There’s something joyful about Oktoberfest – this global celebration of German beer, hearty food, live music, folk dress and good company has fast become a popular event across the UK. From supermarket ranges to local events, we’re seeing more ways to enjoy a taste of Bavaria without making the journey to Munich. Although its name suggests October, much of the event actually takes place in September, and this year, the festival will generally run from Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October.
Aldi’s latest range of Oktoberfest food and drink allow you to capture this celebratory spirit at home. Leading the range are its returning Specially Selected German Pilsner beer-flavoured crisps which are now available in store. Priced at £1.15 for a 150g bag, these hand cooked crinkle crisps are designed to capture the malty, hoppy flavour of a pilsner in crunchy snack form.
This snack’s unusual flavour has developed something of a following, although opinions appear to be strongly divided. Some shoppers have described the taste as surprisingly spot-on, while others find it a little yeasty or odd. I’m firmly in the ‘try anything once’ camp – and at just £1.15, it’s an affordable risk to take. Having sampled all kinds of creative crisp flavours over the last few weeks, from M&S’s chocolate chilli tortillas to Co-op’s roast potato crisps, I’m certainly up for the challenge.
Aldi’s snack line-up also includes another fun flavour in the form of returning Specially Selected Currywurst sausage crisps (£1.15) – these sound like a more savoury, meaty alternative to the pilsner variety. I’d serve both alongside an ice cold beverage, peanuts, bratwurst, mustard and plenty of pickles for a low-effort sharing spread. You could even crumble them over a hot dog or use them as a crunchy topping for a loaded potato.
As well as the crisps, Aldi has brought together a broad selection of German-style beers, from crisp pilsners to hazy wheat beers. The range includes Bitburger Pilsner (£6.75 for four 500ml bottles), Benediktiner Hell and Weissbier (£6.99 each), Erdinger Weissbier (£4.99 for four 330ml bottles), plus Paulaner Munich and Paulaner Weissbier (£6.99 each).
For larger gatherings, Warsteiner is available in a 12-pack of 330ml bottles for £14.49. If you prefer something alcohol-free, Aldi has you covered with a Rheinbacher 0% Pilsner.
The beers and crisps are available in Aldi stores now, while stocks last. Just remember to buy more than one bag – this is exactly the sort of limited-edition snack that tends to vanish once people decide whether they love it.
Recreate your own Oktoberfest celebration at home with our collection of German recipes and read our guide to food and beer matching.
