Oh Wait, There’s Beer, Too!
While the summer months are about to arrive quickly at a halt, food and beer enthusiasts can now rejoice for festival season will soon premiere in full swing, with Chester County trotting the area’s finest celebrations. Here’s our delicious top picks for upcoming food-frenzied affairs, and also, with the help of our friend Bryan Kolesar of the Brew Lounge, we have also filled you in on many hopped events you will not want to miss!
Kennett Square Mushroom Festival, Fri.-Sun., September 10 – 12
Mushroom cultivation in the United States first began in Kennett Square, specifically in 1896, and what better way to celebrate the native crop than with an annual festival, now in its 25th year! Kicking off with an old-fashioned carnival on Friday at 6 p.m., the weekend-long affair allows you to delve deep into the freshest mushrooms you will ever taste. From a mushroom soup cook-off and growers’ exhibit, to farm tours and a culinary tent hopping with notable chefs like Chef Dan Butler, Janet Zappalla and Chef Alfred Jackson, these festivities will have your praising the fleshed fungus in no time! For more information, visit mushroomfestival.org.
Chester County Restaurant Festival, Sunday, September 19, noon – 5:30 p.m.
More than 50 restaurants will set up shop on Gay Street in West Chester at this year’s restaurant festival, alongside nearly 110 arts and crafts vendors, information booths, three live music stages, and a “Church Street Café,” serving refreshing pints of beer and glasses of wine. Conveniently celebrating the area’s best eats found within the county’s vast borders, all on one street for only one day, the local street fest also hosts a live culinary cook-off, where four chefs will vie for the title of the best local chef. Visit westchester.paeats.com for the full lineup of vendors, restaurants and more.
Oktoberfest at Iron Hill Brewery, Friday, October 1, 5 p.m.
To coincide with the annual Oktoberfest celebration in Munich, Germany, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant will offer a stick-to-your-ribs menu of hearty Bavarian dishes served at all eight restaurants from Friday, September 17 until Sunday, October 3. But, right before they say farewell to their seasonal dishes trotting autumnal flavors, the local microbrewery will host a street festival in front of their Phoenixville location, during the downtown area’s First Friday celebration, praising this year’s batch of their hand-crafted Oktoberfest beer. Visit ironhillbrewery.com for further information.
Downingtown FallFest, Sunday, October 3, noon – 4 p.m.
As a street festival set on the main stretch of Downingtown, on East Lancaster Avenue, Victory Brewing Company joins forces with local restaurants and businesses to promote hyper-local cuisine from nearby farms and eateries, and of course, provide an overabundance of their beers, which are found in their makeshift beer garden. Amani’s BYOB, Blue Cafe, Doghouse Burgers, Firecreek Restaurant, Foster Boys, Kimberton Whole Foods, Station Taproom, and many more, are slated to participate. For more information, visit downingtownfallfest.com.
Kennett Square Brewfest, Saturday, October 2, 2 – 6 p.m.
Celebrating its 13th year, the yearly fundraising event for historic Kennett Square has established itself to be one of the area’s premiere beer tastings, bringing together over 60 local, regional and craft breweries like Allagash Brewing, Brewery Ommegang, Dogfish Head Brewery, Flying Fish Brewery, Franziskaner Brewery, McKenzie’s Brewhouse, Rogue, Sly Fox, Victory Brewing Co., and many more, for an afternoon of top-notch beer appreciation. At $40 per person, the outdoor brew extravaganza is also paired with live jazz/fusion music by Carl Filipiak and The Jimi Jazz Band, as well as local favorites, the Sin City Band. More information is made available at kennettsquarebrewfest.com.
West Chester’s Rotary’s 8th Annual Chili Cook-off, Sunday, October 10, noon – 3 p.m.
Do you think your sacred chili concoction trumps others’ spiced meaty bowls? Are you willing to battle your blend against over 60 teams? Whether you are a home cook, a restaurant owner, a non-profit, or just simply, you make stellar chili, enter your team before September 15 and see if you will be crowned this year’s cook-off king (or queen). Visit westchesterchilicookoff.com for more information.
On Tap: Best Beer Events of September (courtesy of Brewlounge.com)
Fri., 9/10 – Friday Night Tasting of Southampton Publick House at Exton Beverage, Exton (4 – 6 p.m.; Free)
Thu., 9/16 – Blues Brews ‘n’ BBQ at Ron’s Original, Exton (Pay As You Go)
Thu., 9/16 – Yappy Hour at Sly Fox Brewing Company, Royersford (6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.; PAYG)
Sat., 9/18 – Hop Fest VIII at The Drafting Room, Exton (all day; PAYG)
Fri., 9/24 – Friday Night Tasting of Tröegs at Exton Beverage, Exton (4 – 6 p.m.; Free)
Sat., 9/25 – Customer Appreciation Day at Exton Beverage, Exton (noon – 4 p.m.; Free)
Sat., 9/25 – 4th Annual Manayunk Craft Beer Games (formerly known as Beer Olympics) of Manayunk Brewery, Manayunk (11a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Sun. 9/26 – PASA’s 3rd Annual Bike Fresh Bike Local Ride of Victory Brewery, Downingtown (7 a.m.; $35/$40)
Tue. 9/28 – Brewmaster’s Five Course Beer Dinner themed “I Can’t Believe That’s Beer, hosted by Chester County Historical Society, West Chester (7 p.m.; $65)
Tue. 9/28 – Wild About Beer Class Series #3 , themed “I Can’t Believe That’s Beer” at the Chester County Historical Society, West Chester (6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.; $49.95)
9/30-10/3 – The 2nd Annual McKenzie-Fest, premieres with brewer Oktoberfest Beer Dinner on 9/30, Malvern
Thu. 9/30 – Anti-Reinheitsgebot Oktoberfest Beer Dinner at McKenzie Brew House, Malvern, PA (7 p.m.; $39)
