42 thoughts to “Fremont Oktoberfest this weekend”

  2. I rode by the Fest location this morning. Saw a guy walking around in a giant Homer Simpson costume. That pretty much sums up how I feel about this fest ever since it moved west a few years ago — it's not really about the beer any more; it feels corporate and frat-boyish.

    Not to hate on the fest, or on Homer Simpson. It just changed from something kind of unique to something more mainstream.

  5. Yea, I have never quite understood that. If you want an adult size beer you have to stand in a beer garden….. at a BEER FESTIVAL. Seems pretty backwards to me.

    And Ballardmike, I resent that statement, the kids can enjoy the “Bier and Brauts” as much as the Old folk.

    Despite the oddities of this Oktoberfest, it's still a good time. I'll be there, popped collar, tribal arm band, visor and all.

  6. It's Seattle backward. Didn't they at least used to do this by the water? With some kind of a view?
    Well, there are more pleasant places to drink beer this weekend.

  8. Not to hate on the fest but it's not about beer anymore and it's corporate and it's for fratboys and it's not unique. But not to hate on the fest.

  9. Isn't it still near the water?

    the last time I went, about 5 years ago, it was right under the aurora bridge next to the ship canal.

    I stumbled upon it coming home from a husky game (one of their last victories I recollect). It was pretty lame. I didn't come with any expectations but it didn't have a real good vibe to it. Maybe some better live music would improve things?

  10. It was in a concrete walled parking lot last time I went. You couldn't even see the water.
    I can't remember how long ago that was, though.

  11. Yet another opportunity to drink more beer. Such a deal. Let's see here. We had the solstice event. Fremont fair. ( as well as all other events around town) Now this. Like people around here can't find a place/reason to drink any time already? Perhaps many of these people have the same salami in their fridges and can form a club? Another sign of just how bad it is out there, a beer fest!

  12. I'm really not saying the fest sucks. It's still good at what it does. It just does something different from the fest I used to like. I don't think the Bite of Seattle actually sucks, either, but I don't enjoy it, myself.

    Shouldn't you be off in another thread making people detest BGT supporters?

  15. Wow. Way to look old. Beer is the cause of and solution to all of lifes problems. Also note, there are bars that *gasp* serve beer between the festivals! Will somebody think of the CHILDREN!

  21. ooohhh – don't be such a cranky pants.
    OF course nothing is ever as good as it was “back in the Day”
    Be proud of getting old – Sure- but don't loose perspective.

  22. Because you're already getting cranky.

    Dissing people's punctuation on blogs is about as bad as it gets. It's the online equivalent to GET OFF MY LAWN!

    Nobody's saying you need to go get wasted at the Fest. But seriously man lighten up a little bit. Life is more fun that way.

    xoxoxo
    doug11

  25. I, uh, think you guys misunderstand, maybe.

    I'm a beer snob. There are a lot of great beer-snob beer fests in the area. SIB. Phinney winter. Phinney summer. Hops & Props. Hops on Equinox.

    Those fests are as good now as they ever have been, or better. Fremont Oktoberfest used to be good like those. Now it's not — it's a much more mass-market fest with more commercial elements.

    A guy in a Homer F***ing Simpson suit. 20 years ago, that would have been edgy. Now, it's sad.

    It isn't about me being old (though I am: I'm 32) — I drink more and better beer now than I did 10 years ago in college, and go to a damn sight more festivals. I enjoyed the hell out of Oktoberfest in Munchen a couple years ago.

    All I'm saying is, one of the great quirky beer fests of Seattle isn't what it used to be — it's something different and mass-market. I'm saving my beer money for Phinney.

  27. hey guys, I think it would be cool if you did an article about Sunday Lunch/Brunch in Ballard. I know a lot of places are closed on Sundays, so it would be cool to have a review of what is open & good! thanks!

  28. Gurple –
    I see what you're getting at, and agree. I went this year bc my friend really wanted to, and it was a collosal waste of money. The samplings were small (compared to other equally priced beer festivals), the beer options were prety awful, and there were so many people there, the moment you got your beer, you had to go get in line for your next beer. You'd finish your beer before you got to the end of the line to refill. The crowd was kind of rude and very immature, lots of shoving, pushing, yelling. It's turned into less of a beer festival to more of a street party not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not sold that way.

    Michelob was there, for chrissakes!!

  29. doesn't really sound like a good time. maybe i'll check it out again some year but thats about what i figured it was like. lines and lines and lines of frat-ish dudes.

  30. Yeah, I swore I wouldn't go to this thing again after that last time. All large, pushy crowds and concrete walls. So, does anyone know an alternative Octoberfest celebration?

  31. “It's just not the same as it was __ years ago” all you want, Fremont Oktoberfest was a great time! Granted, with good company and attitude, just about anything can be fun.

    Lets drink to not being old and jaded!

  33. For those asking about other Oktoberfest celebrations, there's nothing else as /big/ as Fremont Oktoberfest, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Here are some options:

    Latona Pub's “Harvestival”: http://3pubs.com/Latona.html
    Elysian's “Great Pumpkin Beer Festival”: http://beeradvocate.com/news/2178175

    There are lots of great Fall beers being released right now. KISS Cafe has a couple Pumpkin Ales and Latona has others. I'm sure The Dray will get in on the action, too.

  42. I couldn't make it this year. But I did peruse the beer list, and since I only saw maybe a dozen, max (actually, I'd say maybe only HALF a dozen) that I thought I'd like, paying $20 minimum just wasn't going to happen.

    I can't remember how much the beer-fest at the Seattle Center cost a few months back, but at least there, there were a huge number of yummy beers to choose from. So, this year, I just purchased a variety of brews, and we enjoyed 3 of the 4 big games this weekend, inexpensively, at home (hopefully, the trolls won't take issue with that).

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