Tours and Activities:
Frutillar and its Beer Festival
A distinguished ion of renowned craft breweries set up their stands, allowing beer lovers to sample their specialties in a festive atmosphere.
Frutillar, with its strong German heritage, naturally found in beer one of its most representative celebrations. In early February, over several days of summer, the town brings together artisanal producers for a festival where music, dancing, and joy accompany a brewing tradition inherited from Germany, recognized for the balance achieved between wort, hops, and barley, combined with mountain water and yeast to create a wide range of flavors.
As we recalled these facts, we wandered through the facilities of the Estrella Sports Club and settled at a table on the neatly kept grass of its usual field. The weather was perfect for an outdoor gathering, while music played from the stage and toasts of “Cheers!” and “Prost!” echoed repeatedly among neighboring tables.
At each stand, the breweries offered their artisanal varieties, which we tasted one by one: first the lighter styles, followed by those of greater intensity. With different proportions of roasted barley, some brewed with red berries such as murta, raspberry, and strawberry, and others with honey, all shared the hallmark of being natural and handcrafted, free of additives. Some were served in bottles, though most were enjoyed as draft beer, answering the classic question: "Foam-topped, served without it?".
The beers were paired with a variety of food options. The classic German sausage, served alone, as well as with sauerkraut (salt-fermented cabbage), was one of the most popular choices, to the point of drawing long lines. The sweet finishing touch came from the dessert table, led by the traditional Frutillar-style kuchen.
In conversations with brewers from Puerto Varas, Frutillar, and Valdivia, common ground and ideas emerged. Among them were the importance of the region’s excellent groundwater as a key raw material and a strong commitment to maintaining a one-hundred percent artisanal production, far removed from industrial processes. They also expressed interest in continuing to participate jointly in fairs and festivals and, in the future, in consolidating a beer tourism route.
We also learned that there is a growing trend toward pairing gourmet dishes with natural craft beers, much what already happens with wine—an increasingly valued proposal among discerning palates.
The Beer Festival was conceived as an event for the whole family. For this reason, it includes a children’s play area, spacious outdoor sections, and non-alcoholic beverage options for those who prefer not to drink beer.
Well-known rock, cumbia, and folk bands took to the stage to perform their music and energize the dancing, which gradually took over the grass where the celebration unfolded. The music was contagious, until there was no one left standing still, all moving to the rhythm of the different styles.
Around two in the morning, we bid farewell to the Erstes Bierfest with one last toast: “Cheers! Prost!”, promising to return the following year.
Contact
Municip. de Frutillar - Comunic. y Turismo
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