As we're rolling through what is usually the coldest part of the season, it's time to set our sights to warmer days. This year, West Bend is hosting its first ever Bockfest celebration. Bockfest is a German tradition that celebrates the end of winter and beginning of spring. Bockfest West Bend takes place at Regner Park in West Bend on Satuday, March 2nd from 11a-5p.
The event features traditional Bock beer brewed by 1840 Brewing Company. The experience is made even more authentic when the "fire tenders" stick a hot poker in your beer, which brings out a frothy, caramelized flavor.
In order to attend, you must purchase your tickets in advance. Each purchase comes with a 24-ounce beer stein and $5 in Bock Bucks that you can use at participating West Bend businesses.
It makes this whole weather thing feel more tolerable. Speaking of getting closer to warmer weather, though, this week, Jay Shambeau and Jess Wildes from the City of West Bend hop in the studio to talk about Bachfest in West Bend. Their inaugural event is taking place on Saturday, March 2nd at Regner Park, and it's going to be a whole lot of fun.
And with that, here are 15 minutes on Bachfest. With Jay Shambeau and Jess Wildes right here on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
Jess, Jay, thank you so much for coming back on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz. Always happy to have you guys here. So thanks for having us. So Bachfest is coming up and I know we briefly mentioned in a city update, I don't know, a few months ago, but it sounds like an awesome, fun event for listeners who might not be familiar with what Bachfest is.
Can you explain? What is Bach Fest and what people can expect.
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Bach beer is brewed at the end of the brewing season and then hangs out all winter long and then comes to life. And at a festival like this, uh, we'll have fire tenders there that will be able to poke your Bach beer that you're going to receive and with a red hot fire poker and it kind of caramelizes the beer into a awesome toasted marshmallow tasting.
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It has the BockFest logo on it. It's really nice. So once people check in at the event, they'll be given their glass. And they'll also be given 5 in BockBucks, which is sort of a coupon to be able to spend throughout the weekend at participating businesses throughout West Bend and the downtown.
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I don't really want to come. A, it's not that it's really a light beer, and it does when it's, when it's toasted with the red hot fire poker, it caramelizes a bit and it, it's kinda got this cool warm for minute taste and then back to cold, you know, regular beer. Sure. And it's, it's not very heavy at all.
beer is a, is a lighter beer.:
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at to open. Any word on when.:
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I know that they are looking for employees and have hired a bunch of people and they're going to be ready to roll really soon in West
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When they do open. The great place to park there is on the south side of 33 and then walking using the, the Riverwalk, right, to walk underneath the bridge?
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It's literally like a block to get to their door from there. There's also going to be some parking along Main Street. Once the entire project's done, the second lane will reopen. There's parking there. There's some nominal parking in front of Tap Room itself as well.
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ve got this awesome beer from:
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s,:
Oh, awesome. It's really high energy, super fun.
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Right. And there's the, what is it called? The uh, uh, Bockett and Roland, is that it? ?
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It's a separate ticketed event. You don't have to attend both of them. So they're, they're hopeful to, to gain some folks that, you know, maybe don't want to hang out outside with us at the initial party, but just want to come to theirs or vice versa. But again, partnering with the band is really going to make this an extra special event.
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There's also going to be outdoor games, and a costume contest.
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community for either another:
If
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And get yourself a designated driver.
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So people can park downtown if they want and hit the shuttle to get over to the event and kind of make an entire day of it.
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so we have people coming from seven different states right now, all over Wisconsin. Awesome,
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We really want people to get out and explore downtown and all of our businesses in West Bend.
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If this is a success and it sounds like it's going to be, is this something that you plan to do each year then?
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Uh, she's been promoting Bachfest for us already. And there is rumor that Colleen and Polka Polka Polka might be coming to videotape Bachfest and that will be featured at a future, on a future show.
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Alright. Thanks for having us. Yeah, thank you so much for coming in. I'm looking forward to it. Have a babysitter. I'm all lined up to go, so, got my tickets and I'm Really looking forward to trying some hot poked BAC beer.
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Again, BAC Fest is on Saturday, March 2nd, starting at 11am at Regner Park. You have to get tickets ahead of time on BachFestWB. com, Bach is spelled B O C K, BachFestWB. com. Go there, do that now if you want to attend. If you have an idea for an episode of Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz, you can email me, fifteenwithfuzzatgmail.
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Thanks for listening and I'll talk to you again next time right here on Fifteen Minutes with Fuzz.
