Some people just can’t get enough of Oktoberfest. Six-and-a-half big weekends from September 16-October 28 isn’t long enough and no matter how many bratwursts they devour or plates of sauerkraut pass before them, they’re still left looking for more.

    Fortunately for German lovers, there’s Old Country Inn, where the fall festival is celebrated all year long. Every day of the year, delicious Spaten satiates those who long for German beer on tap, sauerkraut can be enjoyed at Easter and fresh-made schnitzel is served on Fourth of July. At Old Country Inn German food isn’t just something that’s tossed onto the menu when the leaves start to turn color.

    It’s been that way for years now and nothing has changed since Mike McGeary and his wife Susan purchased Old Country Inn earlier this year. The sausages still come from the German butcher and sauerbraten is still marinated two full weeks in vinegar and then 48 hours in spices to give it a tart, tangy kick.

    If that’s not enough to get you chicken dancing in the aisles, then try the homemade potato pancakes, crunchy and almost dessert-like when topped with a little sour cream. Or finish the meal with savory apple streudel (maybe a la mode?) that really is dessert. And we haven’t even mentioned the German breaded port chops or goulash, not to mention the hefty braised lamb shank prepared in Burgundy wine sauce.

    Everything about Old Country Inn speaks Bavaria, with a rustic mountain lodge decor that sports antler chandeliers, trophy mountains on the walls, wood accents and stained glass. Usually when we visit in the mood for German food, we opt for the combination dinner for two, the ultimate Oktoberfest sampler.

    For $35.95 guests enjoy a taste of it all: generous servings of sauerbraten, rouladen, stuffed cabbage rolls and choice of knackwurst (beef), bockwurst (veal), bratwurst (pork) or Polish sausage (smoked pork). There’s so much food, complete with sauerkraut, red cabbage and those tasty potato pancakes, servers wheel it all out on a cart!

    Wife Sandy and I traditionally kick off the Oktoberfest season with a trip to Old Country Inn to get in the spirit. Yet instead of just defaulting to the combination dinner—how can you go wrong with a repast like that?—Sandy ordered something she’d never tried before: German goulash ($17.95), really not knowing what to expect. She was delighted when a mountain of tender sirloin swimming in homemade German gravy arrived, and when topped with sour cream, creating a Bavarian version of Stroganoff.

    Yours truly, meanwhile, went with the chicken schnitzel ($17.95), one of four schnitzels on the menu. Lightly breaded bird grilled and topped with more of that luscious gravy is a decadent treat to be sure, crispy, tender and smothered with mushroom-laden gravy.

    Usually my German feast is paired with a delicious Spaten, but in a departure from the norm, Sandy and I opted for one of Old Country Inn’s new drink specials. Since it was Tuesday with tropical drinks just $4.50, we enjoyed tasty rum runners, one of many that are available—others would be a mai tai, pina colada, chi chi, Singapore sling, melon ball and more.

    Every night of the week sees a discounted drink. On Mondays it’s dollar kamikaze night, Wednesdays and Thursdays are martini mania and margarita mayhem (both $5), Long Island ice teas are just $4.50 on Fridays, and Saturdays and Sundays see mudslides and Washington apple, both five bucks. Old Country Inn also has happy hour from 3-6:30 p.m. with half-price appetizers and drink specials.

    With three different cuts of prime rib, including one that weights in at a hefty 24 ounces (that’s right, a pound-and-a-half!), a dozen burgers, still more sandwiches, half a dozen seafood selections, wraps, you name it, guests don’t have to have German at Old Country Inn. It’s also very popular for breakfast, especially Sundays when visitors are looking for an enormous meal before heading home. A variety of benedicts, homemade waffles, huevos rancheros and spectacular bloody Mary’s are but a few of the offerings, not to mention 25 different omelettes.

    —by Marcus Dietz

    Old Country Inn is at 41126 Big Bear Blvd. 1/4 mile east of Pine Knot. Call (909) 866-5600.