It’s OktoberCrest. Act accordion-ly
By Gretchen Ammerman
Oregon Coast TODAY
Beachcrest Brewing Company owners Amy and Matt White know how much we at the TODAY appreciate a good pun. But they admit they were not thinking of us when naming their now-annual OktoberCrest, taking place this Friday Sept. 23, through Sunday, Sept. 25.
“We started it because we used to go to Oktoberfests in Colorado and we loved them,” Amy said. “We would go to places like Breckenridge and Vail and they had these epic events in these idyllic little towns and it was something we looked forward to every fall. They bring together the core things we care about, which is celebrating community, music and of course beer.”
Once the couple moved to the coast and established the brewery after years as performing, touring and teaching musicians, they were determined to bring their own version of an Oktoberfest. The celebration has proven to be one of their most successful events.
“Every year it gets a little bit bigger and more people come and visit,” Amy said. “Our entertainment schedule grows every year. This year we have a great lineup including Fox and Bones on Friday and on Saturday, the Perry Gerber Band will play and John Bringetto will be walking around playing accordion. On Sunday, the Lincoln Pops will be playing big band music but also ‘Oom-pah” music, German marches and beer-drinking songs.”
Decorations and costumes will help to further set the mood.
“Some members of our staff dress up every year and we encourage guests to dress up too if they want to,” Amy said. “We will also have lots of decorations inside and out.”
A special commemorative stein is made and sold each year, which comes with a fill of your favorite ale. But you won’t use that if you enter one of the stein-hoisting contests that will take place each day.
“Everybody gets a big stein that's filled with water because we don’t want to waste any beer,” Amy said. “You have to hold it in your outstretched arm for as long as you can — it's a feat of strength. People's arms start trembling and they trash-talk each other — it's just a fun, fun event.”
And of course, as this is a brewery, seasonal ciders and beer releases are on tap.
“Our special releases will be the very German-forward OktoberCrest Martzen,” Amy said. “It’s very malty and flavorful. We’ll also have our Lincoln City Logger, which is a light and crisp Bavarian Helles lager. Our non-German-style seasonal release is the Pumpkin Porter, which is spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and comes served in a glass with a cinnamon and sugar rim.”
Menu items will include their popular pizzas, hummus plates and giant pretzels. And, during the event, they will also serve German-style bratwurst, with onions and peppers or sauerkraut (or both!)
The brewery will have a collection bin for non-perishable items like pastas, beans and canned soups, fruits and vegetables for donation to people experiencing food insecurity.
“This year during the week of OktoberCrest we are having a food drive for the Newport Food Pantry,” Amy said. “That was the idea of one of our employees that lives in Newport. Our motto is ‘Coastal. Community. Craft.’ so we’re always open to ideas for ways that we can use the brewery as a place to support the community and bring people together.”
The event runs from noon to 8 pm on Friday and Saturday and noon to 7 pm on Sunday. Beachcrest Brewing Company is located in the Salishan Marketplace at 7755 N Hwy. 101 in Gleneden Beach. For more information, go to beachcrestbrewing.com or call 541-234-4013.
Music Schedule
Friday, Sept. 23
5 pm - Fox and Bones
Saturday, Sept. 24
3 pm - Strolling accordionist John Bringetto
5 pm - The Perry Gerber Band
Sunday, Sept. 25
3 pm - Lincoln Pops Big Band Big