The third annual Bier Fest will return to Busch Gardens for three weekends in September.
The celebration of beer and German food will run for eight days on three consecutive weekends: September 1-4, 9-10 and 16-17, according to a press release from Busch Gardens.
The 2017 edition of Bier Fest will highlight more local beers than ever before. The festival will feature brews from twice as many Virginia breweries.
Local Historic Triangle breweries to be featured at Bier Fest include Alewerks and the Virginia Beer Company.
International beers will also be on sale, with offerings from Germany and Switzerland. Larry’s Hard Lemonade, Angry Orchard Cider and Magners Cherry Cider will also be available for the first time this year.
In addition to new beverage options, three new locations to purchase drinks will be added to the park’s England, Ireland and Oktoberfest villages.
Firkin kegs, which produce unfiltered beer without nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure, will be tapped at 11:30 a.m. each day at the Bier Garden Stage in the Oktoberfest village.
Representatives from craft breweries will host discussions about the brewing process on select dates at Grogan’s Pub in Ireland and the Brauhaus Craft Bier Room in Oktoberfest’s Das Festhouse.
Authentic German specialty foods will be served in the Oktoberfest Village and Grogon’s Pub as well, including Brawtwurst sandwiches, beer-battered bratwurst, Shepherd’s Pie, turkey legs, giants pretzels with bacon salt, and schnitzels.
Busch Gardens’ hours of operation vary during Bier Fest. The park’s hours can be found here.
