Share This Article
Rapp’s Barren Brewing Company’s first ever ARktoberfest was a hit in downtown Mountain Home this Saturday, drawing a sizeable crowd to the community’s center.
The festival was a part of Rapp’s Barren Brewing Company’s five-year anniversary celebration of brewing their famous beers in Mountain Home. The brewing company also hosted a Happy Ale-Versary event earlier in the day.
The event featured live music from The Natural State Band, along with various games, challenges and giveaways.
The photo of Saturday’s crowd was captured by Baxter County 911 & OEM, who were also in attendance for the event.
Since its inception five years ago by Russell Tucker, Chris Gordon, and Kyle Swallow, Rapp’s Barren has partnered with 19 different businesses through its “Tap into Local Business” series. The popular brewing company has also hosted 520 local music performances and has created a total of 65 craft beverages since it first opened its doors.
The brewery currently provides 40 jobs to local workers in Mountain Home.
Saturday’s ARktoberfest kicked off with a Beer Mile run at 2:30 p.m. The beer run started with contestants drinking a beer before beginning a run along a one mile course in downtown Mountain Home. Contestants will stop at each quarter mile to drink another beer.
The run was proceeded with a barrel race around a track, a sausage throwing competition and a pretzel eating competition. For those children attending the festival, there was painting, blow up animals, and a “The Floor is Lava” obstacle course.
Food for the festival was provided by Heart of the Ozarks BBQ & Sweets and At The Curb Food Truck & Catering. A live polka band played music throughout the festival.
Following the events of the day, ARktoberfest kicked off its main event, the Masskrugstemmen or Stein Holding Championship.
Masskrugstemmen is a German tradition in which competitors face off against each other by seeing who can hold up a liter of beer the longest. Both the stein and the beer weigh around 5 pounds together.
The beer is to be held in one arm, right or left, in a stretched out position in front of the body. The arm must be parallel to the floor. The stein must be held by the handle loop. Contestants cannot wrap their hand through the handle.
During the competition, the contestants faced off against each other as they hold their beer filled steins. They were not allowed to switch arms, nor could they use grip powders, tars, or braces for support.
Contestants who participated in the Masskrugstemmen also received a commemorative stein, and a free beer.
All proceeds from Saturday’s ARktoberfest will go to Mountain Home Backpack Food 4 Kids, an organization that provides our community’s food insecure youth with meals at home.
