Beer Festivals

PROJEKT BAYERN OKTOBERFEST – WENATCHEE, WA

The day following his visit to the Leavenworth Oktoberfest, Hoppy attended the Projekt Bayern Oktoberfest in Wenatchee. Projekt Bayern founded the original Leavenworth Oktoberfest in 1998 and operated it until 2019, making it one of the best and most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations in the entire country. Projekt Bayern’s traditional Oktoberfest celebration is now located in the beautiful city of Wenatchee at the Town Toyota Center.

While at this Oktoberfest Hoppy enjoyed imbibing Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier. It is brewed by Staatliches Hofbrauhaus Munchen, in Munich, Bayern Germany. It is described as a rich, full-bodied beer which goes down ideally with traditional Bavarian cuisine. With its deliciously bitter taste and clean, crisp edge, it is a vital part of the Oktoberfest experience. It is 6.3% ABV, 23 IBU.

Pictures from the Oktoberfest follow:

LEAVENWORTH OKTOBERFEST – LEAVENWORTH, WA

The next stop was, of course, the Leavenworth Oktoberfest. It is held over the first three weekends in October and began in 1998.

Between raising his glass and yelling prost, Hoppy drank the following beers:

Weihenstephaner Dunkel – A dark wheat beer from Freising, Bavaria, Germany. It is described as effervescent and full-bodied with a pleasantly light caramel note in the flavor imparting a velvety mouthfeel. It is chestnut in color. 5.3% ABV, 14 IBU. (Weihenstephaner is the world’s oldest continuing operating brewery and has been located at a monastery site since at least 1040.)

Icicle Brewing Alpenhaze Hazy IPA – Described as a bright, tropical and juicy IPA with Mosaic, Citra, El Dorado and Simcoe hops, giving it notes of mango, pineapple, tangerine and apricot that excite the nose and palate. The malt profile provides a body that ends each sip with a light and pillowy mouthfeel.  6.3% ABV, 30IBU.

Photos from the Fest follow:

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.