Find fall beer festivals aplenty
September 14, 2021
West Virginia has a great line-up of fall beer festivals from Morgantown to Bluefield to Barboursville. Fall is always our favorite season for outdoor beer festivals. The weather tends to be so much more enjoyable than those days of muggy summer heat. And you get to sample all that delicious fall-seasonal WV beer.
WV fall beerfest season kicks off on September 25 with the venerable OktoberWest on Charleston’s West Side. It always offers a great line up of fun competitions along with loads of fall beers and Oktoberfest foods. Also on Sept. 25 is Bluefield’s Octoberfest in the Park. It’s an event that normally offers beers you don’t get at other local Oktoberfest events because it’s actually held across the state line in Virginia.
Charleston’s Foam at the Dome returns to the city’s East End on October 9. Then on Oct. 16, the popular Hops on the Mon festival returns to downtown Morgantown. We have two new festivals in Chili’n on the Elk on Oct. 2 in Clendenin and Corks & Kegs at the Huntington Mall on Oct.23. The season concludes on Nov. 13 with Wagging Tails & Nitro Ales beer and chili festival in Nitro.
In addition to the independent festivals, some WV breweries also have their own Oktoberfest events at their taprooms. Check your favorite brewery’s social media to see if they also have an Oktoberfest event scheduled.
For pure drinking pleasure, we found some legitimate Oktoberfest beers on tap at WV breweries. For fans of the Märzen style amber lagers, check out Brew Keepers in Wheeling, Bridge Brew Works in Fayetteville, Big Timber in Elkins, Weathered Ground in Cool Ridge, The Peddler in Huntington, Bad Shepherd in Charleston, and Morgantown Brewing in Morgantown. If you want to try an excellent rendition of the lighter Festbier style, it’s harder to find, but you can drink one now at Cacapon Mountain Brewing in Berkeley Springs, and one is also on tap at Big Timber Brewing’s taproom, making them the only WV brewery we know that makes beers of both Oktoberfest styles.
WV Fall Beer Festival List
Here is a preview of each festival. Pick your favorites and get moving.
OktoberWest 2021
RETURNS FOR 2021
Saturday, September 25, 2021
4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Elk City District
Washington St. West & Bigley Av.
Charleston, WV
General Admission: $35
Tickets On sale now
Large festival takes place in Charleston’s West Side district. Sample over 100 craft brews, including a number of limited Octoberfest and German varieties. Fun fest-themed competitions. Sway to the sounds of three bands playing all evening. OktoberWest benefits Charleston Main Street economic development programs.
Oktoberfest in the Park
RETURNS FOR 2021
September 25, 2021
3:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
Lotito City Park
1780 Stadium Drive
Bluefield, WV/VA
$30 General Admission
Ticket sale now
The City of Bluefield again presents its Oktoberfest at the Park. German foods, beer and bands will bring a festive atmosphere to what the city promises will be a laid-back-type of festival similar to the Bramwell Oktoberfest of old.
The beer list should include a number of breweries not available in WV. Also live music, food and wine. Admission ticket gets you a cup and beer sampling.
Festival Facebook page
Chili’n on the Elk Beer & Wine Festival
NEW EVENT
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Afternoon
Downtown Main Street
Clendenin,WV
$20 General Admission
$30 VIP (includes private tasting)
This new festival combines beer & wine with a sanctioned chili cookoff. Will include local and regional crafters from throughout West Virginia. Live music will be played along Main Street. All proceeds benefit the Elk River Trail Foundation and the beautification of the town of Clendenin.
Foam at the Dome/Hops & Heat
RETURNS for 2021
Saturday, October 9, 2021
3:00pm – 6:00 pm
East End District
Corner of Washington St. E & Elizabeth Streets
Charleston, WV
$40 — General Admission
$50 — One-hour early admission
Tickets sales underway
They are combining Foam at the Dome and Hops & Heat for this year and having it on Oct. 9th.
Over 200 beers expected. A good mix of West Virginia and regional breweries. Eight restaurant vendors, plus artists/crafts people, and local bands round out the offerings. A chili cookoff with samples while supplies last. Sponsored by and profits support Charleston Main Streets and its East End and West Side urban development program. In its first four years, Foam at the Dome raised over $132,000 for East End and West Side revitalization. See our coverage of the 2018 Foam at the Dome here.
Hops on the Mon
Saturday, October 16, 2021
3:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Courthouse Square
High Street
Morgantown, WV
$30 General Admission
Back for another round after taking last year off is Morgantown’s premier craft beer festival. It promises a super line up of carefully curated craft beer by the folks from the Apothecary Ale House. Expect over 150 offerings of the very best beer available in WV. This year the festival is taking place outdoors on High Street in the middle of downtown at Courthouse Square. Live music by alt-country rock and roller William Matheny. In this year’s food feature, local restaurants compete to see who has the best slider in the The Super Slider Shootout.
Corks & Kegs
NEW for 2021
Saturday, October 23, 2021
4:00pm – 8:00 pm
Huntington Mall
Barboursville, WV
$40 — General Admission
$60 — VIP (Includes food)
Tickets on sales now
Event organizers say Corks and Kegs will feature beer & wine tasting and local food vendors, as well as live entertainment from Adam Parker & the Bourbon Cowboys, Carter Miller, and Essie Riddle.at the Dome and Hops & Heat.
Wagging Tails & Nitro Ales
Smoke on the Water Edition
NEW PARTNERSHIP for 2021
Saturday, November 13, 2021
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Living Memorial Park
20th St. & 2nd Av.
Nitro, WV
$TBA — General Admission
$TBA — VIP Admission
Tickets on sale soon
Event organizers say the Nitro Ales festival is combining this year with the Smoke on the Water Chili Cookoff formerly held in downtown Charleston. Proceeds will be split between the events’ two charities, HospiceCare and Dog Bless. The chili cookoff is officially sanctioned by the International Chili Society.
About author:-
