Fall Beer Festivals 2018
It’s time to plan your attendance at some of the best beer festivals in the Mountain State. Listed below are our picks of 2018’s fall festivals and events you won’t want to miss. As usual, we include a few suggestions for out-of-state road trips too.
Happy Retreat Craft Beer Festival
Saturday, September 8, 2018
11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Happy Retreat
600 Mordington Av.
Charles Town, WV
$30 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: Someone to Ride the River With, Billy Thompson, Balkun Brothers, and Bumper Jacksons. 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
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
September 21, 2018 • 5 pm – 9 pm
September 22, 2018 • 11 am – 11 pm
September 23, 2018 • 11 am – 9 pm
Downtown
Cincinnati, OH
Free admission
Pricing a la carte
Downtown Cincinnati tuns into the largest Oktoberfest celebration in America. Tons of German food, music, dancing, and beer. Large festival beer tents. Lots of street drinking. Plenty of regional craft brews and many German labels too. Festival website link
Morgantown Brewing Oktoberfest
September 29-30, 2018
1291 University Ave.
Morgantown, WV
No admisssion charge
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 becomes the happiest place in town. Specials all day long. Enjoy Morgantown’s delicious Oktoberfest beer.
OktoberWest
September 29, 2018
4:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Washington St. W. at Bigley Av.
Charleston, WV
$35 General Admission
Ticket sale over
The 11th year of this annual outdoor street festival celebrates craft brews with a focus on West Virginia breweries You will find 100 different beers, including several limited Octoberfest and German varieties. 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.
Stein holding and best traditional dress contests will be held. New this year is a keg rolling contest. VooDoo Katz, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, and Lucky Chops will provide the musical entertainment. Music begins at 4:30 PM and the jamming continues until 9 PM. The festival raises funds for revitalizing Charleston’s West Side business district.
Festival event page link
Oktoberfest in the Park
September 29, 2018
3:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Lotito City Park
1780 Stadium Drive
Bluefield, WV/VA
$25 General Admission
Tickets sale over
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. Admission gets you a cup and unlimited sampling.
The festival is sponsored by The Bluefield Beautification Commission.
Festival Facebook page
Home Runs and Hops
September 29, 2018
12:00 Noon — 6:00 P.M.
Monongalia County Ballpark
Granville, WV
$35 General Admission, advance purchase
Ticket sale over
This festival is sponsored by The West Virginia Black Bears baseball team and Monongalia County Ballpark. Expect a bunch of WV and regional breweries to participate. With each festival ticket purchased you will receive 20 – 3 oz. beer tasting tickets. Additional beer samples available at $1.50 each.
This year they are partnering with the United Way’s Mac & Cheese Cookoff. Mac & Cheese sample portions will cost $2.00 each. Additional festival foods also on sale. Event is 21+ for admission. Free parking.
Home Run & Hops festival website
Oktoberfest Pipestem
Saturday, October 6
11:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M.
Pipestem Spa & Event Center
Pipestem, WV
Free admission
A la cart. Cash bar.
All West Virginia craft beer, live music, German food, and local food trucks highlight this Oktoberfest celebration. Last year’s event was a blast; expect similar fun this year. All ages welcome.
Oktoberfest Pipestem Facebook page
Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 13, 2018
5:00 – 10:00 P
Six Row Field
Sierra Nevada Brewing
100 Sierra Nevada Way
Mills River, NC
$30 General Admission
Tickets sold here
Enjoy a traditional German-themed festival on the beautiful Sierra Nevada brewery grounds. German-inspired food and musical performances. General Admission ticket includes a contemporary German meal provided by the Sierra Nevada Taproom; a commemorative beer stein; shuttle ride; and one beer ticket. Additional beer tickets are $5 each.
Park free near the airport at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center and hop on free shuttles to the brewery. Alternatively, leave your car in Asheville and SNB will shuttle you to the event. Shuttles will run continuously beginning at 4:30pm until the festival finishes.
Hops & Heat
October 20, 2018
2:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
East End Bazaar
1428 Washington St.
Charleston, WV
$35 General Admission for Beer Drinkers
$20 for Non-Drinkers
Tickets on sale now
One of Brilliant Stream’s favorite fall beer events, Hops & Heat will once again highlight West Virginia and Appalachian breweries. Expect around 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 Hops & Heat Chili Cookoff.
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. Non-Drinker tickets include everything except the beer. Only 500 tickets will be sold. See highlights of the 2017 event.
Proceeds benefit Charleston’s East End improvement projects. More information at charlestoneastend.org or the Facebook event page.
Hops on the Mon
DATE CHANGE – VENUE CHANGE
October 27, 2018
2:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Mylan Park Expo Center
500 Mylan Park Lane
Morgantown, WV
$60 V.I.P.
$45 General Admission
Tickets on sale now
Now in its 2nd year in Morgantown, the festival promises a super line up of carefully curated craft beer by the folks from the Apothecary Ale House. Expect around 170 offerings of the very best beer available in WV (and plenty of Belgians). Taking place indoors in the Expo Center at Mylan Park, it promises a perfect climate without worry about the weather.
Ticket purchase includes beer sampling. V.I.P. ticket gets one hour early entry and special beers. Food feature includes eight local restaurants competing in the Motown Taco Throwdown.
Festival Facebook page
Big Elkin BrewFest
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Noon – 4:00 P.M.
Elkin Municipal Park
Elkin, NC
$20 General Admission
$50 VIP
Tickets on sale now
This little festival is conveniently located just 3.5 miles off I-77 in the town of Elkin. It will feature beer from several small North Carolina breweries that you don’t normally see in the cities, as well as beers from breweries that are more common. Local ciders too. Local food trucks and bands.
General admission includes unlimited sampling, VIP tickets includes one hour early admission, unlimited sampling, two pint tokens, access to VIP tent & special parking area. Festival’s Facebook link
Putnam County Craft Beer Festival
Saturday, November 3, 2018
12:00 – 4:00 P.M.
Sleepy Hollow County Club
Hurricane, WV
We don’t have much info on this brand new event at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club but they say to expect live music, food trucks, arts, crafts and craft beer from West Virginia and the surrounding regions. General admission is $28 and includes 12 tasting tickets.
Festival Link