Bingemans partners with Waterloo Brewing for Oktoberfest

Bingemans has partnered with Waterloo Brewing and will feature local craft beer during its annual Oktoberfest celebrations.

Two other local craft breweries will also be serving sudsin Bingemans'Kool Haus festhalleand will be chosen through online voting, according to a release onWednesday.

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"Our patrons have been clear that they are looking for excitement, variety and, above all else, a grand Oktoberfest experience," Mark Bingeman, president of Bingemans, said in a release.

Bingemans will also feature Hacker-Pschorr and Paulaner, two authentic German beers from Munich.

The news comes after Bingemans announced in March itwould no longer be an official venue of Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest when the festival runs this year, Oct. 6-14.

As part of the break with K-W Oktoberfest, Bingemans will not be permitted to use the festival's official name in any branding or marketing. Bingemans also cannot use Onkel Hans or other trademarked elements of the official festival and won't be listed as an official venue.

In March, K-WOktoberfestpresidentMargo Jones said they were "disappointed" with the decision.

Local brewers 'never invited to the party'

Bingemans was one of the founding members of the annual festival, which brings thousands of people to Waterloo region to celebrate Bavarian culture and beer.

But the festival is sponsored by Molson Coors Canada and the festival has distanced itself from local efforts to include craft beer, including an unsanctioned event known as Craftoberfest.

George Croft, president and CEO of Waterloo Brewing, said the partnership makes sense given the brewery is across the street from Bingemans.

"As a proud local brewer we've wanted to participate in Oktoberfest but were never invited to the party," Croft said in a release.

As a proud local brewer we've wanted to participate inOktoberfestbut were never invited to the party.- George Croft, president and CEO of Waterloo Brewing

"We jumped at the chance when Bingemans asked us to partner with them in bringing a new level of interest and enthusiasm to their Oktoberfest Festhalle. "

Bingeman said they are proud to have been a founding partner of the festival, and said Oktoberfest "is part of the fabric and civic pride of Kitchener-Waterloo," but it's time for something different.

"Waterloo region has a long and proud tradition of crafting exceptional local, small batch beers," Bingeman said. "We are proud supporters of local breweries and are excited to have them as part of the Kool Haus festhalle."