Oktoberfest Mumbai returns, nearly sold out
Based on Munich's Oktoberfest, Mumbai's inaugural festival last year pulled in 7,000 drinkers. Mumbai's inaugural Oktoberfest was such a blow-out last year that beer-drinking events in the city have multiplied this year.
You can bypass the German girls dancing around Bollywood DJ Suketu while serving unlimited IMFL (Indian-made foreign liquor) for Rs 1,500 on October 14 at the Manchester United Café Bar.
Instead this weekend, go where the real drinkers go -- a big festival ground -- and drink what real drinkers drink -- international beers.
Mumbai's second Oktoberfest
While, oddly enough, the Germans celebrate Oktoberfest in September, Mumbai's Oktoberfest returns this year to the Mahalaxmi Racecourse from October 14-16, after a hugely successful round of beers last year.
The brainchild of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC), this beer festival has been organized along the lines of Munich’s Oktoberfest, the largest of its kind in the world which draws 6 million visitors.
In Mumbai, beer appreciation has been a steadily growing trend.
The city’s residents are ready to experiment with and pay for a wider variety of beers, looking first beyond Kingfisher and Fosters, and then beyond Tuborg and Carlsberg, price hikes notwithstanding.
Tsingtao launched in India recently. And Cerveza, a new café in Kala Ghoda serving a wide range of international beers, opened last month.
For the IGCC, following up last year’s first Oktoberfest is no easy task.
Unlike last year, individual passes aren’t available. You will need to book an exclusive table for your group this time. The cost is Rs 30,000 for a table on any one day from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., excluding service tax.
A single table seats up to 10 people, serves 20 liters of beer, 10 main courses (meat or vegetarian), and 10 free Oktoberfest beer mugs.
As part of a corporate discount, the organizers are also offering a sixth table free on every five tables booked.
The main beer at the festival will be Erdinger -- both light and dark.
For the freaks, wine and soft drinks will also be served. And yes, there will be German sausages.
Die Oberbayem, who played last year, will jam some authentic German folk music on all three days, from 6 p.m. onwards.
Email mumbaioktoberfest@indo-german.com for bookings and other queries.
Saturday, October 15 is already full, so hurry.
Oktoberfest Mumbai 2011, Mahalaxmi Racecourse (Royal Western India Turf Club), Mahalaxmi, October 14 -16; 5 p.m. – 10:30 p.m; www.indien.ahk.de/events
The first Mumbai International Beer Festival
Going head-to-head with Oktoberfest, the first Mumbai International Beer Festival will be held at the D’Monte Park Recreation Club on October 15 and 16.
To register, purchase a "Beer Tasting Pass". Passes cost from Rs 500 per person depending on the amount of beer you want, and from Rs 5,000 for a group of four, for either day. A daily Rs 50 entry fee also applies.
Individual passes gets you 80 milliliter tastings of international beers like Fuller's London Pride (England), Birra Moretti (Italy), Amstel Light (Holland), and Duvel (Belgium).
Group passes get you 330-milliliter stubbies of Fuller's London Pride Ale (England), Murphy's Irish Stout, Sagres (Portugal), Tsingtao (China), Duvel (Belgium), Liefmans (Belgium), Chimay Red Trappist (Belgium), Brooklyn East India Pale (United States), Schneider-Weisse (Germany), Fuller's Porter (England).
Each pass also gets you food vouchers for Bandra restaurants Café Arabia, Ray’s Café & Pizzeria and Mocha.
Extra tasting coupons will be available for Rs 50 each. Beer will be sold separately too.
Mumbai International Beer Festival, D’Monte Park Recreation Club, Bandra Gymkhana, St. Andrew’s Road, Bandra (W); +91 (0)22 2642 8512.
October 15 5 p.m.-10 p.m., October 16 noon-10 p.m.; www.beerfestival.in
