Late September marks the beginning of Oktoberfest, a Bavarian tradition dating back to 1810. The celebration originated with a with a royal wedding and horse racing, but today it’s evolved into two-week festival fueled primarily by beer and schnitzel. While D.C. is no Munich, you can still get a taste of German culture at Roofers Union (2446 18th Street NW) from now until October 5. The restaurant will be offering a three-course German-inspired menu for $30 or $44 with beer pairings.
DCist recently did the hard work of eating and drinking our way through a media dinner featuring a selection of dishes and suds from Roofers Union’s menu. Standouts included the cheese and potato pierogi, crackling on the outside and pleasantly chewy on the inside. Paired with caramelized onions, sweet peppers, topped with tiny dollops of smoked sour cream, the appetizer starts to channel the classic Italian dish of sausage and peppers without a lick of meat.
Speaking of protein, no Oktoberfest menu would be complete without sausages. Chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley makes her own in house, including a classic bratwurst and more unusual jagdwurst, a German hunters’ sausage traditionally made with beef, pork, and warming spices like nutmeg, ginger, and white pepper. Meek-Bradley pairs the sausages with a trio of her own sweet and spicy mustards made, fittingly, with beer.
For beer fans, consider investing in the pairings in order to tap beer director Dave Delaplaine’s vast knowledge. According to Delaplaine, Oktoberfest-style beers are known as Märzen in German and feature more malt than a typical lager. For an authentic example of the style, he recommends the Port City Oktoberfest, served alongside the olive oil poached cod. The Legend Oktoberfest, which accompanies the sausages, evokes toast and roasted nuts, while the high ABV Avery Imperial Oktoberfest (dubbed “The Kaiser”) has sweet caramel notes that are perfect for dessert.
The special menu and pairings will be available at dinner until October 5. Roofers Union will be closing out Oktoberfest with a “Sausage Fest” party on October 5 starting at 6 p.m. The $45 ticket covers five seasonal beers and house made sausages.
