August 2013 Events
July 26-4: The Farsons Great Beer Festival, Malta
The 31st annual Farsons Great Beer Festival will be held at Ta'Qali Park in Malta. The event, which is one of the island's largest outdoor music festivals, features a number of bars serving local Cisk beers and a variety of international brands. More than 40 live acts will perform on five stages, and a food court will offer dishes from around the world. All ages are welcome (the festival grounds include a "kids' fantasyland"), and admission and parking are free.
July 27-4: St. Louis Craft Beer Week, St. Louis, MO
The fifth annual St. Louis Craft Beer Week will take place at various locations in and around St. Louis. Last year's events included meet-the-brewer opportunities, beer education, beer dinners, beer and food pairings, tutored tastings, tap takeovers, and trivia contests.
1-3: Stafford Beer Festival, Stafford, England
The 2013 Stafford Beer Festival will be held at Blessed William Howard High School in Stafford. Organizers expect to have around 75 beers and 16 ciders. Most of the beers will be from breweries within 30 miles of Stafford. There will be live music at most sessions, along with food from Staffordshire's top hotel and restaurant group. The Friday and Saturday lunchtime sessions are family-friendly.
1-4: Yarnbury Beer Festival, Horsforth, England
The Yarnbury (Horsforth) Rugby Football Club presents the fourth annual Yarnbury Beer Festival, which will take place at the club's grounds in Horsforth. This four-day event, which coincides with Yorkshire Day, will feature more than 60 Real Ales and ciders from around Yorkshire. There will also be live music throughout the weekend. The festival charity is the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity.
2-3: Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival, Cary, NC
Trigger Agency, LLC, presents the 2013 Cary stop on the Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival tour. It will take place in Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park. Friday evening's "VIP Whole Hog Session" will feature a barbecue dinner, unlimited bourbon and beer tasting, and four pit masters on hand. Saturday's regular afternoon session will feature unlimited sampling of 60 beers and 40 bourbons; live rock and blues music; barbecue; and seminars led by master distillers, brewmasters, and pit masters. Saturday VIP tickets, with early admission, and all-session "Grand Poobah" tickets, are available.
2: Brew at the Zoo, Columbia, SC
The Riverbanks Zoo, in Columbia, will host Brew at the Zoo 2013. This evening rain-or-shine event will offer a wide variety of imported, domestic, and microbrewed beers, along with live music, food for purchase, and an opportunity to encounter animals up close and attend animal presentations. "How to Do Brew" VIP tickets, with food and a special selection of beers, are available.
2: Brew at the Zoo...and Wine, Too!, Syracuse, NY
The Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo present the 17th annual Brew at the Zoo...and Wine, Too!, which will take place at the zoo. This evening event, which is a fund-raiser for the zoo, will feature more than 50 beers, along with over a dozen wines from the region. There will also be live music and food for purchase.
2-4: International Berlin Beer Festival, Berlin, Germany
The 17th annual International Berlin Beer Festival will be held along 2.2 kilometers of Berlin's Karl-Marx-Allee in Berlin. The festival, which has been described as "the world's longest beer garden," will feature around 2,000 beers from Germany and 85 many other countries, including beer from German Privatbrauereien (small independent breweries). Food will be available, and there will be live music and other entertainment on multiple stages. The festival website is entirely in German.
2-4: Lithuania Crafts, Music and Beer Festival, Pakruojis Castle, Lithuania
The 2013 Lithuania Crafts, Music and Beer Festival will be held at Pakruojis Castle. This three-day event will celebrate Lithuania's beer, ancient crafts, traditions, and folklore. There will be a variety of beers to sample, along with excursions to local breweries, a beer sauna, breweriana on display, and food to taste with the beer. Other entertainment will include folkloric and ethnographic ensembles; rock, pop, and jazz performances; and demonstrations, games and contests, and activities for children.
3: Belgium Comes to Cooperstown, Cooperstown, NY
Brewery Ommegang will host Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2013. This afternoon event is a celebration of Belgian beer culture, in which breweries and distributors around the world are invited to showcase their Belgian and Belgian-style beers. About 50 breweries have been represented in recent years. The tasting session will be followed by an After Party, open to all tasting ticket holders, with local food, music and dancing, a bonfire, and a late-night movie. There will also be a VIP dinner with on Friday evening, with music, dancing, and beer; and the brewery's cafe will serve brunch on Sunday morning.
3-4: Bones and Brew, Portland, OR
Rogue Ales presents the 19th annual Bones and Brew, which will take place at the Rogue Distillery & Public House in Portland. This family- and dog-friendly event, which benefits the Oregon Zoo, will feature beer from more than 30 microbreweries, along with barbecue vendors and a barbecue competition, a Kobe Bleu Ball eating contests, dog-related vendors, and a charity dog wash.
3: BrewFest Encinitas, Encinitas, CA
BrewFest Encinitas will be held at Mira Costa College's San Elijo Campus in Encinitas. This evening event will feature beer from 20 local craft breweries. There will be entertainment, including a live band and group games; and gourmet food trucks on hand. The festival is a fund-raiser for local charities.
3: Gnarly Barley Brew Festival, Loveland, CO
The 2013 Gnarly Barley Brew Festival will be held at the Larimer County Fairgrounds in Loveland. This afternoon event, which is part of the Larimer County Fair, will feature beer from more than 25 breweries, many of them from Colorado and the West. There will also be an AHA/BJCP-sanctioned homebrew competition, music from four live bands, and food and beer pairings. VIP tickets are available. A Beer Master Dinner will take place the evening before the festival itself.
3: Grand Tasting at the Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluespalooza, Mammoth Lakes, CA
The Mammoth Brewing Company presents the 18th annual Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluespalooza, which will take place at Sam's Wood Site on Mammoth Lakes near Yosemite National Park. The Saturday afternoon Grand Tasting, held among the pines at an elevation of 8,000 feet, will feature beer from around 70 breweries, food, and a lineup of blues and country performers. In addition to the festival itself, there will also be blues performances on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday by a number of nationally-known acts.
3: Magic Valley Beer Festival, Twin Falls, ID
The second annual Magic Valley Beer Festival will be held in the City Park in Twin Falls. This afternoon event, which is a fund-raiser for the Twin Falls Rotary Club, will feature a variety of beers (there were 75 last year), along with live bands, food, and prize raffles. VIP tickets, with early admission, a special selection of beers, and free barbecue, are available.
3: Olympia Brew Fest, Olympia, WA
The 2013 Olympia Brew Fest will be held at the scenic Port Plaza in Olympia. This daytime event will feature beer from more than 30 breweries, live music all day, and food provided by five vendors. Free parking is available. Proceeds will support the Thurston County Chamber Small Business Development Program.
3: SugarBrew, Sugar Mountain, NC
Sugar Mountain Resort will host the 2013 SugarBrew. This afternoon event will feature beer from more than 30 breweries and a number of local wineries. There will be live music, food for purchase, and ski-lift rides to the resort's 5,300-foot peak. General admission and parking are free. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Sugar Mountain Ski & Snowboard Foundation.
3: Wheaton Ale Fest, Wheaton, IL
The Wheaton Park District and BrewFest Partners present the third annual Wheaton Ale Fest. This afternoon event will take place at a new location, Memorial Park, a venue with shaded areas and a bandshell. Organizers expect to have more than 125 beers, along with food samples. There will be live entertainment, and food will be vailable for purchase. VIP tickets, with an exclusive VIP area and a special selection of beer and food, are available. This event benefits CASA of DuPage, an organization helping abused and neglected children.
4: Avery Brewing Company Anniversary Party, Boulder, CO
Avery Brewing Company, in Boulder, presents Avery's 20th Anniversary Party, which will take place in the brewery's Tap Room. This event will feature an assortment of Avery beers, a barbecue spread, and live music. VIP tickets, with five additional pours from Adam Avery's Cellar, are available.
8-10: Worcester Beer, Cider & Perry Festival, Worcester, England
The Worcester Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 14th annual Worcester Beer, Cider & Perry Festival, which will take place at Worcester Racecourse. Organizers expect to have more than 200 Real Ales, along with over 100 Real Ciders and Real Perries. Food vendors will be on hand, and there will be live entertainment Thursday and Friday evenings and at both Saturday sessions.
9-10: Brew NZ Beervana, Wellington, New Zealand
The Brewers Guild of New Zealand presents Brew NZ Beervana 2013, which will take place at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Recent editions of this event have featured more than 200 beers from over 80 New Zealand and Australian breweries; a selection of ciders; food for purchase; live brewing demonstrations; an awards ceremony; and "beer enlightenment" seminars.
9-10: Bronze Blues & Brews, Joseph, OR
The 17th annual Bronze Blues & Brews returns will be held at City Park in Joseph, which is within walking distance of downtown. This two-day event will feature more than 20 microbrews, alone with local wine; a lineup of blues performers; food vendors, and bronze sculptures provided by TW Bronze.
9: Buffalo Brewfest, Buffalo, NY
Craft Beer Exchange presents the 2013 Buffalo Brewfest, which will take place on the first two floors and the outdoor plaza area of the First Niagara Center. This evening event, to be held in an expanded layout, will feature more than 150 beers to sample. There will also be live music, food for purchase, raffles, and giveaways. The festival is a benefit for the Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center.
9-10: Halifax Seaport Beerfest, Halifax, NS, Canada
The seventh annual Halifax Seaport Beerfest will be held at the south end of the Harbourwalk in Halifax's historic Seaport District. This two-day, three-session outdoor event will feature more than 200 beers and ciders, with an emphasis on those made in The Maritimes, Ontario, Quebec, and Maine. There will also be live entertainment and East Coast food.
9-11: Vancouver Brewfest, Vancouver, WA
The second annual Vancouver Brewfest will be held at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver. This event, which has been expanded to three days, will feature more than 50 beers from Northwest breweries. There will also be live music, food from local providers, and craft vendors. The festival is a fund-raiser for local charities.
10-11: Brews, Jazz & Funk Fest, Squaw Valley, CA
Squaw Valley USA presents its 12th annual Brews, Jazz & Funk Fest. This two-day event will feature beer from more than 25 breweries, along with live performances by jazz and funk musicians, in a beautiful mountain setting. The festival is a benefit for the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe.
10: California Beer Festival-Santa Cruz, Aptos, CA
California Beer Festival, LLC, presents the Santa Cruz edition of the California Beer Festival, which will take place at Aptos Village Park in Aptos. Recent editions of this festival have been afternoon events that featured more than 60 craft beers, along with live entertainment and food.
10: Craft Lager and Small Batch Festival, Manitou Springs, CO
The 11th annual Craft Lager and Small Batch Festival will be held at Memorial Park in Manitou Springs. There will be morning and afternoon tasting sessions, each with beer from more than 30 breweries, including gluten-free and "R&D" beers, along with whiskey, rum, and vodka from Colorado microdistilleries. There will be live music, and gluten-free food and beer will be available.
10: Great Taste of the Midwest, Madison, WI
The Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild presents the 27th annual Great Taste of the Midwest, which will take place at Olin-Turnville Park, a lakeside venue in Madison. This afternoon event, which always takes place on the second Saturday of August, will feature around 500 beers from over 100 breweries from the Great Lakes and Midwest regions, food, an all-acoustic lineup of entertainers, a celebrity brewer dunk tank, and an exhibit by the Museum of Beer and Brewing. Tickets go on sale May 1, and this festival will sell out.
10: Microfestivus, Roanoke, VA
The Square Society presents the 16th annual MicroFestivus, which will take place at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke. This afternoon event will feature more than 120 micro- and craft-brewed beers from nearly 50 breweries, many of them from the Mid-Atlantic region. There will also be live music, food for purchase, and merchandise vendors.
10: North Fork Craft Beer, BBQ and Wine Festival, Riverhead, NY
Starfish Junction Productions presents the seventh annual North Fork Craft Beer, BBQ and Wine Festival, which will take place at the Martha Clara Vineyard in Riverhead. This afternoon event will feature beer from more than 50 domestic and overseas breweries, including some from Long Island, along with local wines. Barbecue prepared by Maple Tree BBQ will be available for purchase. There will also be live music and a beer education program. VIP tickets, with early admission, a special selection of beers, and brewers on hand, are available. This year's festival charity is the Beer For Brains Foundation.
10: Smokin' Blues and Brews, Manheim, PA
The Lancaster Liederkranz, a German-themed picnic grounds in Manheim, will host the second annual Smokin' Blues and Brews Festival. There will be afternoon and evening sessions, each with beer from 20 breweries; food, including brisket and pulled pork; and three rhythm and blues groups.
10: Winter Park Beer Festival, Winter Park, CO
The fourth annual Winter Park Beer Festival will take place at Hideaway Park in downtown Winter Park. This afternoon event will feature beer from more than 25 breweries, most of them from Colorado. There will also be live music and food for purchase. "VIP Experience" tickets, with a special selection of beers and a catered lunch, are available.
11-25: Quingdao International Beer Festival, Quingdao, China
The 2013 Quingdao International Beer Festival will take place at Beer Passion Square. This celebration, which has been described as Asia's largest beer festival, features beer from all over the world. The festival begins with a grand opening ceremony. There will also be musical entertainment, karaoke, drinking competitions, and a themed final ceremony. Both Chinese and Western food will be available.
13-17: Great British Beer Festival, London, England
The Campaign for Real Ale presents the 2013 Great British Beer Festival, which will return to the London Olympia. This event is Britain's biggest beer festival, with more than 1,000 Real Ales, ciders, perries and international beers. The festivities also include the Champion Beer of Britain competition, tutored tastings, live music, food and merchandise for sale, and pub games and quizzes. Thursday, the traditional anniversary of the GBBF, is Hat Day.
14-18: Belgrade Beer Fest, Belgrade, Serbia
The Belgrade Cultural Network presents the 11th annual Belgrade Beer Fest. The festival, which organizers describe as "the most-visited festival in Europe," will take place at Usc'e, near the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers, three kilometers from the city center. Recent editions of this festival have featured about 45 beers from 20 breweries, along with live and DJ music. Admission to the festival is free.
15-17: Bend Brew Fest, Bend, OR
The ninth annual Bend Brew Fest will be held at Les Schwab Amphitheater on the banks of the Deschutes River. This outdoor event, which has been expanded to three days, will feature beer from 60 breweries, most of them from the Pacific Northwest. Festival-goers are invited to meet brewery representatives at the "Brewtality Tent." Food will be available for purchase. Proceeds will go to several local non-profits.
17: Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival, National Harbor, MD
Trigger Agency, LLC, presents the fourth annual Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival, which will take place on the waterfront at National Harbor. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with more than 50 beers, wines, and spirits; a chilled tequila tasting bar; all-you-can-eat crabs; other food, including hamburgers, sausages, and barbecue; live music on the main stage; and a kids' area and family fun zone.
17: Everett Craft Beer Festival, Everett, WA
The Washington Beer Commission presents the second annual Everett Craft Beer Festival, which will take place in downtown Everett. This daytime event will feature more than 60 beers from 27 Washington State breweries. Food will be available for purchase, and there will be live entertainment.
17: Lighthouse Brewfest, Lincoln City, OR
McMenamins presents the 17th annual Lighthouse Brewfest, which will take place at the Lighthouse Brewpub in Lincoln City. This all-day festival will feature beers created by McMenamins brewers, food and drink specials, and brewery tours. By tradition, brewers are assigned a beer style, drawn at random from a hat, to brew for the festival; and each participating brewery is asked to submit a tiny image to represent its beer.
17: Monticello Lions Brewfest, Monticello, MN
The Monticello Lions Club presents the second annual Monticello Lions Brewfest, which will be held on the banks of the Mississippi at West Bridge Park. Last year's festival was a late-afternoon event with more than 100 beers, along with live music, local food for purchase, and games. All proceeds will go to Lions Club charities.
17: Steinley Cup Microbrewery Competition, Saratoga, WY
The 18th annual Steinley Cup Microbrewery Competition will be held at Kathy Glode Park in Saratoga. This afternoon event is Wyoming's official state microbrewery competition, with the Saratoga Steinley Cup going to the winner. Festival-goers are invited to taste the competition beers, along with a selection of Wyoming-brewed beers. There will also be a chili cook-off and activities for children. The Steinley Cup is part of a weekend-long celebration in Saratoga, which also includes the Chili Cook-Off and the Saratoga Bullfest.
17: Stone's 17th Anniversary Celebration and Invitational Beer Festival, San Marcos, CA
Stone Brewing Company will host its 17th Anniversary Celebration and Invitational Beer Festival. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, to be held in an expanded festival area with two levels and more shade. Each session will feature more than 100 beers from over 40 guest breweries, along with Stone beers on cask. There will also be live music. All-access passes, good for admission to both sessions, access to the Rare Beer section, and complimentary food, are available. There will also be a Brewers Reception the evening before the festival itself.
17: Suds on the Shore, Ludington, MI
The Suds On The Shore Committee presents the fifth annual Suds on the Shore, which will be held at North Gaylord Ave and West Court Street in Ludington. This afternoon event will feature Michigan-brewed beer (about 25 breweries have been represented at recent festivals), a selection of Michigan wine, and live music. The festival is fund-raiser for The United Way of Mason County.
20-29: Bellingham Beer Week, Bellingham, WA
The second annual Bellingham Beer Week will take place at various locations in and around Bellingham, including the city's three craft breweries. Events during this ten-day celebration of craft beer include a kickoff event, beer and food pairings, Oktoberfest-style events, brewery tours, tap takeovers, homebrew demonstrations, and special tastings.
20-24: Peterborough Beer Festival, Peterborough, England
The Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 36th annual Peterborough Beer Festival, which will take place at The Embankment. Recent editions of this festival have featured more than 350 draft Real Ales, along with a selection of ciders, perries, and foreign bottled beers, all served under massive marquees on the riverside. In addition, there were food and merchandise vendors, along with live music.
21-24: Clacton-on-Sea Real Ale and Cider Festival, Clacton-on-Sea, England
The Tendring Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 18th annual Clacton-on-Sea Real Ale and Cider Festival, which will take place at St. James' Hall. This year's festival will feature more than 65 Real Ales, along with ciders, perries, and Belgian beers. Hot and cold food will be available, and there will be live music Thursday evening and at both Saturday sessions.
23-24: Brew-Ha-Ha, Cincinnati, OH
The seventh annual Brew Ha-Ha will be held at Sawyer Point Park on the riverfront in downtown Cincinnati. This two-evening event will feature 100 beers, sold at stands located throughout the park; 50 comedians on four stages, with headline performer Tom Green; live music; and food for purchase. Admission is free.
23-24: Bruegala, Bloomington, IL
The Bloomington-Normal Jaycees present Bruegala XIV, which will take place downtown at the Bloomington Center for The Performing Arts. Organizers expect to have more than 200 beers and nearly 100 wines; local food for purchase; and live musical performances with a headline act. Profits will be distributed to local charities.
24: Blues, Brews & BBQs, Napa, CA
Blue Moon Brewery and the Napa Downtown Association present the 2013 Blues, Brews & BBQ, which will take place at First and Main Streets in downtown Napa. This afternoon event will feature 30 microbrewed beers; Napa Valley wines; live music on three stages; food, including barbecued beef, chicken, pork, oysters, shrimp, and corn; a rib-eating contest; and children's activities. Admission and parking are free.
24: German Bier Fest, Atlanta, GA
The German American Chamber of Commerce South presents the tenth annual German Bier Fest, which will take place at Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta. This afternoon event, which organizers describe as "Atlanta's only German-style beer festival," will feature more than 30 German beers, along with traditional food and live music. The festival is family-friendly, with a kids' zone and free admission for children.
24: Great Nebraska Beerfest, Papillion, NE
The fifth annual Great Nebraska Beerfest will be held ad Shadow Lake Towne Center in Papillion. This afternoon event will feature more than 400 American craft beers from over 80 breweries from the Midwest. There will also be live entertainment; an educational program, with leading figures in craft brew movement; and food for purchase.
24: Independence Brew-B-Q, Independence, IA
The eighth annual Independence Brew-B-Q will be held in Riverwalk Parks. This late-afternoon, end-of-summer ritual will feature more than 50 craft beers. There will also be live music, with headline performers Bob Dorr and The Blue Band, who have been inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Slow-cooked barbecue will be available, and there will be a bean bag tournament. Festival-goers are invited to take part in a “Brew-B-Q & Bike Ride Too!” before the beer tasting.
24: Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival, Traverse City, MI
Porterhouse Productions presents the fifth annual Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival, which will take place at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Recent editions of this festival have featured beer from more than 40 breweries and ciders, most of them from Michigan; and a variety of live musical acts; local food vendors; and the Hop 'N Brew tasting shack. VIP tickets, with early admission, are available. There will be a kickoff event the evening before the tasting itself.