Rochester Mills Beer Co’s Annual Autumn Festival Returns September 25-27

It’s time again to grab your lederhosen and head for the Mills. Following the time-honored Alps tradition that started 200 years ago in Munich, Germany, the Rochester Mills Beer Company invites you to partake in its annual Oktoberfest festivities, September 25-27 – and you needn’t be German or travel halfway around the world to do so. This family-friendly celebration features German-style cuisine and plenty of beer under a huge outdoor tent. Come join thousands of your closest friends, family and neighbors who annually turnout to enjoy the live music, dancing and children’s activities taking place behind the brewery during the three-day celebration.

The weekend kicks off Thursday, Sept. 25 with a Ceremonial tapping of Rochester Mills Oktoberfest Seasonal Celebration Lager in the Restaurant at 7pm, followed by live music performed by Big Ray Motor City Kings at 8pm.

Friday and Saturday join the thousands of visitors who annually attend to enjoy the live Oompah and polka music, Bavarian dancing and children’s activities taking place behind the brewery’s Downtown Rochester location. The Oktoberfest celebration also includes games, moonwalks, pony rides, petting zoo, clowns, as well as balloon and tattoo artists for the kids. Those young at heart can participate in the ever-popular harvest challenges including sauerkraut-eating, brat-eating or stein hoisting competitions. The festival tent is open from 5pm-Midnight on Friday and 1pm-Midnight on Saturday. Admission is only $5 for adults and is good for both days; children 16 and under get in free (with a paid adult). All of the proceeds from the event benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, Friends of Jacob Foundation and the North Oakland County Waves swim club who volunteer during the event.

Head Brewer Forrest Knapp has prepared fresh batches of Rochester Mills Water Street Wheat (German-style Hefe-Weizen), Lazy Daze Lite (Michigan-style light beer) and this year’s Oktoberfest Lager (German-style lager).

Enjoy live performances nightly under the tent from Enzian. The Vagabonds perform Saturday afternoon and the Carpathia dancers will perform Friday and Saturday Night.

The brewpub will operate under regular hours and offer a full menu and selection of beers on tap during the event. Free entertainment inside the brewery features live performances by Cosmic Groove on Friday and Remedy on Saturday, both starting at 9pm.

For more information, call 248-650-5080 or log onto www.rochestermillsbeerco.com.
 
DATES
September 25th, 26th, & 27th 2014

HOURS:
Thursday (September 25)
7-11pm w/ Ceremonial Tapping (7pm) of the first keg inside the pub

Friday (September 26)
Festival 4-11pm, (Brat & Kraut eating 8:30 Stein Hoist @ 9:30)
Live Band Performance 9pm-2am inside brewery

Saturday (September 27)
Festival Noon-11pm, (Brat & Kraut eating 8:30 Stein Hoist @ 9:30)
Live Band Performance 9pm-2am inside brewery

LOCATION:
Rochester Mills Beer Co. - 400 Water Street Rochester, Michigan 48307

ADMISSION:
$5 adults at the tent; children 16 and under get in free (with a paid adult).
Must be 21 years old or older and have a valid ID to obtain a hand stamp to purchase alcohol.


ABOUT ROCHESTER MILLS BEER CO.:
The Rochester Mills Beer Co. opened in 1998 in Downtown Rochester and has been brewing handcrafted lagers and ales ever since. Located in the historic Western Knitting Mill, the brewery is located on Water Street, just two blocks east of Main Street. The menu features a broad selection of eclectic American cuisine, all prepared with the freshest and often local Michigan ingredients. From delectable appetizers, fresh salads, pizzas and pastas to delicious entrees and unique sandwiches, the menu has something for everyone, including the kids. Special amenities include an outdoor patio, pool tables, and live entertainment every Friday, and Saturday nights. The Lazy Daze Lounge is available for private parties. The restaurant has expanded its ability to cater off premises events and parties bringing the Mills to you.

Rochester Mills’ brands, Cornerstone IPA, Rochester Red Ale, Milkshake Stout and Lazy Daze Amber Lager are available on draft to other Michigan bars and restaurants. and packaged product in 16 oz. (Full Pint) cans. Rochester Mills Beer Co. is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild (www.MiBeer.com).

ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION:
Since 1984, Make-A-Wish® Michigan has granted more than 7,500 wishes to Michigan children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact conducted by Make-A-Wish® America, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true can have positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illnesses, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Based in Brighton, Mich., with offices in Detroit and Grand Rapids, Make-A-Wish Michigan is funded through community support. Nearly 80 percent of each dollar spent directly benefits the Michigan wish-granting program. Visit www.michigan.wish.org to learn more.

FRIENDS OF JACOB FOUNDATION:
The Friends of Jacob Foundation, a Michigan based charity enriching the lives of families affected by Autism Spectrum disorders by providing: grants for financial assistance to help with therapeutic interventions, medical bills, socialization activities and support networks. Since our inception, The Friends of Jacob Foundation has granted over $60,000 to help families all over Michigan with financial assistance for medical bills, therapy, equipment and respite care. Your support through donations allows us to continue to provide these grants and services to these special children and special families. www.friendsofjacob.org

ABOUT NORTH OAKLAND WAVES (NOW) SWIM TEAM:
A family-friendly swim team based out of the North Oakland Family YMCA in Auburn Hills offering competitive swimming for all age groups. Instruction, technique, yardage, a positive work ethic, team building, and loads of fun is the NOW experience. NOW is a dual affiliated team, swimming both YMCA and USA meets. NOW offers a year round swim program. For more information visit www.teamunify.com.

Expanded Rochester Mills Beer Co’s Annual Oktoberfest Returns September 26-29

It’s time again to grab your lederhosen and head for the Mills. Following the time-honored Alps tradition that started 200 years ago in Munich, Germany, the Rochester Mills Beer Company invites you to partake in its annual Oktoberfest festivities, September 26-29 – and you needn’t be German or travel halfway around the world to do so. This family-friendly celebration features German-style cuisine and plenty of beer under a huge outdoor tent. Come join thousands of your closest friends, family and neighbors who annually turnout to enjoy the live music, dancing and children’s activities taking place behind the brewery during the four-day extravaganza.

The weekend kicks off Thursday, Sept. 26 with a ceremonial tapping of Rochester Mills Oktoberfest Seasonal Celebration Lager in the big tent at 7pm.

Friday, Saturday and now Sunday join the thousands of visitors who annually attend to enjoy the live Oompah and polka music, Bavarian dancing and children’s activities taking place behind the brewery’s Downtown Rochester location. The four-day extravaganza also includes carnival games, moonwalks, pony rides, petting zoo, clowns, as well as balloon and tattoo artists for the kids. Those young at heart can participate in the ever-popular harvest challenges including sauerkraut-eating, brat-eating or stein hoisting competitions. The festival tent is open from 5-11pm on Thursday, 4-11pm on Friday, Noon-11pm on Saturday and 1-6pm on Sunday. Admission is only $5 for adults and is good for all four days; children 16 and under get in free (with a paid adult). A portion of the proceeds from the event benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, Gilda's Club Metro Detroit and the YMCA North Oakland County Waves swim club who volutneer during the event.

“We celebrated our fifteenth anniversary this year so we knew we had to make our Oktoberfest one of the biggest in Michigan. We’ve added days, extended hours and partnered with the local Lions clubs to bring a full carnival that will be co-located at our site,” said Rochester Mills Beer Co. marketing director David Youngman. “And with this year’s batch of Oktoberfest Celebration Lager already available on tap at bars and restaurants across the state we are expecting our biggest turnout ever.”

Head Brewer Forrest Knapp has prepared fresh batches of Rochester Mills Water Street Wheat (German-style Hefe-Weizen), Lazy Daze Lite (Michigan-style light beer) and this year’s Oktoberfest Lager (German-style lager).

Enjoy live performances nightly under the tent from the Vagabonds and Enzian. The Carpathia dancers will perform Friday and Saturday Night.

The brewpub will operate under regular hours and offer a full menu and selection of beers on tap during the event. Free entertainment inside the brewery features live performances by Under the Covers on Friday and The Remedy on Saturday, both starting at 10pm.

For more information, call 248-650-5080 or log onto www.rochestermillsbeerco.com.

DATES
September 26th, 27th, 28th & 29th 2013

HOURS:
Thursday (September 26)
Ceremonial Tapping (7pm) of the first keg with Mayor(s) 5-11pm

Friday (September 27)
Festival 4-11pm
Live Band Performance 10pm-2am

Saturday (September 28)
Festival Noon-11pm,
Live Band Performance 10pm-2am

Sunday (September 29)
Festival 1-6pm

LOCATION:
Rochester Mills Beer Co.
400 Water Street
Rochester, Michigan 48307

ADMISSION:
$5 adults at the tent; children 16 and under get in free (with a paid adult). Must be 21 years old or older and have a valid ID to obtain a hand stamp to purchase alcohol.

ABOUT ROCHESTER MILLS BEER CO.:
The Rochester Mills Beer Co. opened in 1998 in Downtown Rochester and has been brewing handcrafted lagers and ales ever since. Located in the historic Western Knitting Mill, the brewery is located on Water Street, just two blocks east of Main Street. The menu features a broad selection of eclectic American cuisine, all prepared with the freshest and often local Michigan ingredients. From delectable appetizers, fresh salads, pizzas and pastas to delicious entrees and unique sandwiches, the menu has something for everyone, including the kids. Special amenities include an outdoor patio, pool tables, and live entertainment every Friday, and Saturday nights. The Lazy Daze Lounge is available for private parties. The restaurant has expanded its ability to cater off premises events and parties bringing the Mills to you.

Rochester Mills’ brands, Cornerstone IPA, Rochester Red Ale, Milkshake Stout and Lazy Daze Amber Lager are available on draft to other Michigan bars and restaurants. and packaged product in 16 oz. (Full Pint) cans. Rochester Mills Beer Co. is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild (www.MiBeer.com).


ABOUT MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION:
Since its inception in 1984, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan -- a chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America -- has brought joy into the lives of thousands of people in our Michigan community through its important wish-granting mission. The Foundation has granted more than 6,000 wishes in its 26-year history. More than 80% of the Foundation’s expenditures are directly related to program services (wish granting). The Foundation has offices in Detroit, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids. For more information, call 734.994.8620 or visit www.wishmich.org.

Gilda's Club Metro DetroiT:
Gilda's Club Metro Detroit is a free, non-residential cancer support community for men, women and children affected by cancer. The organization offers emotional and social support through programs such as support groups, educational programs, yoga, music and many other activities. Gilda's Club currently includes 89 young adult cancer survivors and 146 young adult family members in its 6,000-plus membership. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2008, Gilda's Club was named in honor of the late comedian and former Detroiter, Gilda Radner. Visit www.gildasclubdetroit.org or call (248) 577-0800 for more information.

ABOUT NORTH OAKLAND WAVES (NOW) SWIM TEAM:
A family-friendly swim team based out of the North Oakland Family YMCA in Auburn Hills offering competitive swimming for all age groups. Instruction, technique, yardage, a positive work ethic, team building, and loads of fun is the NOW experience. NOW is a dual affiliated team, swimming both YMCA and USA meets. NOW offers a year round swim program. For more information visit www.teamunify.com.

The Homestead Plans 4-Day Oktoberfest Celebration (October 4-7)

In 1810, the Crown Prince Ludwig was married to Princess Therese of Bavaria. The party they held was so popular that they decided to repeat it every year. In celebration of this honored Oktoberfest tradition, The Homestead is planning a weekend gathering, October 4-7.

A series of events designed to pay tribute both to German traditions and Northern Michigan’s own local harvest will provide an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the bounty of the autumn harvest, along with good company, good food and good beer.

The weekend’s activities include:

Thursday, October 4 (6-8pm) – Nonna’s Beer Tasting: guests will sample a variety of the best local and international beers, all carefully chosen and presented by The Homestead.

Friday, October 5 – Nonna’s Beer Dinner: featuring the microbrews from the award-winning Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, carefully matched to a variety of dishes by Executive Chef John Piombo. (Cost: $65 per person, plus gratuity and tax).

Saturday, October 6 – Charcuterie Demonstration: Chef Piombo – who trained in Germany as well as Italy, France, and the United States – will share information (and samples) about charcuterie (the craft of smoking, salting and curing meats). (Cost: $50 per person, plus gratuity and tax).

Sunday, October 7 – Car Show & Cookout: guests will round out the weekend with some traditional fare such as Weisswurst and soft pretzels, while admiring a variety of vintage cars on the lawn of The Inn. The car show and cook-out from 11am to 4pm. Show participants may register the day of the event for $10 per vehicle which includes lunch.

Weekend lodging packages available including lodging, breakfast buffet each morning, beer dinner and charcuterie demonstration.

The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, an area voted by viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America as the “Most Beautiful Place in America”. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers guest pools, tennis and golf in the summer; downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira throughout all four seasons.

For more information, visit www.thehomesteadresort.com or call 231.334.5100. “Like” The Homestead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomesteadmi and follow on Twitter at @TheHomesteadMI.

Michigan Brewers Guild Announces Two New Fall Festivals

Coming off a widely successful 12th Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti this past weekend (where attendance sold out at just over 8000 at historic Depot Town’s Riverside Park), the Michigan Brewers Guild (MBG) announces two new fall festivals for craft beer enthusiasts.

The UP Oktoberfest will be held on Saturday, September 12 in Marquette, followed by Harvest Fest -- presented with Metro Times -- on Saturday, October 24 at Eastern Market in Detroit.

“We have been looking to add a few new events to our annual calendar,” says Scott Graham, MBG executive director. “Oktoberfest gives us the opportunity to reach out to craft beer connoisseurs in the Upper Peninsula, while the Harvest Fest brings us to historic Eastern Market in Michigan’s largest city. With both, we hope to draw attendance from our existing beer fan base, as well as introduce a whole new group of people to some of the finest craft beers in the Midwest.”

Further details about these events will be released in the coming weeks and will also be posted online at www.MichiganBrewersGuild.org.

Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”

The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. For more information, including a list of Michigan microbreweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.

Celebrate Oktoberfest at Rochester Mills Beer Co

(ROCHESTER, Mich) – Following a tradition that started in the early 1800s in Munich, Germany, Rochester Mills Beer Company invites you to partake in its Annual Oktoberfest festivities – and you needn’t be German or travel halfway around the world to do so. This family-friendly celebration, September 26-27, features German-style food and beer under a huge American-made tent. Come join more than 2,000 of your closest friends and family who are expected to enjoy the live music, dancing and children’s activities taking place behind the brewery during the two-day extravaganza.

Kids will get a kick out of carnival games, moonwalks, pony rides, petting zoo, clowns, balloon artists, tattoo artists and new this year, a charity dunk tank. Those young at heart can participate in the popular sauerkraut-eating contest or be entertained by traditional German music and dancing. Musical performances by renowned German bands “Enzian” (Friday and Saturday from 6-10pm) and “the Vagabonds” (Saturday from 1-4pm), along with a special appearance by the Carpathia Dancers.

Head Brewer Eric Briggeman has prepared fresh batches of Rochester Mills’ Oktoberfest (German-style lager), Water Street Wheat (German-style Hefe-Weizen), and Harvest Lite (American-style light beer) to be offered under the tent.

The tent is open from 5-11pm on Friday and from 1-11pm on Saturday. Admission is only $5 for adults; children 16 and under get in free (with a paid adult). All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the YMCA North Oakland County Waves swim club.

A full menu and selection of beers on tap will be available inside the brewery during the event. No cover live entertainment inside the brewery features “the Square Pegz” on Friday and “Spirit of ’76” on Saturday, both starting at 10pm.

For more information, call 248-650-5080 or log onto www.rochestermillsbeerco.com

ABOUT ROCHESTER MILLS BEER CO.
The Rochester Mills Beer Co. opened in 1998 in Downtown Rochester. Located in the historic Western Knitting Mill, the brewery is located on Water Street, just two blocks east of Main Street. Preserving the original character of the building, the brewery features original hardwood floors, columns, beams and exposed brick walls of the mill.

The menu features a broad selection of eclectic American cuisine, all prepared with the freshest ingredients. From delectable appetizers, fresh salads, pizzas and pastas to delicious entrees and unique sandwiches, the menu has something for everyone including the kids.

Special amenities include an outdoor patio, pool tables, Acoustic Night every Thursday starting at 9pm, and live entertainment every Friday, and Saturday nights. The Martini Lounge is available for private parties.

Rochester Mills Beer Co. is a Pleszure Food Group company and a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild.

MEDIA CONTACT:
David Youngman
Pleszure Food Group
248.797.6012
theyoungmans@sbcglobal.net