Are we all Oktoberfestered out yet?
I thought I was, until this past weekend.
Not just one, but two substantial events.
On Saturday, I floated and hiked out to Staten Island for the first ever Kills Boro Brewery Faßfest; they promised multiple gravity kegs, and they delivered, five in total.
They also delivered an outrageously enjoyable Oktoberfest experience, one for the ages.
On Sunday, I ferried and hiked out to Red Hook for this year’s installment of the NYC Brewers Guild Blocktoberfest, held for the first time at Strong Rope Brewing.
Whereas the day before I only knew a couple of the other attendees, namely the good folks from Wild East, this time it seemed that I knew everybody present, both brewers and punters.
It was a good crowd, with good beers, and sakes.
And even a couple of casks!
I had a feeling beforehand that Fifth Hammer would bring a cask of their current Neverbeer, but was also very happy to see a pin of Strong Rope’s Good Job (Burton Ale) sitting on the bar.
I am going to shut up now, because my words would do little justice to the occasions.
I do have some pictures though …
Faßfest
Alright, maybe I do have a couple of things to say.
Firstly, a shoutout to the Bavarian Kings band, their infectious and interactive performance really brought the entire event together.
I only managed to get one decent picture of them, because every time they started playing, my head was banging so hard and my feet stomping so fast that I wasn’t able to keep my phone steady enough for a shot.
And also a nod to our hosts, who constantly wandered the crowded floors taking and delivering drink orders (no maß should remain empty at any time), and platters of food to all attendees, whether standing or seated at the reserved tables.
Blocktoberfest
What about all that hiking that you mentioned Mr. Whisperer?
Well, it was a good walking weekend.
Seventeen miles over the two days.
I expect to be resting for a few days.
But I do plan on getting in one more Oktoberfest this year; next Sunday I will be trekking out to Bushwick to get me some of Eckhart’s Marzen from the wood.
Scorecard w/e 9/30/25
In the past week the Cask Whisperer has enjoyed the following casks:
- Strong Rope Good Job Burton IPA @ Strong Rope Brewing (Blocktoberfest)
- Fifth Hammer Bartholemew Neverbart w/Nelson Sauvin @ Strong Rope Brewing (Blocktoberfest)
- Kills Boro Oktoberfest Festbier @ Kills Boro Brewing (Faßfest)
- Kills Boro / Wild East Borobrau Festbier @ Kills Boro Brewing (Faßfest)
- Alternate Ending Hoser Marzen @ Kills Boro Brewing (Faßfest)
- Rockaway Pretzel Neck Festbier @ Kills Boro Brewing (Faßfest)
- One Temporarily Illuminated Pilsner @ Kills Boro Brewing (Faßfest)
Upcoming Cask Events (Festivals and Otherwise)
- October 5th Odd Bird Cask Fest @ Odd Bird Brewing, Stockton NJ.
- November 8th: Blue Point 21st Cask Fest at Blue Point Brewing, Patchogue NY (Tickets now available!)
- Save the dates! The 2026 edition of NERAX will be from March 25th to 28th next year.
Upcoming Oktoberfest Events (With Confirmed/Potential Cask Sightings)
- September 20th through October 5th: Eckhart Beer Oktoberfest featuring both marzen and festbier styles dispensed from stichfaß on the weekends; festbier on Saturdays and marzen on Sundays.
Upcoming Random NYC Casks
- The Shakespeare will be featuring Ramstein unfiltered Oktoberfest lager on cask this season.
- This upcoming Friday is the first of the month, so look out for a cask tapping at Brouwerij Lane.
NYC Cask Venues
Known Operational/Active Beer Engines
- Jones Wood Foundry (x2)
- Fifth Hammer
- Wild East
- The Shakespeare (x3)
- Drop-off Service
Occasional Pins (worth a follow on Instagram)
- Strong Rope
- KCBC
- Tørst
- Blind Tiger Ale House
- Threes Brewing
- Brouwerij Lane (First Friday Firkins)
- The Owl Farm
Cask Venues Reachable from NYC by MTA or NJ Transit Train in Under two Hours
Metro-North Hudson Line
- Draught Industries, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
- Coopers, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
- Happy Valley Arcade Bar, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
Metro-North Harlem Line
- The Ambleside Pub, Mt. Kisco NY (four handpumps, Old Glenham beer range).
Metro-North New Haven Line
- Marlowe Artisanal Ales, Mamaroneck NY (one handpump, Marlowe beer range).
- Nod Hill Brewing, Ridgefield CT (two handpumps, Nod Hill beer range).
NJ Transit NJCL Line
Triumph Restaurant and Brewery, Red Bank NJ (one handpump, Triumph beer range).
