Das Boot: Oktoberfest at Gordon Biersch

Follow the boot.

Those were words of wisdom Tuesday evening as Gordon Biersch Brewery and Restaurant kicked off its annual Oktoberfest celebration by tapping its seasonal Festbier brew.

Gordon Biersch offered customers a sip of freshly tapped beer, raffle prizes and live music in the restaurant's annual celebration that ushers in the fall season.

Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held in Germany each year that runs from September through October.  The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 to celebrate a wedding. The event has since transformed into a celebration of tapping the first Oktoberfest keg each year, said Kevin Blodger, head brewer at the Bolingbrook Gordon Biersch.

"It was originally celebrated in October, but that changed to September because the weather was a bit better," Blodger said. "It's just a time now to come out and celebrate, have fun and drink some beer."

Blodger tapped the first Festbier keg of the season into a 2-liter glass boot and quickly passed the heel of beer down the bar for others to taste.

Craig Parker, the restaurant's general manager, said the beer will be on tap for six weeks and will complement a German-themed menu. The tapping party represents a way for the restaurant to create a fun atmosphere for customers, he said.

"We do this every year and people really come out to celebrate," he said. "We have a great time introducing the beer to everyone, so it's a good time all around."