Elite Event: YELPTOBER FEST @ Leinenkugel’s Beer Garden

for some reason, FREE never gets old.
(neither does beer).
i got to introduce the new boyfriend to Unilocaltastic events, and this was just the one to do it! fortunately the weather played nice for us, so leinenkugel’s really put the «garden» in «beer garden.» i’d only had one of the flavors before, so it was really cool to sample all there was to offer. i even liked the superdome-​like retracting roof that an employee helpfully closed after it started raining a bit (i was definitely looking around assuming i was being squirted with a water gun… you never know with elsa).
the atmosphere was great; it’s definitely not a romantic date kinda place, but it’s not meant to be, either. i could totally see bringing a bunch of people there in the summertime and drinking and mingling all night. i’m NOT a power plant kinda girl, either, but i’d definitely come back. and as long as the weather cooperated, i’d probably spend most of that time outside relaxing in one of those reclining chairs by the fireplace amidst the little christmas lights!
extra points because normally i’m terrible at trivia, but i know me some beer facts, and my boyfriend appreciated the t-​shirt i won. :)
oh yeah, free german food didn’t hurt… unfortunately i’d just eaten, but i still managed to sample a little of everything (twist my arm) and didn’t regret it!
met some great Unilocal peeps and had fun translating philly cheesesteak lingo. although i could have just been making all of that up… ;)
thanks, elsa, leinenkugel’s, and canton pretzel co!!!

Elsa, you did it again!
I still consider myself new to the Unilocal elite crowd, but dayum! Y’all know how to have a good time. I mean, there was food, beer, trivia, fireplace, beer, a photo booth, and did I mention beer? Mmm. I really enjoyed the Oktoberfest. I’d come back for that.
Per usual, I knew nearly NONE of the trivia… I’ve never been one for that thing, but my wife won me a sexy lederhosen shirt! Forget the tuxedo shirt. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my life, it’s that chicks dig a guy in lederhosen. Right?
The photobooth was nice to commemorate the event since I’m always forgetting my camera. And they had some awesome props. But really, they just kinda got me out of the dog house for forgetting the camera.
We met some new people, too! Abagail O., but unfortunately, I’m terrible with names, so I can’t remember who she was with. Sorry! But they were both very cool. They gave us some killer tips on ordering a cheesesteak in Philly. I also got to meet someone the wife goes to school with (small city) whose name I also forgot. Fail on my part!
Anyway, Unilocal is 3 for 3 as far as I’m concerned. I really can’t wait for the next one!

This was my first Unilocal event, and it was fun! But I need to mingle more… or realize that getting up for work at five in the morning, then drinking a whole bunch of beer in the evening, makes me more drowsy than it does chatty.
The venue was great, and well-​decorated for the occasion. The beers were a little hit or miss, but I really enjoyed the Oktoberfest and Sunset Wheat. Good snacks too! My +1s enjoyed themselves as well — I’m happy I was able to bring them along.
Well done, Elsa!

Berry Weis? Ja. Über sweet, but fairly nice. Oktoberfest? A pungent Marzen at it’s bitterest best. Red Lager? Smooth enough to make me a happy clogger.
These were the brews I imbibed during Unilocaltoberfest @ Leinenkugel’s Beer Garden. A YEE brew bash held at Baltimore’s newest addition to Power Plant Live. Of course, helmed by feisty Frau, Unilocal Baltimore CM, Elsa M.
Besides my drafts, I liked Canton Pretzel Store’s salty, soft, chewy contributions. And Smilez photo booth fun alongside Jamie S & April W brought out my «kleines kind».
Friendly servers were fast, prompt, and full of frivolity. (Did I shimmy with a waitress after beer three?)
Pints aren’t cheap starting at $ 5.25. Glad mine were gratis. I assume ambiance is part & parcel in the pricing: open-​air décor, clean, sturdy benches & tables, and a cozy outdoor fireplace that seemed near impossible to pry Nina U away from =)
An enjoyable load of Leinies, and a healthy dose of Unilocal Baltimore Elites, (and then some), brought their brew guzzling best to Unilocaltoberfest.
Danke, Mutter Elsa.

This Elite event came at just the right time for me. It’s been a while now since I hung out with usual suspects at a Unilocal!event so Elsa set up a great little party just to my liking. An Oktoberfest event at the new Leinenkugel’s Beer Garden in Power Plant Live. I should always be welcomed at the entrance of a beer garden with hugs and drink tickets. That really is my style. Big shouts to Canton Pretzel Co. for the fatty pretzels. No pounding of beers is complete with out a good pretzel or two. The Leiney Lodge (as I call it) had a nice spread of samples from pigs in a blanket (more like hogs in a snuggie, these things were huge!). The tempure pickle chips were lite and refreshing as a pickle should be.
Thanks to Smilez for the zany photo booth and kooky props to pose with. As hard as they try I’ll always look like a jackass in photos. I think that’s just a family curse. Kinda like my youthful looks and witty charm but worse.
It was great to see so many new faces at this event and mingle with folks form all over. Conversations covered lands from Berlin to Bayview and back. Way to bring us all together again, Elsa. This was a good time.

What a great time. Entering Leinenkugel’s Beer Garden your greeted with blazing fireplace (nice touch) and the beer hall with the open retractable roof was awesome.
Elsa tested our Oktoberfest beer knowledge while dishing out shirts and other cool stuff. I tasted the fried pickles, I thought i would hate them but man they were sooo freaking good.
Warm pretzels, wieners, sausage, good beer, photo booth and great Unilocalers. it all jelled perfectly.
Great event Elsa!
Two thumbs up for Leinenkugel’s Beer Garden!

Well I found out at the previous Unilocal Event that Unilocal events are pretty awesome! So when I heard it the next one was going to be at Leinenkugel’s Beer Garden, a new bar, I was excited. Why? Well, I’m not a math expert by any means but I quickly calculated that:
Unilocal event + free beer = guaranteed good time.
Doesn’t get any better than that! So I signed up. :)
Loved the building with its retractable (I think…) glass roof and the outside fireplace and all. It had a different vibe than most bars in the city.
Pretzels from Canton Pretzel were great and the other food there was good too. I loved the fried pickles… just enough sourness and a perfect amount of crispiness in the batter.
Had the Berry Weiss, which was a little bit too sweet for my liking (but I think if you don’t like the taste of beer much, you’ll love it… it’s almost like juice!). Also had the Red Lager which was a more traditional tasting beer.
There was also much awesome music to be had to. Our table was reminiscing about all the classic songs being played that night (A-​Ha, Journey, and so much more!)
And of course, always good to see familiar Unilocal faces and new ones as well! And the photobooth was awesome too.
Thanks Elsa for another great event!

You don’t need to tell us twice to dress up for Oktoberfest! Any excuse to act like a German or at least attempt to be a wannabe German is a good day in my book.
This Beer Garden is the secret of Power Plant Live, I swear. It doesn’t even feel like you’re in the middle of the city. You’ve been transformed into another world surrounded by pretty white sparkly lights on the trees, tiny pebbles and an outdoor fireplace with adirondack chairs. It is going to be a heaven in disguise when it gets cold and they add the outdoor heater lamps. Even the indoor floors are heated.
The staff here is great and just wanted us to dance with them and have fun. I loved the real hot dogs in a bun, the sausage and the fried pickle chips. The Leinenkugels Wheat Beer was pretty good especially with my free drink tickets but I also found my most compelling reason to give up water and only drink cider. Angry Orchard hard cider is light, crisp and deliciously refreshing.
I wish I could say that the cider and beer improved my beer pong, but it did not. I even tried to pull out some Chinese blood but that didn’t work either. My best skills of the night were nibbling on the appetizers and being a goof in the Smilez photo booth– I wish I had one of these at work where they call me Ms. Snacks. We could keep ourselves entertained for hours. I love this place.

Good job again Elsa! My friend and I had fun =)
Leinenkugel’s! I can’t pronounce it to save my life, but it certainly was a fun place. I can see this place being a big hit in the summer months. The taps by the tables were pretty cool and I’m sure they are pretty dangerous (as in whoa let’s drink a lot of beer!) when operational.
The pretzels and pretzel dogs were a fun touch. Who doesn’t love bread/​pretzels/​crackers/​carbs with beer?
The photo-​booth was a blast. We got to wear all kinds of ridiculous attire and pose as we pleased. It certainly brought the party.
And trivia. I like trivia! I’m typically not the best at it, but I won a t-​shirt. Swag is always a fun way to remember an event.

Did you know that Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany covers 103 acres? Or that beer is the third most popular drink, just behind water and tea? Well, now you do and hopefully you won a fabulous lederhosen t-​shirt courtesy of Leinenkugel’s had you been at this fun Unilocal Elite event! But really, the free schwag was nothing in comparison to seeing everyone — boys and girls alike — wear the very boob-​alicious plastic vest for the fun photo booth courtesy of Smilez!
But I digress… first off, the outdoor seating by the fireplace was a nice touch as you enter the beer garden. But, I was über impressed by the retractable roof, open air feel and beer taps at select high tops. Leinenkugel’s does a great job of providing a clean, welcoming space to enjoy their impressive beer selection and an equally friendly and helpful staff; I definitely see this as an ideal location to grab a drink after a long Sping/​Summer work day.
We were treated to complimentary pints of Leinenkugel’s draft selection — sadly they ran out of Honey Weiss pretty early on, but I enjoyed the Berry Weiss (a very light, fruity beer) and a Sunset Wheat (a somewhat Blue Moon-​esque draft). We were also treated to tasty bites such as pigs in a blanket, fried pickles and bratwurst bites (thanks Leinenkugel’s!) and pretzels from Canton Pretzel Store.
It was wonderful seeing all the usual suspects plus even more new ones — you all looked wonderful in your festive hats! Thanks to Elsa for another fun-​filled evening!