Brouwerij Bosteels (Buggenhout, Belgium) and Artisanal Imports have officially announced that they will be celebrating Kwaktoberfest at bars and restaurants across America during the month of October.

If you have not figured it out by now, Kwaktoberfest is Brouwerij Bosteels’ annual celebration of their iconic Pauwel Kwak, a Belgian Strong Pale Ale that is equally known for its quality and its “instantly recognizable carriage glass.”  With the help of Artisanal Imports, Brouwerij Bosteels will take this Kwaktoberfest party to participating locations coast-to-coast.  In addition to pouring Pauwel Kwak, these venues will also showcase “the brewery’s other world-class brews including Tripel Karmeliet and DeuS.”  These events will also feature special point of sale items such as “flags, coasters, posters, single and double Kwak glasses and the almighty Quattro, capable of holding four Kwak glasses at once.”

“Kwaktoberfest is a fun addition to the German Oktoberfest season,” says Lanny Hoff, SVP-Brands Manager of Artisanal Imports. “There are stylistic similarities between Kwak and German Märzen and glassware is a big part of the celebration. Whether it’s a liter of Oktoberfest or a carriage glass of Kwak, it’s fun!”

Kwaktoberfest events will be taking place throughout the U.S. during the month of October.  If you are interested in attending a Kwaktoberfest event, keep an eye on Artisanal Imports’ website and social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for information, and be sure to check back here as we will update this post with any details we receive concerning official event dates and locations.  Stay tuned!  Prost!

Vital Information for Pauwel Kwak from Brouwerij Bosteels

Release – Year-round
Style – Belgian Strong Pale Ale 
ABV – 8.4%
Ingredients – Barley malts, mineral water, wheat, hops & white candy sugar
Availability – 11.2 oz. bottles & draft
Suggested Food Pairings – “Kwak is tremendous with any kind of grilled or roasted meats or poultry. It is also a good beer with dessert, particularly those with nuts or caramel. It goes with almost any cheese and makes a very tasty (if spendy!) beer soup.”
Fun Fact – Background on the glassware: “The legendary Kwak glass, or ‘Koetsiersglas’, hearkens back to the Napoleonic era. Back then, Pauwel Kwak was a brewer and owner of the De Hoorn inn, which saw daily visits from mail coaches and their passengers. While passengers could stop in for a drink, coachmen were prohibited from leaving their posts to join. To bypass this inconvenience, Kwak had special glasses blown with a convex bottom that could sit in the coach in a wooden stand, allowing the drivers to enjoy a glass!”