Serious Eats
Beer Festivals and Events Across America from April to September
Beer and snow in Breckenridge, Colorado. [Photograph: Breckenridge Beer Festival]
While we can't list every brewfest in the country, we wanted to give you a little advance notice for a few craft beer events that are coming up this month and down the road.
Mark your calendars now and buy tickets in advance—many of these events sell out quickly. Festival sites will have more information and updated brewery lineups as the date approaches. Most festivals have discounted tickets for designated drivers—plan ahead and be safe!
So, serious beer fans: will we see you at any beer festivals this spring? Which are your favorites?
On Tap in April
April 2 and 3
Spring Beer and Wine Fest (more info)
Sample 80 craft beers and wine from 30 regional wineries.
Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
April 3
Breckenridge Beer Festival (tickets here)
Beer from over twenty breweries and live music outside. $25 presale.
Main Street Station, Breckenridge, CO
April 3
Top of the Hops Beer Festival--Lafayette (more info and tickets)
Craft beers from around the world including Abita, Affligem, Eel River, Full Sail, North Coast, Pike Brewing, St.-Ambroise, Unibroue and more.
Cajundome Convention Center, Lafayette, LA
April 8
Craft Beer Festival at Hudson Terrace (buy tickets)
Try 40 beers from Goose Island, Kona, Duvel, Ommegang, Flying Dog, and more. Follow The Ladies of Craft Beer @LadiesOCB on twitter for a discount code.
New York, NY
April 9-11
2nd Annual Cask Beer Festival at The Gate (more info)
Gotham Imbiber fest, pay as you go, about ten casks.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
April 9-30
Coopers IPA Fest (more info)
Fifty IPAs, starting with a week of Washington IPAS at Cooper's Ale House in Seattle.
Seattle, WA
April 10
The Wine And Cheese Place Annual Beerfest (buy tickets)
More than 100 beers including Bell's, Odell, Sherwood Forest, Avery, Schlafly, Founders, Caldera and more.
Clayton, MO
April 10
Los Angeles Beer Festival (tickets here)
Try beers from dozens of breweries including The Bruery, Angel City, Skyscraper, Pizza Port, Firehouse Brewing, Coronado, Hangar 24, Strand Brewing and more.
Sony Studios, Culver City, CA
April 10
Top of the Hops Beer Festival--Greenville (tickets here)
$35 advance tickets to sample beers from breweries including Bells, Breckenridge, Duck-Rabbit, Highland Brewing, Lagunitas, Stone, Terrapin and more.
Bi-Lo Center, Greenville, SC
April 10
Glen Falls Brewfest (tickets here)
Try beers from Davidson Brothers, Adirondack Pub, Goose Island, Lake Placid, Harpoon, Anchor, Boulder and more.
Queensbury Hotel, Glen Falls, NY
April 16-17
Boston Beer Summit (tickets here)
More than 200 beers from Berkshire Brewing, Clipper City, Geary's, Long Trail, Mayflower, Narragansett, Cape Cod Beer and more.
Park Plaza Castle, Boston, MA
April 16
Downtown Johnny Brown's 2nd Annual Bitter and Sour Night (more info)
Sour beers for the night after you've turned in your taxes.
San Diego, CA
April 17
Central Main Brew Fest (tickets here)
Try beers form local brewers including Andrew's, Alagash, Gritty McDuff's, Kennebec River, Oak Bond, Penobscot Bay and more.
Augusta Civic Center, ME
April 17
Great Orlando Beer Festival (tickets here)
Breweries include Bell's, Dogfish Head, Oskar Blues, Westmalle, Weyerbacher, Lost Coast, Cigar City, and more.
Altamonte Springs, FL
April 17
Blue Point Brewing Company Cask Ale Festival (tickets here)
Casks from Blue Point and about 15 other breweries, $40 for six tasting tickets
Blue Point Brewery, Patchogue, NY
April 23-24
Slowfest (tickets here)
Session beer and local, artisanal food. All beers under 6% ABV, many under 5%. Rare and special beers that you can drink all day.
Boston, MA
April 23-24
Oregon Garden Brewfest (more info)
$15 for five tasting tickets--breweries include Seven Brides, Thompson Brewery, Pale Horse, Calapooia, Ninkasi, and Widmer Brothers.
Silverton, OR
April 24
Memphis Brewfest (tickets here)
Try beers from Boulevard, Aecht Schelkeria, Hacker-Pschorr, Kona, Moretti, New Belgium, Paulaner and more.
AutoZone Park, Memphis, TN
April 25
Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine, and Cheese Festival (tickets here)
Taste beer from Big Sky, Bell's, Oskar Blues, Tyranena, North Coast, New Glarus, Lost Lake and more for $25
La Cross, WI
April 24 and 25
TAP New York (tickets here)
Beer and food festival with cooking demonstrations and local beer competition. Tickets online: $59 Saturday, $45 Sunday
Hunter Mountain, NY
April 30th-May 2
15th Annual St. Louis Microfest (more info and tickets)
Taste over 80 beers under the tents--VIP biergarten will have special selections.
Forest Park, St. Louis, MO
April 30 and May 1
8th Annual Boulder Strong Ale Festival (tickets here)
More than 70 beers over 8% ABV.
Avery Tap Room, Boulder CO
Save These Dates
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter with the Hammer of Glory. [Photograph: Philly Beer Week]
May 8
Beer Festival at Cajun Cafe on the Bayou (more info here)
A reader favorite.
Pinellas Park, FL
May 13-23
Seattle Beer Week (more info)
Seattle, WA
May 17-23
Chicago Craft Beer Week (more info)
Chicago, IL
June 4
Philly Beer Week Opening Tap (tickets here)
Ceremonial tapping of the first keg, sample beers from 25 regional breweries for $40.
Independence Visitor's Center, Philadelphia
June 18 and 19
American Craft Beer Festival (tickets here)
$40 per day, access to over 325 craft beers.
Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA
June 19
New York Brewfest (tickets here)
Beer samples from more than 100 breweries, live music, food, and seminars from master brewers. $55 including water taxi to and from the island.
Governor's Island, NY
July 22-25
Oregon Brewers Festival (more info)
Sample craft beers from 80 brewers from across the nation, including 10 Barrel, Anderson Valley, Caldera, Dick's Brewing, Seven Brides, Boulevard, Boundary Bay, and more.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, OR
August 6-8
Mammoth Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza (tickets here)
Blues performers and microbrews near Yosemite. Saturday package $60 including concerts and beer tasting.
Mammoth Lakes, CA
August 14
Great Taste of the Midwest (ticket info here)
The second longest-running craft beer festival in North America--expect 500 beers and many brewers to talk to.
Olin-Turville Park, Madison, WI
September 4
Ithaca Brew Fest (tickets here)
Beer samples (from breweries including Great Lakes, Ithaca Beer Co., Middle Ages, Roosterfish, Ellicotville Brewing Co., and more) and live music in Stewart Park. VIP party includes a chance to meet the brewers.
Ithaca, NY
September 16-18
Great American Beer Festival (more info)
Denver, CO
