Pittsburgh Brewing Co. is throwing open the gates for its Oktoberfest, spreading the celebration across two Saturdays this month rather than cramming it into a single day. The brewery has scheduled festivities from noon to 10 p.m. on September 12 and September 26.
The festival is scheduled across two Saturdays. The event is open to all ages.
Bands, Barrels, and a Chainsaw Show
Music headlines both weekends, with the Barons booked to perform on both dates. Polka Maniacs take the stage on September 12, while Heidi and the Hellcats perform on September 12 and the September 26 lineup is to be determined, the outlet notes. Beyond live music, organizers have lined up food, craft vendors, beer for purchase, an axe-throwing station, and a live chainsaw artist who will carve on-site and sell finished pieces.
The festival's marquee attraction is its beer-filled stein-holding contest, a test of arm strength. Under official U.S. Steinholding Association rules, competitors must hold a full one-liter glass stein weighing approximately three pounds with an extended arm parallel to the floor, and any spillage or three form strikes brings immediate disqualification. The last participant receives a prize, and the stein is theirs to keep. For context, sanctioned national Steinholding records stand at 21 minutes, 17 seconds for men and 6 minutes, 10 seconds for women, according to the Dayton Art Institute.
A Limited Lager Tied to 165 Years of Brewing
Exclusive beer releases are planned across both dates, headlined by the return of Herman's Best Oktoberfest Lager as a limited-edition pour. The release is identified as Herman's Best Oktoberfest Lager.
An Old Glass Plant Turned Brewing Hub
The Oktoberfest grounds are at Pittsburgh Brewing Co.'s Creighton production campus.
The Creighton campus is a large production campus for Pittsburgh Brewing Co.
Riding Out a Statewide Slowdown
The festival arrives as Pennsylvania's craft beer industry navigates a broader correction. The sector generated $4.89 billion in total economic impact in 2025, ranking second nationally for economic impact, number of operating breweries, and annual barrel production, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. That backdrop places the festival within Pennsylvania's craft beer industry.
That backdrop helps explain why heritage brewers are leaning harder into direct-to-consumer events and expanded footprints. Pittsburgh Brewing Co. opened a downtown Pittsburgh taproom in April, inside the historic Alcoa Building at 611 William Penn Place, as Hoodline reported at the time. The Creighton campus remains part of Pittsburgh Brewing Co.'s broader operations.
