MUNICH IN MORIARTY
Sierra Blanca Brewing’s Oktoberfest features 17 beers on tap
Break out the dirndl or lederhosen for Sierra Blanca Brewing Co.’s Oktoberfest.
The seventh annual event, on Saturday, Sept. 15, will feature 17 Sierra Blanca Brewing Co. beers on tap, including its seasonal Oktoberfest, food, music and fun.
“We have 17 beers on tap yearround,” said Tasha Isbell, Sierra Blanca Brewing Co. general manager. “During St. Patty’s, we try to have an Irish Red, and during Oktoberfest, we always have an Oktoberfest on tap, and then our normal beers that we always have on tap. … We have two taprooms. We have the front taproom, and then we have our beer garden, so we’ll pull one of them in the beer garden and put the Oktoberfest in both positions on Saturday when we have the party so that it’s available at both ends of the brewery.”
This year’s seasonal Oktoberfest beer finishes a little drier than those of previous years.
“It’s an American Oktoberfest,” Isbell said. “It’s got a lot of malt character. This year, it finished a little drier than it normally does. So it’s going to be copper in color. It is a traditional Märzen-style lager. We do age it for 2½ to 3 weeks, sometimes four if we have the time. It’s really malty, a little sweeter on the finish, due to the malt. Low hop profile, so it’s a real drinkable beer.”
Sierra Blanca also has available its craft sodas and local wine for guests who prefer something other than beer.
Dinner is included with the ticket price. Children ages 9 and younger will receive a free hot dog, chips and soda.
“Every year, we serve a traditional bratwurst dinner,” Isbell said. “It’s a bratwurst, German potato salad that we make here in the brewery, sauerkraut and, of course, pinto beans, because we do live in New Mexico.”
There will be plenty of games for the entire family, including cornhole, boccie ball, horseshoe, giant Jenga and giant Connect 4.
“It’s a lot of fun to come out here,” Isbell said. “People always have a good time. We’ve had as many as 800 in this brewery and beer garden. … We have locals. We have people from Albuquerque. We have travelers that will stop by and say ‘this looks like fun let us buy a ticket.’”
J.J. Raschel and Mystic Roots will play rock and pop music from 2 to 5 p.m. Rockers Full Moon will perform from 6 to 9 p.m. A juggler will entertain between sets. Children can enjoy a kids zone featuring jumpers and a root beer float station.
“We just make it a really fun day,” Isbell said. “We want people to come out and see what the brewery’s about, see our little oasis out in the desert.”