The 2007 Maryland Brewer's Oktoberfest can be summed up in three words: Bier ist gut! (Funny how the German word for "good" is the English word for "big-ass beer belly.") Yes, hop-heads, on Saturday, Oct. 20 the beer flowed like a mighty Alpine river, lovely Bavarian nymphs frolicked amongst a crowd of thirsty revelers and traditional German music oompah-pahed across the autumn air.

Ale lovers packed beneath the grandstands of the Timonium Fairgrounds, where 12 Maryland breweries poured more than 60 different kinds of beers. Cramming hundreds of lager-mad partiers into what feels like an underground parking garage could easily disintegrate into an orgy of blood lust, but such was not the case at this year's Oktoberfest. Nothing would curtail the crowd's enjoyment of finely crafted beverages. Everyone maintained high spirits, from old grannies to Harley riders in pimped-out lederhosen. All they asked was that the taps keep flowing and the music keep playing.

Though some folks noticed (and perhaps enjoyed) arts and crafts, an assortment of food, contests, live music (Looking for Lester, Kelly Bell Band and The Great Train Robbery) as well as hayrides, most folks remained hypnotized by microbrews. Apparently, some traditional Bavarian dancing occurred, though this remains unconfirmed. Try as we might, we were unable to detach ourselves from the Brewer's Art tap. We can happily say, however, that we managed to tear ourselves away from the beer garden long enough to attend the Beer Belly and Miss Oktoberfest contests, because, dear reader, that's what we do here at Metromix. We make sacrifices and endure hardships to bring you the story.

And to ensure you get the full flavor of this year's event, we offer a quick rundown of our favorite brews from Oktoberfest.

Beer: Pilsner
Brewery: Brewers Alley
Tasting notes: Crisp and golden as autumn sunlight, the thin, wistful head of this lager leaves before you even know it's there like a haiku poem or a late summer tryst.

Beer: Porter
Brewery: Growlers
Tasting notes: Dark and roasted like unsweetened chocolate, the light carbonation of Growlers' Porter has a smooth, mellow finish.  If you like Guinness, you'll feel at home with this one.

Beer: Resurrection (a.k.a. the seven percent solution)
Brewery: Brewer's Art
Tasting notes: The popular amber-colored ale has an OK head, a subtle fruitiness, a touch of caramel and a hint of spice. It's a little bit of uh-huh and a whole lotta oh-yeah!

Beer: Special Lager
Brewery: The Raven Brewing Company
Tasting notes: Brewed in honor of the poet laureate of Baltimore, this little gem might bring old Edgar back for one last pint. A lovely red amber color, the lager's meaty body is smooth and hoppy with a pleasant finish. Well done.

Beer: Wild Goose India Pale Ale
Brewery: Frederick Brewing Company/Flying Dog
Tasting Notes: The light, coppery orange I.P.A. has a decent head and an earthy hoppy flavor with a little malt.