Tis the Season! Oktoberfest 2017 is Here!

Oktoberfest at Seven Bridges, Jacksonville, 2016

There probably isn't any more festive time of year in the beer world than OKTOBERFEST! 

The 184th German Oktoberfest is now officially underway! Beginning on September 16, 2017, the beer will flow through October 3. The annual celebration takes place each year in Munich during the last two weeks of September through the first weekend of October, and is host to approximately 6 million revelers annually. Last year, 5.6 million festgoers attended. If you aren't attending the "Wiesn" (German for "meadow") this year, don't get your shorts (lederhosen) all in a bunch. It's also popular time in the U.S. and another reason to celebrate beer! Everyone's German during Oktoberfest, so grab your lederhosen and dirndls!

Florida Beer Events Are Rockin' This Fall

Here we are mid-October (can you believe it?). Fall Beerfest season is rockin' along with

A visual look at a few events
happening around Florida
Oct. 14-16

Oktoberfest celebrations still oompah-ing their way through the calendar month, right there next to area beerfests and other special beer events. From the "biggest" beerfest in Florida happening in Miami to new brewery openings/Grand Openings to brewery anniversaries to Florida-Georgia weekend to Halloween, the next three weekends will see the suds flow. So far, it's been an "interesting" month, to say the least. Hurricane Matthew decided to take a daytrip along Florida's east coast late last week leaving behind a huge amount of damage, especially here in the North Florida area. Hopefully, most of those affected are on the recovery path (including the return of that taken-for-granted thing called electricity). Even the craft beer world was affected as several beerfests and other events already set in place for months were cancelled and/or rescheduled (take a look at the "Making Headlines" page). This writer's calendar included attending several events and/or other visits during the first weeks of October that didn't happen, but it's good to see the positive efforts toward repair and rebuilding. 

A Whale of an Oktoberfest: Green Room Brewing, Jax Beach

It'll be a Whale of an OKTOBERFEST at GREEN ROOM BREWING on Saturday, October 1,

as the brewery hosts its annual Oktoberfest celebration, along with its bottle release of SAVE THE WHALE Imperial Stout. You'll be able to celebrate the Gemütlichkeit of OKTOBERFEST, along with helping out the migratory right whales. That sounds like a reason to party!

Twice the Oompah at Engine 15 Brewing Oktoberfest

Did I really end up with three
beers at Engine 15 Oktoberfest?

OKTOBERFEST is in full swing! The 183rd official Oktoberfest in Munich has been going strong for over a week now, with 5 days to go. Can you imagine all that German beer flowing in Bavaria? If you didn't get a ticket to Germany, no need to fret -- Thanks to Oktoberfest celebrations happening around Florida, we have plenty of Gemütlichkeit (and beer) to go around the Sunshine State, too. If you haven't seen my earlier Oktoberfest post, don't wait any longer, or you'll miss out (and we wouldn't want that to happen)! The upcoming weekend features a number of Oktoberfest celebrations around the state, so get those dirndls and lederhosen out of your closet and mach schnell to the nearest place you hear the Oompah music. 

Prost! Get Your Boot and Your Mass (Maẞ) in Gear: Oktoberfest 2016 is Here

PROST! Oktoberfest 2015 at Engine 15 Brewing ... Having a Maẞ

[Ed. Note, 9/17/2016: I have added several events since the original posting on 9/13, as certain events were announced after the publication]

Is there any more festive time of year in the beer world than OKTOBERFEST? 

Do You Know Your Boot from Your Maß ("mass")? It's Oktoberfest time!

There's probably no more festive time of year in the beer world than OKTOBERFEST! The original German Oktoberfest happens each year in Munich during the last two weeks of September through the first weekend of October, and is host to approximately 6 million fest-goers each year.  If you aren't one of those attending the "Wiesn" (German for "meadow") this year, don't get your shorts all in a bunch.  We also celebrate it here in the U.S. So, grab your lederhosen and dirndls because everyone's German during Oktoberfest!

Jax to St. Augustine, 10-19-2013: A Day of Beer Fests

A Five-Year Anniversary and an Oktoberfest: Could've Used A Helicopter in NE Fla

Five Years for Bold City Brewery in Jax
What better reason to head over to Bold City Brewery than for its Five-Year Anniversary Party? Unbelievably, I had not visited this brewery before.  That was evident when I got a bit turned around and ended up further west.  When I passed European Street Market (which had an Oktoberfest of its own going on, with a German band and really cool hat giveaways), I figured it was time to bring out Google Maps.  A short while later, I made it to the brewery warehouse building, situated along some railroad tracks. Doesn't matter what it looks like, it's what they do that's important.  And, that's making beer. I like a number of the Bold City Brewery beers, but my favorite is Killer Whale Cream Ale. And, look who's looking over the whole place!