Gemütlichkeit

I learned about the word Gemütlichkeit while reading an article about German beer gardens. According to Wikipedia:

Gemütlichkeit is a German-language word used to convey the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer. Other qualities encompassed by the term include cosiness, peace of mind, and a sense of belonging and well-being springing from social acceptance.

This word describes how I feel when I visit Flounder Brewing.

This frame is another from a 35mm roll of Lomography Color 100, which I exposed over the summer. I used my Minolta XD-11 and MD Rokkor-X a lot this summer.

Oktoberfest

On 1st October, Bhavna, Shaan, and I celebrated New Jersey-style Oktoberfest with our friends at Flounder Brewing. Head brewer Doug Duschl Jr and founder Jeremy "Flounder" Lees are keen on building a local community around their brewery. The brewery was packed with people. The entire Flounder Brewing taproom crew were happily at work pouring ale.

Oktoberfest at Flounder Brewing
Saturday 1 October 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

We are about keeping it simple. It’s about hanging out with good friends, awesome family and even the cool neighbors that you don’t really know. It’s about just enjoying good company, good conversation, and great beer. Remembering a great time with great people and a great beer, is the best way to experience your beer™, and here at Flounder, it is all about the experience.

Oktoberfest at Flounder Brewing
Saturday 1 October 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

When the brewery was at the small garage space at the industrial park, Bhavna and I had a routine; drop Shaan and Kiran off at the tae-kwon do academy in Hillsborough and hop over to Flounder for a pint. Sitting at the one long table, Bhavna and I would strike up conversations with strangers, many of whom were also parents. This is one of the reasons we became fans of the brewery.

Oktoberfest at Flounder Brewing
Saturday 1 October 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

In Munich, specific Biergarten tables are used inside the Oktoberfest tents. These tables have narrow table tops and benches, most likely to fit as many tables as possible inside the tent. This arrangement also fosters conversation between fest-goers, most of whom are strangers. The benches at Oktoberfest are usually placed right next to the bench of the adjacent table.

Oktoberfest at Flounder Brewing
Saturday 1 October 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

The original planned layout for the tables at the 250-year-old barn used Munich-style long tables. Because of COVID, the brewery couldn’t open the way that Jeremy wanted, so they used their budget to buy tables that could seat two to four people and set them far apart to meet COVID guidelines. Post-COVID, they are stuck with those tables, but for Oktoberfest, the tables were all pushed together.

Of course, I ordered the festbier, Last Train to Munich, in a commemorative Oktoberfest half-litre "Maßkrug" style beer mug.

Oktoberfest Maßkrug
Saturday 1 October 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR