Hundreds Enjoy Brew Culture at BerktoberfestBy Joe Durwin
Special to iBerkshires
05:50PM / Monday, October 03, 2011
Participants tried their skill in the time-honored tradition of keg-tossing. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More than 850 turned out to participate in the 4th annual Berktoberfest on Saturday, despite heavy rain early in the day, and chilling winds as the afternoon wore on.
Attendees purchased tickets to sample a variety of craft beers from breweries drawn from around New England.
Massachusetts breweries included Wandering Star, Cape Ann, Barrington Brewery, Rapscallion, Lefty's, Element, Paper City and Berkshire Homebrewers, Long Trail and Woodchuck from Vermont, with Sea Dog, Shipyard and Peak Organic hailing from Maine. Rhode Island was represented by Narragansett, a co-sponsor of Pittsfield's recent Word X Word Festival, and Connecticut by Olde Burnside.
"Luckily, good beer goes with everything, including rain," said one attendee as he sampled a dark pumpkin stout by Cape Ann, poured from a tap in an actual pumpkin.
Pittsfield's Octoberfest style event was first launched in 2008 with the backing of Pittsfield Brew Works, formerly located on Depot Street across the from the McKay Street lot where the event has been held each year. After Brew Works closed in May 2010, Colleen Nixon and Lynn Lefebvre, brew enthusiasts who also hosted the pub's popular trivia night series, worked together to keep the event going.
A variety of beer-friendly cuisine was available from Baba Louie's Wood-Fired Pizza, Flavour's of Malaysia, and Brix Wine Bar and Bistro, who also happen to be three of the closest eating establishments to the location of Berktoberfest at the McKay Street parking lot.
Participants also enjoyed lively games such as keg-tossing, a Berktoberfest favorite, and musical entertainment from The Few and Noumenon. While the latter, with its cerebral, Pixies-meets-PJ Harvey-ish quality, may have raised an eyebrow from a few brew-sippers, it was highly appreciated by this iBerkshires correspondent.
Funds raised from this event will be parceled into donations to support Berkshire Brewing Heritage, the Elizabeth Freeman Center and Downtown Inc. in Pittsfield.
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