Bramwell Oktoberfest prepares for 20th anniversary

Preparations are almost complete for the 20th anniversary of Bramwell Oktoberfest.  When the gates open at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, the longest-running craft beer festival in West Virginia will hit a milestone.

If the weather turns out pleasant, a crowd of approximately 3,000 is expected to fill the streets of this picturesque Mercer County town. Once the home of numerous millionaire coal barons, the brick streets of Bramwell offer a colorful backdrop to the festival. A prestigious list of breweries from West Virginia and surrounding states are participating again this year.

Bramwell Oktoberfest excels in local beer & bands

George Sitler, festival director and co-founder, announced the line-up of West Virginia breweries and beers last Friday—and it is a good one. (From this beer list, BrilliantStream.com has selected its Don’t Miss Tasting List and presented it at the end of this article.)

The festival appears to have another all-star schedule of musical entertainment, which runs throughout the day. Music acts include traditional folk, blues, bluegrass and alternative artists performing simultaneously on three stages.

As usual, guests can expect a variety of local food vendors who serve traditional Oktoberfest foods and other local specialties. Another option is having lunch, dinner, or ice cream at the Corner Shop soda fountain by the festival entrance gate.

Ticket Information

Tickets are available in advance and at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased for $25 each at Mercer County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau in Bluefield, the Train Depot in Bramwell, and Cheap Thrills Records in Princeton. Admission will be $30 at the gate on Saturday. Discounted tickets are available for designated drivers.

The weather is predicted to be mild with temperatures in the high 50s to low 60s and only a small chance of rain for Saturday afternoon. Seems like perfect fall weather for a beer festival.

Bramwell Oktoberfest is certainly among the most unique and enjoyable annual craft beer events anywhere in the Appalachian region. To see a bit of what you can expect, watch the BrilliantStream.com video about the 2014 Bramwell Oktoberfest.

Brewery Line Up for 2015

BrilliantStream.com Don’t Miss recommendations in red.

Greenbrier Valley, Lewisburg, WV

Wild Trail Pale Ale
Mothman Black IPA
Devil Anse IPA
Hefeweizen
Weizenbock