Oktoberfest, the world-renowned festival in Munich, inspires communities around the world to host their own versions of the German beer festival each year.
Backstep Brewery on Green Street is proving no exception, formulating a list of weekend events which began yesterday and runs through Sunday.
“In years past, Oktoberfest has been a really big event; we’ve gone through a lot of beer,” Head Brewer Kyle Frohning said Friday as he prepared kegs of the brewery’s German-style märzen for the weekend. “A lot of people come in to try to drink a lot of beer and drink a lot of beer, which is always fun, always good.”
But Frohning stressed that such a big event with alcohol makes responsibility the brewery’s number-one priority.
“Obviously, we want to have fun and we want everyone else to have fun with us, but safety is our number-one priority,” he said. “We want to make sure everybody gets home and gets to where they need to be.”
Friday’s events at the brewery included keg tapping and German Mudslide races. Saturday promises a full slate, complete with Das Nashorn (a keg lifting event centered around summoning one’s inner rhinoceros), brat tosses and a beer garden on Green Street outside the brewery.
Saturday will be capped off with Indiana’s largest chicken dance, Frohning said. The brewery’s craft kitchen will also be open throughout the weekend.
Those looking for some reprieve after two days of alcohol-related events may enjoy Sunday’s Rekoveryfest.
“I think Rekoveryfest is our ‘hey everyone let’s just kind of relax and detox after the past couple days, get a little of the hair of the dog and get you back on track for your Sunday,” Frohning said.
Rekoveryfest will feature a New Orleans-style “hangover remedy” gumbo, as well as the brewery’s Sunday Funday menu.
Festivities Saturday and Sunday will kick off at noon.
Backstep Brewery is located at 125 N. Green St., Crawfordsville. For more information, contact the brewery at 765-230-2337 or visit its website www.backstepbrewingcompany.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/backstepbrewing.
