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Celebrating their two year anniversary, Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten kicked off Saturday with a gift to all its patrons.

The Jersey Shore’s first truly authentic Austro-Hungarian biergarten opened its doors at the corner of Lake Avenue and Emory Street February 2015.

Immediately, lines of patrons waiting to get in on weekends were a regular occurrence, and soon after a host of musicians and DJs debuted on its raised stage.  

With the introduction of authentic Eastern European fare, courtesy of head chef James Avery, came events spotlighting traditions like Masskrugstemmen, a Bavarian feat of strength and endurance, requiring participants to hold a 1-liter beer stein at arm’s length, and the hammer and nail Nagelspielen game [at right].

The popular bar and eatery, with nods from Zagat and The New York Times, continues to break definable barriers and expectations, most recently launching rooftop private igloos capable of accommodating up to 10 people at a cost of $200 for three hour long gatherings.

Via social media the powers at be announced they would thank their patrons with a gift, ranging from a bottle opener to a T-shirt. Some will get a bretzel or a bier or their whole check paid [up to $200], but every guest gets a Thank you gift. Why – cause we are nothing without you.

“Today we celebrate our two-year anniversary,” co owner Jennifer Lampert said. “Every person who has raised a glass, told a friend, brought their family in, literally every single person who has walked through our doors – we are nothing without you. We pledge to raise our standards every day. We pledge to work our hardest to provide our guests with the best experience. We pledge to never settle and to keep on growing and learning – Danke, Thank you, Dakujem.”

Entertainment kicks off at 3 p.m. with two sets from Pajtasi, a Slovakian band featuring unique not to be missed instruments and a had dance competition. By 10 p.m. Shady Street, a traditional Asbury Park funk and soul band will take over the stage, co owner Jennifer Lampert said.

Below is a retrospective gallery of photos, courtesy of Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten.

The Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten is located at 527 Lake Avenue in Asbury Park. Hours of operation are 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday 4p.m to 2 a.m. Friday, noon to 2 a.m. Saturday, and noon to 1 a.m. Sunday. For more information, call (732) 997-8767 or visit their website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

[Photos courtesy of Jennifer Lampert]

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