Top 3 beer ideas to pair with fall foliage in White Mts on Columbus Day Weekend

HERE’S TO THE BEER IN MT WASHINGTON VALLEY, NH

Three great ideas for beer lovers on Columbus Day Weekend

North Conway, NH – Where’s the beer? “Here’s the beer” we’ll be saying in Mt Washington Valley, NH over Columbus Day weekend when two major beer festivals join Mother Nature’s foliage show for what usually turns out to be a peak foliage weekend in the Valley. Tried and true, Attitash will bring on its 19th Annual Oktoberfest celebration October 8-9, 2016 at the base of the ski resort, joined for the first time with the new festival on the block, Purity Spring Resort’s Brew Ha Ha Festival on October 9th. To round out the offerings, take a tasting tour at the Tuckerman Brewing Company.

19th Annual Attitash Oktoberfest

Attitash Mountain Resort will once again host its 19th Annual Oktoberfest on Columbus Day weekend, October 8 and 9, 2016 at the Bear Peak base area. The two-day event, amidst what usually promises to be spectacular fall foliage, will feature traditional Bavarian music from King Ludwig’s Band, authentic German fare, and of course, the infamous Biergarten featuring 19 different local and regional breweries serving a variety of tasty beers and ciders.

Lest you think this is just a drinking affair, the Attitash Oktoberfest is also a family tradition, featuring a Kinderplatz tent complete with arts & crafts, face painting and other mini-games organized by the Mount Washington Valley Children’s Museum. And outside, kids of all ages will also enjoy the giant inflatable obstacle course.

For adults, one highlight of the Attitash Oktoberfest is the Samuel Adams Stein Hoist Competition. This competition of strength and concentration, pits participants over 21 attempting to hold a full beer stein with a straight arm parallel to the ground for as long as possible against one another. Whoever can last the longest will win an overnight stay in Boston and a tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery. For those who’d rather enjoy than hold their beer, other adult activities include a keg toss competition, corn hole boards, and slacklining.

The 19th Annual Attitash Oktoberfest is open noon to 6:00pm on Saturday, October 8 and noon to 5:00pm on Sunday, October 9, 2016. Tickets are available at the door yet are cheaper when purchased online. Under 21 general admission is $10 at the door; 21+ general admission is $15 at the door. For additional information, visit https://www.attitash.com/event/oktoberfest/ .

Purity Spring Resort’s Brew Ha Ha Festival

New to the roster of events and Columbus Day scene in Mt Washington Valley this year, Purity Spring Resort will debut its Brew Ha Ha Festival on Sunday, October 9, 2016 from 2:45pm to 7:00pm. Celebrate the Columbus Day holiday and fall color along with some seasonal offerings from a variety of local and regional brewers, like Moat Mountain Beer Co, Smutty Nose Brewing Co and Woodstock Inn Brewing. It’s all presented by Purity Spring Resort in cooperation with Amoskeag Beverages,. You’ll purchase a mug which will include three 6 oz. beer samples; additional beer samples will be available for purchase at the festival. Then, mosey on through the food corral where the Chefs at Traditions Restaurant will offer up seasonal specialties for purchase. And there’s live music too. Enjoy tunes by The Offramps starting at 3:00pm., followed by event headliner and local favorite, Shark Martin, at 4:00pm. And there’s plenty of fun for the kids too including Giant Board Game Madness – Battleship and Connect Four, a Bounce House sponsored by The Laura Foundation for Autism and Epilepsy , Cornhole Decks, Face Painting and an Alpine 9-hole Disc Golf Course. Event admission is free. Purchase your commemorative glass and three 6 oz. beer samples for $15 at the festival, but order online and the cost is just $12. All food, tee-shirts and Disc golf disc rentals are available for purchase too. For information, go to http://www.purityspring.com/brew-ha-ha-festival.

Tasting Tours at Tuckerman

Round out a weekend of tasting at Tuckerman Brewing Co in Conway, NH. You can either create your hat trick of brew tastings on Columbus Day weekend with this tour or enjoy this tasting tour any time. The Tuckerman tasting room is open noon to 6:00pm daily with tours of the facility at 2:00 and 4:00pm. Start out in the Tasting Room where the friendly Tuckerman staff will serve up a flight of beer samples from the changing menu of brews (see prices below), some of which are only available on premises in the tasting room. After a brew tasting, Tuckerman guides will offer a guided explanation of the brewing process. They may even let you in on some of the secrets that make Tuckerman beer so special. At the end of the tour, you will have a deeper appreciation for the fine libations being created in Conway, NH. Once back in the tasting room, you can shop for beer and growlers to go and shop for Tuckerman souvenirs, which include, shirts, hats, pint glasses, and historical posters, just to name a few. The tour is free, there is a cost for the beer; a flight of 4 samples is $7.00, a flight of 8 samples is $13.00 and single samples are $2.00. This is a family friendly tour, but participants must be 21 to enjoy tastings. www.tuckermanbrewing.com .

There are a wide range of additional adventures, leaf peeping, attractions and food and drink options happening throughout Mt Washington Valley on Columbus Day and beyond. Click here for a complete calendar of events. For more information on planning your fall getaway to Mt Washington Valley, visit www.MtWashingtonValley.org or call 1-800-DO-SEE-NH (800-367-3364). Hoping to plan a visit to New Hampshire soon? Go to www.VisitNH.gov to learn more about New Hampshire trips.

Photo: King Ludwig Bavarian Band performing at Attitash Oktoberfest. Attitash photo.

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