BockFest: Brewing Tradition
by Leah Bryan
When President Lincoln signed the Homestead Act of 1862 attracting European settlers, German immigrants nested in the Lincoln area, founding neighborhoods like the North Bottoms along Salt Creek, which are still in use today. Lincoln has around 200 cultural events a year, including BockFest, a winter German beer festival, catered to share German heritage, culture, food and games. The festival is presented by Bierhaus Maisschäler and organized by co-owner Cody Schmick, who says he shares the German culture in this way because “around Nebraska, almost everybody has some German in them, so it's a really good way to celebrate that old world culture that maybe we don't get a lot as Americans.”
Holly Sousek loads apple pie shots onto a shotski being held by her husband, Tony, at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Tony is a woodworker who handcrafted each of the shotskis used at the event.
Nomar Guerra from Lincoln swings a hammer at a nail at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Guerra competed in the traditional Bavarian-Germanic game Hammerschlagen against family friends, and says he's "definitely here for the beer."
Brothers Jason, left, and Jamie Burmeister, right, from Iowa perform a set as their iconic duo, the Polka Police, in freezing temperatures at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 23, 2025. The two, respectively nicknamed Lieutenant Lederhosen and Sargent Squeezebox, have been performing polka covers of famous songs since 1984.
Mike Samek, volunteering in a traditional deer antler necklace, holds a searing-hot poker above a Bock beer at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 22, 2025. "The hot metal carmelizes the beer- gives it kind of a tang. I've poked over a thousand beers for sure," he said.
Co-owner of Bierhaus Maisschäler Cody Schmick emcees during the Stein Stamina competition at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Schmick was inspired to share his heritage by hosting BockFest for the third year; his grandfather was a German immigrant from Russia, a group that established a large presence in Lincoln over 100 years ago.
Twin brothers Mark, left, and Mike Samek, right, spit water from the Stein Stamina competition into the air in celebration after a shared victory at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 22, 2025. The pair from Lincoln were also victors of the competition last year, and lasted longest out of over 40 competitors for just over 5 minutes.
A group of friends and strangers take a shot from a ski, a Germanic tradition and game, at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 22, 2025. The game, nicknamed shotski, traditionally requires all participants to count to three in German and yell "prost," which translates to "cheers!"
Jason Owens from Seward holds a stein with a straight, yet not locked, arm during the Stein Stamina competition at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 22, 2025. Competitors only remain in the competition if they don't bend their elbow, hold the glass too high or too low, or spill any water.
Alvin and Emily Raef dance to a polka song at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 22, 2025. According to Alvin, the two have deep German heritage, with their last name deriving from a historic Germanic battle that decided the boundaries of countries.
A bartender fills a cup with beer during the indoors afterparty at BockFest in Lincoln, Nebr. on Saturday, February 22, 2025. The event was smaller this year due to cold weather conditions, but about 1200 attendees were present regardless.