WELCOME to the Bockfest Megathread

The one stop shop for all your Bockfest information and discussion.

What is Bockfest?

• Bockfest is a Cincinnati tradition!
• Bockfest celebrates the coming of Spring and the old world style beer known as Bock in all its form (Bock, Doppelbock, Maibock, Eisbock, etc.)
• Bockfest also celebrates OTR and the history of Cincinnati as a beer city

When and where is Bockfest?

• Bockfest is from March 1-3 this year (Friday-Sunday)
• Bockfest is celebrated at Bockfest Hall(s) (this year we have three- Moerlein, Northern Row, and Rhinegeist) but also at bars and venues all throughout Over the Rhine
  • Note- there are a lot of places not listed that still put Bock on tap so be sure to wander throughout OTR and find a place that suits you and serves delicious bock beer

What is there to do at Bockfest?

• Drink Bock beer!
• Watch the always eclectic parade on Friday night
• Crown the new Sausage Queen (yes this is a thing) on Saturday
• Bring the kids down on Sunday to pet goats, bunnies, etc. and participate in the Little Links pageant (kids wear either lederhosen or dirndl)
• Take a tour through some of Cincinnati’s oldest breweries and their lagering cellars/tunnels
• Do a .5K fun run on Sunday followed by a Bock beer
• Drink more beer!

Ok, but what’s with the goats?

• Walk on down history lane with us-
  • Bock beer originated out of Einbeck, Deutschland (Germany)

  • Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced “Einbeck” as “ein Bock” (“a billy goat”), and thus the beer became known as “Bock”.

• Also, everyone just likes goats

Great, I’m in! Is there more info?

• Sure- https://www.bockfest.com/

But wait, there’s more!

• Bockfest is not solely on one weekend. Per our old traditions (3 plus decades!) we celebrate a bit more in anticipation of the glorious weekend of Bockfest.
• Beefsteak Club Dinner
  • This is on February 8 but sadly tickets are already sold out
  • This event is $100 a plate and all proceeds go to keeping Bockfest alive and fee free
• Sausage Queen prelims
  • To nominate a sausage queen, we need participants and these are chosen at venues all over the city. This thread will be updated with dates and locations of the prelims (please add one if you are aware already!)
  • These events are FREE (unless you of course drink beer at the brewery to support this)
• Precipitation Retaliation
  • In years past Bockfest was nearly cancelled on account of precipitation (and last year the parade actually did not go on)
  • To counter these demons, we burn a snowman in effigy to ward off bad weather
  • This year the “precipitation retaliation” is Friday February 23, 2024 5P-8:30P at Northern Row Brewery & Distillery 111 West McMicken Ave