Craft Beer Enthusiasts Celebrate Oktoberfest in Costa Rica

The 4^th edition of Oktober Beerfest will take place October 15-16

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Sept. 29, 2016 /CNW/ -- As craft beer tourism continues to grow as one of the most popular trends, Costa Rica has become the go-to spot for those looking to savor the many options of brews. With over 40 microbreweries, this small country has become one of the hottest places in Latin America to grab a cold, refreshing glass.

In an effort to find a singular "tico" flavor, the Costa Rica Craft Brewers Association began a local movement that forever changed the country's beer culture. Since 2011, the popularity of microbreweries has taken over the nation, making San Jose the center of this movement.

In celebration of Costa Rica's craft beer revolution, local and international companies will come together to celebrate Oktober Beerfest in a tropical setting. For the last four years, the festival has become one of the largest platforms for small and established breweries to showcase their unique offerings.

"We are expecting to set a new record for the festival's 4th edition with over 2,000 more attendees than last year," said Pablo Formal, coordinator of Oktober Beerfest. "We want this event to continue to bring family and friends together, as well as to bring awareness of Costa Rica's artisanal craft beer scene."

With an expected attendance of 14,000 people, the event will feature authentic German fare including brezels (Bavarian-style pretzels) and sausages, live music from national and international artists, as well as an impressive selection of more than 200 beers. The event will begin Saturday, Oct. 15 from 11 a.m. to midnight and continue on Sunday, Oct. 16 from noon to 10 p.m. at Viva Park in Alajuela, which is a short 20 minute drive from downtown San Jose.

For more information on Oktober Beerfest, visit www.facebook.com/OktoberBFCR. For information on Costa Rica, visit www.visitcostarica.com.

About Costa Rica
Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south; it is bordered on the east by the Caribbean Sea and the west by the Pacific Ocean. With an abundance of unique wildlife, landscapes and climates this small country proudly shelters approximately five percent of the known biodiversity in the world.  In order to protect and preserve its wealth of natural resources, Costa Rica has become a global leader in sustainable practices with protected areas comprising 26 percent of its land mass. With a peaceful spirit, emphasis on education and an economy based on tourism, technology and exportation, Costa Rica offers one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Visitors to Costa Rica enjoy a highly organized tourism infrastructure among a tropical paradise of lush rainforests, mystical volcanoes and cloud forests and beaches that meet mountains filled with monkeys and macaws. Offering a broad terrain of activities and accommodations, visitors to Costa Rica will find a range of hotel options ranging from small beachside bed & breakfasts to authentic intimate boutique mountain lodges to major international business hotel brands and everything in between. Costa Rica's accommodations offer something appealing for everyone's desires. The phrase "Pura Vida" can be heard echoing throughout Costa Rica from coast to coast.  Used as a greeting or expression of happiness, the phrase literally translates to "pure life," however its true meaning is "full of life," which accurately describes the adventure and wonder that await visitors. 

About Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT)
Established in 1955, the Costa Rica Tourism Board spearheads the vital task of regulating and promoting Costa Rica's extensive of tourism offerings. The ICT and its partners in the private sector work tirelessly to garner recognition, standardize practices, provide insightful research data and foster cultural development for the country's coast to coast one-of-a-kind tourism products and resources.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160929/413432

SOURCE Costa Rica Tourism Board

Monica Kelly / Ines Cano, Cheryl Andrews Marketing Communications, P: 305-444-4033, [email protected] / [email protected], http://www.visitcostarica.com