Northeast Oktoberfest Thread (2023)

Edit:

Was supposed to be good “food?” above.

Food was great! Oktoberfest was excellent.

 

In CT, Counter Weight Fest and NEBCO Schnitzengiggles are all over Fairfield County. I assume the same is true elsewhere. There are plenty of others right next to them but those are the ones I usually gravitate to (in addition to an obligatory try of Sierra's annual offering and a smattering of the imports).

Reverie Oktoberfest is 9/30
NEBCO - "Seafood Fest" is 9/23 (Highroller on site) and "Wonktoberfest" is 9/30
Nod Hill does an excellent Fest Season throughout September and into early October in their beer garden offering liters of their Fest Beer and (in the past) any of the other lagers on tap. They officially list it this year as starting in a couple weeks. They have guest brewer pop ups on certain weekends, too (Watson Farmhouse and New Park listed so far).

 

Have only had Notch, the JA/Weihenstephaner, and Idle Hands Brocktoberfest so far, but Brocktoberfest, of those for me, is drinking the best. Seems drier and less sweet than years past. Just a really nice lager.

 

Finally seeing the German import festbeirs at retail shops in the Merrimack Valley. Unfortunately timed with a long late-summer heatwave.

 

Two more...

Night Shift Oktoberfest
Offering 5 german styles (helles festbier, munich lager, zwicklebier, dunkle, kolsch), German food specials, ompah bands, steins, etc. 9/22 at Esplanade and Allston beer gardens, 9/23 in Everett, 9/24 at Lovejoy

Winter Hill Brewing Wurstfest
I think this is happening on 9/30 but having a hard time finding their social post about it now. They just released their marzen in cans.

 

The Jack's Abby newsletter just announced a smoked festbier, available today. It does not say beer hall exclusive, hopefully distribution soon.

 

Drinking it now in tap room smoky fun.

 

Fest of Both Worlds is absolutely delicious

 

Portico Brewing has announced their Oktoberfest celebration for Sept 23, 12pm - 8pm. Live music, food specials (brats, schnitzel, pretzels) and beer (Festbier, hefe, German pils)

 

I just had the Mighty Squirrel fest too. Quite good. I bought it randomly after seeing the GABF medal on their label at the store. Not sure how much weight that carries these days but it got me and I’m glad it did

 

I stopped by Bronwyn in Union Square on Thursday for the first day of their Oktoberfest celebration, running 9/14 through 10/29. They had Weihenstephaner Festbier and Paulaner Marzen on draft available in pints ($10), liters ($19) or boots ($38) plus about a dozen more German beers on draft and in cans/bottles.

They definitely have the Oktoberfest vibe going - servers all in dirndl and lederhosen, oompa music going, pennants and posters everywhere. The outdoor seating looks good with lots of decorations too. As usual, the foot is excellent and huge but $$. I had a wurst plate w three different kind of sausages (weisswurst, a parsley flavored wurst, kielbasa). Spatzel was excellent. We left with lots of leftovers.

Their calendar shows events throughout their Oktoberfest - DJs, beer/drink special nights, weekly stein holding contests, yodeling contests(?), live oompah every Sunday.

 

Had Shire Brew Haus OktoBerkfest. It’s a malty Marzen smooth and enjoyable.

 

12 percent announced a multi-day Oktoberfest 9/29 - 10/1 ... $25 includes a commemorative stein and first pour. $35 gets you a weekend pass with entry and a free first pour each day.

 

Stopped by Nod HIll this past weekend. First, let me talk about the food situation - they had a mexican themed food truck there (weird) and when me and my friends went to get some food from there, the woman working on the truck asked us if we wanted to order and then immediately after stated that they were closing so that they could take a 'break'. That rubbed us the wrong way, so we ended up heading over to HooDoo Brown for some BBQ, which was excellent.

Nod hill has both a festbier and a marzen style beer. The Festbier was good, but I preferred their marzen style. The Marzen had a slight sweetness, but had a dry finish that kept me coming back for more gulps. The festbier had a bready/doughy feel to it.

 

Stoneface Brewing Co - Oktoberfest 2023
Wednesday Oct 4 - Sunday Oct 8

Beer Releases:
- Oktoberfest 2023: German-style märzen. Pours a deep amber color with notes of caramel and toast. Lagered for many, many weeks.
- Bourbon Barrel-Aged Oktoberfest: Oktoberfest, German-style märzen, aged in Heaven Hill 7y Bourbon barrels for 6 months. Toasty amber lager with hints of vanilla and charred oak.
- Festbier: German-style Festbier featuring @blueoxmalthouse exclusively. Pours deep golden: crisp, balanced, moderate malt. Lagered for many, many weeks.
- Hefeweizen: German-style wheat with notes of banana and clove spice permeating the brew. Fruity esters throughout.

- Limited Edition Merch: 0.5L Boots + Ceramic Steins
- DJ Set by Skroll Sunday 10/8 12-3PM
- Kitchen Specials:
-Pork Schnitzel: spaetzle + mushroom gravy + lemon
-Latkes: potato pancake + sour cream + apple chutney
-Biergarten Pretzel: @seacoastpretzelcompany braid + beer cheese + @micro_mamas kraut + house smoked mustard + pickles
-Bratwurst: @shortcreeknh brat + swiss + @micro_mamas kraut + grilled onion + house smoked mustard + amoroso’s roll

 

Always worth visiting during this week.

 

I found the Drowned Lands foeder-aged Octoberfest to be delightful. So much so I’ll probably buy it again.

 

Is Hofbrau anywhere in MetroWest? Haven’t been to total wine in a bit but it’a not showing on their website.

 

Enjoying a 4 pack of Vanished Valley Oktoberfest this weekend