Is there any better way to celebrate the incoming cool weather than with Oktoberfest celebrations? Full bodied beers often paired with sausages and hearty breads are the perfect way to kick off autumn, and there is no shortage of celebration in and around Baltimore.

OktoberFest
Saturday, September 27, 4 PM
Leinenkugel’s Beer Garden (4 Market Pl.; 443-208-3316)
A German style beer garden seems to be the exact spot to celebrate Oktoberfest and Leinenkugel’s at Power Plant Live! delivers. Breaking out of the style of some of the other joints in the immediate area, Leinenkugel’s delivers a quality experience for adults who want to experience some tasty brews and top notch casual food in an authentic environment. For the event on September 27, Leinenkugel’s is adding more German style food and some beer tents in addition to fun events like Stein Races and Boot Chug Races, as well as the tongue in cheek Weiner Dog Race. Get there at 4 PM to kick off the celebration, but don’t fill up too much because winning the 8:30 PM Brat Eating Contest could win you a VIP package to Maryland Live! Casino. It’s a marathon, not a sprint y’all. Unless you’re one of those weiner dogs...

German Beer Fest
September 26-28, 11 AM–2 AM
Max’s Taphouse (737 Broadway; 410-675-6297)
With over 60 German beers on tap, and a boatload more by the bottle, this event from September 26-28 is not to be missed by lovers of German beers. Get beers in sample size to have a bunch, or drink some pints of old or new favorites. We particularly admire the bold who go for the two-liter boot. If you’re going that route, make sure you sample their special menu of German food for the weekend, including some sausages that, in previous years, have been out of this world.

Oktoberfest
Various Hours
Old Stein Inn (1143 Central Ave E, Edgewater, MD; 410-798-1544)
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October at this classic Edgewater German biergarten bring solid German music for entertainment, from the strolling accordion player to live bands. The first Sunday of the month brings Spanferkel-Fest, the roasting of suckling pig, and there are specials (in addition to a fairly incredible ongoing genuine German menu) like mushroom schnitzel and wild goulash to accompany the October-long celebration. Their authentic beer list is long and impressive with 11 served by the .5 liter and a ton of bottles to quench your thirst.

Das Best Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 11, 2–6 PM
M&T Bank Stadium (1101 Russell St)
On October 11, M&T Bank Stadium hosts this opening event to Baltimore Beer Week, featuring tons of German style beers and a handful of liquors, from international and local purveyors alike. From live music to a Beer Belly Competition and a Miss Oktoberfest Competition, the entertainment will be there in spades, and the German style food vendors are sure to not disappoint. Tickets are available here for $39 or put out $59 for a VIP ticket to get early access, extra beers, restaurant tastings, and more.

Photo via Old Stein Inn