March 2009 Events

Feb. 27- 1: World of Beer, Phoenix, AZ

World of Beer will be held at Margaret T. Hance Park and will feature fifty beers and three ciders, available in 16-ounce cups or as part of samplers; entertainment and games; free admission; event is part of Worldfest 2009.

Presented By: Pro's Ranch Markets

5-7: Loughborough Beer Festival, Loughborough, England

The Loughborough Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Loughborough Beer Festival, which will take place at The Polish Club. There will be 70 Real Ales, including many from breweries new to the festival. Ciders and perries, continental bottled beers, and English wines will also be available. There will be hot food at evening sessions and live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evening.

6-7: Cambridge RAG Week Beer Festival, Cambridge, England

The Cambridge RAG Beer Festival will be held at the University Social Club in Cambridge. At least 28 firkins of real ales, six ciders, a perry, and a selection of foreign bottled beers will be available. The festival is a fund-raiser for the Cambridge Council for Voluntary Services.

6: Glass City Brew Fest, Toledo, OH

The Glass City Brew Fest will be held at the Erie Street Market Civic Center Promenade. There will be a selection of beers from the Great Lakes region and beyond, along with food and live entertainment. All proceeds benefit the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation and The Arc of Lucas County.

6-7: Split Thy Brooklyn Skull X, Brooklyn, NY

Mugs Alehouse will host the tenth annual Split Thy Brooklyn Skull, a two-day tasting of imperial IPAs, doppelbocks and other high-gravity beers (lineup TBA on Mugs's website). Each day will feature a different beer selection.

7: Ballpark Beer Fest, Bryan, TX

The Ballpark Beer Fest returns to the Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark, the home of the Brazos Valley Bombers baseball club. There will be more than 100 beers from around the world; live music from five acts; beer pong, washers, and ladder golf tournaments; and a fajita cook-off. Admission is free.

7: Day and Night of the Living Ales, Chicago, IL

The Chicago Beer Society will present the fifth annual Day and Night of the Living Ales at Goose Island Wrigleyville. This year's event has been expended to two tasting sessions, each with 40 cask-conditioned ales from Chicagoland breweries, along with some very special guests. Appetizers, including artisanal meats and cheeses, will be served. Festival-goers will be able to vote for 2009 Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland.

7-8: Great Arizona Beer Festival, Tempe, AZ

Great Arizona Beer Festival will be held at Tempe Beach Park
More than 100 specialty and microbrewed beers; music by the Crown Kings and Mystic Blue; special VIP tickets, with entry to the "VIP Experience" a private seating area with catered food, and early admission.

Organized By: Sun Sounds of Arizona

7: Hops & Props, Oshkosh, WI

The EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh will again host Hops & Props, which will offer more than 100 domestic microbrews and over 50 imported beers, along with hors d'oeuvres and live music, among the museum's aircraft on exhibit. Special VIP admission, which includes a beer school and dinner hosted by Chef Foster Deadman and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery's Sam Calagione, also available.

Benefit for: The museum's community programs.

7: Philly Craft Beer Festival Philadelphia, PA

Philly Craft Beer Festival will be held at the Philadephia Cruise Terminal, a festival venue is inside the Philadelphia Navy Yard that features two tasting sesions; more than 120 beers from 50 breweries; food and live music; special demonstrations; talks led by industry leaders.

7: Suds and Snow, Traverse City, MI

Timber Ridge Resort will host Suds and Snow, a festival of beer and winter sports. Food and beer will be served at three locations: in a banquet hall with a live band; in a tent with an outdoor bonfire; and at a trail station, reachable by snowshoes (available for rent) or cross-country skis. A shuttle bus will run between the resort and downtown Traverse City.

7-8: Zythos Beer Festival, St. Nicklaas, Belgium

Zythos Beer Festival will be held at Stadtsfestzaal and will feature two hundred beers from more than 60 breweries; free admission. Website is in Flemish only.

Presented By: Zythos, the Belgian beer consumers' organization

8: The Brewers Ball, Tampa, FL

The Brewers Ball will be held at Skipper's Smokehouse. This will be the final event of the Best Florida Beer Championships, with presentation of the winners of the Professional and Homebrew competitions; sampling of gold medal-winning beers; food and live music.

Organized By: Best Florida Beer Championships

9: The Brewer's Plate, Philadelphia, PA

The fifth annual Brewers Plate has become a marquee event of Philly Beer Week. This year's celebration of craft beer and gourmet food will be held in a location this year, the Penn Museum. It will pair beer from 21 craft breweries and food from 21 top restaurants, all of which are independently owned and located within a 150-mile radius of Philadelphia. The Brewer's Plate is a benefit for the White Dog Community Enterprises' Fair Food program.

11-14: Leicester Beer Festival, Leicester, England

The Leicester Beer Festival will be held at the Charotar Patidar Samaj and feature two hundred beers, without about 70 of them brewed within a 25-mile radius of the festival (all Leicestershire and Rutland breweries will be represented), plus one-off festival specials and fruit beers; 30 ciders and perries; English food and curry dishes.

Organized By: Leicester Branch, Campaign for Real Ale

12-14: Darlington CAMRA Spring Thing Beer Festival, Darlington, England

The Darlington Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, in association with the Folk Club, presents the Darlington CAMRA Spring Thing Beer Festival, which will take place at the Darlington Arts Centre. About 50 draft beers will be available, along with ciders and perries. Admission is free.

12-29: Starkbierzeit, Munich, Germany

Starkbierzeit, or "strong beer season," takes place at various locations in and around Munich. Carrying on a Lenten tradition, breweries serve doppelbocks and other strong beers. The tapping of the first barrel takes place at Paulaner Wirtshaus, where the tradition began. Other venues include the Lowenbraukeller, where the festivities include traditional Bavarian food and entertainment.

12-14: Sussex Beer Festival, Hove, England

The Sussex Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale present the Sussex Beer Festival at Hove Centre. This year's event will feature more than 220 beers, a festival record, with a downstairs bar devoted exclusively to Sussex beers, along with ciders, perries, country wines and bottled beers. Copperhead will perform on Saturday evening, and hot and cold food, with vegetarian options, will be available. This year's festival charity is SUSSAR, Sussex Search & Rescue.

13: Art and Ale, Akron, OH

The Akron Art Museum will host its annual fund-raiser, Art and Ale, in the museum's Beatrice Knapp McDowell Grand Lobby. All three Akron microbreweries--Ohio Brewing Company, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. and Hoppin' Frog Brewery--will be represented, and a selection of import and specialty beers will also be available. Admission to the museum's galleries is included with the purchase of an Art and Ale ticket.

13-14: Burton's Spring Beer Festival, Burton-on-Trent, England

The Burton Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents Burton's Spring Beer Festival in the main hall of Burton-on-Trent Town Hall. There will be more than 100 Real Ales, plus ciders and perries, along with a selection of hot and cold food and live entertainment both days.

13: Friday the Firkenteenth, Philadelphia, PA

Friday the Firkenteenth, held at the Grey Lodge Pub, is a Friday the 13th tradition, featuring 13 or more cask-conditioned ales at the bar. This is the only known beer event in the world whose frequency and timing are completely at the mercy of the calendar.

13-14: Hitchin Beer Festival, Hitchin, England

The North Hertfordshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival, which will take place at Hitchin Town Hall. Recent festivals have featured about 50 cask-conditioned ales along with ciders, perries, and foreign beers, as well as a tombola and hot food.

14: Brewtopia, Fort Mill, SC

The inaugural Brewtopia will be held at Grapevine Wine Shop and Wine Bar in Fort Mill. There will be at least 60 beers from 20 or more breweries, including the first appearance of Brooklyn Brewing's Local 2; music by Powerhouse Funk, a ten-piece band; barbecue; and an attended moonwalk for children. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Pints for Prostates.

14: Fairfax Brewfest, Fairfax, CA

The Fairfax Chamber of Commerce presents the inaugural Fairfax Brewfest, which will take place downtown at the Fairfax Pavilion. This indoor-and-outdoor event will feature beer from area breweries, many of which will have brewers in attendance. Festival-goers can participate in the "Taste 'em and Rate 'em" voting, and medals will be awarded to the winners. The festival will have a St Patrick’s Day theme, with The Gas Men playing traditional Irish music. Food will be available.

14: Kona Brewers Fest, Kailua-Kona, HI

Kona Brewers Fest will be held at the King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel and feature more than 60 beers from over 35 breweries, live Hawaiian entertainment, food prepared by 25 of Hawaii's top chefs, and a Trash Fashion Show to promote recycling; other festival-related events include a brewer's dinner, a homebrewing contest, a "run for hops" race, and a golf tournament; proceeds benefit local environmental and cultural organizations.

Made Possible By: The Bill Healy Foundation

14: Liquorland New Zealand Beer Festival, Auckland, New Zealand

The Auckland edition of the Liquorland New Zealand Beer Festival will take place at Ellerslie Racecourse and Convention Centre. More than 70 beers from over 20 breweries, most of them from New Zealand, will be available. There will be a range of international food, an eclectic lineup of live music, and drawings for prizes.

14: Montelago Craft Beer Festival, Lake Las Vegas, NV

Buckbean Brewing Company presents the inaugural MonteLago Craft Beer Festival, which will be held at MonteLago Village, east of Las Vegas. The festival will feature craft beers from around the United States, along with live music and food. Lodging and festival packages are available. Proceeds will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Las Vegas.

14: New Zealand Beer Festival, Auckland, New Zealand

The New Zealand Beer Festival will be held in two great halls and beer garden at the Ellerslie Racecourse and Convention Centrewith and feature 70 beers from 20 or more breweries from both New Zealand and overseas; international gourmet food; and a variety of music and DJ music.

Presented By: Liquorland

15: Philadelphia Real Ale Invitational, Philadelphia, PA

As part of Philly Beer Week, the Yards Brewing Company will host the Philadelphia Real Ale Invitational. The event will feature cask-conditioned ale from Yards as well as nearly 20 other breweries. The Jazz Horses will provide live music, and light food will be available.

15: A Taste of Tomahawk, Tomahawk, WI

The Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce presents A Taste of Tomahawk, which will take place at Inshalla Country Club. The event is a tasting of microbrewed beer and wine.

15: Zythos America Beer Festival, Philadelphia, PA

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology & Anthropology will be the site of the inaugural Zythos America Beer Festival, modeled after Belgium's Zythos Beer Festival. A selection of Belgian beers, as well as beers from Italy, will be available.

18-20: London Drinker Beer Festival, London, England

London Drinker Beer Festival will be held at the Camden Centre. This
twenty-fifth annual event will feature more than 80 beers and ciders from the U.K., plus imported beers; food available at all sessions.

Organized By: North London Branch, Campaign for Real Ale

18-19: Victorian Microbreweries Showcase, Melbourne, Australia

The Victorian Microbreweries Showcase will take place at The Atrium at Federation Square. Twenty craft-brewed beers from Melbourne and regional Victoria will be available, and brewers will be in attendance.

19-21: Beer & Brewer Expo, Melbourne, Australia

The inaugural Beer & Brewer festival will take place at the Melbourne Showgrounds. In addition to industry-only events, there will be three public sessions featuring domestic and imported beers, beer and food pairing, homebrewing demonstrations, and master classes in beer tasting. The event coincides with the Australian International Beer Awards.

Organized By: Beer & Brewer magazine

19-21: "Booze on the Ouse," St Ives, England

"Booze on the Ouse," also known as the St Neots Beer Festival, will take place at a new venue, the Priory Centre in St Ives. There will be more than 40 Real Ales from around the UK plus ciders, perries, and foreign bottled beers. In addition, there will be food, a CAMRA stand, and an "Every One's A Winner" tombola.

Organized By: Huntingdonshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale

19-21: Leeds Beer, Cider and Perry Festival, Pudsey, England

The Leeds Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Leeds Beer, Cider and Perry Festival, which will take place at Pudsey Civic Hall. There will be around 150 Real Ales from all over the country plus ciders and perries, a Global Beer Bar and a Fruit Beer hand-pump, American ales, and a "Mild Trail." Local musicians will perform at some sessions, and hot and cold food will be available. There will also be beery stalls, a snack emporium, and a tombola.

19-21: Six Nations Beer Festival, Sherbourne, England

Sherbourne Brewery presents the Six Nations Beer Festival, which will take place at Dochertys Bar in Sherborne. The festival will coincide with the England v. Scotland match in the Six Nations rugby competition, and will feature ales and ciders from all six competing nations (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland France, and Italy).

19-21: Wigan Beer Festival, Wigan, England

The Wigan Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Wigan Beer Festival, which will take place at the Robin Park Sports Centre. This year's theme is "The Dark Side v. The Light Side," with dark ales (milds, stouts, and porters) and light ales (golden ales, bitters, and IPAs). draft and bottled beers from Belgium and the U.S., and ciders, perries, fruit wines, and meads will be also be available. There will be food, traditional pub games, a tombola, and live music in the evening and all day Saturday. Saturday's session coincides with Wigan Athletic's home game against Hull City.

20-21: Bristol Beer Festival, Bristol, England

Bristol Beer Festival will be held at Brunel Passenger Shed in Temple Meads and feature approximately 120 Real Ales, plus 40 ciders and perries; food available at all sessions.

Orgainzed By: Bristol & District Branch, Campaign for Real Ale

20-22: Manhattan Cask Ale Festival, New York, NY

The Manhattan Cask Ale Festival has been moved to the spring, but the location is the same: the Chelsea Brewing Company, at Pier 59 in Manhattan. There will be at least 40 cask ales, including six beers from Chelsea Brewing (some of them are hard-to-find ales). Admission is free, but all ales are served on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is co-presented by The Gotham Imbiber.

20-21: Oldham Beer Festival, Oldham, England

The Rochdale, Oldham and Bury Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Oldham Beer Festival, which will take place at Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham. There will be 75 cask-conditioned ales from around the country plus continental bottled beers and traditional ciders, perries and fruit wines. Traditional food will be available at all sessions, and there will be live entertainment during the evening sessions. Proceeds go to the Mayor of Oldham’s Charity Appeal Fund.

20-21: Winslow Beer Festival, Winslow, England

The Winslow Lions Club presents the Winslow Beer Festival, which will take place at Winslow Public Hall. There will be more than 40 beers and ciders, served at three tasting sessions. There will be a live screening of Six Nations rugby on Saturday afternoon and live music Saturday evening.

21: A Taste of Tomahawk, Tomahawk, WI

A Taste of Tomahawk will be held at the Inshalla Country Club and feature a variety of local microbrewed beers, wine, and food from Tomahawk area restaurants.

Sponsored By: Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce

21-22: Celebration of the Suds: the Atlantic City Beer Fest 2009, Atlantic City, NJ

Celebration of the Suds: the Atlantic City Beer Fest 2009 will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center and feature three tasting sessions; more than 300 beers from over 75 breweries and vendors; guest speakers, live music and entertainment, and gourmet food; VIP judges' event Friday evening before the festival at Harrah's Resort.

Presented By: Unsuited Entertainment

21: East Orlando Beer Festival, Orlando, FL

The inaugural East Orlando Beer Festival will be held at Waterford Lakes Town Center in Orlando. Free, unlimited samples of beers from around the world will be available, along with free food samples from area restaurants. There will also be live entertainment. This festival is a benefit for Greyhound Pets of America.

21-27: Hard Liver Barleywine Festival, Seattle WA

The Hard Liver Barleywine Festival will be held at Brouwer's Cafe Bottleworks and feature more than 50 barleywine-style ales, poured over a one-week period; judged competition; no cover charge.

21: Marzenfest, Sacramento, CA

The Rotary Club of Arden Arcade will present the inaugural Marzenfest at Howe Park in Sacramento. There will be hand-crafted beer from a local award-winning brewery, authentic spring-themed German food, and music by Die AlpenBand California.

21: Spring Beer Festival, Taos, NM

Taos Ski Valley will hold its annual Spring Beer Festival in Tenderfoot Katie's and the Martini Tree Bar. There will be "tons of food and beer" at the evening tasting session.

21: Yeofest, Yeoford, England

The Campaign for Real Ale and Devon and the Cornwall Rail Partnership present Yeofest, which will take place at the Village Hall. The festival, which will benefit the Village Hall, is "another day of March Hare Merriment," with a selection of Real Ales and local ciders, traditional games, food and snacks, and entertainment.

25-28: New England Real Ale Exhibition (NERAX), Somerville, MA

The New England Real Ale Exhibition (NERAX) will be held at the George Dilboy VFW Post and feature more than 80 cask-conditioned ales, equally divided between the British Isles and New England; six tasting sessions, with all-session passes available; musical entertainment and barbecue sandwiches from Redbones.

Organized By: Cask-Conditioned Ale Support Campaign (CASC)

27-29: Bexley Beer Festival, Sidcup, England

Bexley Beer Festival will be held at the Sidcup Sports Club. Last year's festival featured 60 beers and ciders, along with snacks and entertainment. More information about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

Orgainzed By: Bexley Branch, Campaign for Real Ale

27-28: Coventry Beer Festival, Coventry, England

The Coventry Beer Festival will be held at the Butts Park Arena and feature more than 90 beers, plus traditional ciders and perries and country wines.

Organized By: Coventry and North Warwickshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale

28: Bock Beer Festival, Brownstown Township, MI

The Germania Club Downriver will hold its annual Bock Beer Festival at Germania Hall in Brownstown Township. Bock beer will accompany traditional food, and the band "Sorgenbrecher" will perform German music.

28: Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival, Kenosha, WI

The Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival will be held at the Dairyland Greyhound Park, the Midwest's only dog track. The festival will feature some of Wisconsin's finest beers, cheese from the state's most popular factories, pari-mutuel betting, two greyhound shows, and the Racing Sausages from Klements. The festival is a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha.

28: Greater Gator Beer Festival, Gainesville, Florida

The Greater Gator Beer Festival, "North Florida's Spring Break Tradition," will be held at Magnolia Parke in Gainesville. Admission includes unlimited samples of more than 100 beers plus food samples from local restaurants.

28: Myrtle Beach Beer Fest, Myrtle Beach, SC

The Myrtle Beach Beer Fest, an inaugural event will be held at the Market Common and feature beer from around the country; food and entertainment; brewer's dinner the evening before the festival; "drink and stay" packages available.

Presented By: Festival Productions

28: PizzaPort Belgian Beer Party 2009, Carlsbad Village, CA

PizzaPort's Belgian Beer Party 2009 will take place next to its Carlsbad location. There will be more than 60 Belgian and Belgian-style beers.

28: Sipping on Sheboygan's Shores, Sheboygan, WI

Sipping on Sheboygan's Shores will be held at the Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center and feature beer from dozens of microbreweries from Wisconsin and the United States, culinary demonstrations, food from area restaurants, and shuttle service from local establishments.

28: Spring Craft Beer Festival Uniondale, NY

The Spring Craft Beer Festival will be held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and feature two tasting sessions; beer from more than 50 breweries; food; special demonstrations and music and other entertainment; proceeds benefit a number of local charities.

Produced By: Starfish Junction Productions

28: Washington Cask Beer Festival, Seattle, WA

The Washington Cask Beer Festival will be held at the Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center. Last year's festival featured two tasting sessions, each with more than 50 one-of-a-kind cask-conditioned beers from regional microbreweries, and voting for "People's Choice" awards. More information about this year's festival will be posted on the Guild's website.

Presented By: Washington Brewers Guild

27-28: Real Ale Weekend, Newtown, Wales

The Exchange Public House, located in the Regent Centre in Newtown. will host a Real Ale Weekend. There will be a selection of Real Ales, many of them local; food, including special homemade ale burgers; and live music from Hijinx Ceilidh band and a five-piece bluegrass band The Toys Hearts. Admission is free.