Gets The Beers in at Busch Gardens Bier Fest

If it’s summer, it must be time for a party or two and, for those arriving any time after July 21, the choice will be terrific.

We reported just recently on the imminent opening of this year’s Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, the headline event in the Walt Disney World park for the next few months, while we also blogged about the big summer season at SeaWorld only last month, which you can read on this link.

But it’s about time Busch Gardens at Tampa Bay got some love, so here is the right-on-cue news about their big summer event - Bier Fest!

Like Topsy, this is something that has grown and grown in recent years and is now a fully-fledged “season” in its own right, with a lot to recommend it, especially those who enjoy a beer or two.

What is Bier Fest?

Originally, this annual event was held purely in September to mark the big German celebration of Oktoberfest, that autumnal festival of traveling carnivals and serious beer drinking. But the Busch Gardens version has proved so popular (and, probably, so lucrative) that they have steadily expanded it right into the heart of summer.

Now in its sixth year, we can enjoy a record run of the Tampa Bier Fest on weekends (Friday to Sunday) from July 21 to September 4, and the park will be all the merrier for it!

This slice of Bavaria-in-Florida features a tempting array of typical German food offerings, as well as a wide variety of beers, ciders and wines from both Deutschland and elsewhere, all accompanied by live music each evening at the Coke Canopy from a selection of local bands.

The best part, though, is that Bier Fest is included with regular Busch Gardens entry, so the only extras for visitors is whatever they eat and drink along the way.

What’s on the menu this year?

All in all, the park’s culinary team are promising us a range of 15 newly created menu items along with some “60 brews from regions near and far.”

The food will be suitably Germanic and highlight a collection of traditional dishes, including staples like Currywurst, Potato Salad and Goulash, but lederhosen are an optional extra.

The full line-up will be:

• Bierwurst with Pickled Red Cabbage on a Pretzel Roll
• Braised Pork Shank
• Bratwurst on a Pretzel Roll with Spicy Mustard
• Chicken Schnitzel with Brown Butter Spätzle
• Currywurst
• Egg Noodle Kugel
• German Potato Salad
• Goulash
• Kielbasa and Sauerkraut
• Savoury Onion Pie
• Cupcakes (German Chocolate, Black Forest, Gingerbread and Caramel Popcorn)
• Dark Beer Donut

It is quite a varied menu of Germanic delights, and you can count us in for the Bratwurst, Schnitzel and the Cupcakes.

The beer range will be even more plentiful, and run from lagers, ales and hefeweizens to non-beer options such as ciders, sours, bourbons and wines for that total of 60 types of drink. Featured new additions in 2023 include: * * 3 Daughters Raspberry Lemonade (Cider; St Petersburg, Florida) * Marker 48 Red Right Return (Red Ale; Brooksville, Florida) * Samuel Adams Oktoberfest (Marzen; Boston, Massachusetts) * Terrapin Hopsecutioner (IPA; Athens, Georgia) * Wicked Weed – Strawberry Kiwi Burst (Session Sour; Candler, North Carolina)

Best Bier Fest value

Those wanting to delight and indulge should know that the best way to get a taste of all the flavours at this year’s event is with a Bier Fest Sampler, which can be redeemed for any food or beverage item offered throughout the festival area and represents a significant saving on buying items individually.

Offering the best value for guests, Samplers start at $35 and are available in quantities of five, eight and 12. Annual pass Members also have access to an exclusive 15-item Sampler for the same price as a 12-item Sampler. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages.

That last sentence is important, of course. As with all American bars, restaurants and other places where alcohol is sold, it’s vital to have your ID and proof of age with you. These events are strictly monitored by local law enforcement, and the bottom line is: No ID, no beer.

Having said all that, it’s also important to avoid any drink-drive issues, so having a Designated Driver for the drive back to Orlando is equally important.

So, that’s the lowdown on this fab fest. For every Friday, Saturday and Sunday between July 21 and September 4, Busch Gardens will be Party Central.

We’ll see you there!

NB: For the latest details, be sure to look up BuschGardens.com.

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