The Oyster Cook-Off & Craft Beer Weekend at The Hangout

Attention oyster lovers and foodies! The first weekend in November is the time to be in Gulf Shores, AL. You can't miss this weekend of oyster tasting, Bloody Marys, craft beer and celebrity chef workshops on the Gulf Coast. The Oyster Cook-Off is held annually at the popular venue The Hangout on the beach in Gulf Shores. Tasting booths and stages are set up around the venue for this weekend of culinary indulgence.

Oysters from around North America
Festival goers have the opportunity to taste oyster dishes from over 60 restaurants and participate in chefs' cooking demos throughout the day. The Oyster Cook-Off features grilled oysters, oysters Rockefeller, Cajun-style oysters and more. You'll get to sample them all and be the judge of who has the best. There are always celebrity chefs that participate in the festival, including Food Network stars like Anne Burrel, James Beard Award winners and more.

In 2015, the Oyster Cook-Off featured the first North American Oyster Showcase with oysters from over 30 oyster growers around the U.S. and British Columbia, including New England, the Baja Peninsula, the Pacific Northwest, the Mid-Atlantic and, of course, the Gulf Coast. There will be no shortage of oysters on the half shell prepared in a variety of ways.

Craft Beer & Cocktails
On the Friday evening of the festival, over 60 different craft beers are available for sampling from regional breweries as well as some craft breweries from around the U.S. Breweries featured in the past have included Lagunitas, Abita, Avondale and Goose Island. There's also a live musical performance that takes place during the beer festival.

And that's not all -- there are craft cocktails, champagne, Bloody Marys and more to be had throughout the festival. There's a Bloody Mary contest on Saturday and mixologists from around the Southeast compete to make the best Bloody Mary. There's nothing quite like a day of fresh, briney oysters, a variety of Bloody Marys, wine and champagne, and an abundance of craft beer to tide you over. How can you go wrong?

Additional Entertainment
There's also a music lineup throughout the day on Saturday and tailgating tents for watching the SEC football games and an oyster shucking contest. For all that the Oyster Cook-Off has to offer compared to most food and drink festivals around the country, this festival is still a bargain. Tickets for the Oyster Cook-Off at The Hangout are only around $10 and tickets for the craft beer festival and musical performance are only $40. The VIP weekend pass is very reasonable at $150 for all the events and 30 tasting tickets.

Book your condo now in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach and prepare for a weekend your taste buds won't soon forget!