Behind the Brews at Carowinds' Oktoberfest
Ashlyn Pecchio
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Carowinds is excited to unveil two all-new daytime fall events in 2024 – Oktoberfest and Tricks and Treats.
Oktoberfest is scheduled for Saturdays and Sundays through November 2. Guests will have the opportunity to experience a taste of Germany’s world-famous festival with authentic bites, brews, entertainment and activities.
Chris Pieterson, Corporate Director of Beverage for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, played an integral role in conceptualizing this new event, hand-selecting beverage offerings guests will have a chance to enjoy. With over 30 years of experience, Pieterson is no stranger to high-quality, hand-crafted beer. In his role, he is tasked with ensuring each park has a delicious, refreshing, and innovative beverage program. Additionally, Pieterson volunteers for one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in the United States, held each November in Central Texas.
Recently, Pieterson participated in a Q&A session with Carowinds’ team to provide an inside look at the process behind creating the beverage menu for the park’s Oktoberfest event.
Why is beer so important to Oktoberfest?
“Delicious, quality beer is the heart of Oktoberfest! During this celebration of German culture, we have the opportunity to enjoy great food, music, and additional entertainment while simultaneously enjoying a cold beer. Around this time of year, Oktoberfest celebrations are happening all over the world. We are proud to bring this experience to our guests at Carowinds in 2024.”
How did you choose which beer to feature at Carowinds’ Oktoberfest?
“In order to execute Oktoberfest correctly, we need to have authentic and high-quality beers available to our guests. We partnered with two well-known German breweries, Hofbräu and Paulaner, to import their beers from across the Atlantic to the Carolinas. Additionally, we are proud to serve Samuel Adams Octoberfest, which is a great domestic offering for our festival.”
Which featured beer is your favorite?
“Any of the Oktoberfest varieties that we will be serving: Hofbräu Oktoberfest, Paulaner Oktoberfest and Samuel Adams Octoberfest. These are all German or German-style Märzen beers associated with Oktoberfest. To me, they just taste like Oktoberfest! Guests will understand what I mean when they taste it.”
Do you have any pairing recommendations for the beer and food offerings?
“Oktoberfest is about trying all different types of beer along with the different food offerings that our chefs will be presenting. Guests will find that these beers will go well with just about everything, so try them all!”
For a full list of the bites and brews available during Oktoberfest, check out the Foodie's Guide to Fall at Carowinds. Experience Carowinds' three fall events - Tricks and Treats, Oktoberfest, and SCarowinds - with a 2025 Gold Pass. Includes unlimited visits and free parking for all of 2025 and the remainder of 2024.
