Lederhosen, sauerkraut, bratwurst and beer -- oh my! The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center held its third annual Oktoberfest Sept. 28 from 4-9 p.m. in their parking lot.
One-hundred different craft beers and German cuisine, mixed with live music, drew a hundreds of people to the event.
"The crowd is very responsive," said Duran Patterson with Lagunitas Brewing Company. "Everybody has been enjoying the beers. This is the first year they have had it out in the parking lot so there are so many more people. We love that -- to be able to interact with all the people -- it's been great!"
This is Patterson's third year at Oktoberfest and he said he was excited to see the amount of people who turned out.
Lagunitas brought two different craft beers for the Auburn crowd to sample: their IPA and Pils brews.
To accompany the beer, the Hotel at Auburn University prepared many traditional German dishes for $10. German cakes, pretzels, kabobs and, of course, bratwurst with sauerkraut were offered.
Timothy Pfaff, chef with the hotel, said the turnout for the event was much more than they had expected.
"We have had a lot more sales and a lot more walk-ins than we expected, but people are really enjoying the food," Pfaff said.
People such as Michelle Graffam and Chris Hoffman said they love beer so the choice was obvious to come to Oktoberfest.
"We came last year and we had a great time," Hoffman said. "It's bigger and better this year. Good music, good food and good smells. The food is amazing."
Graffam said the atmosphere this year was great because of the different location. She said she was happy to have so many craft beers to choose from.
"The beers are delicious," Graffam said. "We are working our way around. You kind of have to have a strategy for this kind of thing. Hopefully we will make it all the way around the 'U.'"
Graffam said her favorite beer was from the Victory Brewing Company.
"I am a fan of their beers anyway," she said. "Victory Summer Love Ale, I am happy to see. With summer ending and fall beginning, I am definitely glad to see it here."
Hoffman said that all he tasted was delicious.
"Most of (the beers) are pretty good," Hoffman said. "I was surprised by the Evil Twin Brewing's Talented Mr. Orangutan. I picked it based on the label, but it ended up being really good."
Other attendees such as Jorge Gonzalez came for the beer.
"You pay $35 for unlimited beer," Gonzalez said. "It's a pretty good deal. Most of the beers are really good. It's a lot of fun."
He said he enjoyed all of the beers he had tried so far, but the strawberry flavored beer from Merchant du Vin Brewing Company was his favorite.
Kay Keeshan, mother of the senior restaurant manager the hotel, said she and her husband always attend the hotel's events. She said the hotel staff always does a great job and the atmosphere is always fun.
With the beer, food, atmosphere and live music still drawing people in, Pfaff said the event was a very German success.
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