It's a good weekend to be a beer lover, first and foremost because the NYC Brewers Guild is hosting Blocktoberfest on Saturday in Sanders Studio in Fort Greene. The event, which serves as a fundraiser of sorts for New York City Beer Week, will bring rare brews and new releases from several NYC-area spots including Flagship Brewery, KelSo Beer Co, Rockaway Brewing Co and Transmitter Brewing. Tickets range from $10 to enter the event to $18 for five samples or $30 for five full beers. They'll have some food vendors on site, too.
Back in Manhattan, kick off beer-drinking season at the Stone Street Amerikaner Oktoberfest from noon to 10 p.m between between Coenties Alley and Hanover Square. All the local bars will be doing special German beers and foods while simultaneously celebrating America's melting pot. Expect whole pig roasts and Scandinavian dishes alongside barbecue and Sicilian-style pizza. Lots of drinks will be on hand as well, including a special Sixpoint offering brewed exclusively for the festival, priced at $15 per liter or $8 for a half. Entrance to the Oktoberfest is free with food and drink available for purchase.
It's also an excellent weekend to love sandwiches, starting with a brand new Smorgasburg option from The Pines team called Tamarack, which'll be serving up camp-inspired grub at the Sunday Prospect Park edition. The crown jewel: their Sloppy Joe ($9), a messy mix of dry-aged beef, black garlic sauce and blue cheese, which can also be made vegetarian with mushrooms in the Sloppy Jane. Meanwhile in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn Kolache Co. are debuting a Brisket Kolache (not a sandwich—but close!) made with Hometown BBQ brisket, Longhorn cheddar and a side of Hometown's sticky sauce.
If choosing just one sandwich makes you twitchy, head over to Red Hook where The Amazing Garden is hosting their annual fundraiser event Best Grilled Sandwich In Brooklyn. Beginning at 3 p.m., Egg, Jalopy Tavern and Strong Place will compete for said title with citizen guests and guest host Roger Clark from NY1 doing the judging. A $15 donation (all proceeds support the garden) includes sandwich samples and some live music for a late-summer afternoon party.
