IT'S Oktoberfest once again. The time of year when the beer taps flow more freely. German Consul Helmut Gottelmann was at Omni The Hongkong Hotel to roll out the festive barrel, joined by Joe Kwok of Lauda Air, Danilo Mojica of San Miguel and the hotel's general manager, John Girard.

The proceedings began with a 'sausage cutting' ceremony, followed by a performance by the Notenhoblers, a boisterous six-piece band specially flown in from Germany to promote the beer fest and other entertainment such as yodelling, alpenhorn-blowing competitions and chicken dancing.