A stein of the times
Beachcrest Brewing is the host with the prost
By Linda Turner Griepentrog
For the TODAY
Building on a great idea can make it even better. Just ask Amy White, owner of Beachcrest Brewing in Gleneden Beach. She and her husband, Matt, used to visit traditional Oktoberfests in small towns around their Colorado home every fall. So, when they moved to the Oregon Coast, they created their own, called OktoberCrest in honor of the brewery.
This annual event returns for its sixth year this weekend.
“Each year it just gets better and better,” Amy said. “We’ve got hundreds of people coming to share it with us.”
Based in part on the traditional German festival dating back to the 1800s, the beachy version is one big, free party for all ages. The brewery releases new, limited-edition beers for the occasion. This year’s offerings include OktoberCrest Märzen, a malty lager; Fall Fest Bier, a light, refreshing variety; Fresh Hop IPA, featuring fresh Willamette Valley hops brewed the same day they’re picked; and Pumpkin Pie Ale where the name speaks for itself in deliciousness.
Amy said Beachcrest staff will be dressed for the occasion and encourages guests to dress in costume, too.
“Traditional favorites include dirndls for women, and lederhosen and German Alpine hats for men,” she said.
What can you expect on the menu for this weekend event? There will be a special German-themed pizza, along with big, fresh-baked Bavarian pretzels with beer cheese sauce, Bratwurst sandwiches and Bratwurst plates with sauerkraut or German potato salad. Check the website for all the food offerings, as some are still top secret.
But, what’s a party without music? OktoberCrest does not disappoint. Music will be on offer both indoors and outdoors (weather permitting). Wild Hog in the Woods is Friday night’s featured band, playing an eclectic mix of bluegrass and Americana from 5 to 7:30 pm. On Saturday from 4:30 to 7:30 pm, the Lincoln Pops Big Band will play their specialty music, plus waltzes and oom-pah for the occasion. In addition, there will be a roving accordion player from 1:30 to 3:30 pm on Saturday. On Sunday, DTW Brass Band will delight from 2:30 to 5:30 pm with their New Orleans-style brass band music for dancing and partying.
While the Munich Oktoberfest has carnival rides, the beachy OktoberCrest version has lots of party games. You can try your hand (literally) at the stein hoisting event to see how long you can hold a large full mug at arm’s length before your wrist, elbow and shoulder give out. The mugs are filled with colored water so as not to waste good beer should there be an untimely collapse.
If brute strength isn’t your thing, perhaps you want to try the pretzel eating contest. Fresh pretzels are tied on a string and the quest is to eat as much as you can of the yeasty twist in the given time frame. A bit like bobbing for apples, but without all the water.
So, if you’re looking for a fun weekend of food, great brews, games and dancing, OktoberCrest is the place to be.
OktoberCrest runs from noon to 8 pm on Friday, Sept. 27, and Saturday, Sept. 28, and noon to 7 pm on Sunday, Sept. 29. Beachcrest Brewing is located in the Salishan Marketplace at 7755 N. Hwy. 101, Gleneden Beach. For more information, activity schedules and food specials, go to beachcrestbrewing.com.