Belgian Oktoberfest To Feature Brewing Legend

WAUWATOSA, WI - Café Hollander on Downer will hold its second annual Kwaktoberfest, named after a traditional Belgian strong ale, on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 4–10 p.m. Lowlands Group will also celebrate Oktoberfest Saturday, Sept. 22, the official launch of Oktoberfest in Germany, through Sunday, Oct. 7 at Café Bavaria in Wauwatosa.

The Kwaktoberfest celebration will spill from Café Hollander into the street, with N. Hackett Ave. closed off for the festival. Following tradition, event participants will witness the sabering of DeuS Bottles by the hour and enjoy local music performances by Milwaukee Hot Club from 5–7 p.m., and Detour from 8–10 p.m.

Brewing legend Jack Van Antwerpen of Brouwerij Bosteels in Belgium will be present to enjoy and talk about his own classic Belgian biers.. In addition, new this year to the Kwaktoberfest lineup are local craft favorites from Lowlands Locals collaboration series partners including Raised Grain Brewing Co., Good City Brewing, Third Space Brewing, Black Husky Brewing and Fermentorium. The food menu will include Totterballen, Pretzel Bites and Sauerkraut Fritters.

Kwaktoberfest uses tokens and wristbands so attendees can conveniently purchase food and drinks throughout the event. A VIP Package is available for $75 which includes an All-You-Care-To-Drink Wristand, Kwak t-shirt and a bottle of DeuS ($120 value).

All tokens can be purchased on-site the day of the event, except for the VIP package, which can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kwaktoberfest-friends-vip-pass-tickets-49613453174?aff=eac2.

On the Kwaktoberfest bier menu:

• Kwak – 8.4% – A Belgian strong ale with a rich, amber color and sweet, malty aroma. Kwak is named after Pauwel Kwak, a Belgian Innkeeper and tavern owner from the late 18th century whose inn was frequented by mail coaches. Napoleonic Code forbade these coach drivers from abandoning their horse and post to enjoy a bier in his bar, so he had a special glass blown that would hang from their coaches so he could take the bier to them. Today, Kwak is still served in that same glass, complete with a monogrammed wooden stand custom designed by Pauwel Kwak.

• Tripel Karmeliet – 8.4% – A tripel made with wheat, oat and barley, combined with spicy citrus flavors and aromas of vanilla. Tripel Karmeliet is still brewed to an authentic bier recipe from 1679 originating in the former Carmelite monastery in Dendermonde.

• DueS – 11.5% – The true Champagne of bier, DeuS undergoes its first fermentation at the Bosteels brewery in Buggenhout, then undergoes another fermentation and maturation in the Champagne region of France, in the méthode champenoise used to produce sparkling wine.

• Good City Brewing – Good City Sehr Gut Helles – 4.8%

• Third Space Brewing – Happy Place Citra – 5.3%

• Raised Grain Brewing Co. – Oranje Juicy IIPA – 7.8%

• The Fermentorium – Blushing Aura English Mild Ale – 4.2%

• Black Husky Brewing – Tripel Dog Elite – 8.2%

Patch File Photo