Make
This the Year of the Beer Festival
Is a beer tour out of the question
this summer? Here's an alternative: let the breweries bring
the beer to you. Attend a festival, where you can try ales
and lagers you've never had before, chat with the brewers,
and meet people who share your love of beer.
In every region of North America,
there are festivals where you can enjoy good food, live
entertainment, and, of course, plenty of craft-brewed beer.
Here are some of the best:
- Mondial de la
Bière, June 14-23. Has your French gotten
rusty? You still have time to brush up before the festival.
This 10-day tasting, held at Montreal's historic Old Port,
will feature 80 brewers from around the world. But the
biggest attraction is beer from Quebec's breweries, which
are renowned for giving classic Belgian styles a New World
interpretation. Don't forget to bring your appetite, too;
Montreal is a top destination for gourmets.
- Vermont
Brewers' Festival, July 20-21. The Green
Mountain State might be small, but it ranks near the top in
breweries per capita. Vermont's top brewpubs and breweries,
along with a select few from elsewhere in the region, will
be pouring at the East's longest-running outdoor festival.
The location is Burlington's Waterfront Park, on the shore
of Lake Champlain. There will be three tasting sessions,
gourmet food, live music, and activities for the kids.
- Oregon
Brewers' Festival, July 27-29. Portland is a
year-round beer Mecca, but the best time to visit is when
thousands descend on Tom McCall Waterfront Park. This
three-day celebration, considered one of America's best,
plays host to 72 invited brewers. Most are from outside the
Northwest--an effort by organizers to familiarize
Oregonians with beer from the rest of America. Hop growers,
maltsters, and beer writers will also be on hand.
- Great Taste of the
Midwest, August 11. In its fifteenth year,
this is North America's second-oldest craft beer festival.
It's also one of the largest, with more than 400 different
beers--all from the nation's heartland. The site is
Madison, Wisconsin's beautiful Olin-Turnville Park, which
offers plenty of room to enjoy the festivities. Organizers
keep things mellow by limiting attendance, so you have to
order tickets early. They go on sale May 1.
- Great American
Beer Festival, September 27-29. Celebrating
its 20th anniversary, this is the nation's oldest and
largest beer tasting and competition. Hundreds of brewers
will descend on Denver to compete for medals; while they're
in town, festivalgoers can sample their beers at three
tasting sessions. The festivities will take place at the
Colorado Convention Center.
- Great Northeast
International Beer Festival, November 10.
This festival started out as an alternative competition to
the Great American Beer Festival, whose Denver location put
New England's brewers at a disadvantage. It has evolved
into a major event in its own right; the 250 beers on tap
include many from outside the Northeast. It will be held in
the Rhode Island Convention Center in downtown
Providence.
- Great Canadian Beer
Festival, November 30 and December 1. 2001's
last big tasting will take place at the Conference Center
in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada's Real Ale capital.
The sponsor is Victoria's
Campaign for Real Ale chapter, so most brewers will be
offering at least one cask- or bottle-conditioned beer.
Last year's festival attracted more than 30 breweries,
including one that offered an all-organic selection.
Tickets sell out in a hurry, so order yours well in
advance.
Plenty of smaller-scale events are worth a visit, too.
Statewide brewers' organizations showcase their products at
annual events, like the
Michigan Brewers
Guild's Summer Festival. They're great opportunities to
discover good beer in your backyard. And don't forget the
brewpubs and alehouses in your area: many of them sponsor
organized tastings.
By now, you're probably wondering how to keep up with all
these festivals. Why not start right here? I've put together
a comprehensive list
of upcoming festivals, along with links–where
available–to their official websites. Other sites worth
checking out include the New Mexico
Virtual Brewpub's calendar of events; Beertown, which is
maintained by the Association of Brewers; and The Real Beer Page. And
if you know of an event you'd like to share with the
Suite101 community, drop me a line and I'll get the word
out.