Sturdy Shelter Brewing Hosts Fourth Annual Oktoberfest!

Fourth Annual Oktoberfest Celebration is September 10-13, 2026, with live music featuring traditional Bavarian tunes, dancing and a traditional Oktoberfest sing-along, authentic German favorites from our food partners, and delicious warm pretzels! Compete in the state-qualifying stein holding contest, costume contest, and, of course, enjoy our delicious Shelterfest Munich-Style Fest Bier // 5.9%. Purchase a new Sturdy Shelter Brewing Oktoberfest .5 liter stein or BYO any full liter stein! We can’t wait to celebrate with you—Prost!

Thursday, September 10, 2026 Open 1-10pm
Sturdy Speaker Series with Rene Swidenbank: Oktoberfest! How it Started and How it’s Going! Kick off our Oktoberfest celebration learning the history and the songs that make the celebration! Rene has been a German Instructor at Geneva CUSD #304 for the past 24 years. Proceeds support our community pantry! Arrive at 6:30 and grab a beverage, talk begins at 7 PM. What to expect: 20-30 minute lectures by professors, experts, and specialists. Talks end with a Q&A.

Shelterfest Munich-Style Fest Bier// 5.9% Release!
Shelterfest is brewed in the style of the present-day Munich Oktoberfest beers. Slightly bigger than a Munich Helles, this golden, malt-forward lager is bready, with hints of light toast in both aroma and flavor. Clean, crisp and well-balanced, this pale lager is delicious and crushable. 
Friday, Sep 11, 2025, Open 12-11pm
Burn’n Bull BBQ, 4-8pm, Food Pop-up with a Bavarian Menu
Saturday, Sep 12, 2026 Open 11:30 am-11 pm
Stadium Street Eats, 12-8pm, Food Pop-up with a Bavarian Menu
The Happy Wanderers Band, 3-6 pm, Traditional Bavarian music, sing-alongs and dancing
Sunday, Sep 13, 2026 Open Noon-7 pm
Burn’n Bull BBQ, 12-6 pm, Food Pop-up with a Bavarian Menu State-qualifying Steinholding Competition, 1:30 pm Men’s and Women’s Categories

Celebrating their fourth anniversary, October 16-18, Sturdy Shelter Brewing, is a welcoming community taproom that serves a wide variety of highly crafted and delicious beers. Their mission is growing a treasured and genial community; one person, one conversation, and one highly crafted beer at a time. Located along the beautiful Fox River bike trail, the taproom offers 2 floors of open seating and river front views.They also have a brand new riverside deck! Sturdy Shelter Brewing offers 18 taps of a variety of beers, all brewed on-site. In addition, guests can expect cider, wine, featured cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, including housemade sodas.

"Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure."