Join us on Saturday, September 20th, for the official “tapping of the keg” flown all the way from Germany to kickoff Oktoberfest with us at Shipgarten! We will have a fantastic selection of over 50 biers from Germany, Belgium, Austria, and the US for everyone to enjoy. Representatives from several breweries will join us to showcase their biers!
***Shipgarten opens at 11 AM & the festival runs from 1 PM until 8 PM. Samples available from 3-7 PM Restaurant closes at 2 AM***
BAVARIAN GAMES SCHEDULE:
1:15 PM Oktoberfest Kickoff Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting
1:20 PM – “Tapping of the Keg”- MYSTERY TAPPER
2:00 PM Pretzel Toss (First Team to Catch 3 Pretzels on stick WIns $25 Gift Card)
3:00 PM Stein to Stein Pour (Most Coordinated Team to Fill The Stein Wins $25 Gift Card!)
4:00PM Keg Curling (Most Reps of an Empty Keg in 1 Minute Wins $25 Gift Card!)
5:00PM Stein Hoisting (Longest Endurance Holding a Filled Stein Wins $25 Gift Card!)
♫ 3:30 to 7:30pm: Live Music by Jason Hibler
8:00 PM Costume Contest ($100 gift card Most Authentic, $50 gift card Best Couple, and $25 gift card for Funniest)
♫ 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM Oktoberfest After Party with DJ Bianca Diamond
ADDITIONALLY
➳ Meet and Greet Brewery Reps from Germany, Belgium, Austria & the US and get some BIER-ducation from them. Throughout the day each rep will talk about the history, flavor and process fo the biers they are pouring
➳ Various beers to sample from local and international breweries
➳ Photo Booth with Accessories for you and your pup(s)!
➳Great food including German style BBQ
➳German mulled wine & cocktails
➳Dog Friendly (Check out our Dog menu, play in the dog park, or just bring your pup along)
➳ Lawn Games & Activities including ladder toss, cornhole, connect 4, giant chess & checkers & MORE)
➳ Giveaways, Competitions & Prizes
✪ Featured Breweries ✪
PAULANER
Paulaner Brauerei Oktoberfest Märzen / Original Münchner Märzen
Märzen ⁄ 5.8% ABV ⁄ 20 IBU ⁄ Munich, Bayern
An amber beer style that was developed over 200 years ago to celebrate the original Oktoberfest. The Märzen name comes from “March beer” because it was historically brewed in March to be at peak flavor for the Oktoberfest celebration. Today this style is available year-round in the US due to popular demand.
Paulaner Brauerei Paulaner Hefe-Weißbier / Hefe-Weizen / Weissbier
Wheat Beer – Hefeweizen ⁄ 5.5% ABV ⁄ 16 IBU ⁄ Munich, Bayern
The No. 1 Hefe-Weißbier in Germany and one of the world’s favourites. Naturally cloudy and shining silky gold in the glass under a really strong head of foam. At the first mouthful this Weißbier classic has a mild aroma of banana. Finer palates detect a trace of mango and pineapple and the balance between sweet and bitter. Beer connoisseurs appreciate the fine note of yeast and the mild but sparkling mix of aromas. It is a typical beergarden beer, which brings people together all over the world.
Paulaner Brauerei Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier
Festbier ⁄ 6% ABV ⁄ Munich, Bayern
Ever since 1818 we have brewed our bottom-fermented Oktoberfest Bier during Oktoberfest – Germany’s favourite Oktoberfest beer and a true institution in Munich. The glass is full of October sunshine, strong and golden. The perfect balance of a light taste of hops and a strong note of malt. A feast of a beer, which always goes down well. This beer is only brewed for the Oktoberfest. That’s where it belongs, along with all the fun of the fair like the Ferris wheel and roasted almonds.The fact that we can brew this beer every year for the Oktoberfest is an honour and a pleasure. We belong to the 6 breweries, which have the exclusive permission to supply their beer at the largest folk festival in the world where we serve over a million litres in our beer tents – brought to your table by waitresses who easily carry ten 1 litre beer mugs (Mass) at once. A distinguishing feature from other festival beers is the particular harmony of balance between the sweeter taste of malt and that of the hops. The initial mild taste followed by a stronger note, invites you to take a second taste. By tradition it is also slightly stronger than a normal Lager, but the high grade of fermentation makes it particularly easy to drink. Friends of a good beer like to take the time to savour their beer, ideally with a typical beer tent snack like smoked mackerel or radish with bread and chives and mini meatballs.
Paulaner Brauerei Paulaner Pils / Münchner Pils
Pilsner – German ⁄ 4.8% ABV ⁄ 31 IBU ⁄ Munich, Bayern ⁄ 3.40
Paulaner has brought back a classic Germany pilsner, that delivers a clean, crisp taste. Our Bavarian brewers are particularly experienced in crafting classic Pilsner biers and ready to fill the growing demand for lighter, more refreshing products.
ALLEGHAUER-BRASS
Allgäuer Brauhaus Oberdorfer Festbier
Festbier ⁄ 5.4% ABV ⁄ Kempten (Allgäu), Bayern
Features a malty flavor with bread dough and soft sweetness, alongside a medium bitterness. It has a lightly toasty character and a clean, crisp, and well-attenuated finish, often with hints of floral or herbal hops.
Radeberger Gruppe Radeberger Pilsner
Pilsner – German ⁄ 4.8% ABV ⁄ 33 IBU ⁄ Frankfurt am Main, Hessen ⁄
Crowned the official drink by King Friedrich August III of Saxony, Radeberger, a pilsner style beer brewed near Dresden, is characterized by its dazzling and refreshing taste and has long been enjoyed by German nobility.
Radeberger Gruppe Clausthaler IPA
Non-Alcoholic – IPA ⁄ 0.5% ABV ⁄ Frankfurt am Main, Hessen
The new dry hopped Clausthaler IPA is the latest addition in the long tradition of great tasting brews from Clausthaler – The German pioneer of non-alcoholic beers. Cascade Hops and the dry-hopping brewing method make Clausthaler IPA a crisp full bodied brew with straightforward hoppy character. The result: A deep golden, unfiltered masterpiece – The German way of IPA.
DELIRIUM
Delirium – Huyghe Delirium Tremens
Belgian Strong Golden Ale ⁄ 8.5% ABV ⁄ 24 IBU ⁄ Melle, Vlaams Gewest
The allusion to pink elephants and the choice of names is not due to chance. With a particular character, the unique taste results from triple fermentation and the use of three different yeast strains. Sweet, biscuit malt backbone, supported by pleasant warmth and spice, finishes well rounded, floral, and dry.
Color and Sight:
Pale blond, the fine and regular sparkle creates a nice, stable foam head.
Scent:
Slightly malty, heavy touch of alcohol, spicy.
Taste:
A good shot of alcohol ignites in the mouth, as it were, which really warms the tongue and palate. The taste is also characterized by its roundness. The finish is strong, long and dry bitter.
Delirium – Huyghe Delirium Red
Fruit Beer ⁄ 8% ABV ⁄ 10 IBU ⁄ Melle, Vlaams Gewest
Colour and sight: Deep dark red colour, with a light pink, compact and lacing head.
Scent: Soft fruity aroma, with hints of almond and mildly sour cherries.
Flavour: Sweet and fruity, with a nice balance between sweet and sour. An excellent dessert beer.
VIRGINIA BEER CO.
The Virginia Beer Co. (VBC) Free Verse
IPA – New England ⁄ 6.8% ABV ⁄ Williamsburg, VA
– Tropical, Hazy, Juicy –
This juicy, tropical, and hazy IPA expresses itself without limitation thanks to copious helpings of Azacca and Chinook Hops.
CAN NOTE! Some naturally occurring sediment is normal and expected.
The Virginia Beer Co. (VBC) Prost!
Altbier – Traditional ⁄ 5% ABV ⁄ Williamsburg, VA
This German-style Altbier is malty, traditional, & autumnal. Our recipe is a nod to the Rhineland roots of the style: a top-fermented, copper-coloured “Oktoberfest Ale”. Warming hints of dark chocolate & freshly browned bread blend with spicy aromas meant to inspire the feeling of the fall biergarten season. Prost!
We will also be serving samples of all our regular draft beers from Tysons Biergarten and RollBär
History of Oktoberfest:
Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival. Held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, it is a folk festival running from mid or late September into October (this year it officially starts in Munich on September 21st), with more than 6 million people from around the world in attendance every year. Locally, it is often called the Wiesn, after the colloquial name for the fairgrounds (Theresienwiese). Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810.
Kronprinz (Crown Prince) Ludwig (1786-1868), later King Ludwig I (reign: 1825-1848), married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the royal event. The fields were named Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s Meadow”) in honour of the Crown Princess, and have kept that name ever since, although the locals have since abbreviated the name simply to the “Wiesn”. Horse races, in the tradition of the 15th century Scharlachrennen (Scarlet Race at Karlstor), were held on October 17 to honor the newlyweds. Every year since this tradition has been repeated and is now called “Oktoberfest”.
PARKING: 1700 Old Meadow Road, McLean, VA 22102.
Parking is conveniently located five minutes away by foot and we offer a completely free, pet friendly, and complimentary Shuttle Bus service that runs on a continuous loop to and from the venue and parking lot! Another alternative is a $20 valet service.
We are also conveniently located steps away from the McLean Metro Station.
Uber Drop Off: 7581 Colshire Dr., McLean, VA 22102
