NEWS
Sticky molasses. Juniper berries. Fresh oysters. Shagbark hickory.
Today’s brewer knows that the most daring and eclectic ingredients are no longer reserved for the kitchens of modern restaurants. From sweet cascara to briny seaweed, our brewers are no strangers to adding the unlikeliest of culinary elements to their brews. In the pursuit of brewing innovation and experimentation, nothing is off the table.
But brewing with a cornucopia of diverse ingredients is a relatively new luxury for brewers. A look at history shows us that many major innovations in brewing were not born out of choice, but out of necessity.
“For a long time, what you brewed was dictated by where you were and what was available to you,” says Michael Williams, GLBC’s “Beer Professor” and Advanced Cicerone®. “And for Irish brewers, that often wasn’t much.”
And therein lies the beauty of Conway’s Irish Ale, a tried and true favorite that does a whole lot with just a little. We sat down with Michael to learn more about the origin of Irish Red Ales and why keeping things simple is what makes Conway’s Irish Ale simply perfect.
Ireland has a pretty rich brewing history, no?
Well, yes and no. The earliest known record of Irish beer is what was known as beoir, which is simply Gaelic for beer. Beer in Ireland is believed to have been brewed since the Bronze Age. At the same time, like Scotland, Ireland has a greater connection to spirits, especially whiskey, than beer.
Why is that?
Partly because of its climate. Ireland is a tough place to grow hops due to its cool year-round temperatures, so Irish beers often had to be flavored with imported Flemish hops which were cheap at the time. In 1733, a ban on such imports forced Irish brewers to purchase more expensive hops from England. This made things tough on the economically strapped brewers, so sometimes they’d skip hops altogether and use indigenous herbs, à la the gruits of old.
Even as beer’s popularity rose throughout the region, politics, wars, and barley famines all played roles in making life expensive for the Irish brewer.
How did Irish brewers adapt?
They relied on their own ingenuity to making brewing more affordable. For example, the original modern Irish beer is the Irish Stout (think Guinness, or our pub exclusive Wolfhound Stout). Technical advancements in 19th century malting helped create the very intense black patent malt which allowed Irish brewers to make beer with much less malt, at a significantly lower cost. But then they added their own innovation, and instead of using black patent malt, they just roasted their own unmalted barley. Roasted barley adds color and flavor without the additional expense that comes from the labor and storage required for malting.
How did the Irish Red Ale come to be?
Irish brewers applied their innovations to produce their take on Bitter, a style that was lighter, refreshing, and wildly popular in England during the latter part of the 19th century. Though the Irish Stout was a household name, the Irish still sought their own full flavored yet light and drinkable beer.
So, instead of using the more expensive caramel malts typically used in Bitter, they used their roasted barley to achieve the color and flavor they were looking for. It all resulted in a reddish hued beer with a pleasant toasted malt flavor and a quenchingly dry finish.
What can you expect with a good Irish Red Ale?
It’s got to be a quaffable pint! Though it’s a beer with moderate body, it’s smooth and drinkable with notes of toast, bread crust, and sometimes even a light caramel flavor. I’ve always loved the raisin and toffee character in Conway’s. It’s a decidedly American take on a traditional Irish staple, but we take inspiration from our Irish brethren’s simple brewing practices to achieve a nuanced and complex flavor with only two types of malt. It’s simply delicious.
Conway’s Irish Ale is available now wherever GLBC beer is sold. Use our Beer Finder to find some near you!
Get the latest updates on what we’re brewing by subscribing to Much Abrew, and by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Words by Adam Ritterspach
From bustling holiday parties to cozy nights around the fireplace, Christmas Ale has been a part of many fond memories for thirty years. The perfect harmony of whole cinnamon sticks, fresh cut ginger, and raw honey was crafted with these meaningful moments in mind. Our entire team, from brewers, to the packaging line, sales team, brewpub servers, and more take extra effort to ensure beer drinkers throughout our region can enjoy this beloved brew with their families and friends during this special time of year.
So, after three decades of Christmas Ale, it’s no surprise this beer has had as big an impact on our employee-owners as it has our fans. We asked a few members of the GLBC team to share some of their favorite Christmas Ale stories from their careers at GLBC, and their own personal memories.
Justin Michalovic (Operations Manager)
I first started working at GLBC on the bottling line, with prime access to every brewery employee’s favorite – low-fills! I shared a short fill of Christmas Ale with one of my good friends before it had hit the market. He was so happy with this early “present” that I thought he was going to cry! He gave me a big hug and continued to thank me every time I saw him the rest of the year. That’s when I first realized how big of an impact Christmas Ale has on people.
Personally, every Christmas Eve, my wife and I go to a little bar by our house and have a Christmas Ale before heading out to our family parties. I love that little tradition of spending some quality time together before the hustle and bustle of holiday events. Plus, a Christmas Ale pint gets us in the festive spirit, something that never hurts before family events.
Marissa DeSantis (Brand Marketing Manager)
My dad was always a big errand guy. He loved checking off a to-do list, taking quick trips to the store, and tending to the small things that needed fixing. The Christmas season can be a pretty satisfying time of the year for list makers and checkers. When all his adult children reached drinking age, my dad added picking up a case of Christmas Ale for our Christmas Eve dinner to his to-do list. Even though he wasn’t much of a drinker, he wanted to make us all happy and knew we loved Christmas Ale. When I first started working at GLBC, I told my dad I could take over the tradition, but I could tell he secretly wanted to keep doing it, so that first year shared in the responsibility and we both ended up bringing a case. We lost my dad two years ago, so memories of the triumphant Christmas Ale case delivery and all the other little things he and my mom did to make Christmas special are so precious to me.
In my work life, I’ve had the pleasure of spinning holiday records as DJ Misfit Toy at First Pour since 2014. It’s always such a magical day. There are regulars I look forward to seeing every year, and I always love to see folks with that Christmas Ale glow light up when one of their all-time favorite (or a new favorite!) song comes on. The first year was especially unforgettable. I work full time in the GLBC Marketing Department, but I also collect Christmas vinyl. When I let our managers in on my secret, they said, “you should play some records at First Pour!”
One thing about First Pour is that there are bodies everywhere. Because I work in the offices and start pretty early on First Pour Day, I had the luxury of setting up in our beer garden before anyone arrived. I hauled all my gear and crates into a quiet space and prepared in peace. But after the five hour set I was asked to play, I looked around and thought, uh… how am I supposed to get out of here? It was so packed that year that instead of fighting the crowd, I decided the path of least resistance was to just keep the records playing. I ended up playing for around eight hours straight, after already working a full day at the office. Of course, I had to drop Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” every hour, but a set that long meant I also got to mix in some truly weird and wonderful holiday tunes that don’t always make it into the rotation. When things died down enough to load out, I grabbed a Christmas Ale, slammed a burger, and absolutely crashed at home. I felt like I needed an ice bath for the next 48 hours, but it was worth it!
Nathaniel Urban (Gift Shop and Tours)
As a tour guide, gift shop, and brewpub employee, First Pour is usually a 14-hour workday for me, but it’s the best and most fun day of the year! First Pour reminds me that Christmas Ale is more than just a beer: it celebrates the reunion of friends and family, road trips to Cleveland, days off work, and just plain good old business in and around the community. Then, on tours throughout the season, if I pour a guest’s first taste of Christmas Ale, I jump up and down like a little kid (and they usually do too!) I love sharing the quantities of the ingredients we use in each batch with them (which, if you didn’t know, is 20 pounds of fresh cut ginger, 20 pounds of whole cinnamon sticks, and 612 pounds of local honey!) and watching their eyes bulge with amazement. Christmas Ale season is the truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
Christmas Ale’s influence extends to my personal life as well. During college, a dear friend and I would reconnect when we were both home for the holidays. We would buy a 6-Pack of Christmas Ale (and a 4-Pack of Blackout Stout), sit in my parents’ garage with a space heater, drink, laugh, and catch up. If it wasn’t too cold outside, we’d open the garage door and enjoy the cool fresh air. This was our tradition for years until we both found ourselves living back in the Cleveland area. So, for me, Great Lakes is more than just my employer; it’s beer that represents dozens of memories and several other traditions in my life.
Adam Ritterspach (Multimedia Specialist)
Having worked at Great Lakes for almost nine years, my memory is packed with Christmas Ale stories, many of which revolve around First Pour day. I’ve been involved in the planning of the event for the past few years, and I love getting to meet folks that travel from all over the country to get first taste of Christmas Ale. With early morning news crews arriving at the brewery around 3:30AM each year, First Pour day is easily my longest day of the year to work, but it’s also the most fun. But, if I had to pick one special Christmas Ale memory to share, it’d be one that happened two years ago.
Ever since I was a kid, a Christmas Eve tradition in my family is to light the sidewalks in front of our house with luminaries. There was once a time when a lot of families in my neighborhood would do this, but over the years my family has become the only one to carry on this glowing tradition. As my siblings and I grew into adulthood, we’d all still meet on Christmas Eve at my parents to help my dad get the luminaries filled with sand and candles, and placed accordingly. Naturally, a thirst is usually worked up while doing this annual tradition, so cans or bottles of Christmas Ale are always shared and enjoyed. It’s a holiday highlight I look forward to every year.
But unfortunately, due to the pandemic, this tradition couldn’t happen in 2020. Even if we had felt comfortable driving down to help my dad place the luminaries outside, we physically weren’t able to. A wicked snowstorm was blowing in and traveling on the highways wasn’t safe. It was going to be my first year not lighting luminaries with my dad, and I was feeling pretty bummed. What should have been a joyous white Christmas with family was turning into a blue Christmas fast.
With nothing else to do on Christmas Eve, my partner and I decided to jump in my car and (carefully, slowly) cruise the empty snowy side streets of my neighborhood, taking in the lights while listening to our favorite Christmas tunes. We ended up making a turn into a secluded neighborhood I hadn’t spent much time in, and I was thrilled (and very surprised!) to see several houses with luminaries lit up and glowing in the falling snow. Seeing so many houses in this one tiny neighborhood carry on this tradition made me feel like a kid again, and in some ways, made it feel like I was back home.
So, what was the first thing I did once we got back from our snowy Christmas Eve drive? I cracked open a Christmas Ale, FaceTimed my parents, and told them about all of the beautiful luminaries I saw. It maybe wasn’t the ideal way to spend a Christmas Eve, but it’s one I’ll always remember.
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Christmas Ale’s first thirty years have brought countless memories. We can’t wait to see what the next thirty bring! Help keep making memories with your favorite holiday beer by using our Beer Finder, and share your own Christmas Ale moments with us on social media using #MerryChristmasAle.
Words by Michael Williams and GLBC Employee-Owners
Photos by Adam Ritterspach
We love ham, we really do. Scalloped potatoes and green bean casserole? All well and good. But sometimes, it’s fun to mix things up and create new holiday traditions to pair with your Christmas Ale. Try something different this season with our three course Christmas Ale feast, featuring recipes concocted by our very own employee-owners!
SLOW COOKER MULLED CHRISTMAS ALE
Before you get cooking, warm up with Brewpub Manager Ashley Likavec’s Slow Cooker Mulled Christmas Ale. It’s a breeze to make (and a joy to taste), so you can set it and forget it while prepping for the meal ahead. Watch Ashley craft this Christmas-y cocktail here. Pro tip: this recipe works equally well as a dessert-like after-dinner drink, too.
CHRISTMAS ALE CHIPOTLE WINGS
True, holiday meals often center the bird as the main course (looking at you, Thanksgiving turkey). But Kegging Line Operator Scott Ward’s Christmas Ale Chipotle Wings spice things up by flipping the lineup and letting the fowl lead off. While this recipe makes a great addition to a delicious holiday feast, it’s also a perfect sweet-heat appetizer for your gameday watch parties.
CHRISTMAS ALE STEAK MARINADE
Now that the kitchen is warming up, it’s time to bundle up and head outside! Grilling season never ends in the Midwest, and few main courses pair better with a special mid-winter celebration than a good old-fashioned steak. Make yours appropriately festive with Maintenance Specialist Hans Larsen’s Christmas Ale Steak Marinade. Dreaming of an herbivore holiday? Try the marinade on some portobello mushroom caps for a tasty meatless alternative.
CHRISTMAS ALE APPLE CRISP
Fun fact: the question, “did you save room for dessert?” is completely rhetorical during the holidays. Finish off your banquet with HR/Recruiting Coordinator Nadav Marcus’ Christmas Ale Apple Crisp. There’s something particularly satisfying about watching a scoop of vanilla ice cream melt over the warm crunchy topping. And it goes without saying that this scrumptious dessert pairs beautifully with Christmas Ale… or maybe even Barrel Aged Christmas Ale if you really want to impress your guests! You’ll have to try both to be sure.
However you choose to feast these holidays, we hope GLBC beer is a part of it! Use our Beer Finder to help locate some near you.
Nothing beats hometown hoops and hops, so we are thrilled to announce that Great Lakes Brewing Co. is now the Official Craft Beer of the Cleveland Cavaliers! Read on for the official press release announcing our partnership and the new Great Lakes Experience at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Great Lakes Brewing Co. and Cleveland Cavaliers Team Up to Bring “Great Lakes Experience” to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Over 1,500 Sq. Ft. Taproom Now Open on Main Concourse for Upcoming Games and Events
Great Lakes Brewing Co., Ohio’s original craft brewery, have partnered with the Cleveland Cavaliers to serve their iconic craft beers in a signature setting for fans attending the more than 200 diverse live events, games and concerts held annually at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Called the “Great Lakes Experience,” the over 1,500 square foot beverage-only taproom located on the main concourse in the South Neighborhood has views to the Cleveland Guardians ballpark Progressive Field and features twelve 55-inch televisions to create a sports bar-like atmosphere. The brewery-style concession will have year-round and seasonal classics on tap, along with a rotating selection of offerings exclusive to the FieldHouse.
The “Great Lakes Experience” will be open for the upcoming slate of games and events at the FieldHouse, including the Cavs Home Opener on October 23rd and the Monsters Home Opener on October 14th. Throughout the year, the space will be programmed to express holidays, themes and special partnerships.
“Cleveland is home to an amazing craft beer scene, but before all the others, there was Great Lakes Brewing Co.,” said Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO, Nic Barlage. “The Great Lakes Experience taproom will be a popular social destination for fans to gather and enjoy the incredible lineup of Great Lakes brews that so many of us know and love. We are proud to welcome the beloved Cleveland institution to the FieldHouse.”
The partnership also makes Great Lakes Brewing Co. the “Official Craft Brewery” of the Cavs. Independent for over 30 years and employee owned since 2018, the Cleveland sudsy staple serves 14 states and Washington D.C. with an award-winning selection of fresh, flavorful, and innovative craft beers. Their ever-popular “Christmas Ale” is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers presented us with an amazing opportunity to be their Official Craft Beer, and a Proud Partner of Cleveland’s premier venue for not only NBA basketball, but AHL hockey, and top tier events,” said Great Lakes Brewing Co. Vice President, Sales, Chris Brown. “The Great Lakes Experience at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will be a real jewel of the partnership, showcasing our classic and innovative new brands in a fresh, high energy atmosphere. As Cleveland’s #1 craft beer brand and the top brand in all of Ohio, we are always looking for opportunities to strengthen our hometown impact. Aligning our independent craft brewery with such a competitive young team in our hometown, while being able to utilize the Cavaliers marks in many of our top markets, is exciting. We are thrilled to join forces with the Cavaliers and dig into all of the opportunities that this partnership presents.”
In addition, the new partnership will also mark the launch of a Cavs and Great Lakes Brewing Co. network of bars across the region. For participating establishments, the Cavs and Great Lakes Brewing Co. will provide all the necessities to create the ultimate fan destination to watch Cavs games this upcoming season. More information to come soon.
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ABOUT GREAT LAKES BREWING CO.
Great Lakes® Brewing Co. (GLBC) is Ohio’s original craft brewery, founded in 1988 by brothers Patrick and Daniel Conway in Cleveland, Ohio. Independent and employee-owned, GLBC serves 14 states and Washington DC with its award-winning portfolio of fresh, flavorful, and innovative craft beers including Dortmunder Gold® Lager, Hazecraft® IPA, TropiCoastal® Tropical IPA, Crushworthy® Lo-Cal Citrus Wheat, and a robust selection of seasonal and limited release offerings including Christmas Ale™ and Conway’s Irish Ale®.
ABOUT CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Championship in 2016 while also taking the Eastern Conference crown in 2007, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The team plays at, and also operates, the transformed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse are part of Rock Entertainment Group. The Group also includes the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League, Cavs Legion of the NBA 2K League, Legion Lair Lit by TCP home of Cavs Legion in Cleveland, and Cleveland Clinic Courts – the Cavaliers’ training and development center in Independence, Ohio. The Cavaliers are regularly recognized for their extensive community support and engagement programs and contributions, workplace diversity and inclusion leadership, and an on-going economic impact that now registers in the billions of dollars locally. Dan Gilbert is Chairman of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gilbert and his family of companies have now invested over $2.0 billion in Cleveland. Gilbert is also Founder and Chairman of Rocket Mortgage, the nation’s largest mortgage lender, and Founder and Chairman of Rock Ventures LLC, the umbrella entity for his portfolio of business and real estate investments. Nic Barlage is the Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Rock Entertainment Group CEO, and the Cavaliers team is led by President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman, General Manager Mike Gansey and Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse provide fans the best experience in the NBA with its extensive and stunning array of amenities and technology and signature, electrifying game presentation.
GREAT LAKES BREWING CO. CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS ALE’S 30th ANNIVERSARY
Season Long Celebration Kicks Off at Brewpub’s Annual First Pour Event
Great Lakes® Brewing Co. (GLBC) announces the 30th anniversary of its iconic Christmas Ale, a beloved spiced seasonal ale set to return at the brewery’s annual Christmas Ale First Pour® celebration on October 20. Christmas Ale begins rolling out to all GLBC markets on Monday, October 24.
Originally brewed in 1992 with a classic recipe featuring fresh ginger, cinnamon, and honey, Christmas Ale has grown into a top performing beer for GLBC, despite being available in its 14 states for only eight weeks out of the year.
The season-long celebration will involve special events in all GLBC markets, 30th anniversary merchandise, and giveaways, including the annual First Pour VIP Contest, where one lucky fan will win a private brewery tour, swag, and exclusive access at the event, followed by a season-long “Merry Christmas Ale” sweepstakes awarding swag to lucky winners. Customers can find contests, regional event details, and more at greatlakesbrewing.com/merrychristmasale.
Christmas Ale First Pour & 30th Anniversary Celebration:
Date: Thursday, October 20
Time: Doors at 11AM; Tapping at 11:30AM
Location: GLBC Brewpub, 2516 Market Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113
Highlights: Ceremonial 30th anniversary tapping, Christmas DJs and karaoke, holiday-themed menu items, giveaways, photo opps, and more.
Details: greatlakesbrewing.com/firstpour2022
Christmas Ale Market Release:
GLBC Gift Shop: Friday, October 21
All GLBC Markets: Monday, October 24
Packages: Bottles: 6-Packs, 12-Packs; Cans: 6-Packs, 12-Packs, 16 oz. Single Serve; Draft
Find regional Christmas Ale events at: greatlakesbrewing.com/merrychristmasale
August 14, 2003. A day that many, many people in our region remember quite clearly – despite (or, rather, because of) the lack of light caused by one of the largest blackouts in world history. The sprawling Northeast blackout shut the lights off for three days, affecting over 50 million people from our home of Ohio, all the way to northern Michigan, through Pennsylvania, to New York City, and beyond.
It’s an event so singular for our region, we had to name a beer after it! And after a three year wait, plus just a couple of requests from our fans, Blackout Stout is back in all its rich, robust, roasty glory. To mark the return of this beloved GLBC beer, we asked a few folks at GLBC to illuminate us with their recollections of that infamous day. Here are their stories, in their own words.
Pat Conway (Owner)
When the blackout hit Cleveland, friends poured in to the brewpub from out of nowhere. They knew that no electricity meant no glycol, and no way to keep our serving tanks cool, meaning there would eventually be warm beer. Not only does warm beer not taste the best, the warmer beer gets, the foamier it becomes, and the more difficult it becomes to pour. So they wanted to do us a favor and drink the beer before we would lose it to the warm temperatures.
What they didn’t expect was that the cash registers were down as well, meaning we couldn’t ring in the beers they wanted to help us move. Our close friends ended up drinking in the Beer Garden for a “reduced price” right up until night fell.
Crazy days indeed. Thankfully, the power was back on just a day or two later. If the blackout had gone on any longer, we would have lost thousands of barrels of fermenting and conditioning beer!
Luke Purcell (Pub Brewer in 2003)
That day, I was brewing Loch Erie Scotch Ale, one of our classic pub exclusive beers, on the 7 Bbl. system. The wort was just about to come to a boil when the power went off. As a brewer, there’s no worse feeling than knowing you’re about to lose a batch of beer, but thankfully the power came right back on about 30 seconds later. As that feeling of relief was setting in, out the power went again. It actually was not uncommon for the power to go out in the pub back then, so we didn’t think much of it until Derek Wilson, our chef at the time, called us from his Florida vacation. He was able to watch the news coverage of the now-massive blackout and had us rush to ice down all the food in the coolers!
After shutting down, I went to the pub, where Pat was standing there with a beer (in a snifter, of course) talking with some customers. He looked at me and said, “Guy, how long do we have until we can’t pour beer?” I estimated that we could pour for two or three hours before the beer would get too foamy to pour. Looking much like the Grinch when his heart grew three sizes, Pat grinned and said, “Let’s lock the front door. Beers are on the house for anyone that wants to stick around.” We all hung out in the bar and on the patio for the next couple of hours. There was quiet discussion about what the cause of the blackout might be, but also lots of stories and plenty of laughter going around the room. Most notably, there was no television or music in the background – just the sound of folks drinking, talking, and having a good time.
The next morning, at around 3 AM, I woke up in a panic, realizing that I had left the steam valves open on the still-full kettle in the pub. If the power came back on, it would have started to boil again and well, who knows, we may have had a great Barleywine on our hands. I will always remember driving down to the brewery in the middle of the night. The sky was completely lit up with stars! Everything was so quiet and peaceful. I went into the pub in the dark and shut off the steam valves to the brew that I would be dumping the next day when it was cool enough. While it was a bummer to lose the brew, the rest of the experience was something I will always treasure. That dark, peaceful night full of stars, and folks drinking and talking with no sense of urgency, is what truly inspired Blackout Stout.
Original Blackout Stout label art, featuring people enjoying GLBC beer and good conversation on the porch
John Blystone (Manager of Engineering and Maintenance)
Blackout Stout is not only my second-favorite GLBC beer (right behind the barrel-aged version), but it also speaks to my personal and professional background. The blackout was largely instigated by computer software issues at an electricity provider’s facility near Akron, OH, which is where I was studying for my bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at the time. This unusual event quickly became a case study in the engineering world. Our profession examined the system’s response to smaller issues within the system, and how those slowly built to a catastrophic and wide-spread event.
I find Blackout Stout to be the perfect blend of extreme malt body and sweetness, with just enough hops to round it out, working together to create a rich, smooth blend of flavors that lights up my palate. Of all the Imperial Stouts I’ve tried, Blackout Stout remains my favorite. I recommend cracking one open and pairing it with dark chocolate, deep thoughts, or a full reading of the NERC report that shares in great geeky detail how the grid fell apart that day. You won’t be disappointed!
Blackout Stout is back, but only for a limited time! Use our Beer Finder to find some near you.
Word by Michael Williams
Photos by Adam Ritterspach
O’Zapft is! This week, people from around the world will travel to Munich, Germany for the world’s largest folk festival: Oktoberfest. Over the course of 16 days, an estimated six million festgoers will fill historic bier halls and consume an astounding amount of beer (over 7 million litres to be exact!) at an annual event that has been running since 1810. Rich with tradition, Munich’s Oktoberfest is a cultural experience unlike any other.
But you don’t have to book a flight to Bavaria to get in on the fun. The true spirit of Oktoberfest lies in its celebration of community, which means Oktoberfest can be celebrated anywhere and with anyone. So crack open an Oktoberfest and follow these 5 steps for throwing your own oom-pah-pah bash.
Step 1: Don’t wait until October!
We know, we know… the name is a little confusing, but waiting until October 1 to start your Oktoberfest celebration is starting too late! This year’s Munich celebration begins September 17, but if you’re from Cleveland, you already know our own kicked off Labor Day weekend. With the heat and humidity (mostly) gone in September, now is the perfect time to hoist your stein in the sunshine. Just remember: starting early doesn’t mean you can’t go late!
Step 2: Find your Bier Garden!
You don’t need a massive beer hall to celebrate Oktoberfest (though it’d be pretty cool if you have one!) Grab some bunting, hang a few flags, and drop your cooler wherever you feel like celebrating. A pop-up canopy tent in the backyard is perfect, but use what you have! A keg in the garage? Ach ja. Lawn chairs around a bonfire? Über fantastisch!
Step 3: Set the Mood!
Wherever you decide to hold your Wiesn, you’ve got to make it feel festive. Decorations and a great playlist will go a long way, but we’d argue your “floorplan” is even more important. Maximize a feeling of Bavarian camaraderie or gemütlichkeit, by arranging your tables and chairs in a communal way. The perfect Oktoberfest setup is one where you can easily prost! another festgoer without leaving your table, so get cozy! Another idea: a community cooler is a great way to share (and taste!) the many frothy libations your guests may bring that day. We recommend tossing in a few German-inspired offerings like Dortmunder Gold Lager and Eliot Ness Amber Lager for a bit of variety!
Step 4: Make Your Fest a Feast!
Packed with toasty autumnal flavors, the smooth and malty character of Oktoberfest makes it one of the easiest beers to pair food with! If you’re starting early, skip the bacon and cook up a plump and juicy Weisswurst for a hearty Bavarian twist on the classic kegs-and-eggs breakfast. But don’t stop there. You’ll need plenty of snacks to munch on throughout the day, and our Bertman Original Dortmunder Gold Lager Beer Mustard is a great accompaniment for pretzels and sliced Gouda. Brats, roasted chicken, and potato cakes are a safe bet for dinner, but if you really want to flex your culinary skills, our Pork Schnitzel with Oktoberfest gravy is sure to impress your guests.
Step 5: Have Fun!
Oktoberfest is, and we can’t stress this enough, a party, so find ways to let loose! Bust out the lederhosen and award prizes to your best-dressed guests. Test your strength with a stein holding competition. Stand up on a table and get a “Sweet Caroline” sing along going. It doesn’t necessarily have to make sense, but it does have to be fun, so don’t take yourself too seriously, drink responsibly, and you’ll be celebrating Oktoberfest like a pro in no time.
Oktoberfest, one of our most celebrated and critically lauded brews, is available now for a limited time. Use our Beer Finder to find 12 oz. Can 12-Packs, 12 oz. Bottle 6-Packs, 12 oz. Bottle 12-Packs, and Draft at a retailer near you.
Words and photos by Adam Ritterspach