Oktoberfest evokes visions of tents—or brewery tasting rooms—packed with stein-hoisting, lederhosen- and dirndl-clad revelers. It’s a simple brand of gleeful decadence…and yet another casualty of COVID-19. Germany’s annual harvest festival has been cancelled, but here in San Diego, there’s at least one brewery that’s determined to not only celebrate the season, but do so in a meaningful, multi-tiered manner. That operation is Eppig Brewing, a family-run brewery with German roots and biergartens at its Vista headquarters and Point Loma waterfront tasting room. Both will be sites for Oktoberfest events in September and October.
“Eppig Oktoberfest – 2020 Style” will consist of a dual-week “Oktoberfest on the Harbor” event at the Eppig Waterfront Biergarten in Point Loma from September 9-13 and September 17-20. The festivities will shift to the company’s Vista brewery and tasting room Wednesday, September 23 when Eppig holds an Oktoberfest beer-pairing dinner, featuring sauerkraut fritters, bone-in pork chop schnitzel, Bienenstich (bee-sting cake) and other menu options from Biersal, a food-truck operation offering beer-infused, German-inspired cuisine. The oompah music will recommence the weekend of October 3-4 for one last go-round in Vista.
“Oktoberfest is about beer and bringing people together,” says co-owner and Stephanie Eppig. “The patios at both of our locations were inspired by Bavaria and given a SoCal twist. We were lucky to have these great outdoor spaces set up long before COVID, and we’ve expanded them to allow for comfortable, distanced seating and added shade.”
Those aren’t the only key changes that have been made at Eppig’s venues during the pandemic. Both venues have temporarily transitioned to a service model where beer and food are delivered to guests at tables. Meals are included with admission and, thanks to a smartphone app, Arryved, guests can check out and leave a tip without having to make an extra trip to the bar. Eppig says these service alterations were made so that, once customers are seated and served they can remove their masks and relax enough to enjoy their experience. That will be the mission during the Oktoberfest events, as well.
A key to providing proper distancing while servicing a large number of patrons is Eppig’s decision to split their general events into two-hour blocks and staggering reservations in 15-minute increments. Thursday and Friday sessions will take place 1 to 8:30 p.m., with the last seating at 6:30 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday sessions will take place from 12 to 7:30 p.m., with the last seating at 5:30 p.m.
“One of the biggest challenges is preparing for the unknown as the County and State regulations have continued to change over the past few months,” says Eppig. “Our top priority is guest and employee safety, and we’ve gone to extra lengths to ensure the celebration follows all of the current protocols, including distancing, seated services and meal requirements. Masks are required at all times while not seated at your table, and we hope to see folks get creative with Oktoberfest-themed face coverings.”
Tickets for Eppig’s Oktoberfest events will go on sale online starting 10 a.m., tomorrow. For the general celebrations, ticket purchases will entitle holders to a table (attendees must purchase their tickets together in order to be seated at the same table), a meal (traditional German food from Biersal) and a pint of Eppig beer. Beyond that, stein and pitcher fills will be offered, including a limited number of specialty, 24-ounce glazed ceramic steins (only available at the Vista event).
Eppig Brewing’s brewery and tasting room is located at 1347 Keystone Way in Vista, and its Waterfront Biergarten is located at 2817 Dickens Street in Point Loma