How To Turn Your Backyard Into a Beer Garden

Have plenty of German beer on hand, including light beer, lagers, pilsners, and wheat beer. Serve the beer in half-liter or liter mugs, or covered beer steins.

Grill different kinds of sausages, like bratwurst, weisswurst, and knockwurst. Another beer garden staple is “steckerlfisch,” or “fish on a stick.” Stick whole mackerel on skewers and grill them.

Put out bowls of sauerkraut, warm German potato salad, and red cabbage. Make sure each picnic table has a big basket of soft pretzels and sweet, coarse mustard.

Pipe in some oom pah pah polka music.

Ask everyone to raise their glass so you can offer a toast. When you’re finished, say “Prost!” which is the German word for “Cheers!” Do this often.

Have apple strudel or black forest cake for dessert, and serve it with ice coffees topped with fresh whipped cream.