Philly Bierfest returns to showcase German brews this weekend

After two years, The German Society of Pennsylvania is bringing back its world-class beer-tasting event on Saturday, Feb. 25. Philly Bierfest is meant to showcase the state’s and Germany’s collection of brews, and thirsty Philadelphians can try them all.

“Locals may not realize that Pennsylvania brewers lead the nation in championing beer styles of German heritage, from refreshing pilsners to malty doppelbocks,” says Victory Brewing Company president Bill Covaleski, who served as founding president of the Brewers of Pennsylvania trade association in a statement. “Bierfest is a perfect showcase for what should be a point of pride for Philadelphia’s beer lovers.”

Patrons can try choices from a selection of Pennsylvania brewers from Eerie to Philadelphia, and of course, importers from Germany offering weizens, kölsches, dunkels and bocks spread between two beer halls in historic German Society buildings. As a release states, even Pennsylvania’s smallest breweries and brewpubs tend to place greater emphasis on styles of German heritage than their competitors in other parts of the country, simply because of the depth and breadth of the cultural influence here.

Participants in this authentic event include Philly’s own Dock Street Brewery, Philadelphia Brewing Co., Evil Genius Beer Co., Yards Brewing Co. and Attic Brewing Co, plus other selections such as Victory Brewing Co., Susquehanna Brewing Co., Wallenpaupack Brewing Co., and more.

German selections, on the other hand, span Gaffel, HofBräu, König Ludwig, Augustiner, Ayinger, Radeberger, Schöfferhofer, Warsteiner and more, plus the oldest continuously-operating brewery in the world, the Bavarian State Brewery at Weihenstephan. Philly Bierfest will also host spaces dedicated to showcasing other local fermented foods and drinks that feature a German influence at the Pennsylvania Cider Bar and in their Pennsylvania Cheese Cave.

Philly Bierfest in 2023 will be presented in partnership with two nonprofit organizations, the Philly Roller Derby and the Brewers of Pennsylvania.

And as the release states, attendees will also enjoy German and American live music, from Pennsylvania Bluegrass to Polkadelphia’s oompah-funk, plus variety acts such as the Roller-Derby Arm-Wrestling,  Berlin-Style BEERlesque and traditional Tyrolean Shuhplattler Folk Dancing. Guests can immersive themselves in the experience even more by participating in “pursuits and feats of strength”, such as the Beer-Jello Masskrugstemmen (aka a cheeky spin on Bavaria’s traditional “liter lift” contest), sponsored by the city’s local German taproom, Brauhaus Schmitz.

Beer enthusiats will also be presented with plenty of learning opportunities, including ways to distinguish lagers from ales, discovering which beer styles derive from which regions of Germany and learning about the medieval abbess St. Hildegard of Bingen, who was the first to document the use of hops in brewing. Local beer author Tara Nurin will host a signing of her new book, ‘A Woman’s Place Is in the Brewhouse: A Forgotten History of Alewives, Brewsters, Witches, and CEOs’ as well.