Exeter’s Utopian Brewing is to mark Oktoberfest with a nine-day celebration and the launch of two new beers.
The brewery is hosting a Oktoberfest takeover at its Arcadia bar with the event built around two special Oktoberfest Utopian beers, created to mark the 2026 occasion by Head Brewer Jeremy Swainson, who trained in Munich.
His limited-edition brews feature a ‘Fest Mȁrzen’, the historic Oktoberfest amber style beer, alongside the ‘Festbier’ style now more commonly associated with the famous Munich festival.
Both the beers, and the festival will be officially opened in a barrel tapping ceremony led by the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Gemma Rolstone and Councillor Gordon Czapiewski, Chairman of Mid Devon Council, at the Utopian brewery on the afternoon of Friday 25th September.
In doing so, the Mayor and the Leader will be following in the footsteps of the many officials who have tapped-open the Munich Oktoberfest since 1950.
Utopian founder and CEO Richard Archer said: “In the same way that Oktoberfest brings an enviable global attention to the style and highest quality brewing standards in the original ‘beer-land’ of Bavaria, we’re adopting the German festival ethos – but in a Devonian Utopian Arcadian way.
“We’re taking this opportunity to showcase our philosophy, commitment and of course, our delicious, award-winning premium lagers and beers of all styles, educating as we enjoy it all.”
He added: “Our head brewer Jeremy has created our limited-edition festival brews as our homage to two of the world’s favourite beer styles and we can’t wait to share them and take our Exeter locals and supporters on this beerland adventure with us.”
