Lederhosen and hefeweizens might not readily come to mind when most people think of Peru, but a trip to the town of Pozuzo just might change all of that. Nestled in the high jungle of the Oxapampa province, about a twelve-hour drive from Lima, it has been home to a significant population of German immigrants since the mid 19th century.
Recently the capital got its own small taste of Pozuzo culture in the 2023 edition of the annual Lima Oktoberfest. This year’s event took place at the Arena Uno on the Costa Verde near the district of San Miguel. The event started Thursday the 26 and went until the final celebration the night of Tuesday the 31st, taking advantage of the November first national holiday.
There were several different ticket packages available, many of which included drink tickets or even unlimited beer.
Food
No Peruvian event would be complete without food, but it was decidedly different from the ceviche and anticuchos one might find at a typical festival.
The menu served up classic German festival fare including 4 types of sausage served with potatoes and sauerkraut. Festival goers preferring something (a bit) lighter could also purchase soft pretzels and a variety of dessert options including strudel and apple pie. Food prices were reasonable with the four-sausage platter (enough for at least two) going for about 30 soles (8 USD).
Beer
And the main event… the beer. There were generous servings of some of the German heavy-hitters such as Paulaner, Hoffbrau, and Erdinger. Styles included pilsners, dunkels, hefeweizens, and of course the Oktoberfest classic, marzen.
Peruvian craft beer was, of course, also well represented. There were a few widely distributed Lima area breweries like Jack Vled, Candelaria, Caños del Santero, and Almirante along with Lima1, Limamanta, and Trium. Additionally, breweries with connections to Pozuzo were also represented with Dorcher, Tres Postales, and Schaus-bier bringing several delicious Bavarian inspired offerings.
Representing industrial beer, locally produced Amstel and their Peruvian brand, Tres Cruces were also available.
Activities and Vendors
To keep the crowd entertained, festival organizers made good use of the venue’s massive stage which hosted a variety of different musical acts ranging from traditional German music, to latin favorites, to classic rock and pop songs in English. On Friday, Saturday, and Halloween, the party kept going until 2:30 A.M.
Near the entrance to the arena there was a small area that allowed for sponsors and local artisans to sell their wares. Refreshingly though, there did not seem to be an overly oppressive commercial element as is often the case with other festivals in Lima. Festival goers could also put their skills to the test at a small archery range outside of the venue.
Final Thoughts
The lack of lines and immense variety of quality imported and local craft beer made this event stand apart from many other Lima-area events (Hey, in a city of 10-million plus residents, it’s hard to avoid a line for just about anything). In its second year back after a two year hiatus during the pandemic, things seem to be better than ever. We’re already looking forward to next year.