Local Beers Pour onto the Scene at Shirlington Oktoberfest

Capitol City hosted the 12th Annual Oktoberfest this past Saturday in Arlington's Shirlington Village.  Bright sunshine brought above-average autumn temperatures and set the scene for a delightful afternoon.  Combine 40+ plus breweries, German food, and a oompa band DJ spinning German-themed tunes on an Apple laptop (perhaps an ad hoc tribute to Steve Jobs?) and you have one DC's most spirited fall events. Lederhosen-clad urbinates dotted the landscape, which also included many four-legged friends. 

This homage to craft beer's growing popularity prompted the organizers a few years ago to ditch the all-you-can-drink arrangement and allocate ten 4oz tasting tickets with the $25 admission price tag.

Breweries from across the country --from Harpoon to Abita--sampled their suds, but I could not help but notice and revel in the growing number of local brews.

Falls Church's Mad Fox was pouring their Punkinator, a seasonal offering that gets its flavor from 250 pounds of heirloom Cinderalla pumpkins and pumpkin pie spice from Penzey's of Falls Church (located right across from the Brewery).  The parents of the Fox in Mad Fox were pouring on Saturday, and their enthusiasm was contagious. 

Alexendria's Porty City was also ably represented with four taps.  This burgeoning local powerhouse is less than a year old, but already available in some 250 plus locations.  Public Tours are available at the brewery at 12:30 and 2pm on Saturdays (reservations not required) and include a tasting glass and full beer tasting.

The Lost Rhino may be the most lauded newcomer among NOVA beer lovers; their Face Plant IPA packs a hop-filled punch.  Tours are available at their Ashburn brewery Saturdays until 6pm.

Not to be left out, the District also now has its own brewery.  While I didn't make it to the DC Brau booth on Saturday, I did learn that they open their doors most Saturday afternoons for tastings, tours, and growler fills.

As I sat back, enjoying a weisswurst and an Oktoberfest style beer, I realized that though I remain a skeptic when it comes to the area's wine scene, I am a full on convert and proponent of the growing, local craft brewing community.