Your time to stein
Lift your spirits, and a beer or two, at OktoberCrest
Story by Hazel Fiedler
For the TODAY
Germany’s most famous tradition comes to the Oregon Coast at Beachcrest Brewing Company’s seventh annual OktoberCrest, this Friday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 21.
Special beer releases and yummy food will accompany games and live music. The celebration has been held at Beachcrest every year since it opened and has grown with the business.
Owners Matt and Amy White started attending Oktoberfest years ago when they lived in Colorado and were inspired to bring the tradition to the coast. Since then, they’ve visited Germany where the celebration originated, and have learned more about the culture and traditions.
“It’s a really fun festival celebrating harvest and the coming of fall,” Amy said. “It’s a great way to bring the community together.”
Oktoberfest started in Munich in the 1800s as a wedding party for Crown Price Ludwig and Princess Therese. Throughout the years it has evolved from a celebration of matrimony into a celebration of autumn and a great excuse to drink some good beer, eat German food and listen to live music.
Ashley Kapstar has worked as a bartender at Beachcrest for the past five years and looks forward to the OktoberCrest festivities each year.
“The staff gets really into it,” she said. “I have three different outfits, one for each day of the event.”
Although it is the busiest weekend of the year for the staff, Kapstar loves working during the festival.
“It's a party,” she said. “I have the most fun working here during OktoberCrest.”
Many people travel to the coast for this event, some even flying in from other states.
“If I wasn't working here, I would most definitely come as a customer,” Kapstar said.
Guests are highly encouraged to dress up in traditional Oktoberfest attire.
“We love it when our customers really get into it,” Amy said. “When people are in the spirit together it makes it more of a festival.”
Along with collectible 2025 OktoberCrest pins, special boot-shaped steins will be available for purchase to commemorate the event and can be filled with the brewery's special creations.
“This year our beer lineup is more exciting than ever,” Amy said.
The classic Märzen and the Pumpkin Porter will return, joined by a fresh hop Märzen Imperial Pale Lager.
“This combination beer blends the two styles,” Matt said, “creating the best of both worlds, a hoppy, malty beer.”
A special surprise release beer will also be available only at the Tsunami Room bar, and Beachcrest is partnering with Silver Falls Brewing out of Silverton to bring a Mount Angel Oktoberfest beer to the coast.
Beachcrest will also roll out a special OktoberCrest menu available only during the event weekend. Chef Adam Peterson is preparing the German-inspired food, including bratwurst and smoked German sausage with sauerkraut, onions and braised apples. A wild boar pizza will be on the menu, as well as a classic soft pretzel with a house-made dip. The featured dessert will be a special Black Forest cake.
Peterson is looking forward to switching up the regular menu for the event.
“I personally love our sauerkraut, so I’m excited to see it return this year,” he said.
Music is a central part of the festivities and Oregon bands will play each day of the event. Featured music includes Dadweed, a bluegrass band out of Portland; a strolling accordionist; and DTW Brass Band, a New Orleans style brass band out of Corvallis. The Lincoln Pops will perform traditional German tunes including oompahs, waltzes and marches.
“The music will be high energy and a lot of fun,” Matt said.
While this event is centered around beer, food and music, there will be no shortage of activities to participate in. The most popular OktoberCrest competition is stein-hoisting, where participants hold a full tiki-mug of fake beer straight out in front of them and compete for the record time.
“I have people come in and tell me year-round that they’ve been training for it,” Matt said. “The same guy has set the record three years in a row.”
The time to beat is five minutes on the dot.
There will also be a group pretzel-fishing activity and lawn games including cornhole and ladder toss. You can even wear your food at the pretzel necklace-making booth.
“It’s fun to come for the whole weekend,” Matt said. “The different musical acts and menu items make each day of OktoberCrest different and exciting; it’s meant to be a weekend-long event.”
OktoberCrest runs from noon to 8 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Beachcrest Brewing Company, located in the Marketplace at Salishan, 7755 N Hwy. 101. For more information, go to beachcrestbrewing.com or call 541-234-4013.