Beer

Texas’s Only Certified Organic Craft Brewery Celebrates National Organic Month With Gold-Medal Beers and a New Hard Seltzer Pack

September 17, 2026 by Dustin Scoggins

AUSTIN, Texas — September is National Organic Month, and Big Country Organic Brewing Co. is using it to make a simple point: USDA Certified Organic beer can taste as good as anything else on the shelf.

The Austin-area brewery is currently Texas’s only certified organic craft brewery. After six years of sourcing organic hops and grains and keeping the facility organic-compliant, Big Country is putting medals next to that claim.

Gold medals for organic lagers

Little Wing Light won gold at the 2026 San Diego County Fair Craft Brew Competition. TexMex Lager won gold in the Mexican-Style Pale Lager category at the 2026 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

Those results matter because organic brewing is harder than conventional brewing. Only a small number of farms grow certified organic hops and malt, so recipe flexibility is limited.

Founder and CEO Bill Gillies put it this way:

“We fully believe in the benefits of organic but honestly, it can be challenging. There are only a handful of organic farmers producing hops and grains so we don’t have the flexibility in developing our recipes that the non-organic beverage producers are granted. It is absolutely incredible that we can go head-to-head against the non-organic producers and come away with gold medals for our TexMex and Little Wing Lagers and bronze medals for two of our new hard seltzers. That is a real tribute to our brew team and their ability to make great beer and seltzers and still maintain the clean and eco-friendly attributes of organic certification. Cheers to the great artisans we have on our team!”

New Adventure Pack hard seltzer

Big Country has replaced its original hard seltzer variety pack with the Adventure Pack. The four flavors are:

Jalapeño Strawberry
Blueberry Lemonade
Cherry Organic
Guava Limeade

Each can is 4% ABV, zero sugar, and 80 calories. Big Country says it is the only hard seltzer line that carries all three of these certifications at once: USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Fair Trade Certified.

Why they stay organic

Organic farming is meant to build soil fertility, reduce chemical runoff into water, cut emissions, and support pollinators. The brewery also points to lower pesticide residue, more nutrient-dense crops, and safer conditions for farm workers.

Fair Trade purchases for the seltzer program have sent more than $100,000 back to the farmers who grow and process those ingredients.

Growing beyond Texas

Distribution is expanding into Colorado and Southern California. Next up is Big Country Gardens, a planned East Austin taproom that will pair organic craft beer with coffee and food in a garden setting inspired by the Texas landscape.

About Big Country Organic Brewing Co.

Big Country Organic Brewing Co. is currently the only operating certified organic craft brewery in Texas. The company carries USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Fair Trade Certified credentials and positions itself as a pioneer of organic beverages in the alcohol category.

For more information, please visit https://enjoybigcountry.com/

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A Pub Weaves Its Own History: 26 Foot “The Beer Tapestry” Unveiled at London’s Museum Tavern

September 15, 2026 by Dow Scoggins

While the British Museum prepares to host the legendary Bayeux Tapestry this fall, a historic pub just across the street decided beer deserved its own epic. The Museum Tavern on Great Russell Street in Bloomsbury — a Greene King pub that’s poured pints since the 18th century — has unveiled an eight-meter embroidered “Beer Tapestry” tracing the story of British brewing from the Norman Conquest to the modern craft era, and for the month of September the pub has even renamed itself “The Beer Tapestry” to mark the occasion.

The tapestry was created as a tongue-in-cheek response to the Bayeux Tapestry’s arrival, picking up the storytelling thread where the famous Norman embroidery leaves off — the tale begins in 1066 and unfolds across eight illustrated scenes running from the Norman conquest through the arrival of hopped beer, the dissolution of monastic brewhouses, the rise of Greene King, and the impact of war on the brewing industry. Greene King head brewer Jack Palmer called it a fun way to spotlight the heritage of the original Bayeux piece while sneaking in a beer history lesson, and the brewery even released a limited-edition dark copper cask ale, also called The Beer Tapestry, to go with it. Unlike its 1,000-year-old inspiration across the street, this one comes with a bar stool and a pint within arm’s reach.

Address: The Museum Tavern, 49 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3BA, UK
Website: greeneking.co.uk

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Von Ebert Brewing Releases Its First Fresh Hop Beers of the 2026 Season

September 13, 2026 by Dustin Scoggins

Portland’s Von Ebert Brewing is rolling out its first fresh hop beers of harvest season, starting with Fresh Hop Volatile Substance NW IPA. The beer uses Simcoe hops from Coleman Agriculture and leans into smashed berry, sticky pine resin, and sweet citrus.

In mid-September the brewery will follow with Fresh Hop Sector 7 Hazy IPA, made with Krush hops from Perrault Farms. That one is built around ripe pineapple, ruby red grapefruit, and sweet green melon.

Both beers will be available at Von Ebert’s three Portland-area locations and at Northwest bars, bottle shops, and grocery stores in 16-ounce cans and on draft until they run out.

“We’re lucky to be in the Northwest making beer where nearly all of America’s hops are grown,” said brewmaster Sam Pecoraro. “This geographic advantage allows us to celebrate fresh hops in a way other breweries can’t. We’re also able to partner with local hop growers right in our backyard.”

Taproom deals and a bigger can lineup

At all three Von Ebert locations, 20-ounce mugs of Clubhaus Lager — a World Beer Cup gold-medal American light lager — are $3 all day. At the North Mississippi taproom at 825 N. Cook Street, regular Volatile Substance NW IPA is $5 from noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The brewery also sells non-alcoholic hop sparkling waters, hard seltzers, hard punches, and hard teas.

The North Mississippi production brewery has lifted capacity from about 4,000 barrels a year toward 20,000. Von Ebert is more than halfway there, with more beer going into 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans and distribution now reaching Oregon, Washington, Colorado, California, and Japan.

About Von Ebert Brewing

Tom M. Cook and Tom S. Cook founded Von Ebert Brewing in Portland in 2018. The name honors family matriarch “Grandma Ebert,” who emigrated from Germany through Ellis Island. Von Ebert loosely means “House of Ebert,” or “House of the Boar.”

The brewery has stacked World Beer Cup medals in recent years: gold in 2025 and silver in 2026 for Clubhaus American Light Lager, gold in 2023 for its German-style pilsner, and bronze in 2024 for Vienna lager. Fresh hop season is when that Northwest setting shows up most clearly — hops from nearby farms, packed into cans while they still smell like the field.

For more information, please visit https://www.vonebertbrewing.com/

Cellarest Beer Project Releases Bimble, a Coffee Blonde Lager With Riverbend Malt and Coffee Library

September 13, 2026 by Dustin Scoggins

West Asheville’s Cellarest Beer Project has released Bimble, a 4.8% coffee blonde lager brewed with North Carolina malt from Riverbend Malt House and a custom coffee blend from Coffee Library. The beer is on draft now at Cellarest. Sixteen-ounce four-packs are expected at the brewery in the coming weeks.

Bimble is the third chapter of Riverbend’s pallet coffee program. In 2025, the Asheville maltster started thanking full-pallet malt customers with a Coffee Library blend, because brewery mornings usually start with coffee. Brewers liked the first two blends enough that Riverbend invited Cellarest — a brewery that has used local ingredients since it opened — into the third one.

How the coffee blend was chosen

Riverbend and Cellarest cupped coffees at Coffee Library and landed on two lots: a naturally processed Brazilian Catuai from Cerrado Mineiro in Minas Gerais, grown at about 1,100 meters, and a washed Mexican coffee from Zangolica, Veracruz, grown between 1,250 and 1,700 meters. The Brazil side brings almond, brown sugar, and milk chocolate. The Mexico side brings cinnamon, cocoa, and baking spice.

“I wanted to encourage more cocoa and depth to the Mexican coffee’s brown sugar and cinnamon notes, and the Brazilian seemed to provide that,” said Cellarest co-founder and director of fermentation Mark R. Goodwin.

“The Mexico coffee provides that nice warm, subtle spice and the Brazil enhances the creaminess and cocoa, chocolate notes,” said Noah Marines, head roaster and certified Q Arabica grader at Coffee Library.

What’s in the beer

Bimble is built on Riverbend Southern Select, Great Chit, Vienna, and Double Kilned Munich malts, hopped with Willamette, and fermented cold with Cellarest’s German lager yeast in an acacia wood foudre. The glass shows fresh coffee, cocoa, cinnamon, and brown sugar up front, then light toffee and honey-biscuit notes from the malt.

The name fits. To bimble is to wander without hurry. That is how three Asheville businesses — maltster, roaster, and brewery — arrived at this beer.

About the partners

Cellarest Beer Project was co-founded in 2020 by North Carolinians Harrison Fahrer and Mark Goodwin. The carbon-neutral West Asheville brewery is known for wood-fermented lagers and mixed-culture beers and uses North Carolina malted grain in every beer.

Coffee Library is an Asheville specialty coffee company focused on blend architecture, private-label roasting, and hospitality programs.

Riverbend Malt House, founded in Asheville in 2010 by Brent Manning and Brian Simpson, was the first craft malthouse east of the Mississippi. It connects Southeastern family farms with breweries and distilleries that want local malt instead of commodity grain.

Follow Cellarest Beer Project on Instagram and Facebook for can-release dates. Media questions about Bimble or Riverbend’s pallet coffee program can go to Emily Hutto at Rad Craft Beer.

For more information please visit https://cellarestbeer.com/

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Cingari Family Markets and Half Full Brewery Release Limited-Edition Pumpkin Ale for Fall 2026

September 12, 2026 by Dustin Scoggins

Cingari Family Markets is ringing in fall with a store-exclusive pumpkin ale brewed by Stamford neighbor Half Full Brewery. The 6.0% ABV Cin

Cingari Family Markets Pumpkin Ale went on sale Monday, September 7, 2026, and will stay on shelves for a limited time while supplies last.

The medium-amber seasonal ale is made with real pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It is meant to drink easy with Friday night football, yard work, or the first fire of the season — a Connecticut fall beer from two local companies that have collaborated before.

“We love finding new ways to bring the flavors and traditions of the season to our customers, and this collaboration with our Stamford neighbors at Half Full Brewery does exactly that,” said Thomas Cingari Sr., president and CEO of Cingari Family Markets. “This is a beer made for fall in Connecticut.”

Half Full founder Conor Horrigan said the same: “There’s something special about brewing a beer that feels like fall in our own backyard.”

Where to find it

The beer is exclusive to Cingari Family ShopRite stores:

Brookfield
Commerce Street, Stamford
Derby
Fairfield
Farmington Avenue, Bristol
Norwalk
Shelton
Shippan Avenue, Stamford
Southbury

At a glance

Brewery: Half Full Brewery, Stamford, CT
Style: Pumpkin ale
ABV: 6.0%
Color: Medium amber
Flavor: Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg
Availability: Limited release starting September 7, 2026

About Cingari Family Markets

Cingari Family Markets began in 1929, when Italian immigrant Salvatore Cingari bought a school bus, loaded it with produce and pasta, and started delivering groceries door to door in Stamford, Connecticut. In 1943 he opened the first Grade A Market in Stamford, promising that “Grade A” was the only quality he would sell. His sons Dominick, Rocky, and Sam joined the business, and in 1960 they turned an old ice cream factory into a 4,400-square-foot supermarket. For decades the family grew under the Grade A name before joining the ShopRite cooperative in 1991, pairing neighborhood roots with the buying power of Wakefern, the country’s largest retailer-owned grocery co-op.

Four generations later, the company still runs as a family business. Cingari Family Markets now operates about a dozen Connecticut stores — ShopRite locations across Fairfield and neighboring counties plus two Grade A Markets in Stamford — with Thomas Cingari Sr. as president and CEO. The family is known for fresh and prepared foods, private-label products, store remodels, and local giving through the Cingari Family Foundation. A new Danbury ShopRite is also in the works. From a produce-filled school bus to a regional supermarket group, the story has stayed local: Connecticut stores, still owned by the family that started them.

For more information, please visit https://cingarifamilymarkets.com/

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Oskar Blues Brings Back Deviant Dale’s Imperial IPA for a Limited 2026 Run

September 12, 2026 by Dustin Scoggins

Oskar Blues Brewery is bringing Deviant Dale’s Imperial IPA back this month — the hop-heavy cult favorite that last made a splash around 2017.

The 8% ABV imperial IPA is available nationally through November 1 in 12-ounce six-packs and on draft. It is already pouring at the brewery’s taprooms in Longmont, Colorado, and Brevard, North Carolina.

A loud, old-school West Coast imperial IPA

Deviant Dale’s is built for drinkers who still want pine, grapefruit rind, and resin instead of the softer, fruit-forward IPAs that dominate shelves today. The brewery describes it as full-bodied and assertive, with citrus and pine on the nose and a long, bitter finish.

Older tasting notes and brewery copy put it at about 85 IBUs, with a copper color and heavy Columbus dry-hopping. It is the kind of beer that once felt almost too much — and that is the point.

“Maybe we got a little too weird for 2017, but we’re not afraid of weird at Oskar Blues,” said Aaron Baker, brand director. “Deviant Dale’s is a great IPA with a ton of personality — it’s big, it’s loud, it’s really flavorful — and we’re excited to have it back.”

The beer also has hardware. Deviant Dale’s won a silver medal in the American IPA category at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival.

Where it fits in the Dale’s lineup

Deviant Dale’s joins the wider Dale’s family:

Dale’s Pale Ale (the original craft beer in a can)
Dale’s Light Lager
Double Dale’s IPA
Dale’s American IPA
Dale’s Easy IPA
Designated Dale’s NA Pils

Oskar Blues helped launch the craft-can era in 2002 when founder Dale Katechis started packing Dale’s Pale Ale into cans. The brewery now operates in Colorado and North Carolina and is part of Monster Brewing Company.

About Oskar Blues

Oskar Blues started in 1997 as a Southern-style grill and blues hall in Lyons, Colorado, opened by Alabama native Dale Katechis. Beer was an afterthought at first. Katechis began brewing in the restaurant basement in 1999, and Dale’s Pale Ale — a hop-forward American pale ale he had first made as a homebrewer at Auburn — quickly became the house beer. In 2002, after a fax from a Canadian equipment company offered a small can seamer, Oskar Blues did something almost no American craft brewery would consider: it packed Dale’s Pale Ale into aluminum cans. That move, mocked at the time, helped prove cans could protect hoppy beer, travel better than bottles, and belong in the outdoors. Dale’s became a national name, and Oskar Blues is widely credited with launching the craft-beer-in-a-can era.

Growth followed the can. Production shifted from Lyons to a larger Longmont, Colorado, brewery, and in 2012–2013 Oskar Blues opened a second major facility in Brevard, North Carolina, to reach East Coast drinkers with fresher beer. The company later joined the CANarchy craft collective and, in 2022, became part of Monster Brewing Company. Today Oskar Blues still brews in Colorado and North Carolina, with Dale’s Pale Ale at the center of a wider Dale’s family that includes imperial IPAs, lighter lagers, and non-alcoholic beer — a long way from a small Lyons restaurant that once just wanted its own house pint.

For more information please visit https://oskarblues.com/

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Zieglerfest 2026: MadTree Brewing’s Oktoberfest Tradition Returns to Oakley

September 8, 2026 by Dow Scoggins

Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest season kicks into high gear on September 12 when MadTree Brewing throws open the doors of its Oakley Taproom for Zieglerfest, the brewery’s own homegrown celebration of German beer, food, and full-lederhosen fun. Named after Ziegler, MadTree’s award-winning Oktoberfest Lager, the event has become a Cincinnati tradition in its own right — and it’s only the centerpiece of a full month of Oktoberfest programming at the brewery.

The day kicks off at 10 a.m. with a registration-required Bingo session, followed by a Red Dog dog event at noon (leash up “das good boy” and bring them along). From 3 to 7 p.m., the live German band Hopfenbläser takes the stage while steady hands compete in the stein-holding competitions — Cincinnati’s own test of who can hold a full liter mug out at arm’s length the longest without spilling a drop. German beer, food, and prizes run all day long. Beyond September 12, MadTree’s Oakley Taproom transforms into a full Bier Haus and Biergarten all month, pouring an exclusive Oktoberfest flight of four German-style beers: Ziegler (Oktoberfest Lager), Ein Traum (German IPA), The Fourth Stein (Helles), and Old Stick (Altbier), alongside food specials like the Ziegler Chicken Sandwich, Ziegler Wings, and giant Bavarian pretzels. MadTree will also carry the celebration downtown, pouring beer at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati September 17–20 at Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, with 1% of purchases benefiting the Cincinnati Parks Foundation.

Address: 3301 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209
Website:
https://madtree.com/oktoberfest-beer-hall/

The Wild and Wonderful History of Oktoberfest

August 31, 2026 by Dow Scoggins

A Toast to Tradition: The Wild and Wonderful History of Oktoberfest

It all started with a royal “I do” and a thundering horse race. On October 12, 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. To celebrate, they threw a party so epic it would become an annual tradition. Five days later, on October 17, Munich gathered at the city’s edge for horse races in honor of the newlyweds. That celebration laid the foundation for what we now know as Oktoberfest.

Fast forward to 1850, and Oktoberfest had become more than just a party—it was a parade of Bavarian pride. Each year, 8,000 people dressed in traditional attire march through the heart of Munich from Maximilian Street to the Wiesn, led by the symbolic Münchner Kindl (Munich Child). That same year, the imposing Bavaria statue was completed, standing tall above Theresienwiese, forever watching over the revelers below like a stein-wielding guardian angel of the festival.

Of course, not all years were brimming with bratwurst and beer. In 1854 and again in 1873, cholera epidemics halted the festivities. In 1866 and 1870, wars kept the steins dry. But Oktoberfest kept bouncing back, evolving with the times. By 1880, electric lights twinkled above the tents. The following year, bratwurst booths joined the fun. In 1892, glass beer mugs made their first appearance—giving everyone a crystal-clear view of their favorite beverage.

As Oktoberfest strutted into the 20th century, it kept getting bigger and better. In 1887, the now-famous Entry of the Oktoberfest Staff and Breweries debuted, showcasing magnificent beer wagons, costumed workers, and oompah bands parading through the streets. It’s still the grand kickoff to Oktoberfest today.

By 1910, Oktoberfest turned 100—and the party was as grand as you’d expect. An eye-popping 120,000 liters of beer were served, and a new legend was born: the Bräurosl tent, which could hold an incredible 12,000 thirsty guests. Today’s heavyweight is the Hofbräu-Festhalle, packing in 10,000 merrymakers.

The Dark Years: When the Taps Went Dry
Oktoberfest hasn’t always been a guaranteed good time. Between 1914 and 1918, World War I put a full stop to the celebration. Post-war austerity turned Oktoberfest into a humbler “Autumn Fest” for a couple of years. Then came the 1920s and a nasty bout of hyperinflation that put another dent in the keg.

By 1933, politics crept in as the Bavarian flag was replaced with the swastika under Nazi rule. World War II brought yet another halt from 1939 to 1945. Even in the late 1940s, Munich had to make do with low-alcohol beer and toned-down “Autumn Fests.” All told, Oktoberfest has been canceled 24 times due to war, disease, or disaster—but never for lack of spirit.

The Modern Era: Big Tents, Big Beers, and Big Changes
Since 1950, a boisterous and beloved tradition has kicked things off: At noon on opening day, the Mayor of Munich taps the first keg and shouts, “O’zapft is!” (“It’s tapped!”). With a 12-gun salute and the ceremonial passing of the first beer to the Bavarian Minister-President, the festivities begin. The honor of that first tap went to Mayor Thomas Wimmer—and the ritual still kicks off Oktoberfest today.

By the 1960s, Oktoberfest was an international sensation. Tourists began associating Germans with feathered Sennerhüte, Lederhosen, and women in Dirndls—and, for better or worse, the stereotype stuck. That same year marked the end of the original horse races, but no one seemed to miss them amid the sea of pretzels and polkas.

Of course, with millions of beers being poured, a few overzealous drinkers always end up going down for the count. Enter the term “Bierleichen”—beer corpses. These are the partygoers who pass out and are gently carted off to medical tents for a nap and a recovery snack.

To make the festival more family-friendly, 2005 introduced the idea of a “quiet Oktoberfest.” Before 6 PM, tents limit their music to mellow brass bands playing traditional tunes at no more than 85 decibels—loud enough to lift your spirits, but soft enough for Grandma to enjoy her stein in peace. After dark, things ramp up with Schlager and pop music, keeping the late-night crowd grooving (and hopefully not brawling).

Also returning in 2005 was a beloved blast from the past: the Mondlift, Germany’s last traveling Enterprise ride. It’s the perfect thrill after a liter or two—if your stomach can handle it.

In 2008, things got a little less smoky. A Bavarian law banned smoking in enclosed public spaces, including the beer tents. But Oktoberfest found a loophole: since the tents are technically temporary structures, smoking was allowed, though selling tobacco inside was a no-go. That rule held firm into 2009 and beyond, with the smoke slowly clearing out of the beer halls.

Oktoberfest Today: A Global Icon
From royal weddings to wartime interruptions, from candlelit tents to laser-lit beer halls, Oktoberfest has seen it all. Today, it’s a glorious mix of old-school charm and modern flair—where tradition meets turbo-charged fun. Whether you’re hoisting a Maß in Munich or throwing your own backyard Oktoberfest, remember: It’s not just a festival—it’s a feeling.

Top 10 Oktoberfest Celebrations in the U.S.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati – Cincinnati, Ohio
As the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the United States, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati transforms downtown Cincinnati into a vibrant Bavarian village each September. Drawing nearly a million visitors annually, the festival is famous for its quirky events like the Running of the Wieners dachshund race and the World’s Largest Chicken Dance. Featuring more than 50 varieties of beer, authentic German food, and nonstop polka music, Zinzinnati delivers the closest American experience to Munich’s original.
Address: Sawyer Point Park and Yeatman’s Cove, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: oktoberfestzinzinnati.com

Nashville Oktoberfest – Nashville, Tennessee
Held in the historic Germantown district, the Nashville Oktoberfest blends Southern hospitality with Bavarian tradition. Spanning multiple city blocks, this four-day celebration offers authentic German beers, bratwursts, schnitzels, and plenty of festive entertainment. Highlights include the massive beer garden, live German bands, a 5K Bier Run, and the wildly popular Dachshund Derby. It’s one of the South’s liveliest fall festivals, attracting hundreds of thousands each year.
Address: Historic Germantown, Nashville, TN 37219
Website: thenashvilleoktoberfest.com

Wurstfest – New Braunfels, Texas
Wurstfest is a unique Texas twist on a traditional German celebration, taking place along the Comal River in New Braunfels—a town founded by German settlers. This 10-day “Salute to Sausage” combines carnival rides, oompah bands, polka dancing, and a smorgasbord of German and Texan cuisine. The atmosphere is electric, with thousands gathering each night to raise steins and dance in dirndls and lederhosen.
Address: 120 Landa St, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Website: wurstfest.com

Frankenmuth Oktoberfest – Frankenmuth, Michigan
Often called “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” Frankenmuth boasts a charming Bavarian aesthetic that makes it the perfect backdrop for an Oktoberfest celebration. In fact, its Oktoberfest is the only one outside Germany officially sanctioned by Munich’s original organizers. Guests can expect Hofbräuhaus beer, traditional German folk dancing, and plenty of pretzels and schnitzel—all set within a storybook town that feels like a European escape.
Address: Heritage Park, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Website: frankenmuthfestivals.com

La Crosse Oktoberfest – La Crosse, Wisconsin
One of the oldest and most respected Oktoberfest events in the Midwest, La Crosse Oktoberfest began in 1961 and has been a staple of Wisconsin tradition ever since. The multi-day festival includes grand parades, tapping of the golden keg, live performances, and a large Oktoberfest grounds with food stalls and beer tents. Nestled along the Mississippi River, La Crosse delivers a scenic and spirited atmosphere that keeps locals and tourists coming back year after year.
Address: 1 Oktoberfest Strasse, La Crosse, WI 54602
Website: oktoberfestusa.com

Helen Oktoberfest – Helen, Georgia
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen is a recreated Bavarian village that feels tailor-made for Oktoberfest. The celebration here spans multiple weeks from mid-September to late October, making it the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States. The Helen Festhalle becomes the heart of the action, where polka bands, hearty food, and beer flow freely in a uniquely picturesque setting.
Address: Helen Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen, GA 30545
Website: helenchamber.com/oktoberfest

Leavenworth Oktoberfest – Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, a charming Alpine-style village in the Cascades, hosts one of the most beloved Oktoberfests in the Pacific Northwest. The festival features traditional German bands flown in from Europe, a Kinderplatz for families, and three massive beer gardens. With its cobblestone streets, half-timbered architecture, and mountain views, Leavenworth offers a picture-perfect setting for fall festivities.
Address: Festhalle & Front Street Park, Leavenworth, WA 98826
Website: leavenworth.org/oktoberfest

Mount Angel Oktoberfest – Mount Angel, Oregon
This Oregon town with deep German roots has been celebrating Oktoberfest since 1966, and it’s one of the most family-friendly and culturally rich in the country. The festival features multiple venues, each with its own theme, live entertainment, and food offerings. From the Weingarten to the Biergarten, Mount Angel Oktoberfest celebrates music, dancing, and culinary traditions in the shadow of a beautiful Benedictine Abbey.
Address: 5 N Garfield Street, Mount Angel, OR 97362
Website: oktoberfest.org

Fredericksburg Oktoberfest – Fredericksburg, Texas
In the heart of Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg’s German heritage comes alive each fall during Oktoberfest. Known for its welcoming charm, this three-day event features craft beer, local wine, Bavarian bands, and artisan markets. With a laid-back pace and scenic surroundings, Fredericksburg Oktoberfest is ideal for those seeking a more relaxed and intimate experience.
Address: Marktplatz, 100 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Website: oktoberfestinfbg.com

Oktoberfest Denver – Denver, Colorado
Held over two weekends in the historic Ballpark neighborhood, Denver’s Oktoberfest has become a Rocky Mountain tradition. Founded in 1969, the event features stein-hoisting competitions, keg bowling, bratwurst eating contests, and plenty of German beer. With the Denver skyline as its backdrop, this high-altitude celebration fuses Colorado craft with Old World tradition.
Address: Larimer St between 20th & 22nd, Ballpark neighborhood, Denver, CO 80205
Website: thedenveroktoberfest.com

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DESTIHL Launches “Normal Beer,” a No-Frills American Light Lager Brewed in Normal, Illinois

August 30, 2026 by Dow Scoggins

New standalone brand skips the tasting notes and trend-chasing for a straightforward, all-malt light lager — debuting across Illinois this September ahead of a wider rollout through DESTIHL’s national footprint.

NORMAL, Ill. — DESTIHL Holdings, LLC, the Central Illinois beverage and hospitality company behind DESTIHL Brewery, DESTIHL Spirits, and its Canopolis co-manufacturing arm, has introduced Normal Beer, a new standalone American Light Lager built on one simple premise: beer doesn’t have to be complicated. The rollout starts in Illinois this September, with expansion planned into DESTIHL’s roughly 40-state distribution network in the months that follow.

The launch leans into a growing appetite for less noise — fewer influencers, fewer fads, fewer opinions on what you’re “supposed” to drink — and more of what’s familiar. Normal Beer is pitched as exactly that: a normal beer for normal occasions.

It’s also a clear break from DESTIHL’s usual playbook. The brewery built its name on bold, adventurous styles — its DeadHead IPA Series and Wild Sour Series among them — so Normal Beer intentionally goes the other direction: light, easy-drinking, lower ABV, and priced for everyday use.

Where it does keep a craft-brewer’s touch is the grain bill: 100% barley malt, no rice or corn adjuncts, a detail that sets it apart from most light lagers on the shelf. It checks in at 4.0% ABV and 99 calories per 12 oz. serving.

Normal Beer will ship in 12-packs of 12 oz. cans (suggested retail $15.99–$16.99) and in draft kegs for bars and restaurants.

“Beer got complicated somewhere along the way — tasting notes, star ratings, everyone telling you what to drink,” said Matt Potts, Founder and CEO of DESTIHL Holdings. “Normal Beer is a clean, all-malt lager with no shortcuts, made for the stuff people actually do — cookouts, fishing trips, tailgates, firepits, golf, yard work, every cooler worth opening. It’s a perfectly normal beer, and we think that’s exactly what people are craving right now.”

Sold and produced by DESTIHL Brewery, Normal Beer carries its own name, packaging, and identity apart from the company’s craft portfolio. It launches first in its namesake hometown of Normal, Illinois, before expanding statewide and beyond.

More on the brand, including photos and backstory, is available at getnormalbeer.com. Learn more about DESTIHL Brewery at destihl.com.

About Normal Beer
Normal Beer is an American Light Lager brewed with 100% barley malt and no adjuncts, produced by DESTIHL Brewery in Normal, Illinois. It’s built for drinkers who just want a beer to be a beer — clean, crisp, and uncomplicated. #DrinkNormalBeer | getnormalbeer.com

More about DESTIHL Brewery
DESTIHL Brewery traces its roots to a five-gallon home-brew kit founder and CEO Matt Potts received as a Christmas gift from his wife, Lyn, in 1995. That hobby eventually grew into DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works, which opened in Normal, Illinois, on November 23, 2007, pairing scratch-made pub food with beers built to push past the ordinary. As demand grew, the company opened a production brewery in Bloomington in May 2013, then moved operations into a new 47,000-square-foot Brewery & Beer Hall in Normal in May 2017 — a facility centered on a 120-barrel brewhouse capable of producing over 150,000 barrels a year. Today, DESTIHL ranks among the top 100 regional breweries by volume out of nearly 10,000 U.S. breweries, with distribution in close to 40 states.

Beyond its flagship brewery, DESTIHL has built out a wider beverage and hospitality portfolio. Its beer lineup runs from bold, boundary-pushing releases like the DeadHead IPA Series and Wild Sour Series to local collaborations such as Redbird Ale and Battle Bird Lager, officially licensed beers made with Illinois State University. The company has also expanded into spirits through DESTIHL Spirits and into contract beverage production through its Canopolis co-manufacturing division, which brews and packages for other brands. With its newly launched Normal Beer, DESTIHL now spans everything from experimental craft styles to a stripped-down, easy-drinking lager — all rooted in the same Normal, Illinois, brewery that started it all. Website: https://destihl.com/

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Terrapin Beer Co. Will Stop Production in Athens, Georgia; Taproom to Remain Open

August 10, 2026 by Dow Scoggins

Big news out of the Classic City: Terrapin Beer Co. will stop brewing at its longtime Newton Bridge Road facility in Athens, Georgia, effective September 25, 2026. The move comes from parent company Tilray Brands, which is rolling out a sweeping corporate restructuring plan disclosed in its annual report filed July 28. The good news for Athens beer lovers: the taproom, beer garden, warehouse, and repack operations will all keep running as usual — so you can still grab a pint where it all started, even though the beer itself will be brewed somewhere else in the Tilray network going forward.

The shutdown is part of what Tilray is calling Project 420, a business optimization plan aimed at consolidating brewing capacity and streamlining operations, with Redhook, Atwater, Hop Valley, and Revolver also swept into the same consolidation push. The closures are intended to consolidate production, streamline operations and improve the company’s cost structure, according to the filing, and the filing does not indicate the Terrapin brand itself is being discontinued — just the on-site Athens brewing.

A Look Back at Terrapin’s History
Terrapin’s story is a classic Athens craft beer tale. The brewery was founded in 2002 by Brian “Spike” Buckowski and John Cochran, and the pair debuted their first beer at the Classic City Brew Fest in April 2002. That first beer, Rye Pale Ale, made an immediate splash — just six months after debuting locally, it brought home the Gold medal in the American Pale Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival, even though it was only being sold in Athens at the time.

The brewery grew quickly from there. In 2006, Terrapin secured an $800,000 investment from a pool of Athens investors, which let them buy brewing equipment and lease a small production facility in town. By 2008, they’d outgrown that space and moved into the larger 45,000-square-foot facility at 265 Newton Bridge Road, capable of producing up to 18,500 barrels a year — the very building now stepping back from full-scale production. Over the years, that facility became a true Athens institution, drawing an average of 30,000 visitors annually for tastings and tours.

Ownership shifted over time too: Molson Coors announced a majority stake in Terrapin in July 2016, ending its run as an independent craft brewery, and more recently Tilray Beverages acquired the brand in September 2024, followed by a rebrand in February 2025.

Through it all, the Newton Bridge Road taproom has remained the heartbeat of the brand — a gathering spot known for its indoor taproom, sprawling outdoor beer garden, seasonal releases, live music, and pet-friendly events that built a devoted following well beyond Athens. And that heartbeat keeps going. While the brewing kettles on-site will go quiet next month, the taproom stays open, the beer garden stays lively, and Terrapin beer will still flow freely to fans across the Southeast. For a brand built on innovation and reinvention since day one, this next chapter looks less like an ending and more like Terrapin doubling down on what made it special in the first place — the community, the experience, and that unmistakable Athens spirit. Here’s to many more pints on Newton Bridge Road.

Address: 265 Newton Bridge Rd, Athens, GA 30607
Website: https://www.terrapinbeer.com/

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