Overview:
The ninth annual Elktoberfest at The Barrel in Estes Park features seasonal brews, stein hoisting, and community cheer.
When Elk Fest rolls into Estes Park each fall, the town’s streets fill with visitors. For The Barrel, one of downtown’s busiest watering holes, that weekend marks the peak of the year.
“I love the actual event, but I don’t like the traffic that comes with it, and I don’t mean the elk jams,” quipped The Barrel’s co-owner Ingrid Bush. “I always tell people that Elk Fest week is like if you took Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day and put them all together—that’s Elk Fest. It’s the busiest weekend of the entire year for us and, I imagine, for the entire town.”
To meet the rush and celebrate the season, the bar created Elktoberfest, a monthlong tradition that brings German-style festivities with a distinctly local twist. Running daily through Oct. 6 at 251 Moraine Ave., the ninth annual Elktoberfest offers craft beers, hearty food, and the kind of gemütlichkeit (good cheer) that keeps patrons coming back year after year.
The Barrel isn’t the only brew location in town celebrating Oktoberfest with special offerings. For example, Rock Cut Brewing Company will release its Oktoberfest brews on Sunday, September 21, and Avant Garde Aleworks will hold a celebration on Saturday, September 27, but only The Barrell will combine it with a local tradition.
“We came up with the name by mashing Elk Fest and Oktoberfest together to create this fun fusion at The Barrel,” Bush said. “We’ve done it since 2016; it’s one of my favorite traditions.”
Beers of the season
Elktoberfest highlights a rotating selection of Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers from breweries across the region. Flights give guests the chance to sample a range of flavors, from traditional Märzens to more adventurous brews.
“We’ve tapped several Oktoberfest beers and rotate them so people can get a flight of different seasonal beers,” Bush said. “We also tap pumpkin beers, including some with pumpkin spices and some with pumpkin in the mash. For those, they take the fruit and put it into the mash and boil it, which makes the beer smoother.”
One standout is an imperial pumpkin porter that eschews the usual cinnamon-and-clove mix. “It has no traditional spices, but the pumpkin in it makes it creamier and gives it a higher ABV because of the sugar,” Bush explained. “People really enjoy sampling brews with fall flavors.”
Food trucks, a mainstay of The Barrel, keep people fueled as they indulge in seasonal beers and ciders. “It’s the normal food trucks here for Elktoberfest because they have been with me all summer long, and it would be unfair to kick them off for the busiest days of the year,” Bush said. “I don’t want to do that to our local food vendors, who I love.”
Contests and community
The highlight of the month is the Prost Brewing Co. Stein Hoisting Competition, set for Sept. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. The challenge is as straightforward as it is grueling: hold a full one-liter stein straight out in front of you, arm locked and parallel to the ground, without bending, spilling, or quitting. The last person standing earns prizes, bragging rights, and plenty of cheers.
“It’s been sponsored by Prost Brewing for the past several years, at least five, because they were doing it before COVID,” Bush said. “We get some people who are really competitive and come out for this, and we get some people who are here. Last year or the year before, there were some people attending a wedding, and they got people like the groomsmen and bridesmaids to do it.”
Spectators are encouraged to don dirndls or lederhosen to add to the festive atmosphere. Participation is free, though contestants must be 21 or older and present to win.
“We give away prizes and they do too,” Bush added. “It’s always one of the busiest and most entertaining nights.”
A busy weekend in town
While Elktoberfest runs all month, its biggest crowds coincide with Elk Fest, Sept. 27–28. Hosted in Bond Park, the town festival celebrates Estes Park’s resident elk with educational programs, live music, Native American dancing, food trucks, and the ever-popular bugling contest. The Rut Run 5K kicks things off on Saturday morning, and throughout the weekend, visitors can also attend wildlife presentations and cultural performances.
“Elk Fest is a really nice town event,” Bush said. “And, yes, there is definitely more business at The Barrel during Elk Fest, so I’m excited for this year’s Elk Fest.”
This year is The Barrel’s 10th anniversary, a milestone Bush doesn’t take lightly. “It’s been great,” she said. “It’s kind of nice in this industry; not everyone makes it past five, so it’s a pretty big deal when you make it to 10 years.”
After Elktoberfest winds down, the venue will move indoors and winterize its outdoor space. Boozy bingo, a popular midweek diversion, will return in October. “Not sure of the exact date, but it will be on a Wednesday as always,” Bush said.
For Bush, the heart of Elktoberfest isn’t just the beer or the competitions—it’s the community it draws together each fall.
“Elk Fest is a cherished town event,” she said. “And Elktoberfest has become this fun way for locals and visitors to celebrate the season and enjoy being together in Estes.”