Bavarian Bites – Reinheitsgebot! Oktoberfest at Purity Bar

A funny thing about Oktoberfest, it runs for 16 days with the last day being the first Sunday in October. Which of course means most of Oktoberfest is in September. Which is why one autumnal evening in late September, Wifey and I descended down to Pure Bar & Kitchen‘s basement for a few beers, wurst and Oompah!

Downstairs Bar at Pure Bar and Kitchen
Downstairs Bar at Pure Bar and Kitchen

I’ve reviewed Pure Bar previously (here) but this was a special occasion with a set menu and entertainment, the menu even included beer too (which they were more than happy to swap for wine for Wifey).

Beer, Wine & Menu
Beer, Wine & Menu

The beers were a little bit special to match the Bavarian bites, the Beyreuther Festbier my particular favourite.

Oktoberfest Menu
Oktoberfest Menu

And with that on to grub in the form of two delicious Bratwursts!

Pure Bar & Kitchen Bratwursts
Pure Bar & Kitchen Bratwursts

I dived into the pork one first. topped with popcorn-like Crackling on top with a smoky pork hot dog loaded with saurkraut underneath. It was Wifey’s fave dish of the evening. The crackling stands well up enough on it’s own I’d be happy to have a bowl as a bar snack, it was that good!

Sausage-wise I preferred the beef. It was tender, delicate and melted in the mouth. The sharpness of the saurkraut really brought out the umami in the beef and Wifey had to suard hers from my wandering foodie hands.

Billy's Big Brass Band
Billy’s Big Bavarian Brass Band

With our main’s under way Billy’s Big Bavarian Brass Band kicked up playing a mix of variations on modern tunes and traditional Oktoberfest music (Ein Prosit anyone?). The stand out song was ‘Polka Face’ which you can find on my Periscope (@brummiegourmand).

Then the desert course:

Apple Strudel & Beer Ice Cream at Pure Bar & Kitchen
Apple Strudel & Beer Ice Cream at Pure Bar & Kitchen

A curious take on a strudel, more an apple spring roll. However, the taste was spectacular.The roll was a light filo style pastry with a chunky , sharp and sweet filling. I couldn’t detect any cinnamon which makes a nice change and allowed the apple to stand put on its own. The toasted oats under the beer ice cream were amazing and worked well with the malty, almost savoury beer ice cream.

All in all , a great evening with outstanding food. Wifey and I will be back again soon, as their Christmas menu looks very tempting…

When: 24/09/2015

Where: Pure Bar & Kitchen, Waterloo Street, Birmingham

Who: Pure Bar & Kitchen, Purity Brewery

Coming Back Down to the CBD Food Festival – Day 2

For day 1, please read here.

After a restful night’s sleep and a (very) light breakfast, it was time for a wander back down towards Victoria Square for a few more samples highlighting the range of choice in Colmore Business District

Continue reading “Coming Back Down to the CBD Food Festival – Day 2”

Consuming, Blogging and Drinking at CBD Food Festival – Day 1

Probably one of the highlights for food bloggers year is the Colmore Business District Food Festival, it certainly is one of mine…

 

Continue reading “Consuming, Blogging and Drinking at CBD Food Festival – Day 1”

Purely Peckish – Pure Bar & Kitchen

After a hard day of work and on the way home, my wife and I felt we needed a well deserved rest. We usually walk along Colmore Row (in the heart of the Colmore Business District’s  wide range of eateries, more to review!). But for a change we cut across the cathedral square and had a mosey on down Waterloo Street.

On the Victoria Square end there’s a young bar which has captured my heart since opening in March 2014. It’s a joint venture between Purity Brewery and Michelin starred Simpsons Restaurant. With a reputation of that pedigree, we were expecting something a little bit more than a regular pub meal… Continue reading “Purely Peckish – Pure Bar & Kitchen”