Utopian Brewery are bringing a nine-day celebration of ‘seriously good, award-winning British lager’, with a distinctly Bavarian twist and a Devonian attitude, to Arcadia, in Exeter.
Jeremy Swainson, head brewer at Utopian Brewing
The festival runs from Friday (25th September) until 3rd October. It will bring steins, beer flights, Bavarian-inspired food and entertainment, head-brewer chats, and, of course, lederhosen to the centre of Exeter.
The festival will be built around two Oktoberfest Utopian beers, created to mark the occasion by head brewer Jeremy Swainson, who trained in Munich. There will be a Fest Marzen, the historic Oktoberfest amber style beer, alongside the Festbier style now more commonly associated with the famous Munich festival.
Both the beers and the festival will be officially opened in a barrel-tapping ceremony led by Lord Mayor of Exeter, Gemma Rolstone, and chairman of Mid Devon Council, Czapiewski, on Friday afternoon. In doing so, the duo will be following in the footsteps of the many officials who have tapped open the Munich Oktoberfest since 1950.
Utopian Brewing is on a mission to create world-class premium British lagers, brewed sustainably using 100% British-grown malt and hops. Founded in 2018 by Richard Archer and backed by more than 200 local crowdfund investors, Utopian brews from a repurposed farm building at Clannaborough Barton, near Crediton.
Arcadia is Utopian Brewing’s flagship bar and eatery, housed in a once-empty historic building on Northernhay Place, reborn as a relaxed, community-focused taproom and kitchen.
A beer and food pairing dining evening, on Friday, will see a set menu of small plates offering Bavarian-themed food, matched with the festival beers. Further Oktoberfest events include a meet the brewer guided tasting with Swainson on Tuesday (29th September). He will take attendees on a journey through the history of Oktoberfest, his time in Munich, how he uses his German knowledge in his everyday Devon brewing, and the beer styles included in the tasters.
Archer said: “In the same way that Oktoberfest brings an enviable global attention to the style and highest quality brewing standards in the original ‘beerland’ of Bavaria, we’re adopting the German festival ethos, but in a Devonian Utopian Arcadian way.
“We’re taking this opportunity to showcase our philosophy, commitment, and, of course, our delicious, award-winning premium lagers and beers of all styles, educating as we enjoy it all.
“Our head brewer, Jeremy, has created our limited-edition festival brews as our homage to two of the world’s favourite beer styles and we can’t wait to share them and take our Exeter locals and supporters on this beerland adventure with us.”
