In the late 19th century, Cincinnati was the country’s third-largest beer producer and the citizens drank enough beer for every man, woman and child to consume 40 gallons a year — more than double the national average at the time.
Needless to say, the Queen City has a storied history of drunken debauchery that extends to this day and Bockfest, America’s oldest German Bock-style beer festival, promises to perfectly capture our boisterously inebriated spirits this weekend for the 27th year.
Bock beers are typically dark amber lagers with heavy notes of malt and ABV levels comparable to IPAs, but without the bitterness. To celebrate this age-old elixir, the weekend begins with a parade from Arnold’s Bar & Grill to the Christian Moerlein Malt House Taproom event center (aka Bockfest Hall) where a ceremonial blessing of a keg kicks off the party.
If you’re a real trooper, there’s a 10 a.m. 5k on Saturday where the prize is more beer. Even more beer and unique historic brewery and cellar tours are offered throughout the weekend. Once night falls on Saturday, watch in awe as the prestigious (gender-neutral) sausage queen competition determines the most talented diva who looks good holding a sausage after the (equally gender-neutral) beard baron contest.
Sunday winds down the festivities with kid-friendly games and goat yoga for a more family-friendly atmosphere, but don’t worry, there’s still a bloody mary bar for the parents.
For a full schedule of events, visit bockfest.com.
