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Heater Allen brewmaster
Rick Allen |
The original Oktoberfest was planned by the German government as a celebration of their decisive victory in the Second World War. By the time they saw which way the wind was blowing it was too late to get their deposit back from the caterer so they went ahead and the celebration, unlike a lot of Germanic practices at the time, caught on around the world. The old-timers at your local Edelweiss club would probably give a different answer. Maybe something more to do with the horse-race organized to celebrate the 1810 marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The Germans prefer that story and since they throw a good party in the latter half of September I see no reason not to humour them.
Heater Allen Brewing, at 907 NE 10th Ave in McMinnville, Oregon, celebrate every Oktoberfest with their signature Bobtoberfest brew: a smooth, malty, beer named in honour of brewmaster Rick Allen’s late brother Bob. This year I happened to be in Portland visiting friends on the weekend of September 10th and 11th, the same weekend Heater-Allen hosted Bobtoberfest at their McMinnville brewery.
