Fall Beer Festivals 2017
It’s time to plan your attendance at some of the best beer festivals in the Mountain State. Listed below is our pick of the festivals and events you won’t want to miss.
Nitro Ales Craft Beer Festival
November 11, 2017
9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Living Memorial Park
21st St. & 2nd Av.
Nitro, WV
$10 General Beer Fest Admission
$25 VIP Package
Tickets on sale now
The 1st annual Nitro Ales festival joins with the 4th annual Wagging Tails Chili Challenge to offer delicious chili and craft beer samples. Vendor booths, live music, and a children’s area are included. Wagging Tails is a ICS sanctioned chili cookoff.
General Admission includes two craft beer sample tickets and a Nitro Ales Cup. The VIP package includes one general admission, 3 craft beer tickets, limited edition Nitro Ales long sleeve t-shirt, and branded souvenir cup. Extra beer sample tickets are $10 for ten 4 oz. pours. Chili sample tickets will be sold at the festival.
The event is sponsored by the Nitro Development Authority, which is the economic development organization in the City of Nitro. Net festival proceeds benefit Dog Bless, a local animal rescue group comprised of volunteers who have rescued, fostered, transported, provided medical care for, and found new homes for more than 3,000 dogs since its start in 2012.
Festival event page link
Happy Retreat Craft Beer and Music Festival
September 9, 2017
11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Happy Retreat
600 Mordington Av.
Charles Town, WV
$40 V.I.P
$20 General Admission advance purchase
Ticket sale over
The festival will include more than 50 local, state, regional and national craft beers. Staff will be on hand to discuss everything beer. Souvenir glass and limited beer sampling included with admission. Additional samples sold at the festival.
Musical lineup will include Jah Works, Black Masala, The Primate Fiasco, The Woo Yeahs. The festival takes place on the grounds of the historic property of Charles Washington, brother of George Washington and founder of Charles Town. Festival proceeds support the upkeep of the property.
Facebook event page link
Hops on the Mon
September 23, 2017
3:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Morgantown Event Center
Waterfront Place Marriott Hotel
Morgantown, WV
$60 V.I.P.
$40 General Admission
Ticket sale over
This new offering in Morgantown 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. Taking place indoors in the 23,000 sq. ft. Grand Exhibit Hall, it promises a perfect climate without worry about the weather.
Ticket purchase includes beer sampling. V.I.P. ticket gets one hour early admission and special beers. Food feature includes local restaurants competing in the Great Grilled Cheese Challenge.
Festival Facebook page
Morgantown Brewing Oktoberfest
September 30, 2017
11:00 AM – Close
1291 University Ave.
Morgantown, WV
No admission charge
Cash bar
Morgantown Brewing Company celebrates Oktoberfest at its downtown brewpub. The staff dresses in traditional Bavarian festival clothing and the kitchen serves up a great menu of fest food. The outdoor Biergarden behind the brewery is the happiest place in town. Specials all day long. Enjoy Morgantown’s delicious Oktoberfest beer.
OktoberWest
September 30, 2017
4:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Washington St. W. at Bigley Av.
Charleston, WV
$35 General Admission
Ticket sale over
This annual outdoor street festival celebrates craft brews with a focus on West Virginia breweries. Food vendors from around the city will set up food carts, trucks, and kiosks to sell their delicious goods. Ticket Includes six 12 oz beer tickets. Nondrinker and children’s tickets also available.
One WV and three North Carolina bands will provide the musical entertainment., The Mantras, from Greensboro, will headline with Crystal Bright & The Silver Hands and West Virginia’s Static Fur adding to the variety. Music begins at 4 PM and the jamming continues through 9 PM. The festival raises funds for revitalizing Charleston’s West Side business district.
Festival event page link
Home Run & Hops Craft Beer Festival
September 30, 2017
12:00 Noon – 6:00 P.M.
WV Black Bears Stadium
Monongalia County Ballpark
Granville, WV
$35 General Admission (advance)
Ticket sale over
The West Virginia Black Bears are hosting The Home Run and Hops Craft Beer Festival to bring even more fall fun to Morgantown. Over 50 beers are promised.
For every ticket purchased, you will receive 20 tasting tickets, which can be redeemed for one 3-oz. beer sample each. Additional tasting tickets are available for $1.50 each.
Oktoberfest in the Park
September 30, 2017
3:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Lotito City Park
1780 Stadium Drive
Bluefield, WV/VA
$25 General Admission
Ticket sale over
The City of Bluefield again channels a bit of Bramwell for 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.
Virginia’s largest beer distributor, Blue Ridge Beverage, is putting together the beer list, so expect a number of breweries not available in WV. Admission gets you a cup and unlimited sampling.
Bands this year are Big Daddy Love, from North Carolina, and WV,s The Kind Thieves.
The festival is sponsored by The Bluefield Beautification Commission.
Festival Facebook page
Oktoberfest Pipestem 
October 6, 5:00-10:00 P.M.
Oct. 7, 11:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M.
Pipestem Spa & Event Center
Pipestem, WV
General Admission advance purchase is $15 for Friday; $20 for Saturday; or $25 for a two-day ticket.
Ticket sale over
West Virginia craft beer, a Metallica tribute band, German food, and local barbecue highlight this Oktoberfest celebration. The festival moves to two evenings this year and offers about 50 different beers opened at different times across the two-day event.
Buying a General Admission ticket will give adults 21 and over a beer sampler cup and 10 beer tickets. Additional beer tickets will be available for purchase.
Oktoberfest Pipestem website
Hops & Heat
October 21, 2017
2:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
East End Bazaar
1428 Washington St.
Charleston, WV
$30 General Admission for Beer Drinkers
$20 for Non-Drinkers
Ticket sale over
Hops & Heat will once again highlight West Virginia and Appalachian breweries. Several of the newer breweries in the state have already confirmed. Past festival favorites, such as Screech Owl and Big Timber, will return again this year. Expect over 25 breweries and 80+ beers.
The Heat in the festival name comes from The Best Chili Beer Competition, which will return to coincide with the Chili Cookoff. Last year’s winner Big Timber Brewing has agreed to participate again along with Foothills Brewing and several newcomers such as Pubstomper and New Belgium.
Beer Drinker tickets include beer samples, three 12 oz. craft beer tickets, unlimited chili samples, and access to live music and East End Bazaar artisans. Nondrinker tickets include everything except the beverages. Only 500 tickets will be sold.
Proceeds benefit Charleston’s East End improvement projects. More information at charlestoneastend.org or the Facebook event page.