency. Hans came from Germany to the U.S. in 1987 and his first job was as a meat cutter at one of our Whole Foods Market stores. A few years later, he left to start his own business creating sausages. We were sad to see him go, but excited about offering his all-natural sausages. These sausages contain no added nitrates or nitrites, MSG, sugar, fillers or artificial colors or flavors. Just all-natural, quality ingredients with the pure flavors you expect at Whole Foods Market. In fact, they are made exclusively for us from pigs raised on vegetarian feed with no antibiotics, ever. You can’t find them anywhere else! You can top your sausage with German mustard, sauerkraut and other classic accompaniments and you’ll be all set. Or you can expand your horizons by serving up any of these German- and sauerkraut-inspired recipes and ideas.

• Try this traditional Bavarian recipe for Authentic German Sausage with Sauerkraut and German Potato Salad at your Oktoberfest celebration. Serve with plenty of dark rye bread and your favorite German Beer.
• Sautéed apples and sauerkraut bring a sweet and sour flavor to the otherwise savory pan-fried sausages in this recipe for Baked Sausage and Sauerkraut With Apples. Serve with dark, spicy German mustard on the side for dipping. 
• The One-Pot Oktoberfeast is true comfort food - satisfyingly  simple, full flavored with a little creaminess - and true budget recipe since it uses highly flavorful meat in smaller portions.

Here are a few more ideas for adding the kick of sauerkraut to your Oktoberfest or any fest:

• Make a lighter Reuben sandwich with a twist using chicken breast instead of corned beef. Reuben sliders would be fun for fall football watching.
• Stir drained sauerkraut into creamy mashed potatoes.
• Make sauerkraut and potato pancakes (use half drained sauerkraut and half potatoes for mixture) and serve with crispy bacon and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
• Roast pork chops with sauerkraut on top so the flavor bakes right in. Serve with applesauce (homemade if you like!).
• Toss sauerkraut with roasted root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, potatoes, turnips.
• Make pigs in a blanket with sliced kielbasa and store-bought puff pastry then serve with a baked sauerkraut dipping sauce (mix drained sauerkraut with mayonnaise and grated Swiss cheese).

Got a favorite Oktoberfest dish? We’d love to hear about it.