I haven’t done one of these in a while.
No, not just Oktoberfest.
Any sort of event.
Well, other than the many World Cup games that I got to experience a couple of months back, and I don’t really count those.
They were essentially extended cask crawls, with a side of footie.
The summer didn’t help, neither did the dogs, cats, and grandchildren.
There just weren’t any events.
It was that time of year.
But now it is this time of year.
We are deep into Oktoberfest season, and I have four on my calendar that I had tagged for attendance.
This upcoming weekend, we have the annual Blocktoberfest, this time in Long Island City, and we also have the Faßfest ’26 out at Kills Boro Brewery on Staten Island.
And this past weekend we had the first ever Ecktoberfest at Eckhart in Bushwick, and we had the latest Oktoberfest event at Grimm, nearby in East Williamsburg.
Of course I was going to make an appearance at both.
I was particularly invested in the Eckhart event as it was also the official first anniversary of the opening of their taproom at the brewery.
Besides, I really like those guys.
And the timing was better, considering I was going to take the ferry to LIC and walk the rest of the way, a little under six miles according to my phone.
I budgeted ninety minutes to take a leisurely stroll from the ferry terminal, did it in way less time than expected, and ended up going a little further out to have a wee sit down in Maria Hernandez Park.
It was a beautiful day for the walk, and the brief pause.
And so, barely five minutes after Eckhart opened for the day, I sheepishly wandered in to find the folks going about their final preparations, but I also found three other patrons sitting at the bar in the back, one who had already polished off half of their first mug of beer.
The two stichfaß were sitting out untapped behind the bar, waiting for a “critical mass” of patrons, so I sunk my lips into some pale lagers to whet my appetite; small pours of kolsch, helles, and German pils.
I was enthusiastically greeted by the entire crew as they individually spotted me on my perch at the corner of the bar.
Did I mention that I really like those guys?
I had barely started on my third beer when the mass had become critical enough to tap the two casks.
I started on the festbier, which was a hazy glowing gold with a fuzzy white head, gentle carbonation, and notes of bread and crackers, the subtle hops working to balance any maltiness rather than asserting themselves; so easy drinking that I went back for more before I left.
By then the entire space was starting to come alive, with folks filling both of the restaurant spaces, the sound of music coming from the indoor beer garden at the front, and the bar becoming standing-room only.
I briefly left my seat at the bar to go watch a live podcast in the brewing space, featuring Eckhart owner Nick Meyer, head brewer Adam Wolfe, and the Beery Godmother LaTreace Harris, all interviewed by beer journalist John Holl.
Fascinating stuff.
I took my festbier with me.
I was eventually able to reclaim my barstool, and ordered some much needed food (brat plate) and a cask marzen to wash it down.
The brats were awesome and came with three of the best sides (potato salad, sauerkraut, and cucumber salad) that I have ever had, and I have tasted a lot of German salads in my time, due to familial connections.
The marzen was also brilliant, a deep amber with a thick creamy head and assertive maltiness.
It was obviously stronger than the festbier but was very drinkable, dangerously so.
I do love both styles, but usually, sensibly, stick with the festbier if offered a choice.
So, I had to finish with a full pour of the golden nectar, before heading back the way I came.
Well almost the way I came, I took a little detour through the Grimm brewery taproom on my way home, to see if they had tapped a cask yet for their own Oktoberfest celebration.
They had.
It was their 2026 edition of Festooning, another marzen style, this one even maltier and slightly sweeter, and I suspect stronger than the Eckhart offering.
I just stayed for the one before heading for the L train at Graham Avenue; I had a couple of cats to check up on.
It was a good session.
It was good to get out for a serious walk again.
I will be doing it all again this weekend.
Scorecard w/e 09/22/26
In the past week the Cask Whisperer enjoyed the following casks:
- Old Glenham Loom Cornish Ale @ Jones Wood Foundry
- Eckhart Festbier @ Eckhart Beer, Bushwick
- Eckhart Marzen @ Eckhart Beer, Bushwick
- Grimm Festooning Marzen @ Grimm Artisanal Ales, East Williamsburg
Upcoming Cask Events (Festivals and Otherwise)
- 9/26/26: Blocktoberfest returns, this time it will be held at The Lot @ LIC Culture Lab, right across the street from Rockaway Brewery, between 1pm and 5pm. Will there be any casks? I am willing to chance it.
- 9/27/26: Faßfest ’26 @ Kills Boro Brewing, Snug Harbor, Staten Island.
- 11/7/26: Guy Fawkes celebration and bonfire @ Seneca Lake Brewing, Rock Stream NY. I am going to miss this one again because, see below…
- 11/7/26: Blue Point Cask Ale Fest 2026 @ Blue Point Brewery, Patchogue NY.
- 11/12/26: Rumors of Wayward Lane casks @ Rough Draft, Harlem.
Upcoming Random NYC Casks
- Nothing on the radar yet.
NYC Cask Venues
Known Operational/Active Beer Engines
- Jones Wood Foundry (x2)
- Fifth Hammer
- Wild East
- The Shakespeare (x3)
- Drop-off Service
- Rough Draft
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
- City Swiggers
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).
- Little Dog Brewing, Bradley Beach NJ (one handpump, Little Dog beer range).
