Beer!

Beer!

Oktoberfest

T

he world’s biggest and oldest Oktoberfest runs for more than two weeks every year from late September to early October in Munich. Taking place annually since 1810, this beer festival and fair sees more than 6 million attendees.

Communities around the world have since initiated their own fall festivals that pay homage to Oktoberfest and celebrate food, fun, community, and (naturally) beer. As Alaska’s local brewing industry has sky-rocketed in the last few years, there’s never a short supply of new, local, and unique brewed options for Alaskans to sample and love throughout the fall across the state.

On Saturday, October 6, the Great Alaska Beer Train is hitting the tracks. Relax and enjoy the beautiful Turnagain Arm while tasting an array of brews and bites from Glacier Brewhouse aboard the Great Alaska Beer Train. Departing from the Anchorage Historic Depot, the train delivers an Alaska-style Oktoberfest celebration filled with specialty brews and seasonal fare that fellow beer-lovers can enjoy together. alaskarailroad.com

At the Eagle River Brewfest on October 5, sample a variety of Alaska beers, including selections from Arkose Brewing, Broken Tooth Brewing, Denali Brewing, Double Shovel Cider, Glacier Brewhouse, Midnight Sun Brewing, Odd Man Rush, Resolution Brewing, and 49th State Brewing, all at the Eagle River Lions Club. Complimentary appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks will also be served. Proceeds benefit the Eagle River Boys & Girls Club. anchorage.net

Last year at the Goldstream to HooDoo Half Marathon, just about 600 runners, walkers, and joggers signed up, making the HooDoo Half the largest half marathon in Interior Alaska. This year HooDoo Brewing Co. teamed up with the experts at Goldstream Sports to present the “hoppiest” footrace around on October 13. The race starts at Goldstream Sports and finishes at HooDoo Brewing, which hosts the post-race beer festival with craft brews, food vendors, awards ceremony, and door prizes. hoodoobrew.com

The Alaska Farmland Trust and the Musk Ox Farm present the fourth annual OxToberfest Farm-to-Table Feast, Brew Fest, and Polka Bash on October 6, a joint fundraiser for the two Alaska nonprofits. Feast on brats made with Alaska grown locally sourced meat, Palmer cabbage in the sauerkraut, Mat-Su grown potatoes in the German potato salad and chips, Alaska grown mustard, and even local wheat in the buns. Six of Alaska’s top brewers will be on hand offering the best selection of seasonal ales and brews to keep the polka toes hopping. The music features a twelve-piece lederhosen-clad brass oompah band. oxtoberfest. brownpapertickets.com

At the Mighty Matanuska “Boo” Fest on October 28, guests can sample beers from breweries around Alaska and the world, voting for their favorite. Taking place at the Alaska State Fairgrounds, the “Boo” Fest also includes live music, dancing, a raffle, costume contest, and beer-friendly food starting at 6 p.m. alaskastatefair.org

Petersburg celebrates Octoberfest throughout the month with concerts; gallery walks; Beat the Odds, a race against cancer; Octoberfest Artshare, an arts and crafts fair featuring handmade items by artists and crafters around the state; the Rain Country Quilters Quilt Show; and other events and activities. petersburg.org

T

he world’s biggest and oldest Oktoberfest runs for more than two weeks every year from late September to early October in Munich. Taking place annually since 1810, this beer festival and fair sees more than 6 million attendees.

Communities around the world have since initiated their own fall festivals that pay homage to Oktoberfest and celebrate food, fun, community, and (naturally) beer. As Alaska’s local brewing industry has sky-rocketed in the last few years, there’s never a short supply of new, local, and unique brewed options for Alaskans to sample and love throughout the fall across the state.

On Saturday, October 6, the Great Alaska Beer Train is hitting the tracks. Relax and enjoy the beautiful Turnagain Arm while tasting an array of brews and bites from Glacier Brewhouse aboard the Great Alaska Beer Train. Departing from the Anchorage Historic Depot, the train delivers an Alaska-style Oktoberfest celebration filled with specialty brews and seasonal fare that fellow beer-lovers can enjoy together. alaskarailroad.com

At the Eagle River Brewfest on October 5, sample a variety of Alaska beers, including selections from Arkose Brewing, Broken Tooth Brewing, Denali Brewing, Double Shovel Cider, Glacier Brewhouse, Midnight Sun Brewing, Odd Man Rush, Resolution Brewing, and 49th State Brewing, all at the Eagle River Lions Club. Complimentary appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks will also be served. Proceeds benefit the Eagle River Boys & Girls Club. anchorage.net

Last year at the Goldstream to HooDoo Half Marathon, just about 600 runners, walkers, and joggers signed up, making the HooDoo Half the largest half marathon in Interior Alaska. This year HooDoo Brewing Co. teamed up with the experts at Goldstream Sports to present the “hoppiest” footrace around on October 13. The race starts at Goldstream Sports and finishes at HooDoo Brewing, which hosts the post-race beer festival with craft brews, food vendors, awards ceremony, and door prizes. hoodoobrew.com

The Alaska Farmland Trust and the Musk Ox Farm present the fourth annual OxToberfest Farm-to-Table Feast, Brew Fest, and Polka Bash on October 6, a joint fundraiser for the two Alaska nonprofits. Feast on brats made with Alaska grown locally sourced meat, Palmer cabbage in the sauerkraut, Mat-Su grown potatoes in the German potato salad and chips, Alaska grown mustard, and even local wheat in the buns. Six of Alaska’s top brewers will be on hand offering the best selection of seasonal ales and brews to keep the polka toes hopping. The music features a twelve-piece lederhosen-clad brass oompah band. oxtoberfest. brownpapertickets.com

At the Mighty Matanuska “Boo” Fest on October 28, guests can sample beers from breweries around Alaska and the world, voting for their favorite. Taking place at the Alaska State Fairgrounds, the “Boo” Fest also includes live music, dancing, a raffle, costume contest, and beer-friendly food starting at 6 p.m. alaskastatefair.org

Petersburg celebrates Octoberfest throughout the month with concerts; gallery walks; Beat the Odds, a race against cancer; Octoberfest Artshare, an arts and crafts fair featuring handmade items by artists and crafters around the state; the Rain Country Quilters Quilt Show; and other events and activities. petersburg.org