Brothers Craft Brewing - Fest Bier

Traditionally brewed in March (März) and kept in cool storage over the spring and summer months, märzenbiers became the traditional style enjoyed during Oktoberfest, thus they’re also referred to as Oktoberfest-style beers. This interpretation from Brothers Craft Brewing presents a true-to-style rich golden color, topped by a head of just-off-white foam. On the nose, look for a light kiss of German hops to deliver grassy and somewhat spicy overtones with slight hints of orchard fruits, underpinned by a mildly toasty malt profile. In the flavor, this brew is really a delight, offering a good deal of flavorful bready, toasty, and mildly caramelized character at its very smooth core, providing a substantial feel on the palate without weighing it down. A moderate dose of hop bitterness offers a nice balancing bite while affording the malts plenty of room to stretch out and hold center stage. For pairing options, we’re thinking fennel-spiced sausages, potatoes, pierogies or pork chops. Or, go full Bavarian with schnitzel, bratwurst with sauerkraut, or soft pretzels with spicy mustard. Cheers!

Situated in the Shenandoah Valley, Brothers Craft Brewing began business in December of 2012, the realization of a dream of three brothers: Adam, Jason, and Tyler Shifflett. Originally named Three Brothers Brewing, the brewery rebranded in April of 2015 to avoid potential conflicts with other marks and to better represent the sense of brotherhood and camaraderie among the entire staff of the company – why limit the brotherhood to three, after all? The roots of the business go back to when Adam, the eldest brother, started homebrewing while still in the Navy, where he had worked as a nuclear powered submarine engineer. After leaving the Navy and developing his skill as a brewer, he and his brothers joined up and started a production brewery to serve the Harrisonburg area and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley, which the brothers had always called home.

Today, the brothers are still as focused as ever on producing the highest quality and freshest beer for their local community. But, their community focus doesn't end with the beer; the brewery supports numerous charitable initiatives including December gift drives for Mercy House, the Souper Bowl Food Drive in February, the United Way's Stuff the Bus campaign in summer, and, one Friday per month, Cask for a Cause, which features a beer brewed specifically to support a local nonprofit. Currently the brewery produces several year-round beers plus multiple seasonals, and a growing list of limited and one-off brews including barrel-aged, wild, sour, and experimental beers. For more info on the brewery, their Taproom, or their Horizon Society club featuring limited production brews, visit www.brotherscraftbrewing.com.