Make This the Year of the Beer Festival

Is a beer tour out of the question this summer? Here's an alternative: let the breweries bring the beer to you. Attend a festival, where you can try ales and lagers you've never had before, chat with the brewers, and meet people who share your love of beer.

In every region of North America, there are festivals where you can enjoy good food, live entertainment, and, of course, plenty of craft-brewed beer. Here are some of the best:

• Mondial de la Bière, June 14-23. Has your French gotten rusty? You still have time to brush up before the festival. This 10-day tasting, held at Montreal's historic Old Port, will feature 80 brewers from around the world. But the biggest attraction is beer from Quebec's breweries, which are renowned for giving classic Belgian styles a New World interpretation. Don't forget to bring your appetite, too; Montreal is a top destination for gourmets.

• Vermont Brewers' Festival, July 20-21. The Green Mountain State might be small, but it ranks near the top in breweries per capita. Vermont's top brewpubs and breweries, along with a select few from elsewhere in the region, will be pouring at the East's longest-running outdoor festival. The location is Burlington's Waterfront Park, on the shore of Lake Champlain. There will be three tasting sessions, gourmet food, live music, and activities for the kids.

• Oregon Brewers' Festival, July 27-29. Portland is a year-round beer Mecca, but the best time to visit is when thousands descend on Tom McCall Waterfront Park. This three-day celebration, considered one of America's best, plays host to 72 invited brewers. Most are from outside the Northwest--an effort by organizers to familiarize Oregonians with beer from the rest of America. Hop growers, maltsters, and beer writers will also be on hand.

• Great Taste of the Midwest, August 11. In its fifteenth year, this is North America's second-oldest craft beer festival. It's also one of the largest, with more than 400 different beers--all from the nation's heartland. The site is Madison, Wisconsin's beautiful Olin-Turnville Park, which offers plenty of room to enjoy the festivities. Organizers keep things mellow by limiting attendance, so you have to order tickets early. They go on sale May 1.

• Great American Beer Festival, September 27-29. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this is the nation's oldest and largest beer tasting and competition. Hundreds of brewers will descend on Denver to compete for medals; while they're in town, festivalgoers can sample their beers at three tasting sessions. The festivities will take place at the Colorado Convention Center.

• Great Northeast International Beer Festival, November 10. This festival started out as an alternative competition to the Great American Beer Festival, whose Denver location put New England's brewers at a disadvantage. It has evolved into a major event in its own right; the 250 beers on tap include many from outside the Northeast. It will be held in the Rhode Island Convention Center in downtown Providence.

• Great Canadian Beer Festival, November 30 and December 1. 2001's last big tasting will take place at the Conference Center in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada's Real Ale capital. The sponsor is Victoria's Campaign for Real Ale chapter, so most brewers will be offering at least one cask- or bottle-conditioned beer. Last year's festival attracted more than 30 breweries, including one that offered an all-organic selection. Tickets sell out in a hurry, so order yours well in advance.