Sondra Hernandez Staff writer October 4, 2024

One of Fass Brewing’s new beers for this weekend’s Oktoberfest in downtown Conroe has a neat trick. 

The Festbier can has a unique label where part of the label peels off and can become a sticker to be placed elsewhere. The sticker has the name of the beer and the mascot of the event a dachshund wiener dog. The dog mascot for Oktoberfest at Fass Brewing is called Doxie. 

Oktoberfest in Conroe begins at noon Saturday and continues through Sunday evening.

Here’s what to know about the two new beers, the peel-off sticker and the events surrounding Oktoberfest:

NEW RESTAURANTS: Drew Brees sliders chain, Spring Tex-Mex spot among new restaurants coming to Montgomery County

What to know about Fass Brewing 

Fass Brewing — fass being a barrel or container in German — is at 236 N. Main Street in Conroe. 

Dylan Emmons, his dad, Tom Emmons, and cousin, Aaron Edrington, launched Fass Brewing in downtown Conroe in fall 2021. The operation is located on the first floor of the historic Gentry Building in downtown Conroe with large windows showing their taproom and brewing tanks. 

Dylan’s formal education in beer came from The World Brewing Academy, studying at The Siebel Institute in Chicago and The Doemens Academy in Munich. 

Each October the brewery hosts an Oktoberfest weekend similar to the German tradition. 

Oktoberfest lagers

Two new beers will be released this weekend — Festbier and Märzen. Both beers will be available by the liter, pint and four pack this Saturday and Sunday at the event. They are brewed with imported German malts and hops, and fermented with Augustiner yeast for a total tank time of at least eight weeks.

Dylan said it is possible that the beers will sellout over the weekend as they are making about 300 gallons. 

“Festbier is the modern version of an Oktoberfest lager,” he said. “It’s more pale, golden in color and will have regular lager notes that are amped up a little bit. There’s also extra floral hoppiness and nice bread-like character.”

Märzen means March in German.

Dylan said the name reflects that these beers were brewed in March and saved for Oktoberfest in the German tradition. This one is more of a traditional Oktoberfest lager. 

“This is the one they’ve been brewing for maybe 400 years or so now in Germany,” he said. “It’s more red in color with more toffee and brioche notes.” 

Sticker can is a new industry trend

He said the sticker can is a newer thing in the industry.

Their label manufacturing group approached the team at Fass Brewing if they would be interested in giving the can a test run and they were on board.

He doesn’t think it’s a practical can to be sold in grocery stores, but it could be fun for on-site sales at breweries. He said it’s a little more expensive but they’d be willing to try it again for their future beers. 

REN FEST TURNS 50: Texas Renaissance Festival to feature new ‘Golden Celebration’ and parade for its 50th anniversary

What to know about the event

Fass Brewing’s Oktoberfest kicks off at noon Saturday with a tapping of both beers. Weenie dog races are at 3 p.m. both days. 

He said they have 26 dogs signed up this weekend. A male and female stein-hoisting competition is at 5 p.m. both days. He said their stein-hoisting event can get pretty serious. 

The Homebrewed Brass Band plays at 1 p.m. Sunday. Last call is 8 p.m. both days. 

Throughout the year the brewery hosts a trivia night each Tuesday at 7 p.m. and a weekly run for runners of all levels at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays. 

If the full content does not display, visit the article originally published on this site