This time of year means one thing and one thing only - Oktoberfest.

What could be better than an excuse to enjoy some tasty beers and delicious eats? Nothing, in our humble opinion.

Guinness hosts its own version of the global event next Thursday September 29 and Friday September 30 at The Open Gate Brewery.  To celebrate, the brewers at Guinness have created a special Oktoberfestbier, and invited some of Ireland’s leading German food producers along to showcase their German bites with a unique twist. 

We took a sneak peek to see what gastronomical treats are in store...

Herterich Artisan Butchers

One of Ireland's leading butchers, Herterich's has been in business since 1956 after setting up shop in Longford. The company has since expanded all over the country and the team will be bringing their tasty wares to Oktoberfest for us all to enjoy.

So, what do you need to know about Herterich's? Well, these guys won five out of six Northern Region categories (Longford, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal) at the All-Ireland Sausage Competition last week so they're a safe bet for a tasty bratwurst! They'll have a selection of their cured meats and a warm ham hock at the event, which will please even the most discerning foodie.

Krust Bakery

Dubliners will be familiar with Krust from their South Great George's Street base but you may not know that it is one of Ireland's fastest growing bakeries, having been set up by friends Garret Fowler and Rob Kramer in 2012.

Krust will be bringing a touch of Bavaria to Oktoberfest, with a selection of German-inspired treats including lye pretzel (a traditional German pretzel), pretzel ‘Berliner’ donut and pretzel ‘Berliner’ cinnamon donut.

Pretzels are the perfect food pairing for the Oktoberfestbier, as the malty sweetness balances perfectly with the salty taste of a pretzel.

McGeough's Artisan Butchers

James McGeough is Ireland's only German-qualified Master Butcher, making him the perfect fit for the Open Gate Brewery's Oktoberfest!

McGeough's aim to produce tradition German recipes with quality local Irish produce and will be bringing a range of air-dried lamb, beef, pork and salami, served with chutney, to the event. Additionally, James is creating a Guinness infused Bratwurst sausage that will be cooked on an outdoor grill. 

Getting hungry? Keen to try the Oktoberfestbier? You can get your hands on tickets here or enter to your details below to be in with a chance to win some for you and your friends.

We're giving away a set of four tickets to two lucky readers so you can go and check out Oktoberfest at the Open Gate Brewery for yourself.

Good luck!