9th Most Favorite Thing About the State Fair of Texas: Hans Mueller’s Beer Garden and Tent of Bavarian Delights
If I had to guess as to the single factor in my genetic makeup contributing most heavily to my overwhelming love for the State Fair, I think it would have to be the fact that I have a father who grew up in Ennis, Texas and then decided to raise his own family there.
By way of explanation, Ennis (which is about 35 minutes south of the State Fair of Texas on I-45) is not only the Bluebonnet Capital of the World, but is also a town boasting a significant number of descendants of persons who originally hail from the nation formerly known as Czechoslovakia. Ennis is proud of its Czech heritage, and hosts an annual Polka Festival (over Memorial Day weekend) to prove it. At some point, this blog may devote itself to my 30 Favorite Things About the Ennis Polka Festival, but for now, let’s just say that the event features the following: LOTS of beer-drinking, quite a few fried products, dancing in the streets, accordions, funny clothes, kolaches, and (most importantly!) sausage-on-a-stick.
By now, you are no doubt grasping the similarities between the Polka Festival and the State Fair. I know for a fact that I have attended Polka Festivals from the age of 7 months forward, and that I may very possibly have visited while still enwombed — we’d have to get confirmation from my mom on that one. Regardless, I like to think of the Polka Festival as my State Fair-with-training-wheels.
Which is probably why Hans Mueller’s Beer Garden and Tent of Bavarian Delights (this is not the official name, but I believe it better describes all of the wonderful facets of the joint far better than simply “Hans Mueller Sausages”) remains one of my favorite haunts at the State Fair. Now, please understand — I am well aware that vast differences exist between Czech and German heritage. I would never EVER try to tell you that these are the same thing. I know better, I promise.
But the Beer Garden and Tent of Bavarian Delights is reminiscent of the Polka Festival in ALL the best ways (most especially in terms of the important presence of beer and sausage), while maintaining some distinct (and delicious) differences.
First of all, I would like to recognize the company involved in both these pursuits. Sunni and Clare have been my stalwart companions for many successive visits to both the Polka Festival AND Hans Mueller’s, and I think this is a truly important point of distinction. Mainly because I don’t know anyone who appreciates fine beer and sausage-on-a-stick more than the three of us do. Sunni and I have found that both of these items are particularly satisfying after Saturday morning marathon training. Yes, our regular long-run routine in the fall often includes a 15-20 mile run, followed by a fast-as-possible drive from White Rock Lake to the Fair (no showering allowed, which can be unsettling for anyone standing or sitting nearby — we try to maintain radius of at least 5 feet between ourselves and innocent bystanders so as not to ruin the Fair for others), and a beeline to Hans Mueller’s for sausage, beer, and a seat at one of the long picnic tables. There are few better running recovery meals, in my opinion.
Hans Mueller’s also has the distinction of being THE PLACE to purchase your ginormous BBQ turkey leg at the Fair, should you have a hankering. It also a terrific spot to buy beer — you have your choice of the waxed cup variety, or, if you have more refined tastes, a menu of more authentic options that are served in bottles.
To be honest, though, Hans Mueller’s Beer Garden and Tent of Bavarian Delights is simply a great area to sit down, people watch, and enjoy fine food and drink. Nothing seems too rushed in the Beer Garden, which makes it perfect for long, involved storytelling. Last year, Sunni and Clare took full advantage of our Hans Mueller visit to recount all the beer-drinking-in-a-foreign-country hijinks they’d experienced during a recent trip with some of our other friends to Oktoberfest in Munich (the REAL Germany). It was the perfect setting for such a tale.
Finally, Hans Mueller’s Beer Garden and Tent of Bavarian Delights has the distinction of being the only area at the fair that displays person-sized replicas of their most famous food products. (Check out the photo at the top of this post for examples.)
I think the Fair may be the only place in the world where it is not only appropriate but downright awesome to hang from the ceiling a turbo-ginormous model of a food product already renowned for its sheer size.
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