PITTSBURGH – With September in full swing, it’s time for fall festivals, and perhaps none more widely celebrated than Oktoberfest.
Thursday, Sept. 20, travelers at Pittsburgh International Airport will get a hearty taste of Munich’s famous festival first-hand. Penn Brewery has teamed up with Fraport Pittsburgh and the airport to fill the terminal with the sights, sounds and tastes of Oktoberfest. The celebration will include traditional food and drink offerings, live music and fun activities with a German/Bavarian twist.
“Oktoberfest is celebrated throughout our region and across the globe,” said Eric Sprys, Chief Commercial Officer, Allegheny County Airport Authority. “We’re excited to host our first official Oktoberfest with one of Pittsburgh’s largest and oldest craft brewers and bring a bit of Deutschtown to the airport.”
Penn Brewery is pulling out the stops for its first Oktoberfest at its new brewpub on Concourse A, complete with festive décor, plenty of seasonal brews and a special menu through the end of October. Dishes range from pork shank, schweinebraten, borststuk (brisket), roasted pork with sauerkraut and marble potatoes, and strudel bites with cinnamon cream. Staff sporting colorful Alpine hats will also treat guests to complimentary pretzel-bites and mini-strudel bites at the restaurant on Sept. 20 and hand out information about Oktoberfest happenings at its flagship location in the North Side and in Concourse A.
“We’re thrilled to host our first Oktoberfest at the airport,” said Linda Nyman, marketing director and co-owner of Penn Brewery. “It’s a longstanding tradition at Penn Brewery. Our goal is to give travelers a true taste of Pittsburgh, along with a little dose of local history.”
To amp up the oom-pah-pah celebration, Pittsburgh’s crowd-pleasing Autobahn-The Karl Lukitsch Band will play O-fest music from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Center Core, dressed in full lederhosen. During the event, Fraport Pittsburgh’s “willkommen” team will greet passengers with samples of bite-sized hand-baked soft pretzels. The crew will also give away gift certificates for shopping and dining at the airport and share details about Oktoberfest happenings at Penn Brewery and the other bars and eateries.
“Oktoberfest is all about giving passengers a great experience at the airport as we celebrate our region’s heritage,” says Ben Zandi, President and CEO of Fraport USA. “We’re especially pleased to join with Penn Brewery in bringing this tradition to the airport.”
Established in 1986, Penn Brewery is one of the early pioneers of the American craft beer movement. It tells the story of Pittsburgh’s European immigrants through its craft beer and homemade cuisine.