Beer Festivals

OKTOBERFEST ZINZINNATI – CINCINNATI, OH

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is an annual weekend festival that began in 1976 and is based on the original German Oktoberfest. It is the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the United States. Billed as “America’s Oktoberfest” it is presented by Samuel Adams and Hamilton County, Ohio. Hoppy attended it on a Sunday while the Bengals were playing a home game.

While there, he enjoyed Samuel Adams Oktoberfest. It is described as a classic style Marzen that blends rich malts for a hearty, smooth flavor with notes of caramel creating a brew that’s perfect for a season or whatever you’re celebrating. It is 5.3% ABV, 16 IBU.

Pictures from the festival follow:



CHARLESTON BEER FEST – NORTH CHARLESTON, SC

Hoppy attended the Charleston Beer Fest at Riverfront Park in North Charleston. It included over 60 breweries, over 30 vendors, over 20 food trucks and entertainment including live music throughout the event. The motto for the festival was “Drink Beer, Do Good,” as it supported Palmetto Community Care.

While there, Hoppy sampled the following beers. (All of these beers were from South Carolina breweries unless otherwise indicated.)

Sumter Original, Sumter – Mr. Hops – American IPA 7.6% ABV

Victory, Downington, PA – Sour Monkey – Sour Brett Tripel 9.5% ABV, 10 IBU

Brewlab Charleston – Cosmic Leap IPA – 7.3% ABV, 45 IBU

Two Blokes, Mt. Pleasant – The Bare Maximum – Cold IPA 7.2% ABV

NoDa, Charlotte, NC – Hop Drop ‘N Roll – West Coast IPA 7.2% ABV, 80 IBU

Commonhouse Aleworks, North Charleston – Wonders Way DIPA with Blackberry – 9.4% ABV, 54 IBU

Snafu, North Charleston – Keeping It Teal – Cotton Candy Sour – 5% ABV

Munkle, Charleston – Saison Blanc – Saison Aged in Sauvignon Blanc Barrels – 6.8%

Charles Towne Fermentory, Charleston – Sungazer – Hazy IPA – 6.8% ABV

Indigo Reef, Charleston – Surface Interval – Czech Pilsner – 6% ABV

Hobcaw, Mt. Pleasant – Shadows of the Afternoon – New England IPA – 6.5% ABV

Angry Fish, Lexington – Sunny Daze DDH IPA – 7.4% ABV

Kite Hill, Clemson – Frequency Modulated – West Coat IPA – 7.4% ABV

Tradesman, Charleston – Circuit Breaker IPA – 7.5% ABV

Tideland, North Charleston – Other Side – West Coast IPA – 7.3% ABV, 78 IBU

Lot 9, Bluffton – Hurts So Good Hazy IPA – 6.8% ABV, 22 IBU

Westbrook, Mt. Pleasant – IPA – American – 6.8% ABV, 35 IBU

Please note: these beers were only samples and Hoppy had a designated driver. Never put yourself or others at risk.

Pictures of the Fest follow:

The following pictures relate to breweries and the beers that Hoppy sampled:

RIBFEST 2023 BIER BREWERY NORTH – CARMEL

Hoppy was able to make the tail-end of this year’s Ribfest. It is an event hosted by Kids Coats which collects coats and other winter gear for children and their families in Hamilton County, Indiana. The event included free food and entertainment with the option to purchase beverages at Bier Brewery North.

While there, Hoppy quaffed a Bier Brewery Wizard Tears, a West Coast DDH IPA. It is said to be brewed deep in a black kettle by a gathering of elder wizards. 6.7% ABV, 88 IBU.

Pictures from the event follow:

WHITESTOWN BREW FEST

Hoppy attended the Whitestown Brew Fest earlier today. The event included tastings from breweries, homebrewers, distilleries and wineries as well as food trucks and live music. Attendees could sample pours and cast a vote for their favorite homebrew, with the winning homebrewer receiving a prize of $1,000.

As usual, this post will focus primarily on the beer aspect of the festival. Pictures of the attending breweries are included in the pictures that follow. They were Whitestown’s own brewery, Moontown, along with Big Lug, Black Dog, Bier, Deviate, Primeval, Terre Haute, Sun King, Crasian and Grand Junction.

BREWS ON THE BOULEVARD – CARMEL

Last Saturday Hoppy attended the Brews on the Boulevard Festival in Carmel at Midtown Plaza and the Monon Trail. It is different than some beer festivals in that you could also purchase pints of beer, four packs, six packs and swag from the breweries present, as well as enjoy the unlimited samples included in the admission. 2023 was the second year for the festival.

Self-explanatory pictures from the festival follow.

DAREDEVIL BREWING INDY LAGERFEST

Yesterday Hoppy attended the Indy Lagerfest at Daredevil Brewing. This event included Food Truck Friday with ten food trucks, live music, Kids Zone and 20+ breweries. It celebrated the release of two Daredevil beers – Pils, a German Style Pilsner, and a Vienna Lager. As well as Daredevil, the following Indiana breweries were represented: Big Lug, Four Day Ray, Metazoa and Windmill. It also included three breweries from Chicago, two from St. Louis and eleven from Germany. (The full list can be seen in the photos that follow.)

Hoppy enjoyed many of the lagers, but being Hoppy, he succumbed to a couple of tastes of Daredevil Lift Off, as well. It is the largest selling Indiana IPA described as having a bounty of American hops that deliver the signature clean and crisp finish of a perfectly balanced West Coast Style IPA. 7.2% ABV; 72 IBU.

Pictures from the event follow: