HARPOON OKTOBERFEST 2009

WINSOR, VERMONT BREWERY

BY: Mark Dallmeyer

It was a healthy autumn day in Vermont. Curving through the Green Mountains with the top down on our RV, beautiful leaves, views, and danger at every turn. Are we in Heaven or is this the drive to Harpoon’s yearly Beer event in the hills? When the Oktoberfest began over 10 years ago in Vermont, not many people were concerned about Bears at a beer fest, and today its not a big deal either, but the thought of Bears is more reason to offer free beer. The only people worried about bears within one hundred miles this day would be the people at the wine foliage fest in upstate New York. Beer was on everyone’s mind here. I have never seen a more gracious group of beer runners before and after a race. Free beer, a glass mug and a quick run near the woods meant a full day for everyone with a number tag and sneakers. White socks didn’t matter. I met my good buddy Rodwel on line at the race. Could it be, I asked Rodwel, if he had a plan with black socks, Munich Dark Beer, and a Medical Doctor’s degree from just up the road at Dartmouth? Rodwel was the leading medical student doctor on exchange from Zimbabwe, Africa with a focus on bringing babies into the world. Rodwel was with Joanne from southern Brazil and both represent two of the most unlikely regions to find common ground in Vermont through Harpoon providing the “love of beer” to everybody.

Next, the whole placed found an Oktoberfest mood and great autumn weather. Hundreds attended the event, listening to old German musik and wondering if their grandmothers were playing a joke on them. The chicken dance was like a bad hit of a deja vous dream, but the kids and their buzzed mom’s and dads loved it. Next year, my suggestion is to get a real rock and roll group from Germany for a modern Oktoberfest and see how the other half lives and loves beer.

The beer choices were interesting. A choice of IPA, Filtered / Unfiltered, Munich Dark, and Wheat beer was great. The lines were great unless you wanted food. I enjoy the IPA from Harpoon best and had a taste of a few extra specials in the brewery. They were giving tours and helped qualify them for free beer on a Sunday, the day of rest. I recommend Harpoon as one of the best buddies to hang out with when you come to Boston or go to the hills of Vermont. They really know how to bring people together.