NotOberfest Celebrates Autumn in the Bay Area

Bavarians have been celebrating Oktoberfest for more than 200 years. Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) inaugurated the 16-day festival at the end of September to celebrate his marriage to Theresa of Saxe-Hildburghausen on Oct. 17, 1810.  

Oktoberfest has long been appropriated around the world, and for those two weeks, it seems, everyone is an honorary inebriated German. Like German beers themselves, however, something is invariably lost in translation and the cheery, chicken-dance spirit frequently disintegrates into frat boy debauchery and overindulgence, and the sad scenes all too often witnessed at events like Oktoberfest by the Bay at Pier 48 in San Francisco, where you can try any beer you like as long as it’s from event sponsor Spaten.

This year at any rate beer lovers in the Bay Area have an opportunity to celebrate their own local food and fall seasonal beers—in blatant disregard of the German beer purity law called Reinheitsgebot.

NotOberfest, which will be held on Friday, Sept. 20, at St. Gregory’s Cathedral in Potrero Hill, will focus on autumn seasonals like pumpkin beers, fresh-hop ales and yes, Octoberfest lagers from some of the Bay Areas finest breweries, including:

• Almanac Beer Co

• Highwater Brewing

• Speakeasy Ales & Lagers

• 21st Amendment

• Magnolia Pub & Brewery

• The Bruery

• Baeltane Brewing

• Hen House Brewing

• Anchor Brewing

• Headlands Brewing

• Ale Industries

• Firestone Walker

• Half Moon Bay Brewing

Ryan Farr and 4505 Meats will dish out the butchery meats, with desserts from Jake Godby and Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream. All proceeds will benefit The Food Pantry, whose mission is to increase access to food for hungry people and empower them to help one another.

The $60 ticket price includes all beer and food. Doors will be open from 6:30-9:30 for this 21 and over event.

Visit Almanacbeer.com/events for full event details.