The Best Connecticut Beer Festivals To Attend This Fall
Photo by Alycia Chrosniak
Small State Great Beer Festival
September 15, 2018 | 1-9:30pm | Hartford, CT | website
The Small State Great Beer Festival will consist of over 40 Connecticut breweries, a food truck district and live music from Bronze Radio Return, Funky Dawgz Brass Band, The Penniless Wild, Atlas Gray and Connie Carmona. Each festival goer will receive a mini pint glass upon arrival and can get unlimited 3 oz pours from the breweries. VIP tickets are $68 and allow you to drink one hour prior to everyone else. General admission is $48 per person, and designated driver tickers are $28.
Two Road's Ok2berfest
September 15-16, 2018 | 12-6:30pm | Stratford, CT | website
A two day beer festival in Fairfield County, Ok2berfest boasts a multi-band lineup, specially brewed Ok2berfest beers, games, a bratwurst eating contest and more. Designated driver tickets are $15 and include entry and limited edition stein. General admission tickets are $25 prior and $30 at the door. They include, entry a limited edition stein and one beer. A two day bundle is also available for $45.
Brewfest at the Beach
September 21, 2018 | 6-9pm | New London, CT | website
Sip on over 150 beers while enjoying food, wine tastings, live music, and the sound of waves crashing at Ocean Beach Park. All proceeds benefit Camp Rotary, a summer camp in New London for junior high students. Tickets are $25 and include food and beer.
Milford Oktoberfest
September 21-22, 2018 | 5pm-10, 12-9pm | Milford, CT | website
In it’s 30th year, Milford Oktoberfest is expanding to two days of beer drinking fun. There is a happy hour on Friday night and a “run and chug” 5K on Saturday morning. There will be live music both days as well as German dancers on Saturday, a bratwurst eating contest, a costume contest, and food trucks and traditional German food. VIP admission is $30 and includes a mug, and two tasting tickets, and regular admission is $10.
Connecticut Valley Brewing Company Oktoberfest
September 22, 2018 | 12-9pm | South Windsor, CT | website
At their first ever Oktoberfest, Connecticut Valley Brewing Company will be showcasing new beer, while you enjoy German themed food from a few food trucks. There will also be live music, and of course, stein hoisting.
Tapping Into Twain: A Beer Fest
September 28, 2018 | 5-10pm | Hartford, CT | website
The Mark Twain House is back with their annual brew fest serving beer from more than twenty regional breweries and home brewers. There will also be live music and food from over a dozen local restaurants. Advance tickets are $45 and include all food, beverages and a collectible pint glass, and there are a number of discounts for Mark Twain House members, premiere members and Let’s Go Arts Members.
Harbor Brew Fest
September 29, 2018 | 12-5pm | Milford, CT | website
Drink beer and help kids. All proceeds from this event go to Harbor Light Foundation Inc., a non-profit which provides safe and beneficial programming to children with autism. The festival will feature beer from over ninety breweries, live music, and food from some of Connecticut's best food trucks will be available for purchase. "Brewer's Special" tickets are $60 and get you access to the beer one hour prior to everyone else, and give you access to the Brewer's Beer Garden where limited release and hard to find beers will be available for tasting. A general admission ticket is $40 and a designated driver ticket is $20.
Last Taste of Summer Craft Beer Festival
September 29, 2018 | 12-4:30pm | Greenwich, CT | website
Cheers goodbye to the season with craft breweries, lawn games, food trucks and live music at Greenwich’s Roger Sherman Baldwin Park. Enjoy food from Melt Mobile, LobsterCraft, Wendy’s Weenies, Milkcraft Ice Cream, Rise Cofee and Om Champagne Tea Kombucha. VIP tickets are $75 and include an extra hour at the festival as well as exclusive pours and bites, general admission is $45 and designated driver/under 20 tickets are $25.
Kinsmen Brewing Oktoberfest
September 29, 2019 | 4-11pm | Milldale, CT | website
Blend old world traditions with new world ideas at Kinsmen Brewing Oktoberfest. There will be three bands, lots of German food and pretzels, and obviously craft beer. Held outdoors this year, tickets are $60 per person and include food, drinks and a commemorative glass.
Smoke In The Valley Craft Beer Festival
October 6, 2018 | 12-4:30pm | Seymour, CT | website
Smoke In The Valley is in its 9th year and raises money for a handful of local non-profit groups. The festival will have live music, over 60 different breweries in attendance and food trucks. The festival is $30 prior and $40 at the gate, with a designated driver ticket at $10.
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Mohegan Sun Brewfest
October 6, 2018 | 1-4pm | Uncasville, CT | website
Taste over 150 beers, enter a cornhole tournament, listen to live music, sample local food and more at this year's Sun Brewfest. The Grand Tasting is from 1-4pm and tickets are $30 per person, with VIP tickets and an extra hour of brews for $50. It is $100 per team of two to enter the cornhole tournament, with a VIP experience and an additional half hour in the Grand Tasting before the tournament. This year's special event, Sip and Slice is from 6-8pm, and includes beer and pizza pairings from pizzerias all over the state.
Powder Ridge 2nd Annual Oktoberfest
October 6, 2018 | 3:30-10pm | Middlefield, CT | website
Powder Ridge Oktoberfest includes free lift rides with beautiful views of Middlesex County, a cooking with beer demonstration, beer samples from over 30 breweries, a home brewers contest, a keg toss contest, and live music. Designated driver tickets are $15 and general admission tickets are $32, and VIP tickets are $42.
Alvarium Beer 2nd Annual Oktoberfest
October 6, 2018 | 12-10pm | New Britain, CT | website
New Britain just got a bit more Munich-y. Think dancing, singing, eating.. and obviously drinking. More information to come.
3rd Annual Hoptoberfest
October 7, 2018 | 1-5pm | Simsbury, CT | website
This year, the fundraiser by Max Restaurant Group will be donating a portion of each ticket sold to Journey Home CT, who works tirelessly to help end homelessness in Connecticut. Your ticket includes a tasting glass, 2 oz beer samples, a festival guide, live music and all the bites you can eat. Tickets are $59, with a designated driver option for $30.
Docktoberfest
October 13, 2018 | 12-8pm | Branford, CT |website
Watch your favorite waterfront brewery be turned into a German beer garden before your very eyes. Stony Creek Brewery's Docktoberfest features live music, games, pretzels, sausages, dancing, fun and of course, beer. A $20 ticket gets your entry, a stein and your first beer. Shoreline Prime Branford and Bull and Swine from New Haven will be on site preparing German inspired fare.
Crazy Brew Bash
October 13, 2018 | 11-4pm | Plantsville, CT | website
In it's fourth year, the Crazy Brew Bash will have "hundreds of beers," food trucks, live music, a cornhole tournament, games and giveaways. Located at the Mount Southington Ski Area, the doors open at 11am for VIP ticket holders and 12 noon for general admission. VIP tickets are $47 in advance, $65 at the door, general admission is $37 in advance or $55 at the door, and designated driver tickets are $20.
Harvest Bounty Brewfest
October 13, 2018 | 2-6pm | Litchfield, CT | website
The 12th annual Harvest Bounty Brewfest features craft brewers, wine, food trucks and three live bands over the course of the afternoon. The first 150 guests get free tasting glasses, and there are lawn games and firepits for everyone to enjoy. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and $2 for designated drivers.
G.O.A.T Brew Fest
October 20, 2018 | 1-5pm | Hartford, CT | website
Sip beers from over twenty five breweries at the home of the Hartford Yard Goats- Dunkin’ Donuts Park. Tickets are $75 for VIG (very important goat), which gets you admission an hour earlier than everyone else, field credentials and access to the dugouts. General admission is $50 and designated driver tickets are $25.
Elm City Brew Fest
November 17, 2018 | 1-5pm | New Haven, CT | website
Sample over 225 beers from over 65 breweries at the Elm City Brew Fest, with all proceeds benefiting the New Haven Center for Performing Arts. Food will be offered, and tickets are $60 for VIP, $35 for early bird general admission, $45 for regular general admission and $50 at the door.
