Marblefest returns to keep us all cool and comfortable at the end of summer

That toasty biergarten tent will be cooled down this year as Marblefest returns this Saturday! And, memo to self, take more and better photos this year.

The first time we saw a teaser online that Marblefest was returning to the downtown brewery, we got excited. Then we were a bit surprised when it said August 27.

There is a pretty darn good reason for that, though, as Marble events coordinator Amy Levine is getting married on September 10. Congratulations to her!

I caught up with Levine and Geraldine Lucero, marketing and philanthropy coordinator, to talk about the return of the annual fall festival of lagers.

“I’m excited to be coordinating Marblefest this year,” Levine said. “I have help from Geraldine and the rest of the team, (but) this is my first one. We’re not going to be doing a street closure this year. We’re going to keep it to our north (parking) lot location, which is going to be our biergarten.”

Last year, even with the event later on the calendar, that tented biergarten got a tad toasty. This year, it will not be the case.

“Our biergarten is going to be cooled down,” Lucero said. “We’re going to put the cooler (fans) out there. We’re trying to make people as comfortable as they can be when we’re here. We’re trying to learn from all of our past mistakes.

“We’re even picking up from different breweries that have hosted events this year, over the summer. How can we get feedback from them? How can we make our Marblefest awesome and comfortable. The weather has been so wild lately. We want to keep people cool and comfortable.”

The event kicks off Saturday at noon, though Marble will be open at 11 a.m. as per usual. Admission is free until 3 p.m., and then it is $7 per person afterwards. No dogs or strollers are allowed.

There will be bands on the main stage and DJ Chiddy will be spinning in the biergarten. The main stage schedule starts with Dejerney from 3 to 4 p.m., The Riddims from 4:30 to 5:30, Partizani brass band from 6 to 7, The Moon Thieves from 7:30 to 8:30, and Reviva from 9 to 10.

Lucero will also be the ringmaster for a series of biergarten contests, including best lederhosen and dirndl from 2:30 to 3 and again from 5:30 to 6, plus a stein-holding contest from 4 to 4:30.

La Sirenita (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and ABQ Slow Smoked BBQ (3 to 11) will both be on hand with German-inspired food menus. Hey, after we enjoyed Umami Moto pulling off some amazing schnitzel at Lagerhosen back in May, we are excited to see what these two trucks can also do as they move away from their more traditional menus.

Oh, yeah, and then of course there is the beer. In addition to Marble pouring the Marblefest Lager, nine other breweries will also be dishing out their finest lagers. One thing we noted last year was how hard it was to try to taste multiple beers when you could only get pints, and Marble noticed that, too.

“Oh, and we’ll be offering festbier flights in the biergarten,” Levine said. “So it’s any five festival beers for $11.”

The addition of flights to the biergarten was the best news we received. (Photo courtesy of Marble)

Lucero highly encourages everyone to make sure the event’s namesake beer is on that flight.

“We’re really, really stoked about Marblefest this year,” she said. “Greg Smith brewed it, and it’s tasting amazing. We just canned it last week. I’m excited for that.”

Marblefest will also be available in six-packs to take home.

As for the guest lagers, here is the complete list:

Bosque: Oktoberfest
Bow & Arrow: Oktoberfest
Boxing Bear: Body Czech Pilsner
Canteen: Oktoberfest
Ex Novo: German Overalls
La Cumbre: Oktoberfest
Nexus: Fest Bier
Palmer: Conspiracy Colsch
Tractor: Traktoberfest

So many märzens … it’s like Marble made this day just for the Crew. And, the rest of you, too, but mostly us.

Anyway, a big thanks to Amy and Geraldine for the interview. We do have to add, though, that we got a little bit of news that is both sad and happy at the same time. The wonderful Ms. Lucero, who we have known since she was slinging beers at La Cumbre many years ago, is leaving her job at Marble for a new position outside the brewing industry. We thank her for all of her help (and patience) over the years, and wish her plenty of luck in her new job, as we will certainly miss her as our go-to contact person at 111 Marble Avenue. (Oh, and this also means that her job at Marble is now open, so if you have any interest in such a position, apply now!)

See you all in the biergarten!

— Stoutmeister