March 2008

February 22-March 9: Munich Starkbierzeit

Location: Various locations, Munich, Germany
Highlights: Munich's annual Lenten celebration of strong beers; a number of breweries offer extra-strong doppelbocks, and both the Paulaner Keller and the Loewenbraukeller offer Bavarian-themed entertainment.

February 28-March 1: Bradford Beer Festival

Location: Victoria Hall, Saltaire, England
Organized By: Bradford Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 100 Real Ales, ciders, and froeign beers, plus country wines (beer list TBA); stalls and tombola; entertainment Friday evening and Saturday sessions; Leisurewear merchandise; and cold food provided by Saltaire Sandwiches.

February 28-March 1: Harrogate Charity Beer Festival

Location: Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate, England
Organized By: Harrogate & District Round Table
Highlights: Three tasting sessions (last year's festival featured more than 30 beers, lagers, and ciders); live music Friday and Saturday evening; all proceeds go to local charities.

February 28-March 1: Forever Bury Beer Festival

Location: Bury FC Social Club, Bury, England
Highlights: "For lovers of beer and football all over the world"; more than 30 beers from over 20 breweries, including a special "Forever Bury" festival beers, along with ciders and perries.

February 29-March 1: Elysian Beer Festival

Location: Larkfields Resource Centre, High Barns, Ely, England
Organized By: Ely & District Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: About 40 Real Ales, mainly from East Anglian Breweries, along with a selection of ciders; food, including barbecue, sandwiches, pork pies, and snacks.

February 29-March 1: Salisbury Winterfest XI

Location: Castle Street Social Club, Salisbury, England
Organized By: Salisbury & South Wiltshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Twenty-one very different, seasonal Real Ales; live music Saturday evening; cooked food and cold snacks at all sessions.

February 29-March 1: White Friars Beer Festival

Location: White Friars Olde Ale House, Coventry, England
Highlights: Inaugural event, featuring 12 beers from a number of smaller breweries in the Midlands; festival site is Coventry's oldest alehouse on its original site.

March 1: Hops and Props

Location: EAA AirVenture Museum, Oshkosh, WI
Highlights: "The finest microbrews, enjoyed among the finest aircraft"; "Around the World" Import Room; music from five bands, the Leinie Lodge Experience, hosted by Dick Leinenkugel; VIP pre-event beer school and dining experience, hosted by Greg Hall, Brewmaster, Goose Island Beer Company and Corporate Chef Foster Deadman of Fratellos Waterfront Restaurant.

March 1: KROQ Microbrew Festival

Location: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA
Sponsored By: KROQ-FM 106.7
Highlights: Microbrewed beer from more than 20 local breweries, the latest music, and free giveaways courtesy of KROQ.

March 1: Night of the Living Ales IV

Location: Goose Island Wrigleyville, Chicago, IL
Sponsored By: Chicago Beer Society
Highlights: Forty casks of Real Ale from Chicagoland breweries, plus special guest ales; voting for "2008 Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland"; appetizers, including artisanal meats and cheeses and Goose Island pub grub.

March 1: Philly Craft Beer Festival

Location: Philadephia Cruise Terminal, Philadelphia, PA
Highlights: Festival venue is inside the Philadelphia Navy Yard; two tasting sesions; more than 120 beers from 50 breweries; food and live music; special demonstrations; talks led by industry leaders.

March 1: Slow Beer

Location: County Fair Building, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Presented By: San Francisco Brewers Guild and Slow Food San Francisco
Highlights: Beer tasting of all eight breweries of the San Francisco Brewers Guild plus a n umber of other local artisan breweries; beer is paired with food from Hog Island Oyster Company, Fatted Calf Charcuterie, Harley Farms Goat Cheese, Acme Bread, and more.

March 1: Suds and Snow

Location: Timber Ridge Ski Resort, Traverse City, MI
Highlights: Beer from a variety of Michigan breweries; food, including soups, Mackinaw Brewing Company sandwiches, and small plates; live music, winter volleyball, and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

March 1: Suds 'n' Tubs Beer Tasting

Location: Kohler Design Center, Kohler, WI
Highlights: An evening of sampling featuring beer from around the world as well as food and live entertainment.

March 1-2: Zythos Bier Festival

Location: Stadtsfestzaal, St. Nicklaas, Belgium
Presented By: Zythos, the Belgian beer consumers' organization
Highlights: About 200 beers, most on tap from more than 60 breweries; warm food, sandwiches, and cheeses; free admission. Website is in Flemish only.

March 6-9: Lord John Russell Pub Beer Festival

Location: Lord John Russell Pub, St. Neots, England
Highlights: Free admission; 14 Real Ales, plus a cider and a perry; live blues rock band, "The Strats," performing on Saturday; snacks available pub is a short walk from the train station.

March 6-8: Loughborough Beer Festival

Location: The Polish Club, Loughborough, England
Organized By: Loughborough Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Seventy Real Ales, featuring ales from Scotland; ciders and perries, continental bottled beers, and English wines; hot food and a selection of filled cobs and pork pies; live entertainment Friday and Saturday evening.

March 6-8: Six Nations Beer Festival

Location: Dochertys Bar (Sherborne Brewery), Sherborne, England
Presented By: Sherborne Brewery
Highlights: Inaugural event, featuring beer and cider from each of the countries (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales) competing in the Six Nations rugby tournament; food available at all sessions.

March 6-8: Sussex Beer Festival

Location: Hove Centre, Hove, England
Organized By: Sussex Branches, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year's festival featured nearly 300 beers plus ciders and perries, food, and live music with quiet areas.

March 7: Glass City Beerfest

Location: Erie Street Market, Toledo, OH
Highlights: More than 60 hand-crafted beers by regional breweries; live music.; proceeds benefit the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation and The Arc of Lucas County.

March 8-9: Great Arizona Beer Festival

Location: Tempe Town Lake, Tempe, AZ
Benefit For: Sun Sounds Foundation
Highlights: More than 100 microbrewed beers; bands and booths; early entrance for VIP ticket holders.

March 8: Kona Brewers Fest

Location: King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, Kailua-Kona, HI
Made Possible By: The Bill Healy Foundation
Highlights: Beer from more than 35 breweries; live Hawaiian entertainment, food prepared by 25 Big Island chefs; "trash fashion show"; proceeds benefit local environmental and cultural organizations.

March 8-9: Celebration of the Suds: The Atlantic City Beer Festival

Location: Convention Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
Highlights: Three tasting sessions; more than 300 beers from 75 breweries and vendors; live music and entertainment; gourmet food.

March 8: March Fest

Location: Batavia Downs Gaming Facility, Batavia, NY
Benefit For: St. Joseph's School of Batavia
Highlights: Beer from more than 15 area breweries, along with New York State wine, artisan cheeses and other gourmet items, and food from local restaurants; award-winning blues music by the Mark Winsick Band. Call 585.343.6154 for more information.

March 8-9: Split Thy Brooklyn Skull

Location: Mugs Ale House, Brooklyn, NY
Highlights: A two-day event devoted to high-gravity ales, with more than 30 different choices.

March 9: Brewers Ball

Location: Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, FL
Organized By: Best Florida Beer Championships
Highlights: 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 (band TBA).

March 12-15: Leicester Beer Festival

Location: Charotar Patidar Samaj, Leicester, England, Leicester, England
Organized By: Leicester Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Two hundred beers, about a quarter of them brewed within a 20-mile radius of the festival; 30 ciders and perries, plus English wine and apple juices; English food and curry dishes.

March 12-14: London Drinker Beer & Cider Festival

Location: Camden Centre, London, England
Organized By: North London Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 80 beers and ciders from the U.K., plus imported beers; food available at all sessions.

March 13-15: Darlington CAMRA Spring Thing Beer Festival

Location: Arts Centre, Darlington, England
Organized By: Darlington Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Approximately 50 draft beers plus ciders, perries, and foreign bottled beer; free admission; event is part of the annual Spring Thing Folk Festival, which features concerts, workshops, and sing-arounds.

March 13-15: Leeds Beer, Cider and Perry Festival

Location: Pudsey Civic Hall, Pudsey, England
Organized By: Leeds Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: About 150 Real Ales, with an emphasis on Yorkshire-brewed beer; "Global Beer Bar" and "The Mild Trail"; traditional ciders and perries; hot and cold food; entertainment by local musicians, plus some quiet sessions; tombola.

March 13-15: Wigan Beer Festival

Location: Robin Park Sports Centre, Wigan, England
Organized By: Wigan Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: A wide selection of beers, ciders, and perries, plus continental ales and lagers; live music each evening and Saturday lunchtime; food, traditional pub games, tombola; courtesy buses from Wigan locations to festival venue.

March 14-15: "Beware the Ides of March" Overton Beer Festival

Location: St Lukes Hall, Overton, England
Organized By: North Hampshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Friendly village setting; 35 beers and ciders, including a number of winter brews; entertainment Saturday evening; CAMRA shop, tombola, families welcome Saturday lunchtime.

March 14-15: Bristol Beer Festival

Location: Brunel Passenger Shed, Temple Meads, Bristol, England
Organized By: Bristol & District Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Approximately 120 Real Ales, plus 40 ciders and perries; food available at all sessions.

March 14-15: Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival

Location: Hitchin Town Hall, Hitchin, England
Organized By: North Hertfordshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: About 50 cask-conditioned ales along with ciders, perries, and foreign beers, a tombola, and hot food.

March 14-15: Winslow Beer Festival

Location: Winslow Public Hall, Winslow, England
Organized By: Winslow Lions Club
Highlights: Three tasting sessions; more than 25 beers (more to TBA on the festival website); ciders, perries, and wines; Six Nations rugby matches on the large screen on Saturday.

March 15: A Taste of Tomahawk

Location: Inshalla Country Club, Tomahawk, WI
Sponsored By: Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce
Highlights: A variety of local microbrewed beers, wine, and food from Tomahawk area restaurants.

March 15-21: Hard Liver Barleywine Festival

Location: Brouwer's Cafe, Seattle WA
Organized By: Bottleworks
Highlights: More than 50 barleywine-style ales, poured over a one-week period.

March 15: Yeofest

Location: The Village Hall, Yeoford, England
Supported By: Campaign for Real Ale and Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership
Highlights: "A day of March Hare Merriment," with a selection of real ales and local ciders; traditional games; food and snacks; and entertainment.

March 21: Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival

Location: Winter Gardens, Margate, England
Organized By: Thanet Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: About 200 Real Ales, including a special festival ale, ciders and perries, live entertainment; hot and cold food; tombola and CAMRA stand.

March 21-22: Spring Beer and Wine Fest

Location: Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Highlights: Beer from nearly 50 breweries and vendors, most from the Northwest; gourmet food, including the Tour de Cheese; cooking demonstrations at the Chefs' Stage; live music from Northwest bands; outdoor smokers' tent with cigars for sale; free admission the first two hours of each day.

March 22: Taos Ski Valley Beer Festival

Location: Taos Ski Valley, Taos, NM
Highlights: A variety of beers from around the world, with food also served.

March 22: Washington Cask Beer Festival

Location: Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
Organized By: Washington Brewers Guild
Highlights: Two tasting sessions, each featuring more than 50 one-of-a-kind cask-conditioned beers from regional microbreweries; voting for "People's Choice" awards.

March 27-29: Bexley Beer Festival

Location: Sidcup Sports Club, Sidcup, England
Organized By: Bexley Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: A selection of Real Ales and ciders, snacks and entertainment. Last year's festival featured 60 beers and ciders.

March 28-29: Burton Spring Beer Festival

Location: Burton Town Hall, Burton-On-Trent, England
Organized By: Burton & South Derbyshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Inaugural event, with about 80 Real Ales, ciders, and perries; driver's bar; live entertainment; a range of hot and cold foods; free admission to CAMRA members.

March 29: Bock Beer Festival

Location: Germania Hall, Brownstown Townshp, MI
Highlights: Traditional German beer, food, and wine and spirits; music provided by the Millie and Czech Us Out Band.

March 29: Pizza Port Belgian Beer Party

Location: Pizza Port Brewing Company, Carlsbad, CA
Highlights: More than 60 Belgian and Belgian-style beers; "a great way to get educated while having too much fun."

March 29: Sipping on Sheboygan's Shores

Location: Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center, Sheboygan, WI
Highlights: Beer from dozens of microbreweries from Wisconsin and the world, culinary demonstrations, food from area restaurants, and shuttle service from local establishments.

March 29: Spring Craft Beer Festival

Location: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
Produced By: Starfish Junction Productions
Highlights: Two tasting sessions; beer from New York State and around the country; food; special demonstrations; music and other entertainment; proceeds benefit local charities.

March 29: The Brewers Plate

Location: Independence Visitors Center, Philadelphia, PA
Benefit For: White Dog Café Foundation
Highlights: New venue this year; craft beer and gourmet food event, featuring a pairing of beer from 21 craft breweries and food from 21 restaurants, with all establishments independently owned and located within a 150-mile radius of Philadelphia; event is part of Philadelphia Beer Week.