-by Amanda Craig

Prost! Hofbräuhaus Offers Taste of Germany Year-Round

One could argue that there is no need to venture beyond the streets of German Village to be immersed in German culture, but an authentic bier hall experience is just a short trip away at Grandview’s Hofbräuhaus Columbus.

A restaurant anchor of recently built Grandview Yard, Hofbräuhaus opened its sixth U.S. location in November 2014 to the delight of Columbus bier lovers and Bavarian fare fans. Oktoberfest enthusiasts can walk into Hofbräuhaus at any time of year to experience the sights and sounds of a German celebration traditionally reserved for the fall.

On weekends it’s customary to be serenaded by an accordion aficionado or authentic Polka band of local musicians during a live set, and not uncommon to see restaurant patrons of all ages dance and sing along in the Bier Hall.

“Big, lively and festive” is how General Manager Denis Varitek describes Hofbräuhaus Columbus. “A German experience with an American flare.”

Each location pays homage to the world-famous original that opened in Munich more than 400 years ago. Explorers of the Columbus location will find photos of the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich, displays of antique collector bier steins and an original fermentation barrel top all the way from Germany. Even the architectural details of the interior space reflect characteristics of the renowned location in Germany all the way up to the 18-foot ceiling in the Bier Hall.

All beers brewed onsite are crafted from the 400-year-old original recipes handed down by the Duke of Bavaria and are crafted using only hops, malt and water in accordance with German Purity Law “Reinheitsgebot.”

“All biers we serve are produced in-house with exception to two seasonals: the Oktoberfest and Maibock. That’s just because of German Law,” said Brew Master Robert Makein. “You cannot call it Oktoberfest unless it is brewed in Germany.”

Heeding the Brew Master’s advice, I enjoyed a tasting flight of all five brews on tap (in the name of research, of course) and particularly enjoyed the Schwarzbier – a dark lager with chocolate and caramel malt undertones and a perfectly rich January seasonal.

Columbus beer lovers embraced the arrival of Hofbräuhaus and many eagerly joined its Stein Master Club where members receive a 1 liter ceramic stein and, among other perks, get $1.00 discount on all liters ordered before 9:00 p.m.

“More popular here than in any other of the Hofbräuhaus’,” said Varitek of the club. “We were selling [memberships] online and the first rack downstairs sold out in 15 minutes. We had to build another rack upstairs.”

As a longtime Columbus resident and beer lover, I must admit that I’m not shocked by this fact, but still impressed.

Whether or not you try the world famous bier, it is worth a visit to fulfill any German food craving. The menu focuses primarily on traditional Bavarian dishes featuring varieties of Schnitzel, Würstl and Spätzle among other German specialties, but there is something for everyone according to Executive Chef Vincent Quinzio.

“Every single one of our pretzels – both the regular and the giant sizes -are imported from Germany. They come in ready to be baked,” said Quinzio who estimated that 2,500 – 3,000 small pretzels are served on a busy Saturday at Hofbräuhaus Columbus and most with bier cheese.

“We sell so many pretzels, as you can imagine, that if we had someone who was trying to twist pretzels we would need to have a separate bakery just to make pretzels all day long.”

Seasonal Bier & Food pairings rank high on the chef’s must-try list including this month’s lamb shank that is hand seasoned, oven-seared and braised in a Demi glace to complement the aforementioned Schwarzbier.

Whether you are planning a family celebration, a lively night out with friends or craving an off-season taste of Oktoberfest, Hofbräuhaus Columbus is ready to entertain. Lederhosen optional, but encouraged.