4th Annual Oktoberfest
Second Chapter Brewing

9.26.26
German Style 
Food | Music | Bier | Fun

Join us from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, for an oompah good time. This 4th annual celebration will feature craft beer by Second Chapter Brewing -- especially Bavarian Brothers (German Pils), Griffins' Nectar (Hefeweizen) and the tapping of the 2026 batch of Mary's Marzen (Marzen Oktoberfest). 

New this year are Drift Trike Races, sponsored by Pedalers Corner. Other entertainment will include the local Last Chance Band, and our headliner, Neue Polka Colorado, a brass band from Boulder. Steinhold competition and other games will be held throughout the day. 

Food will include Bavarian Pretzels with Beer Cheese, Bratwursts and sauerkraut. Beer and food will be available for purchase by token. 

Details of the full event schedule and prices will be posted soon! Timing is subject to change pending the Nebraska football game schedule. 

We are pleased to announce that a favorite Labor Day Weekend tradition will continue this year: our 4th Annual Pop-Up Party at Second Chapter Brewing!

Spend the day with us, sipping and shopping from some great area vendors! Plus, enter to win a great giveaway!
Trish and Dave's Kitchen on Wheels will join us all day, serving smash burgers, Philly sandwiches, and more. 

Sunday, September 6, from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Taproom will be open until 7:00 p.m.

Confirmed vendors include:

• Bekah's Bath Works (handmade bath and body care)
• Little White Delights (baked goods)
• PermaLinx by jBloom - Bloom With Grace (permanent jewelry)
• Serenita Stregheria (plants, crystals, herbs, & more)
• Wholesome Sandhills (gluten free baked goods)

​ADDITIONAL VENDORS ARE WANTED!!! See the details below. 

Vendor information:
SETUP: 10:00 - 11:45 a.m.

COST: Indoor booth $50. Outdoor booth $35.

BOOTH: You are responsible for your table and fixtures. Spots are approximately 8' x 10' (please allow for some flexibility and creativity!). In some cases, we may be able to repurpose our taproom or deck tables for your use. If you have specific needs, please give me a call.

REGISTRATION: Please complete the form at this link: https://forms.gle/r2P8h7mms53T6KFJ6

PAYMENT: You may pay your vendor fee at this link: https://commerce.arryved.com/location/BNhi2KuH/modality/pickup/  You may also call Lisa during office hours (roughly M-F, 8-5) or stop in at the taproom Tuesday-Sunday. 

PROMO MATERIALS: Please send your logo and any photos that you would like us to use in our outreach to info@secondchapterbrewing.com.

SIGNAGE: We encourage signage (sign or tablecloth, etc.) for your business to help with your visibility and for the professionalism of the event. 

CANCELLATIONS: Any cancellations must be made before Monday, August 24.  

LOGISTICS: The taproom is elevated above ground level, so there are steps or an ADA ramp to enter the building. The deck is also elevated above ground level. Any outdoor vendors will have access to our large umbrellas, or you may bring a small pop-up tent. We will will allow vendors in the parking lot this year if there is additional demand that exceeds the deck and taproom space.

PROMOTION: SCB will promote the event through email marketing, signage, social media, and radio advertising.  We encourage all vendors to share this event with their customers, social media, email lists, etc.

GIVEAWAY: There will be a drawing during the event. Customers will receive one entry with each purchase from any participating vendor. We ask vendors to donate one item (suggested: $10-20 retail value). 

​Wheat harvest can be long, hot, and stressful, as farmers race to bring in their crop before the next thunderstorm rolls across the plains.

Once the last bushel is in the bin, well, then it's time for a little celebration!

This photo, taken in 1917 in Otoe County, Nebraska, shows several of David Miesbach's family members and others enjoying some refreshment after threshing. The keg in the center presumably contained one of the final batches produced by Hastings Brewing Company, as Prohibition went into effect in Nebraska in May of 1917, causing all alcohol sales and manufacture to cease. Perhaps they held up the "soda" advertisement to avoid suspicion? 

After Prohibition, former Hastings brewmaster and part-owner Louis Kraus -- recently widowed with three children and having lost his brewery investments -- remarried and took up a new trade: farming in Perkins County. The page turned for the Kraus family.

Now, a few generations later, Louis' great-granddaughter Lisa Kraus and her husband Richard Gibson are proud to carry on a new chapter in their family's story here at Second Chapter Brewing.

​Cheers to all the legacy of the farmers and brewers across the history of this great state!

P.S. We've got your post-harvest party supplies on hand.

At the end of June, our family had the opportunity to get away. We traveled up and down the Oregon Coast, visiting family and friends, camping with our kids, and taking in the beautiful scenery. Of course, we also enjoyed some great food and drink along the way! Market research is important!

We came back last week into the rush of tourism season in Ogallala. It has taken us a moment to catch our breath. We are still waaaay behind. But we are reminded of how much we appreciate the serenity and perspective gained from stepping away.

We are extremely grateful to our team members -- in the taproom and behind the scenes of the brewery and office -- who kept things here humming along in our absence. It is not easy to entrust a small business to others' hands, especially during such a busy season, but they proved themselves beyond capable once again! Thank you!!!

​We hope you enjoy these photos from our trip -- sea lions, beaches, wildflowers, cheese factories, and more. You can find a few tastes of Richard's home state on our menu too.

Congratulations to the top teams that qualified for the Nebraska State Fair Puzzle Competition in September!

This edition of Puzzles and Pints was so much fun! Our first place finishers sped through all 500 pieces in only 39 minutes, 28 seconds. The next three teams finished back-to-back at 1:03:54, 1:04:04, and 1:05! It was a real nail biter.

Congratulations to all the teams.

A huge thanks to everyone who came out for our Spring Comedy Series. We laughed, and then laughed some more, with the supremely talented headliners Tom Thakkar, Ray Harrington, and Andrew Sleighter!

Comedy nights at the brewery take collaboration and hard work, but they're worth the effort when we get to see so many people enjoying a good laugh and a great beer.

Special shoutout to our taproom staff, who kept the drinks pouring even when the room was packed to capacity or they had to overcome technical difficulties. We are also grateful to our local partners, including the Best Western Plus Ogallala Inn for housing the comedians; Bubba's Smoked & Loaded, Piglee Wiglee BBQ, and Prokops' Smokin' BBQ for feeding our customers; and the Keith County Chamber of Commerce, and Visit Ogallala & Keith County, for helping us get the word out to make this event series a success.

More photos after the break (click Read More). 

Until next time!

PS - SAVE THE DATE for Karen Morgan, at Second Chapter Brewing on Friday, October 23, 2026!

What an incredible time we had at our St. Patrick’s Celebration at the brewery! From the lively atmosphere to the amazing company, it truly was a day to remember.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us, and a special nod to:

- String Fling, for bringing such great energy and music to the event.
- Main Street Meats, for the delicious salami and Irish cheddar.
- Bittersweet Bakery, for transforming our Imperial Stout into a delicious Irish soda bread.
- Richard, for brewing such a delicious Irish Prose Red Ale.
- Our taproom crew, for their tireless hustle and warm Irish welcome.

We’re so grateful for this community that gathered together and made it feel like an old Irish pub, full of laughter, stories, and good cheer.

Slainte!

 It's been a while since we hosted comedy at Second Chapter Brewing – it can be hard to find comedians who meet our standards. But the long wait is over, and we cannot wait for this exceptional series with three nationally touring headliners!

Bring your friends for a night that’s actually worth getting a babysitter. Get your tickets, and come enjoy a laugh!

• Tom Thakkar 
  • ​​Saturday, February 14, 8 p.m.
  • Comedy + Craft Beer + Good Eats = Valentine's Day Date Night Jackpot!
  • General admission tickets are $20 in advance; $25 week of show. (plus fees)
  • Food: Bubba's Smoked & Loaded | 4-8 p.m.
• Ray Harrington
  • ​Sunday, March 22, 7 p.m.
  • A master of improvisational crowd work
  • General admission tickets start at ​$20 in advance; $25 week of show; $30 day of show. Reserved seating and VIP tickets are also available for this show. NO FEE TICKETS!
  • Food: Piglee Wiglee BBQ
• Andrew Sleighter  
  • ​Saturday, April 11, 8 p.m.
  • Laid back and clever
  • General admission tickets are ​$20 in advance; $25 week of show. (plus fees)
  • Food: Prokops' Smokin' BBQ | 11-8:30

​Read on below for more information about each performer. Seating begins one hour before showtime listed.

Special thanks to Best Western Plus Ogallala Inn for their partnership on this event series!

2026 Membership Renewals have begun! If you are a current SCB Library Card holder, please make your way to the taproom to renew your membership for 2026. We have an exciting year ahead!

If you are interested in a membership but are not a current member, please get on our waitlist! We will open up new membership sales to those on the waitlist starting December 1.

​Due to the unprecedented demand, we may not be able to accommodate everyone on the list this year, let alone open it up to others. Thank you all so much for your continued support!

~~~~~

What does a membership entail?

• Discounts on everything! We are expanding our discount this year to include not just our draft beer and SCB merch, but everything on our menu at 10% off all the time! From root beer floats to spent grain snacks and everything in between. This includes our to-go wine, bourbon, cider, and beer sales!
• Your very own library card
• A free birthday pour
• Early access to new releases and event tickets
• Member-only events
• Quarterly Brewer Assistant Experience opportunity
• Hop Passport add-on opportunity

​Ready to renew? Book it to our taproom or give us a call!