Bockfest Begins at Fitgers Brewery

The beer festival is a celebration of spring, that brings people together to welcome the changing of the season from cold to warm

DULUTH, Minn. – Hundreds of years ago the tradition of Bockfest began in Germany. Tonight, that tradition continued in Duluth.

The 23rd annual Bockfest kicked off at Fitgers with the blessing of the bock.

The beer festival is a celebration of spring, that brings people together to welcome the changing of the season from cold to warm.

The Split Rock Bock is specially made by Lake Superior Brewing Company for the event and is designed with a special meaning behind it.

“It’s a dark beer, it’s a heavy beer,” said bockmaster Ken Buehler. “It reminds one of winter,but then you’ll see them caramelizing it, where they put the hot poker inside the cold beer. That warms it up and brings the sugars up to the top and sweetens it.”

Bockfest continues through Saturday at the Fitgers courtyard. Events throughout the weekend feature the Volksmarch on the lake walk, a plunge into Lake Superior, and a stein drinking contest.