A taste of Bavarian style but very much ‘Made in Moray’

Moray is set to welcome its own Bavarian-style Beer Festival later this year thanks to the efforts of the region’s burgeoning craft brewery industry.

Owners of the four craft brewery operations in Moray have come together to host the first ever ‘Oktoberfest’, a two-day beer festival being held in Elgin Town Hall on October 4 and 5.

The craft breweries – Spey Valley, Brewmeister, Windswept in Lossiemouth and the Forres-based Speyside – are aiming to demonstrate the wide range of product they produce, with each providing their own unique slant on beer making that has taken the market in Moray and beyond by storm.

Alongside the obvious attraction of the beer itself, Oktoberfest will also feature a wide variety of German-style sausages with local producers being invited to donate their own versions.

To accompany the food and drink will be entertainment from local musicians in what is already shaping up to be one of the highlights of what has already been a fantastic and varied year of entertainment in Moray.

The idea of a beer festival was mooted by Moray’s MSP, Richard Lochhead, who as the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Food and Drink takes a particular interest in produce from his own constituency.

Welcoming the addition of Keith-based Brewmeister to the growing family of craft beer producers in Moray, Mr Lochhead said: “We’re very lucky in Moray to be home to a number of well known craft brewers, and who knows, we could soon see a local beer festival!”

Event organisers have set up a Facebook page to keep people informed on progress and to suggest their own ideas for Oktoberfest.

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