Oktoberfest - Georges Dock

Saint Sonner

Just wondering has anyone been down to this event this year or previous years?

Is it worth going to?

BeerNut

Saint Sonner wrote: »

Just wondering has anyone been down to this event this year or previous years?

I usually go.

Saint Sonner wrote: »

Is it worth going to?

Depends on your expectations. I like the food so usually go on a lunchtime at some point when it's quiet. I really like Fisher Helles too, so a litre of that and a plate of Leberkäse does nicely. I do note that the price of a litre has gone up this year from €10 to €12, which makes it a little less likely that I'll make the effort.

I wouldn't dream of going in the evenings because I'd expect it to be loud, crowded and full of annoying people. But lots of people seem to like that. Including, I suspect, the ones who complain about it in this forum every year.

retalivity

It was 12€ for the litres last yr as well...

As stated above, its pretty messy in the evenings.

ThisRegard

BeerNut wrote: »

I wouldn't dream of going in the evenings because I'd expect it to be loud, crowded and full of annoying people. But lots of people seem to like that. Including, I suspect, the ones who complain about it in this forum every year.

And the queues, don't forget the queues. Queue to get in, queue to get a drink. And, like the last time I was there, they may run out of certain types of wine early enough which may be an issue if you go with your wife/girlfriend/someone who wants wine.

And it can be pretty cold. I've never gone back, and have no plans to. In fact last time we just left and went to the Harbourmaster and the Brew Dock.

Rabo Karabekian

Went last year, stayed for a bit, then went to a pub instead. Found it a bit grim: in the tent, queueing for everything, fairly bad selection of drink, people really, really drunk at five o'clock. The food was the only thing that was halfway decent and, to be honest, was well, only halfway decent.

King George VI

I went last year. Was pretty good. I had 4 of those big glasses of beer. And because they're 1 LTR, my mind thought I had like 4 pints when in reality it was close to 8 pints in a short amount of time. Blacked out and can't remember a thing after glass #2. But everything before that was tip top.

I'm going tonight, hopefully the weather holds out. Don't think it will though

loyatemu

ThisRegard wrote: »

they may run out of certain types of wine early enough which may be an issue if you go with your wife/girlfriend/someone who wants wine.

the ladies can just have a fruit-based drink then!

newacc2015

Rabo Karabekian wrote: »

Went last year, stayed for a bit, then went to a pub instead. Found it a bit grim: in the tent, queueing for everything, fairly bad selection of drink, people really, really drunk at five o'clock. The food was the only thing that was halfway decent and, to be honest, was well, only halfway decent.

You do understand Germans and their Beer? If you go to a bar in Germany, they will often only sell one brand of Beer. You usually have a choice of Dark, Wheat or Helles. They dont do a massive range of Beers.

The fact this is Paulener Oktoberfest. You cant expect a full range of cocktails, wine and Beer

L1011

newacc2015 wrote: »

The fact this is Paulener Oktoberfest. You cant expect a full range of cocktails, wine and Beer

Erdinger. Paulaner branded ones are in the other four cities.

I posted a lengthy enough advice post in the beers wines and spirits forum in a thread that ended up being about Munich: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=96943107&postcount=2

Slunk

Went last night. Exactly the same as last year. Got some food near the entrance and a beet and was told I couldn't bring my beer to the lower area. Bit **** as it was raining. Had to skull it and head down to the crowded tent. Had a stien and left. Novelty factor soon wears off standing in a crowded tent of drunken idiots looking out at the rain. Decided to leave before the inevitable toilet runs to the far side.
If it was anyway nice during the afternoon I'd maybe pop back but once it hits around 4pm forget it.

Dyr

I used to wander down from the office at lunch time for the food, havent bothered the last few years and won't bother this year, its pants

stra

I've been about three times over the years and always found it disappointing and over priced.

Anyone know who runs it?

BeerNut

stra wrote: »

Anyone know who runs it?

Details on the website. German Internet law has your back

Mesrine65

Any dunkels on tap?

Rabo Karabekian

newacc2015 wrote: »

You do understand Germans and their Beer? If you go to a bar in Germany, they will often only sell one brand of Beer. You usually have a choice of Dark, Wheat or Helles. They dont do a massive range of Beers.

The fact this is Paulener Oktoberfest. You cant expect a full range of cocktails, wine and Beer

Yeah, and I was explaining why I thought it was bad, and won't be returning.

beauf

BeerNut wrote: »

... Depends on your expectations. I like the food so usually go on a lunchtime at some point when it's quiet. ...

What food is nice there?

My Darling Clementine

Heading with work next Friday NIGHT

Wish me luck :-o

BeerNut

Mesrine65 wrote: »

Any dunkels on tap?

No. See website.

beauf wrote: »

What food is nice there?

I like Leberkäse. Also, see website.

Mesrine65

BeerNut wrote: »

No. See website.

I like Leberkäse. Also, see website.

My Darling Clementine

What's the crowd like?

Is it office type people, loud party animals or a mixture of both.

Actually the question more pertinent is is it full of scumbags?

Pawwed Rig

Always gets a massive crowd so people must enjoy it. Me, I don't do queues or over priced drinks so won't be going.

Arthur Daley

People love it or it wouldn't be so packed and return. I think it's a good thing overall for something different that you can visit once a year or twice at most.. If you want to avoid the queue and crowds go early in the week before thursday before 8pm. Or saturday before 6pm.

Thursday or friday from 5pm onwards can be a bit mental as loads head there in bunches after work. The drink is more expensive but it's that pricy in a lot of places with a buzz from live music and at least it's erdinger and not a load of diageo muck.

NoCrackHaving

I don't really see the appeal of these places, only one choice of beer, just ok food, over priced and standing in a tent. What makes it better than a pub?

Paying €12 for a litre of Erdinger served in a tent seems a waste of money to me but...

Arthur Daley wrote: »

People love it or it wouldn't be so packed and return. I think it's a good thing overall for something different that you can visit once a year or twice at most.. If you want to avoid the queue and crowds go early in the week before thursday before 8pm. Or saturday before 6pm.

Thursday or friday from 5pm onwards can be a bit mental as loads head there in bunches after work. The drink is more expensive but it's that pricy in a lot of places with a buzz from live music and at least it's erdinger and not a load of diageo muck.

To be honest Erdinger is a very bland beer itself, not worth paying extra for.

lawred2

It would be grand if it wasn't a bare faced rip off

beauf

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

I don't really see the appeal of these places, only one choice of beer, just ok food, over priced and standing in a tent. What makes it better than a pub?

Paying €12 for a litre of Erdinger served in a tent seems a waste of money to me but...


To be honest Erdinger is a very bland beer itself, not worth paying extra for.

Personally I like Erdinger.

Out of curiosity what price is a litre of Erdinger in a pub around event times.

VisibleGorilla

It's a load of ****e.

Beer is €12, plus a €5 deposit for the glass. The beer in the actual Oktoberfest in Munich is €10.

Food is bland and completely overpriced, starting at around €6.50 for a basic Brat! Place is jam packed with music blasting so loud impossible to talk.

Give it a miss.

Teflon Ron

VisibleGorilla wrote: »

It's a load of ****e.

Beer is €12, plus a €5 deposit for the glass. The beer in the actual Oktoberfest in Munich is €10.

Food is bland and completely overpriced, starting at around €6.50 for a basic Brat! Place is jam packed with music blasting so loud impossible to talk.

Give it a miss.

Exactly how I imagine an Irish Oktoberfest being.

Was going to give it a try this year, but...

whiskeyman

I was at a smaller Bavarian festival last year (not Oktoberfest) that had 1/2 Litres for €2.80 and Brats for €2.60...

Oktoberfest is generally seen as a rip-off to trap tourists in Germany itself... no wonder it tops the rip offs here!

I haven't been, but I reckon the Irish version is like a foreigner going into an Irish pub abroad thinking this is how it is...

But hey... it's booze and something different. You'll probably have a great time!

quaalude

Probably a stupid question - but is there any nice vegetarian food there?

retalivity

http://oktoberfest-dublin.de/food-drinks/

Looks like just sauerkraut and potatoes...

Going in late tonight and partially dreading it...will prob not even get in

Slunk

Be careful ordering potatoes if your veggie. Some have sausage or bacon bits mixed in. I think there was a noodle van on the upper area last year. Otherwise its a crepe with nutella

nxbyveromdwjpg

There was an absolutely brilliant one indoors in the Mansion House a few years back.
I wonder why they never repeated it, was great craic and better than the George's Dock version in every way.

retalivity

Managed to get in last night relatively quickly thtough a friend, the queue had ariund 200 people in it and was right around the dock to the harbourmaster pub almost.
Had a few steins and kept ourselves to ourselves, one difference i did notice to last year was how much more scummy it was, loads of people of a certain demographic off their faces and acting the maggot.
Going back today for some food and to hang out with a few friends but would definitely avoid fri/sat nights

odyssey06

Opinions on the red wine? German reds not often seen here... Worth checking out? Or very much an afterthought to the beer?

Hanley

Arrived there at 2pm on Saturday. Walked straight in. Sun was shining. Got a table away from the music. Stayed until around 8pm. Was insane by then and definitely time to go.

But a great day out if you can swing an early start.

derailed

Here at oktoberfest today. Good food and drink and crowds but overpriced at €12 for less than 1l drinks and now part of a horrendous unmanaged queue to get back in so so so.

odyssey06

There's too many people in too small a space, queues etc not managed at all... gets very messy very quickly... for the prices being charged they should be able to have enough staff to manage it properly. Won't be rushing back.

TallGlass

They should get a bigger venue

suicide_circus

The place is massively overcrowded and overpriced.

King George VI

Agreed. They should definitely get a bigger venue. I went on Friday with some work mates and the queue at 6pm was about an hour long. The only reason I know this was because we stayed in the upstairs part for a few pints and picked someone at the back of the queue and timed their journey to the front.

Ended up going to the Brewdock and got some good Steins of beer. Blacked out after 2 of them, can't remember much of how I got home. Great night not at Octoberfest.

I went to this last Thursday night, out of curiosity. Got there around 9.30/10. Grabbed a beer and hot dogamabob and walked around to see the queue a fair whack back, asked a security fella how long the queue was an he said an hour. Decided not to bother waiting. Walked back around and sat down on the benches overlooking the ramp in and noticed at least half a queues worth of people getting in. Headed back toward the end of the queue and we were in in less than five minutes! Another five minutes to get into the main beer hall/tent.

I thought it was absolutely great fun, everyone was in such good spirits, people dancing with anyone and everyone. It's not cheap, no, but you don't have to pay in either in fairness so it's not like you're getting ripped off on a cover charge.

I really like Erdinger - and it's rarely less than €6 anywhere I've been anyway, so for €6.50 it's not that bad. Fiver for the hot dog that I couldn't finish because it was so big.

Great fun altogether and would definitely go back next year if it was on.

odyssey06

Not saying Dublin one was well organized... but certainly a notch above this shambles...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3266431/Fury-four-day-OktoberFest-London-festival-cancelled-ONE-night-thousands-customers-paid-1-000-table-turn-leaving-staff-unable-cope.html