During the 17th and 18th Centuries, an influx of German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, bringing with them the rich brewing traditions of their homeland. The Philadelphia area subsequently became one of the most prolific beermaking regions of our newly forming nation. Prohibition put many of these operations out of business, but in recent years the rise of the craft beer scene has allowed breweries to flourish here again.

To celebrate that heritage and rebirth, the German Society of PA is teaming up with local drinks author Marnie Old and the Philly Roller Girls to hold the first annual Bierfest on Saturday, February 25. Held in the Society’s history Spring Garden headquarters, this beer-garden-like festival will highlight Teutonic lagers, bocks and weizens with draft pours from no less than a dozen local breweries, along with a table manned by The Foodery serving a wide variety of German imports.

Your $38 ticket gets you access to brew samples from 1–5 PM, along with light fare from South Street’s Brauhaus Schmitz. Larger wurst platters will also be available for purchase. For an additional $25, you can start the event with a noontime tasting seminar led by Marnie Old, comparing local and imported interpretations of classic German beer styles. (You can also choose to purchase a ticket to the seminar only.)

Make sure to pace yourself so you’re relatively coherent at 4 PM, when a panel of brew-luminaries (brewminaries?) will discuss ‘The Future of Craft Lager – Pennsylvania’s Leadership in Brewing German-Style’ in the Horner Memorial Library.  Melissa Monosoff – Pennsylvania’s only Master Sommelier – will moderate as Victory’s Bill Covaleski, Yuengling’s John Callahan, Round Guys’ Scott Rudich, Tröegs’ John Trogner and Philly Beer Scene’s Mat Falco join Drink Philly's very own Adam Schmidt to chat about this relevant and delicious subject.

There are also designated driver tickets available, and while you can order online via TicketLeap, you can also call the German Society at 627-2332 to avoid any processing fees. Check out the full list of attending breweries below, and get ready for plenty of gut trinken.

Victory Brewing Co. [Downingtown]
Yuengling & Sons Brewery [Pottsville]
Tröegs Brewing Co. [Hershey]
Pennsylvania Brewing Co. [Pittsburgh]
Appalachian Brewing Co. [Harrisburg]
Berwick Brewing Co. [Berwick]
Stoudts Brewing Company  [Adamstown]
Sly Fox Brewing Company  [Phoenixville]
Roy Pitz Brewing Company  [Chambersburg]
Round Guys Brewing Co.  [Lansdale]
Lion Brewey  [Wilkes-Barre]
Bavarian Barbarian Brewing Co.  [Williamsport]

Event Date: 02/25
Event Time: Noon-1 PM & 1-5 PM
Location: German Society of Pennsylvania
Price: $38 & $25
Website: www.germansociety.org/bierfest2012.html