Costa del Sol hosts German Beer Festival

Sauerkraut, Bratwurst and Bavarian brass bands at Sohail Castle in Fuengirola? Yes, it really is true, the Costa del Sol is hosting its own German beer festival ahead of the famous even in Munich, where the Oktoberfest Bier Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Thirsty Marbella residents in need of refreshments will have been looking forward to the 7th beer festival held in the neighbouring resort.

Locally known as "Oktoberfest Olé", the beer festival kicks off in true Bavarian style with a slapping of Lederhosen and a yodel and will last until 7th September. The main events take place between 2pm and 2am between Monday and Saturday. On Sundays the events at Sohail Castle start at noon and finish at 2am.

Bavarian Hospitality

With Bavarian oompah-oompah bands playing live in the evening and a a whole range of exciting themed parties planned, this year's festival should be even bigger and better than last years.

Sohail Castle will make a wonderful backdrop to the Fuengirola Beer Festival, where promotional exercises such as two glasses of lager for the price of one and free Viking hats should go a long way to entice visitors stay long after they've munched their EUR 1.00 fried sausage and had a sing-a-long.

On 4th September visitors can enjoy a fabulous dressing up party, followed by The Viking Party and, as a final offering, the Fiesta Popular on 7th September, the last night of the beer festival.

Throughout the festival Fuengirola and Marbella residents will be able to sample traditional Bavarian dishes such as grilled pork knuckles with Sauerkraut and mashed potatoes, a variety of German sausages (fried and boiled), roasted pork ribs with German style salads and there'll also be plates with slices of German cheeses.

More Brews than Grains of Sand on the Beach

As one of the world's most prolific producers of beer, Germany can boast a huge variety of brews. Paulaner is just one of hundreds of brands, from Kölsch Bier, brewed in Cologne, to Jever brewed "oop north" in Friesland and Hamburg.

Most Bavarian beers are wheat based, although there is also the "Berliner Weisse", a wheat-based beer brewed in Berlin that tastes rather sour and has a far paler colour than Bavarian wheat beer. In Leipzig the local wheat beer is called "Leipziger Gosse" and is an amber coloured affair that contains salt, giving it also a slightly sour flavour. In the east German town of Cottbus they brew the "Kottbusser" beer, which traditionally contains barley malts as well as wheat, honey, oats and molasses.

At the Oktoberfest in Munich the type of beer served is usually a medium bodied, rather malty lager that comes in a variety of shades, from very pale to dark amber. It is called "Märzen" and is also a wheat-based lager.
Variety is the Spice of a Beer Drinker's Life

Home-grown Spanish beer served at the festival is likely to have originated from Malaga, where the San Miguel and Interveza S.L. breweries are based.

Living in Marbella or anywhere else at the Costa del Sol can have some drawbacks, although not many. Residents often get homesick, missing friends and family back home, but also the consumables they like best.

Although there are plenty of supermarkets that sell British, German, Swiss or even Russian goods, not all foreign food stuffs and drinks are necessarily available. Old favourites like Marmite or British teabags can make all the difference, whether or not a new homeowner will settle in and feel at home in Marbella, Mijas or Fuengirola.

British beer fans desperate for a home-grown pint can order online with the British Beer Company, who deliver free to any home in the Malaga Province - the only snag is that drinkers have to order at least EUR 50.00 worth of beer. Beer fans can choose from stout, lager and real ales as well as ciders brewed in the UK.

That puts a different perspective on moving to the lovely Costa del Sol and makes the prospect of living in Marbella far more palatable for those currently contemplating, if they should buy a holiday home or opt for a permanent residence!