October Recipe: Oktoberfest Beer Roasted Chicken

The original chicken - it didn't stand a chance

In 2008, my family, friends and I went to the "real" Oktoberfest.  Our group of 14 piled into two 9 passenger vans and drank our way across Europe. It was such a great adventure, filled with laughter, new friends and drinking our weight in beer. We woke up super early to go and wait in line to try to get into a beer tent.  This is where all the action of Oktoberfest happens.  We didn't know that the particular day we were doing it was a national German holiday and everyone was trying to get in.  In the end, we didn't make it in a beer tent but we made it to the beer garden outside with picnic tables and beer service.  This included a rain storm where we continued to drink our beer under cardboard boxes.   That is how we roll!

Our cardboard structure making new friends

When we were in the beer garden, we had the most delicious chicken I have EVER had.  I do understand that part of why it tasted so good was the pouring down rain, good company, German atmosphere, and of course a few steins of authentic Oktoberfest brew.  I have always wanted to try to recreate this chicken.  It is now October (I can't believe it!) and it is time to celebrate fall and I think this is the perfect recipe to do it.  Fall is my favorite season and it is time to put on some comfy clothes, pour yourself a cold beer, and have some delicious roasted chicken.  I have never roasted a whole chicken before so this should be an adventure!  Prost!


Oktoberfest Beer Roast Chicken:

•   1 1/2 cups Sam Adams Oktoberfest (or beer of your choice) 
•   3-4 lb chicken, cleaned of fat, rinsed, and patted dry
•   Juice of one lemon
•   1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
•   1 tsp freshly crushed black pepper
•   1 large clove garlic
•   1 tbs dried sage or thyme
•   4 tbs butter softened

Instructions

1. Rub chicken inside and out with lemon juice. sprinkle inside with half the salt and pepper. with side of cleaver, mash garlic and salt to form paste and mix with sage and butter
2. Carefully lift skin on each side of the chicken breast and push some of the mixture under. rub the remaining mixture over the outside. Tie it up and place the chicken breast side down on well greased rack in a shallow pan
3. Pour Sam Adams Oktoberfest into pan and place in 425 degree oven for 40 minutes, basting every 10 minutes with beer and pan drippings.
4. Turn breast side up and roast 25 minutes basting every 8 minutes
5. The juices should run clear when you puncture the skin at the thigh joint

These ladies get buff hauling all the steins around.