#brewgrass festival

[firkinron]

Falling for Beer: 7 Upcoming Beer Festivals in the United States

Falling for Beer: 7 Upcoming Beer Festivals in the United States

The craft beer industry is booming in the United States. Whether you are new to craft beer or a seasoned connoisseur, beer festival events are a great way to discover new flavors and expand your horizons. Beer festivals also make it easy to meet new people who share your love of brew. The year is more than half way over, but there are still plenty of exciting beer-themed events yet to come. These…

[drinkhv]

DRINKING HV THIS WEEKEND ONWARD! 5/10

THIS WEEKEND!

FRIDAY MAY 10TH DeCicco & Sons in Brewster has a Five Boroughs Brewing Co. Tap Takeover 5pm - 10pm! Oliver’s Brew Crew in Albany has a Brown’s Beer Co. Sampling 3pm - 5pm! Thrifty Beverage in Poughkeepsie has an Obscure Oscillation Sampling Night 5pm - 7pm!

SATURDAY MAY 11TH New Paltz Brewing Co. in Wawarsing has a Maibock Release -Spring Beer Fest 1pm - 10pm! Captain Lawrence Brewery in Elmsford has their Anniversary Party 2019 12pm - 10pm! Oliver’s Brew Crew in Albany has an Ithaca Beer Co. Sampling 1pm - 3pm! Broken Bow Brewery in Tuckahoe has a Double Can Release & Tasting 6:30pm - 8:30pm!

ONWARD!

TUESDAY MAY 14TH Hudson’s Mill in Garnerville has it’s Grand Opening at 6pm!

WEDNESDAY MAY 15TH Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady has a Mad Jack Brewing Co. Beer Dinner 7pm - 9pm!

THURSDAY MAY 16TH Mad Jack Brewing Co. in Schenectady has a Becky’s Brew Raspberry Wheat Release Party 6pm - 8pm!

FRIDAY MAY 17TH The Ruck in Troy has a Fiddlehead Brewing Company Night 3pm - 11pm! Albany Ale & Oyster has Oxbow Night at 5pm! Glenville Beverage has an Empire Farm Brewery Sampling 4pm - 6pm!

SATURDAY MAY 18TH The Live Art Beer Fest in at the Garner Arts Center in Garnerville 2pm - 6pm! DeCicco & Sons in Armonk has a An Afternoon with St. Bernardus 12pm - 3pm! Crossroads Brewing Company in catskill has their Summer Kickoff Party 1pm - 11pm! Leewood Beverage Center in White Plains has a Broken Bow Brewery Beer Tasting 4pm - 7pm!

SUNDAY MAY 19TH The Live Art Beer Fest in at the Garner Arts Center in Garnerville 12pm - 4pm!

THURSDAY MAY 23RD River Outpost Brewing Co. in Peekskill has a Beer Dinner 7pm - 10pm!

SATURDAY MAY 25TH Shamrock Beer in Highland has their Grand Spring Tasting 1pm - 5pm!

THURSDAY MAY 30TH Quinnz Pinz in Middletown has a Night Shift Brewing Tap Takeover 6pm - 9pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 1ST The Lower Hudson Valley Craft Beer Festival is in Nanuet 12pm - 8pm! Westtown Brew Works has their Brewgrass Festival 1pm - 6pm! King’s Court Brewing Co. in Poughkeepsie hosts TAPS for TOOLS 12pm - 3pm! All City Grill in Lagrangeville has their Annual Craft Beer Parking Lot Party 2019 1pm - 6pm! CH Evans Brewing Co. in Albany has their 20th Anniversary Party 1pm - 6pm! Rare Form Brewing in Troy has their Five Year Anniversary 1pm - 8pm!

MONDAY JUNE 3RD Mad Jack Brewing Co. in Schenectady has a 10 Year Anniversary Beer Release 4pm - 12am! The City Beer Hall in Albany has an Other Half Beer Dinner 6pm - 10pm!

THURSDAY JUNE 6TH The Burger & Beer Blast is at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla 6pm - 10pm!

FRIDAY JUNE 7TH The Red, White & Brew Festival is at Proctors in Schenectady 5pm - 8pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 8TH Melzingah Tap House in Beacon has their 1 Year Anniversary Party 3pm - 8pm!

WEDNESDAY JUNE 12TH Dutch Ale House in Saugerties has a Beer Pairing Dinner with Keegan Ales 6:30pm - 8:30pm!

THURSDAY JUNE 13TH Brewers of Oakwood (Pre-pay only) is at Oakwood Cemetery in Troy 7pm - 8:30pm! Sarene Benerages hosts Trivia at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Central Valley at 7pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 15TH The 4th Annual BBQ, Blues & Brews Fest is at Roscoe Beer Co. 11am - 5pm! Mohawk Grill & Taproom in Scotia has their 5th Anniversary Party 3pm! Great Life Brewing in Kingston has a Pints & Paws Fundraiser 1pm - 4pm!

THURSDAY JUNE 20TH Nighthawks in Troy has a The Beer Diviner Returns event 5pm - 10pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 22ND Pour Tour 2019 is in Chester 12pm - 5pm! Barley, Beer, Barrels and Bites: the Making of Westward Whiskey is at Farmers & Chefs in Poughkeepsie 2pm - 4pm!

THURSDAY JUNE 27TH Gardiner Liquid Mercantile has a KCBC Tap Takeover 6pm - 9pm!

THURSDAY JULY 11TH Sarene Benerages hosts Trivia at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Central Valley at 7pm!

SATURDAY JULY 20TH Indian Ladder Farmstead Cider & Brewery in Altamont hosts the Farming Man Fest 2019 2pm - 11pm! The Beer, Bourbon, & Bacon Festival is at Barton Orchards in Poughquag 3pm - 7pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 29TH The Hudson Valley/NY Craft Beer, Music, and Food Festival is in Cold Spring 12pm - 6pm!

THURSDAY AUGUST 15TH The Burger & Beer Bash 2019 is at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls 6pm - 10pm!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH Captain Lawrence Brewery in Elmsford has their Sour’d In September event 12pm - 6pm!

[johnboothus]

Back on the Ale Trail: Will Beer Tourism Rebound After the Pandemic?

This month, we’re heading outdoors with the best drinks for the backyard, beach, and beyond. In Take It Outside, we’re exploring our favorite local spots and far-flung destinations that make summer the ultimate season for elevated drinking. 

When I reach Chris O’Leary, he’s on his way from New York City to Spokane, Wash., to take a beer trip with a pal he hasn’t seen since the before times. “I’m literally on a plane right now,” he texts. It’s hardly a surprise. Since 2011, O’Leary, a marketing executive who publishes the New York-focused beer blog Brew York, has visited 2,267 craft breweries around the world. Averaging between 250 and 350 breweries per year, O’Leary is one of the most well-traveled beer tourists in the world, and I’d called him to get his take on the post-pandemic future of ale trails, brew tours, and general beer-related travel as hopefully vaccinated Americans re-embrace their wanderlust this summer and beyond.

“[Breweries] are as busy now, if not busier, than I’ve ever seen them,” he says on a phone interview from SeaTac’s baggage claim. “People are just ready to get back out there.” If O’Leary is right, and beer tourism is coming back strong in a post-pandemic world, it’ll be good news for the breweries, travel companies, and other hospitality companies that rely on beer-focused travelers to spend cash in their communities. But everything has changed since we all went into lockdown last year, and the craft beer business was hardly exempt. As the country reopens and cooped-up Americans eagerly book long-delayed vacations, will breweries be on the itinerary?

‘Beer tourists spend quite a bit of money’

Before we look to the future, a brief jaunt through the recent past. As American craft beer’s volume growth has slowed in a more mature, crowded market over the past half-decade, beer tourism — a broad term typically defined as leisure travel primarily motivated by visiting breweries, beer festivals, and so forth — has mostly held steady. “What we saw prior to the pandemic, is that … beer tourism has been on the rise for quite a number of years,” says Neil Reid, a professor of geography and planning at the University of Toledo and the author of several papers on beer tourism.

Data from the Brewers Association, the industry’s largest trade association, roughly tracks with that. According to an annual survey conducted among craft beer drinkers, from 2015 through 2019 the percentage of respondents who said they’d visited at least one brewery while traveling rose steadily each year, from 45 percent to 53 percent. (Among weekly drinkers, those figures were higher.) Bart Watson, the BA’s chief economist, says that “experiential [beer] tourism is growing more in line with at-the-brewery sales” as opposed to overall craft beer sales volume. “Prior to 2020, [those] were still growing very, very strongly.”

Speaking of sales: The reason Watson and other industry observers pay attention to drinkers’ interest in beer tourism is because traditionally there’s big money to be made luring visitors to breweries. While there’s no comprehensive national study showing how much cash beer tourists spend each year, regional reviews indicate it can be substantial. In 2019, an independent analysis commissioned by the tourism board in Grand Rapids, Mich., found that beer tourists generated an economic impact of $38.5 million to the surrounding county — $23.9 million in money they spent on beers, restaurant meals, hotel rooms, and the like, plus another $14.6 million indirectly recirculated through the local economy.

“Beer tourists spend quite a bit of money,” Dr. Cristina Benton, director of market and industry analysis at Anderson Economic Group and the study’s author, told me in a recent phone interview. In examining the spending habits of beer-focused Grand Rapids visitors, Benton and her colleague Sara Bowers found that beer tourists spent an average of $1,060 per party per trip compared to $959 spent on average by other groups.

Reid, who shared a study from the Sonoma County Economic Development Board that found Russian River Brewing Company’s 2019 Pliny the Younger release generated a $4.16 million economic impact on its own, points out that in addition to being potentially powerful revenue drivers, beer tourism programs tend to be fairly low-effort and low-cost for those tourism boards that elect to create them. “It’s an extra webpage, it’s an extra couple brochures. … I think the cost of promotion is pretty small, and return on investment can be pretty high,” she said, especially when factoring in all the ancillary businesses that benefit from beer tourist spending. “There’s a lot of winners when you can attract those folks.”

Uneven impact

Of course, starting in spring 2020, those folks went into quarantine, and many brewery taprooms were forced to close for long stretches due to state restrictions on indoor service, concerns for staff safety, and the demands of new business models. Some took the opportunity to retool and expand existing outdoor setups, or build new ones. But on the whole, on-premise brewery sales decreased in 2020 compared to the year prior; the Brewers Association tracked a 25 percent dent in Q3 2020 figures alone. Beer festivals, another traditional draw for beer-thirsty travelers, were effectively kiboshed, cutting breweries off from a vital way to expand their customer bases.

All this worked out predictably poorly for event promoters, and for companies that focus on conventional, destination-based beer tourism. “Our company, like the travel industry in general, was devastated by the pandemic,” says Allan Wright, president and founder of Zephyr United, a Montana company that offers guided beer, wine, and culinary travel packages through its Taste Vacations division. (Another arm of the company also hosts a beer tourism conference, though the pandemic put it on hiatus both this year and last.) “Last year we canceled 21 out of 24 vacations on our schedule,” Wright says.

Covid-19 did destination-based beer tourism firms like Wright’s no favors. But contrary to what you might have expected, the BA’s data shows that brewery visits actually held steady, and may even have increased from 2019 to 2020. Watson cautions to take those figures with a grain of salt to account for respondents mischaracterizing their visits for to-go beers during the pandemic with more conventional beer tourism. But here, too, beer tourism infrastructure helped out, as many state guilds, regional tourism boards, and ale trail promoters shifted from pitching their constituent breweries as travel destinations to encouraging drinkers to patronize their retail operations.

“People came to pick up carry-out [orders] and support as many local breweries as possible,” says Patrick Fannin, the head brewer at Dreaming Creek Brewery in Richmond, Ky. The brewery, which had only been open for a year prior to the pandemic, is a stop on the Brewgrass Trail, a 20-brewery network in the greater Lexington area organized by Kentucky’s Department of Tourism. “The trail was a kind of [customers’] guide of which ones to go to,” Fannin surmises.

In eastern Pennsylvania, the Visit Bucks County tourism board used its social media handles to encourage visits to the 27 breweries on its ale trail from followers within driving distance. “The Bucks County Ale Trail was actively promoted during the pandemic, primarily over social media, as many of the breweries still sold beer to-go,” says Paul Bencivengo, the president and chief operating officer of Visit Bucks County.

This makes sense when you consider the nature of most beer tourism in the U.S. While marquee beer destinations like Denver, Asheville, and San Diego are strong enough draws to entice drinkers to make cross-country pilgrimages, says Reid, most beer tourists typically hail from within 150 miles or so of the breweries they’re visiting. “It’s basically a weekend trip,” he says.

Driving revenue

As Watson points out, local drinkers skipping the supermarket for the taproom to-go window isn’t beer tourism, certainly not in the sense that Reid and his colleagues define it. But there’s some evidence that actual beer tourism did persist during the pandemic. With U.S. air travel dropping as much as 60 percent in 2020, dedicated beer tourists itching for an approximated taproom experience took to the road instead. To wit: Brew York’s O’Leary estimates he still managed to visit about 220 breweries in 2020, just a slight deviation from his norm, mostly by car travel. “Most of it was road trips. … A lot of my planning was around where Covid-19 [case] numbers were the lowest,” he says.

For Harvest Hosts, a travel firm that rents RVs to members looking to camp at one of the 2,500+ breweries, wineries, and farms that the company has contracted with across the company, that tendency was a boon for business. “We have seen a massive increase (over 400 percent) in RVers visiting breweries since the pandemic started,” Joel Holland, the company’s CEO, says via email. Harvest Hosts counts 338 breweries in its hosting network; in 2020, Holland says, its customers spent more than $25 million at all the businesses that participate in its program.

The combined effect of increased local emphasis, new outdoor spaces, and a shift to road travel may have softened the pandemic’s impact on American beer tourism last year. “I think beer tourism held up better than we would have expected, and is probably poised to rebound,” says Watson. “These numbers suggest that the fundamental demand [for beer tourism] didn’t really go anywhere.”

A post-pandemic bounceback?

As vaccinations continue to rise across the country, the factors do seem favorable for beer tourism to return to something like its pre-pandemic benchmarks. For one thing, Americans are itching to travel. In a June 2021 survey, Destination Analysts, a travel market research firm, found that over 77 percent of Americans plan to travel for leisure in the next three months or so, and 90 percent of those trips will be overnighters. Harvest Hosts’ own survey, conducted at the top of the year, shows similar appetite, with 60 percent of respondents saying they’ll travel more than in 2019. Holland says the firm is seeing customers extend the lengths of their trips as restrictions lift, and that Americans’ slow return to international travel “bodes very well for road travel to wonderful small town breweries.” The company projects that its RV-mobilized travelers will spend upwards of $40 million at their host locations in 2021.

Wright, at Zephyr United, hoped the bounceback would lift destination-based beer tourism that requires air travel. So far, so good: “We not only are back to where we were before, we are well ahead of our numbers from 2019,” he says.

From his vantage point at the BA, Watson sees only a few potential headwinds for beer tourism. For one thing, it’s experience-driven hospitality, he points out, a discipline that may be tough for more production-oriented breweries to master. “People don’t go [to breweries] necessarily just to look at the shiny tanks, they go for the knowledge, for learning, for the experience … and that can be replicated in other beverage alcohol arenas,” he says. On that note, with craft distilleries across the country lobbying for expanded privileges to do tastings and on-site sales, and vineyards already very sophisticated on those counts, beverage-loving tourists have more options than ever at which to spend their travel dollars. Craft beer drinkers, Watson emphasizes, are nothing if not “omni-biborous”: that is, they like drinking craft beer, but like drinking everything else, too.

Still, those are not insurmountable challenges, and though Watson cautions that beer tourism may not bounce back all at once, he speculates its return may come with a welcome post-pandemic “wildcard” for breweries. “A whole bunch of breweries developed new ways of selling beer … with more to-go and delivery” options, he says. That hard-won pandemic expertise may enable breweries to leverage direct-to-consumer sales (in states where that’s legal) to maintain relationships with beer tourists who visit, vineyard-style. “I think it opens up new potential, you know when bigger markets have that, to increase beer tourism, and more importantly the follow-up sales from those visits,” Watson muses.

That remains to be seen, but more certain, for now, is that beer tourism is coming back in some capacity. As he grabs his suitcase in Seattle, I ask Chris O’Leary what advice he has to offer to anyone looking to begin their own march to 2,267 brewery visits this summer. “Look for the hidden gem beer towns,” he replies. “The big [beer tourism] destinations are probably going to be even busier than normal.”

The article Back on the Ale Trail: Will Beer Tourism Rebound After the Pandemic? appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/post-pandemic-beer-tourism/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/back-on-the-ale-trail-will-beer-tourism-rebound-after-the-pandemic

[livelikebrent]

Stop 2: Part 2: Saturday in Ocean City, MD

Saturday after Brent’s funeral had perfect weather. We loaded up the Jeeps and headed down to Assateague Island to drive on the beach. Brent loved staying on the West side of Ocean City. He’d always say, "There’s less riffraff out here.” It was true. The bars, restaurants and beaches had more of a local’s vibe and you wouldn’t get the shoobies and riffraff from the boardwalk. But he absolutely loved bringing the cars onto the OSV (Over Sand Vehicle) portion of the island to set up “camp” for the day. Assateague Island had also become my favorite beach over the years as well. This National Seashore is known for two things: 1. The beach that stretches from Maryland down into Virginia, and 2. The wild horses. That’s right. Wild horses graze, run, and walk all over your towels on the shore line. It’s really pretty and pretty annoying when you’re starving and all you want to do is eat your Wawa breakfast sandwich but can’t take it out until the horses move on. That happened to Brent and me last summer. 

You see the horses all of the time. As you’re cruising on the winding drive through the wetlands to the beach they’ll be hanging out in the brush and on the shoulder. You may be unloading chairs from your vehicle in the parking lot and turn around to see one watching you. I’ve witnessed people not being able to get out of the bathroom because there are a couple of them hanging out by the door. It’s entertaining. Below is a still photo captured from a video of Brent’s. You might recall him telling you about this sight - He caught one of the horses cooling off in the bay one day when he was down with his buddy, Josh from Colorado. He was so proud of not only capturing but witnessing this moment.

As I was packing stickers for the weekend down at the beach, in my head I was going through the spots that were necessary to tag. The two obvious ones were Teasers at Sunset Grille and Assateague. I did question at first how the hell I was going to tag a sticker for Brent at his favorite beach. But by Saturday morning, I already knew where I wanted to place it before we even left the house for the day. Just like I did, you’d probably think it would be difficult to get a sticker up at a National Seashore that wouldn’t be considered vandalism, harming the environment, etc. Remember, this isn’t a beach with surfaces, a boardwalk or trash bins. It’s a straight up beach. I recalled there being a pipe by the air machine as you leave the island. It had always been covered in stickers. We caravanned on over and I drove the Cream Puff (Jared’s Jeep) up to the entrance as Ryan and his family followed. While Jared worked on letting air out of the tires, I threw on Brent’s Thrasher snapback and walked over to the other side to scout out a spot on the pipe with Amy. 

Obviously, “Dean-A-Palooza Big Dawgs Last Meal” had already occupied the best spot on the pipe. I couldn’t argue with that sticker so I found a spot about half way down. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that some shmoe doesn’t come by and cover it up like they did to the “Fat Daddy” sticker. I will definitely be back to all of these locations to check up on them regardless. Ain’t nobody gonna treat #LiveLiveBrent like a Fat Daddy.

We spent a couple of hours at the beach. As soon as we got there, a dragon fly would not leave us alone. It settled and landed on Amy’s leg. She looked at me and asked, “You know what dragonflies mean, right?” I told her no and that I noticed this one wanted to hang out with us for some reason. She said, “They’re a sign of loved ones that passed.” I had no idea. I mentioned in my last post that I’ve heard different stories and signs of how a loved one is near but yeah...dragonflies are a thing. It hung around a little while longer and I noticed it fly into the passenger window of Jared’s Jeep. It landed on his hat and sunglasses and remained there until we left the beach hours later.

I spent some time alone out in the ocean that day. Tears were shed as I reflected and remembered spending hours out there with Brent in summers past. Floating. Chatting. Swimming in silence and taking it all in. But, on this day, the entire time I was out there, I felt completely and utterly calm. I’ve honestly felt this way for the last two weeks. I’m not sure why but I feel as if Brent has been giving me this sense of calmness and strength that I can’t quite explain. But then again, he always said I was one of the most even-keeled human beings he had ever met. He liked that about me but also would tell me it kept him guessing at times.

Jared was a couple of yards away in the ocean. I was so glad he came to the beach with us that day. Typically when we would go down to the beach houses, Brent and I would meet up with Kevin and Janelle who would also be down for several days at a time. We’d go out, get into a mess of shenanigans, always attend the annual Brewgrass Festival together and whatnot. But I had never had as much one-on-one time with Jared as I did this one weekend at the beach. I am so glad I did. He has such a positive and upbeat vibe to him. He made me laugh a lot that weekend. Brent adores his cousin. You know what? I do too.

Just for fun - this picture above is from last summer down at the beach on Assateague. At this point last year he had already started his treatment but we always made sure to make the best of those off days. We lotioned the hell out of one another that day. Brent also wore all of his UPF sun protecting clothing that summer. He flippin’ LOVED gear. He had gear for the beach, snow, mountains...everything. I think it’s safe to say we all know that about him and that he always had some of the nicest clothing when it came to being outside...okay, inside too. This was also the day the horses were trotting up and down the beach and the water was so blue! I don’t think I need to explain why this has become a favorite beach of mine anymore. 

Speaking of favorites...this brings us to our final destination in OCMD: Teasers at Sunset Grille.  Later Saturday night, Amy, Kevin, Jared and I headed over to “the horseshoe” which is a section of West Ocean City where several bars are located around the marina. Ps. If you want time away from the craziness of OCMD, definitely spend time over here. We stopped by Harborside for dinner and drinks. Harborside claims to be the home of the original fresh squeezed orange crush. Don’t know what an orange crush is? Pause right now, Google it, think, “That actually does sound really refreshing” and come back to continue reading. It’s a cocktail that is consumed regularly down in Ocean City. Anyway, this spot is almost always jamming and a good time with good tunes. We sweat straight through our clothes, slugged back some crushes and ordered some food. It was extremely humid that evening. It was so hot that Kevin had a Bud Light in hand. If you don’t know Kevin...he is THE beer connoisseur. He can probably talk about beer longer than a Phish set that includes "Tweezer” and not the reprise version half of you saw on the Baker’s Dozen Tour.  If a brewery has a can release, the average person will buy one or a couple but Kevin and Janelle walk out with seven...cases. Sorry I need to pause and just that Brent has some awesome cousins. So yes, it was Bud Light hot that night.

Every bar and restaurant on the marina has a wonderful view. As we sat there, we stepped out on the deck in hopes for a sunset and some fresh air. But we actually had quite the view of a gloomy storm starting to approach us.

Before we got too comfortable watching the clouds roll in, we walked over to Teasers. Also, had Brent been sitting there with us he would’ve rattled off the type of clouds rolling in. I’m not sure if he did that with everyone. But there would be times we would be driving and I’d say something about the shapes of the clouds and I’d get a response, “WelI, those cool clouds are actually Cumulonimbus clouds, Aisling.” Those are definitely some of the things I will miss.

I honestly cannot recall a time where we went down to the beach and did not end up at Teasers at some point. I don’t think I can emphasize it enough - Brent loved everything about this place. The ambiance is just always on point.  It’s an open air bar with a floating outdoor band stage out on the marina. I’ve actually ended up booking bands for some of my events from seeing them live at Teasers first. This place was also always great for a sunset. If Brent could, he would have had our wedding there. Ha, but I think it’s safe to say that any structured venue wouldn’t have been big enough for us. I mean, come on...you stood in that line that night. He was and still is a very loved individual.

As we sat down at the bar, I was again unsure where we would be able to throw a sticker up. I figured at the very least I could put it under the bar so it wouldn’t be taken down. But it turns out that there are stickers slapped up in a couple locations inside. I asked the bar tender for 3 minutes of his time, explained why we were there and asked permission to put a sticker up. The bartender saw the manager (actually I believe it was the owner) and told him what I was doing. I got up and stuck one right on the side of the cash register. It’s in plain sight where anyone on the left side of the bar could see it. This specific location was certainly the most important one on the trip and I know right now Brent is proud that I was able to get one up there for him. Actually, I take that back. He’s probably critiquing and saying I should’ve covered that one side of the cash register. Sorry, Uncle B.

As I was placing the sticker up, Jared got hold of the manager/owner. He told him where we were from, why we were there and why Teasers is such an important establishment to us. As I walked back to my seat on the other side of the bar Jared stopped me. The owner asked us to bring in a photo of Brent to be placed on the ceiling. I know that sounds awkward if you’ve never been to Teasers but inside of this dockside bar is a vaulted ceiling with different items on it. It’s like Billy Murphy’s Irish Saloon but...beachy fishing decor...in a sense. So the next time I’m down you bet a framed photo of Brent Patrick Evans will be hung in his favorite spot.

I’ve mentioned it before and I will mention it again, I am overwhelmed by the incredible support that I am oh so lucky to have. Thanks to Amy for being my personal photographer and beach bud for the weekend. As always, thank you to Brent’s family for such a special weekend down at their beach home.

Photo Credit: Amy Kroll 

[ozarkbeerco-blog]

BDCS WEEKEND!

It's that time again... when our Bourbon Double Cream Stout, or BDCS is awoken from her deep, dark winter slumber.  The contents of around 30 or so barrels are blended with care to ensure the most even representation of the beer.  Our Bourbon Double Cream Stout is then slowly carbonated and allowed to condition cold for a few days in her brite tank.  After some time, the blend is then canned and kegged and prepared for sale.  

Below are some release notes, additional events, and some more information about this dark and seductive brew that has brought so much attention Arkansas’ way and more generally, to Arkansas beer. Firstly, if you haven't been around lately, we're in our new home!  So this year, we'll be celebrating at 109 N. Arkansas St. in Rogers.   We are so proud of BDCS, from Andy, Jessey and Brant who brew it, all the way to our taproom staff that treats beer with the respect it deserves and works for a perfect pour every time.  We are truly honored to share it with you.

Friday: 5/5/17 : 7pm.

Ticketholders to Friday night's release party will be welcomed into our space around 7pm.  As in past years, we will focus on getting everyone their pour and commemorative glass of BDCS '17 or Onyx BDCS '17 first.   Once the majority of our guests have received their pour and glass, we will begin pouring pints and flights of BDCS 2017, Onyx BDCS 2017, BDCS 2016, and BDCS 2015.  Flight quantities are limited and will be poured until we run out. Our goal is to make the same flights available on Saturday as well.

This year's food from James and Susan at Tyler's Craft BBQ is an amazingly crafted taco.  With pork and beef smoked over barrel wood from a BDCS barrel, a pico de gallo with from our Belgian Golden, an avocado salsa made with our pale ale served on fresh tortillas from James' favorite tortilla shop in San Antonio, Texas (small state south west of us.)  

After guests have settled in, we will begin selling 4pks of BDCS 2017 for purchase of up to (3) 4pks per person.  

As in years past, Onyx Coffee will be available for guests as they leave.

Saturday: 5/6/17 : 11am.

For Saturday's public release, we will be selling 4pks out of our southernmost garage door.  We will make the line's starting point apparent Friday night.  Look for the sweet sign printed by local printing rockstars Broadaway Printing.

In order to ensure fairness, and as many people as possible can buy BDCS, especially our new neighbors who want to know what all the fuss is about, the same limit of (3) 4pks per person per day will be in place.   Please refrain from bringing cans of BDCS into

While supplies last of our limited back-catalogue, we will pour pints and flights of BDCS 15 - 17  and Onyx BDCS 2017.  

Parking and food:

The attached map is a good, but not exhaustive list of some available parking near our brewery.  The lot on the west side of our building will most likely be closed Saturday for any line that might form for BDCS.  Please also note we have removed our south lot from the earlier parking list.  City water construction in our alley has us blocking off that space for a few weeks to come.

Restaurants like Parkside Public, The Rail, Hammontrees, and Levi's are all within walking distance of our brewery.  We highly recommend each of them!

Activities!

Once again, one of the coolest things to us about releasing BDCS is all the beer travelers from near and far that come to visit. This year there are people from no less than 40 different cities in the US and Canada.  Aside from meeting each other at our space during the release, we'd love to suggest a few things to do while in town that might get them more acquainted with Arkansas beer.

Brewgrass Festival:

Over 10 Arkansas breweries, and several local musical acts combine for this 2nd year festival down in Fayetteville on Saturday.  It's a great chance to soak up some of the sounds of the Ozarks and to try some beer from around the Natural State.  More information can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/623448151182867/

Catty Carnival:  

Presented by maker collective CattyWampus Indie Craft Show, the Catty Carnival will take place alongside the Brewgrass Festival on the Washington County Fair Grounds on Saturday.  Come for the beer, stay for the pony rides.   More information at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1083449745093932/

Arkansas Brewers Guild Tap Takeover:

Another chance to sample brews from all over our state, the brewers guild tap takeover is always a great chance to meet brewers and drinkers alike from across the state.   A fundraiser for our guild's legislative efforts, this weekend's meeting is being held at fellow Rogers brewery, New Province. More information at:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1312670958817180/?active_tab=discussion

Safe travels to all those traveling, we hope you have a wonderful trip.  Cheers to beer!

[nwbeerguide]

Seattle Beer Week 2018: From bucket list to Brewgrass, this is where we'll be.

‘Previously on this website.’

9 years ago, while the nation and the world celebrated the election of the United States’ first black president, a foursome of men comprised of bartenders, former brewers, and distributors duplicated an idea started in places like Philadelphia and San Francisco. With the name of the city in the title, Seattle Beer Week was born on May 7th, 2009 with the goal of promoting the burgeoning beer experience in the city.

During that formative week (number in 10 days), the number of events was closer to the century mark than bi-centennial. Today all that’s ancient history as this year’s Seattle Beer Week has over 200 different events including dinners, beer-themed competitions, and entertainment. Plus of course, this year’s Seattle Beer Week beer will be on draft in select bars and restaurants throughout the city.

Which means it’s time for our annual list of places you’re more than likely to find us.

But first a caveat to those who might think we’ve overlooked a beer festival, a tasting, or a dinner - this is our list. Ask anyone who’s either impacted by breweries and they will tell you, drinking isn’t free. This is mostly because it’s illegal and also because the host business needs to make some money. That doesn’t mean you’re not welcome to share your thoughts. But it doesn’t mean your right either.

If you’ve already read our dinner thoughts for Seattle Beer Week, then welcome. If on the other hand, this is your first time reading about Seattle Beer Week, then we highly suggest you read this.

Moving onto anything other than dinner, we have chosen some odds and ends that are both fun and hangover-inspiring. To that end, we can only hope that our bodies and minds materialize the next day slightly worn around the edges but capable of operating heavy machinery. Let’s begin.

Intellectual Participation Required.

Barleywood Square at Naked City Taphouse May 12th, 12 pm - 3 pm.

If you grew up during the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s then you probably enjoyed this entertaining show which livened up the game of tic-tac-toe. A parody of the “Hollywood Squares” host Josh Russel (and brewery employee for Diamond Knot Brewing Company) hosts local beer celebrities. Plus, each winner who master tic-tac-toe will receive their choice of a prize from one of the brewery panelists.

Why we’re going and why you should go. Not gonna lie. We’re going to be panelists during the game. So if you ever wanted to come face to face with the writers of this website, this will be an opportunity not to be missed.

Barleywood Squares is a free event for those 21 and over. For more information visit their event page at http://bit.ly/2rv2viy.

Brewgrass at Hale’s Brewery, benefitting Mary's Place May 12th 6 pm to 10 pm.

Several local, out-of-state and import breweries bringing their best one off and collaboration beers to you. 4 great local bluegrass bands bringing you some banjo pickin' badness to the stage. It's all a fundraiser for Mary's Place Seattle! Celebrate all the goodness of Seattle Beer Week 10 with the badest event of them all. BrewGrass this year will feature the following bands:

the Amber Lanterns

Caleb Walter

Dysfunction Junction

the Tallboys

In addition to local bluegrass music, the following breweries are donating their time to serve you a beer:

Oskar Blues

Hale’s Ales

Farmstrong Brewing

Merchant du Vin

Finn River Cidery

Diamond Knot Brewing

Black Raven Brewing/Old Schoolhouse Brewing (collaboration)

Left Hand Brewing

Seattle Cider Co.

Pike Brewing

Deschutes Brewing

Jellyfish Brewing

Iron Horse Brewing

Hellbent Brewing

Big Sky Brewing

Icicle Brewing

Airways Brewing

White Wall Brewing

Boundary Bay Brewery

Why we’re going. As someone that thoroughly enjoyed the heavy-handed bluegrass stereotypes in “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” we can’t resist the urge to drink beers, listen to local bluegrass bands as a conclusion to the first Saturday of Seattle Beer Week.

Why you should go. We’re gonna be honest here, this event has an ulterior motive of donating proceeds from ticket sales to Mary’s Place, an Emergency Homeless Shelter in Seattle http://bit.ly/2wxObuG. But if the idea of supporting a charity isn’t enough, then hopefully you’ll come for live music paired with a great beer.

Tickets are sale now, through Brown Paper Tickets, at http://bit.ly/2rvFBHE

Hoppy Drinks on the Tiny Links Interbay Golf Center May 13th, 2018 1 pm - 3 pm.

Join Diamond Knot, Ninkasi, Fremont, Elysian, and others in a fierce tournament of mini golf. This year's theme: Yacht Rock! Think Hall and Oats, Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald. Event time 1-3. $10 per player.

Why we’re going. We’ve been regulars of the original beer & mini golf tournament. For a measly $10 you get a putter, a ball, oh and beers to drink while on the course. So yeah, we’re definitely signing up for this event.

Why you should go. Costumes in the springtime? Getting away from the in-laws? How about the chance to get in some exercises while (maybe) putting 18 holes of golf, with a beer in hand.

Contact Diamond Knot Brewery employee, Josh Russel, at josh.russell@diamondknot.com to reserve a spot. Oh and don’t forget that the theme is Yacht Rock.

The Beer Geek’s Bucket List

A Night with Holy Mountain at The Pine Box May 11th, 2018 from 6 pm to 10 pm

Never static and always surprising, the brewery co-owned by Mike Murphy and Colin Lefesty is a destination for sure. Whether you’re a fan of turntable music, solid beers, or the minimalist interior decorating; you can’t go wrong with Holy Mountain.

Why we’re going. The Pine Box is one of those success stories that you don’t hear enough about. Co-owned by Dean Hudgins and Ian Roberts, this mortuary was the final departure point for Bruce Lee as well as countless other poor souls. Today the bar and restaurant features numerous hard to find taps and is one of the few breweries with a dedicate draft-beer, being filtered through a Randall.

Why we’re going. One, it’s a mortuary turned into a bar. Two, brewers like Colin Lefesty aren’t that common anymore, otherwise known as the journeyman brewer. From the beginning, their beers were unique and memorable and we can’t pass up an opportunity to stop in and share a toast with Colin or Mike.

Oh and here’s the draft list, with the descriptions on the Seattle Beer Week event page.

Sunless Year Oak Fermented Baltic Porter

2016 Bourbon Barrel Aged Bonne Nuit

2016 Bourbon Barrel Aged King's Head

Double Ron Hawaii Barrel Aged Brett Double IPA

Demonteller Saison Fermented in Oak

The Hart Barrel Fermented Saison

The Seer Foudre-Aged Saison

Three Fates Pilsner

Five of Swords IPA

Why you should go. Did you not read why we’re going? If you didn’t then we can only hope that you will go on suggestion alone.

Burial Beer Night at Brouwer’s Cafe May 15th, 2018

Starting at 3 pm and running through 9 pm, you’ll have an opportunity to meet up with a North Carolina brewery, one-half founded by the former assistant brewer at Lazy Boy Brewing Company, and one half founded by a homebrewing couple. Enter Burial Beer.

Why we’re going. Hey, we’re suckers for a hard to get brewery’s beers any day of the week. It’s not often that an entire night is dedicated to just their beers. Oh sure there will be other beer on draft, during this event, but that won’t stop us from drinking anything but Burial Beer.

Why you should go. If you never heard of Burial then you’ve probably never had their beer. If you’ve heard of them and haven’t head their beer, you should go. And if you’ve heard of their beer and had it, then you might want to stay home (kidding of course).

Brouwer’s Cafe is located at 400 N 35th Street in Seattle’s Fremont Neighborhood.

Sour Fest  at Brouwer’s Cafe March 17th from 11 am - 11 pm

After you’ve gotten your fill of big, gnarly stouts, it’s time for a palette cleanser or two. Once again, Brouwer’s Café is pleased to present Sour Fest. It’s our favorite event of the year and one we love to bring to the Seattle beer community. As is tradition, we’ll have 55 sour beers on draft, enough to quench the thirst of any who venture to sunny Fremont on May 17th. We’ll be tapping world-class beers from around the globe covering the entire gamut of sour varieties. From lightly tart to enamel ripping, you’ll find it all at Brouwer’s!

Why we’re going. Despite the absence of a draft list, we’ve attended this event every year since it started. With the exception of the first year’s stomach ache, from too many vinegar sours, the event has not disappointed unless of course, you’re talking about your pocketbook.

Why you should go. Sour beers. That’s right, from the vinegar to the lemon and everything in between, there’s something for everyone. But if you can’t decide yet, then you only need to bookmark Brouwer’s Cafe’s event page http://bit.ly/2wxObLc and check back often for updates.

4th Annual Naked City Old 48 Bus Ride Friday, May 18th, from 4 pm - 9 pm

Since 2014, Toronado has collaborated with Naked City to brew a unique stout. This year’s edition was made with peanuts and chocolate, resulting in The Old 48 Peanut Butter Chocogasm Stout. The Old 48? Well, that’s a name given to the beer after the Metro transit retired the Number 48 bus route, often used by Don Webb. As it happens, the route stopped by Toronado on an infrequent basis.

Why we’re going. We dig the idea of walking a beer from Naked City before boarding a bus to Toronado. All the while, people will no doubt stare and wonder why someone brought an unopened beer on the bus. So yeah, we’re looking forward to it.

Why you should go. If you’ve never been to Naked City or Toronado, this is a great chance to try their beers and join the parade of Naked City/Toronado employees riding the bus to the Toronado.

For more information visit http://bit.ly/2rvX02X.

That’s all that’s fit to print. We still have numerous events to list in our Events section, should you need other suggestions. Or if you like, visit http://bit.ly/1iL8Oo2 for a complete breakdown of events occurring from May 10th - May 20th.

Cheers

from News - The Northwest Beer Guide http://bit.ly/2rvFEDk

[ihatecraigwalkup]

Greensky Bluegrass at the Columbus Brewgrass festival! (at The Bluestone)

[minxasheville]

Today is the Brewgrass Festival! Lots of delicious locally made craft beers + great tunes. What better way to spend a beautiful Saturday? Well, after you've stopped by Minx, of course! | #minxasheville #asheville #ashevillenc #828isgreat #828 #avl #wnc #blueridgemountains #visitasheville #visitnc #ashevilleshopping #supportlocal #shoplocal #ootd #womensfashion #ashevillelocal #ashevilleboutique #boutiqueshopping #boutiquefashion (at Asheville, North Carolina)

[stacybeeart]

Super excited to announce the debut of my very first enamel pin!!! These black and white vintage circus pins are a limited and signed edition of 100 and will officially be for sale this Saturday at the Brewgrass Festival and Catty Carnival in Fayetteville brought to you by @cattywampuscoop and @appleblossombrewing . After this weekend they will also be available via my website. (Link in profile) #ink #Illustration #enamelpin #pingame #pins #art #monkey #circus #vintage #pennyfarther #bicycle (at Fort Smith, Arkansas)

[drinkhv]

DRINKING HV THIS WEEKEND ONWARD! 5/30

THIS WEEKEND!

THURSDAY MAY 30TH Quinnz Pinz in Middletown has a Night Shift Brewing Tap Takeover 6pm - 9pm! The Ruck in Troy has a Rare Form Brewing 5th Anniversary Party 7pm - 10pm! Captain Lawrence Brewery in Elmsford hosts Beer School - Hoppy Beer, Happy Life 6:30pm - 9:30pm!

FRIDAY MAY 31ST Beer, Brewing and Politics As Usual: A Look at Albany History is at Irish American Heritage Museum in Albany 7pm - 9pm! Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville has a Sloop Beer Dinner 7pm - 10pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 1ST The Lower Hudson Valley Craft Beer Festival is in Nanuet 12pm - 8pm! Westtown Brew Works has their Brewgrass Festival 1pm - 6pm! King’s Court Brewing Co. in Poughkeepsie hosts TAPS for TOOLS 12pm - 3pm! All City Grill in Lagrangeville has their Annual Craft Beer Parking Lot Party 2019 1pm - 6pm! CH Evans Brewing Co. in Albany has their 20th Anniversary Party 1pm - 6pm! Rare Form Brewing in Troy has their Five Year Anniversary 1pm - 8pm! Beer World in New Indoor has an Einstok Tasting 12pm - 3pm! Beer Bones Taproom in Latham has their 1st Anniversary Party 12pm - 12am! Cousins Ale Works in Wappingers Falls has a Bearded Bean Imperial Stout Release 6pm - 11pm!

ONWARD!

MONDAY JUNE 3RD Mad Jack Brewing Co. in Schenectady has a 10 Year Anniversary Beer Release 4pm - 12am! The City Beer Hall in Albany has an Other Half Beer Dinner 6pm - 10pm!

TUESDAY JUNE 4TH Gentle Giant Brewing Company in Pearl River has a Beer & Food Pairing 6pm - 9pm! Hunter’s on Jay in Schenectady has a Wolf Hollow Brewing Company New England IPA Release 6pm - 9pm!

THURSDAY JUNE 6TH The Burger & Beer Blast is at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla 6pm - 10pm!

FRIDAY JUNE 7TH The Red, White & Brew Festival is at Proctors in Schenectady 5pm - 8pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 8TH Melzingah Tap House in Beacon has their 1 Year Anniversary Party 3pm - 8pm! The Stormville Airport Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival is from 11am - 5pm!

WEDNESDAY JUNE 12TH Dutch Ale House in Saugerties has a Beer Pairing Dinner with Keegan Ales6:30pm - 8:30pm!

THURSDAY JUNE 13TH Brewers of Oakwood (Pre-pay only) is at Oakwood Cemetery in Troy 7pm - 8:30pm! Sarene Benerages hosts Trivia at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Central Valley at 7pm! The Anchor in Kingston has a West Kil Brewing / Bunker Brewing Tap Takeover 7pm - 10pm! Gardiner Liquid Mercantile has a Catskill Brewery Beer Tasting 6pm - 9pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 15TH The 4th Annual BBQ, Blues & Brews Fest is at Roscoe Beer Co. 11am - 5pm! Mohawk Grill & Taproom in Scotia has their 5th Anniversary Party 3pm! Great Life Brewing in Kingston has a Pints & Paws Fundraiser 1pm - 4pm! New Paltz Brewing Co. in Wawarsing has their Dunkelweizen “Dunk Tank” Fest -Beer Party 2pm - 8pm!

THURSDAY JUNE 20TH Nighthawks in Troy has a The Beer Diviner Returns event 5pm - 10pm! Clock Tower Grill in Brewster has a Tour of Hudson Valley Beer Dinner 7pm - 10pm! Gardiner Liquid Mercantile has a A Craft Beer Tasting with Craft Beer Guild 6pm - 9pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 22ND Pour Tour 2019 is in Chester 12pm - 5pm! Barley, Beer, Barrels and Bites: the Making of Westward Whiskey is at Farmers & Chefs in Poughkeepsie 2pm - 4pm!

THURSDAY JUNE 27TH Gardiner Liquid Mercantile has a KCBC Tap Takeover 6pm - 9pm!

SATURDAY JUNE 29TH The Hudson Valley/NY Craft Beer, Music, and Food Festival is in Cold Spring 12pm - 6pm! Hops & Hits! is at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy at 6pm!

SATURDAY JULY 6TH Crossroads Brewing Company in Catskill has their Mid-Summer Celebration 1pm - 11pm!

THURSDAY JULY 11TH Sarene Benerages hosts Trivia at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Central Valley at 7pm!

SATURDAY JULY 20TH Indian Ladder Farmstead Cider & Brewery in Altamont hosts the Farming Man Fest 2019 2pm - 11pm! The Beer, Bourbon, & Bacon Festival is at Barton Orchards in Poughquag 3pm - 7pm!

SATURDAY JULY 27TH Roscoe Beer Co. has their Roscoe Beer Summer Fest 11am - 7pm! Cousins Ale Works in Wappingers Falls has their 1st Home Brew Competition 5pm - 8pm! The Pine Ridge Dude Ranch BBQ and Brews is in Kerhonkson from 6pm - 9pm!

TUESDAY JULY 30TH Nighthawks in Troy has a Lord Hobo Beer ‘n’ Burger Night 5pm - 10pm!

SATURDAY AUGUST 3RD Keg, Rattle, & Roll in the Catskills is at Windham Mountain Resort 12pm - 8pm!

SUNDAY AUGUST 4TH Keg, Rattle, & Roll in the Catskills is at Windham Mountain Resort 11am - 5pm!

THURSDAY AUGUST 15TH The Burger & Beer Bash 2019 is at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls 6pm - 10pm!

SATURDAY AUGUST 17TH Old Klaverack Brewery in Hudson has their 3rd Annual Lobster Fest 12pm - 8pm!

SATURDAY AUGUST 31ST Hops & Hits! is at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy at 6pm!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH Captain Lawrence Brewery in Elmsford has their Sour’d In September event 12pm - 6pm!

[miamibeerscene]

10 Craft Beer Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2017

Oskar Blues annual Burning CAN Festival. (Credit: Oskar Blues Brewery)

March 21, 2017

Springtime ushers in the return of beer festival season, and regardless of which part of the country you call home, chances are, there’s a killer beer fest taking place near you in 2017.

From festivals featuring world-class craft beer to unique events highlighting the delightful relationship between food and beer, to beer fests that encourage you to earn your beer calories, check out these 10 craft beer festivals in 2017 to add to your calendar.

(MORE: 5 Easy Ways to Learn More About Craft Beer)

SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience | June 2-3 | Washington D.C.

Each year, SAVOR defies all stereotypes. It’s not a festival: it’s an experience. At this two-day event, ticket holders can enjoy craft beer and small plate food pairings that highlight the craft of making beer, and the art of creating delicious dishes. The breweries who pour are picked via a lottery; here’s who will be there in 2017. Tickets go on sale to the public on March 22.

The Great American Beer Fest runs Oct. 5-7 in 2017. (Credit: Brewers Association)

Burning CAN Beer Festival | June 3 – Lyons, CO & July 21-22 – Brevard, NC

Oskar Blues Brewery recently entered retail markets in all 50 states, which means you’ve probably had a taste of this fun-loving brewery at some point in your beer drinking adventures. And this brewery loves to throw a good old fashioned hootenanny, which is why they’re hosting their annual Burning CAN Beer Festival at Oskar Blues brewery locations in Colorado and North Carolina this year. At this fest, you’ll only find breweries that can their liquid offerings, along with three other things that define this brewery’s brand: live music, delicious food and a handful of adrenaline-pumping outdoor activities. Overnight camping is encouraged at both Burning CAN beer festivals.

San Diego International Beer Festival | June 16-18 | San Diego, CA

The San Diego International Beer Festival is the largest beer fest on the West Coast, with more than 200 breweries from around the world represented. From rare beers and limited releases to your favorite go-to craft brews, this festival has it all, and they’re serving it up over the course of five different sessions in sunny Southern California. Keep an eye out for tickets to go on sale in the spring for this massive festival.

(MORE: Top 50 US Craft Breweries)

Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival | July 21-22 | Ypsilanti, MI

The craft beer scene in Michigan is exploding right now, thanks to an increase in barley and hop farmers that are providing Michigan brewers with some excellent homegrown ingredients. And every year, the Michigan Brewers Guild Summer Beer Festival celebrates the growth of the beer culture in the state, and craft beer fans in Michigan are loving it. In its 20th year, this festival has plans to pour more than 1,000 beers from over 100 Michigan breweries. Tickets are on sale May 4.

Oregon Brewers Festival | July 26-30 | Portland, OR

The Oregon Brewers Festival is one of the longest-running craft beer festivals in the U.S. and they’re celebrating the big 3-0 this year. With 30 years of experience, you can expect this beer fest, which takes place in the heart of craft beer country, to bring its A game. Last year, more than 800,000 beer drinkers attended this summer festival, set on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. This multi-day fest is free to the public. Tokens for beer tasting are available for purchase onsite.

Belgium Comes to Cooperstown | August 4-5 | Cooperstown, NY

Every year, the folks at Brewery Ommegang bring a little bit of Belgium to Cooperstown, New York. The Belgium Comes to Cooperstown festival is an annual event highlighting the best Belgian and Belgian-style beers around. Since kicking off its inaugural year in 1999, this fest has grown into a massive production that includes a 700-person VIP dinner option, weekend camping, live music and late-night movie screenings. Expect to find more than 100 breweries from around the world pouring at this festival. VIP and General Admission ticket options are available and go on sale on April 1.

Southern Brewers Festival | August 26 | Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga’s craft beer and outdoor recreation communities are flourishing, making this city an excellent place to visit in late August—just in time for the Southern Brewers Festival. In its 23rd year, this beer fest takes place in a gorgeous venue alongside the mighty Tennessee River, with optional parking spaces for boats available to festival-goers. More than 30 southern breweries are represented at this festival, which also includes popular live music each year.

(MORE: How I Got My Lucky Break in Beer)

Brewgrass Festival | September 16 | Asheville, NC

Any beer festival held in Beer City, USA, is bound to be a good one. In Asheville, North Carolina, the Brewgrass Festival is a celebration of craft beer and bluegrass music, which are like two peas in a pod on a warm fall afternoon. More than 100 breweries and brewpubs showcase their handcrafted brews at this beer festival each year. Expect ticket to go on sale this spring, and don’t miss out on the chance to celebrate beer fest season in beautiful Western North Carolina.

Fresh Hop Ale Festival | September 30 | Yakima, WA

There’s nothing better than the smell and sights of fields and fields of fresh hops ready for harvest. Every year, during the fall harvest season in Yakima, Washington, the Fresh Hop Festival takes place, showcasing more than 100 beers brewed with hops picked no more than 24 hours prior to brewing. If you’re a fan of fresh hop beers, you won’t want to miss this festival.

The Great American Beer Festival | October 5-7 | Denver, CO

GABF is the mack daddy of all beer festivals in the United States. The Great American Beer Festival will once again take place in the halls of the Colorado Convention Center this fall, continuing a 30+ year tradition that brings together hundreds of breweries showcasing more than 3,500 handcrafted beers. Tickets for this three-day festival sell out fast, so stay tuned to the Great American Beer Festival website this summer for updates on ticket sale dates.

Tyra Sutak

Tyra Sutak is a freelance writer sharing stories about her favorite things: travel, food, music, craft beer and entertainment. Based out of Boulder, Colo., Tyra gathers inspiration by exploring the world by foot, bike, train, car, plane, greyhound bus, and any other form of travel that will lead to a new adventure. Whether it’s climbing 14er’s under a blue ColoRADo sky, sailing on a boat in Costa Rica, living out childhood dreams on Wrigley Field, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the everyday adventures that can be found at home, the open road calls—and Tyra’s bag is always packed. Read more by this author

The post 10 Craft Beer Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2017 appeared first on Miami Beer Scene.

from 10 Craft Beer Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss in 2017

[jaxbeerguy]

Asheville's Brewgrass Festival announces brewery lineup

Asheville’s Brewgrass Festival announces brewery lineup

In the 19 years since its inception, the Brewgrass beer festival in Asheville, N.C. has made quite a name for itself. The combination of exceptional craft beers, bluegrass music and clear, cool mountain air makes it a magical experience for all who attend. And, as is often the case with beer festivals, the proceeds benefit a very good cause.  Brewgrass Festival is the largest fundraiser for Big…

[fatgaijins]

Serendipitously we stumbled into Brewgrass 2013. We randomly drove by the festival on our way back into Asheville after aborting the hike due to fog, saw a huge crowd of people, were driving around trying to figure out what was going on when this nice local guy walking his dog randomly offered us a parking spot at his house. We parked and walked down to the entry tent and got tickets scalped to us for way under face value by a nice volunteer lady and BOOM there we were dazed confused and unlimited beer

The travel gods knew we had cooler places to discover than hiking trails that day :) We can only read the divine signs and follow where they lead! 

[vagabuzz-blog]

September 2012 Beer Festivals

Beer celebrations in Key West, Brussels, Telluride, San Diego, Asheville, North Carolina and Munich’s famed Oktoberfest.

Telluride’s Town Park sees three days of beer celebration with over 50 microbrews being poured against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains for the Telluride Blues and Brews Festival. This year’s music will be made by Phil Lesh and Friends, Gov’t Mule, Heartless Bastards and the B-52s. 

[nwbeerguide]

Drink, dance, and support worthy causes at "Erik and Rob's Bluegrass and Beer Festival", this Saturday

image sourced from BrewGrass

No doubt many of you have emptied your share of pints and plates, soon to have enjoyed a week's worth of events centered on beer. In the coming days, one will reflect on poorly exercised judgments, memorable conversations, and of course the prospect of another Seattle Beer Week in 2018. But before you tighten your belt, before you drink one less pint of IPA, we want to remind you about a unique event hosted in the bosom of Hale's Ales. Starting at 5 pm, this coming Saturday (May 13th), the brewery is happy to host Erik and Rob's Bluegrass and Beer Festival at the Palladium. 

Tickets are still on sale through Brown Paper Tickets and can be purchased here http://bit.ly/2r1S1VY. Proceeds from Brewgrass go towards CAN'

Included at this year's festival, the following acts will be on stage plucking, tapping, and singing through the night. 

The Warren G Hardings

Tinkham Road

The Mighty Dreadful

Caleb and Walter 

In addition to music, the following breweries are donating their time to serve up sips of beer, to complement your auditory experience. 

Oskar Blues Brewery (CO)

Hale's Ales (WA)

Farmstrong Brewing (WA)

New Belgium Brewing (CO)

21st Amendment Brewery (CA)

Airways Brewing/Rainy Daze Brewing Collaboration (WA/WA)

Victory Brewing (PA)

Ecliptic Brewing (OR)

Ninkasi Brewing (OR)

Modern Times Beer (CA)

Elysian Brewing (WA)

The Pike Brewing Co (WA)

Diamond Knot Craft Brewing (WA)

Merchant du Vin (EUR)

Radeberger Gruppe (EUR)

Finnriver Cidery (WA)

Schilling Hard Cider (WA)

Meriwether Cider Co (ID)

About Wintergrass Youth Education

Most Wintergrass Youth education programs take place at the Hyatt Regency (900 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue WA 98004) in the Evergreen Ballroom. Students and parents should plan to check-in thirty minutes before the start time each day. Parents are always welcome, but not required, to stay and observe the fun. Students should plan to pack a lunch. A substantial snack and drink will be provided to Youth Academy students on Friday at 4pm before their 5pm performance

About CAN'D Aid

The CAN’d Aid Foundation is all about diggin’ in and makin’ a difference where we CAN. We focus our “do-goodery” efforts on supporting Towns, Tunes, Treads + Trails and Love Yur Mama programs.

from The Northwest Beer Guide http://bit.ly/2r2aBNJ