April 2009 Events

1-4: Newcastle Beer Festival, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

The Newcastle Beer Festival will be held at the Students Union, Newcastle University. Recent festivals featured more than 100 ales and ciders, including beers specially brewed for the festival. More details about this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.

Organized By: Tyneside & Northumberland Branch, Campaign for Real Ale

2-5: Mansfield Beer Festival, Mansfield, England

The Mansfield & Ashfield Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Mansfield Beer Festival, which will take place at the Intake Club. Recent festivals have featured more than 100 beers plus ciders, perries, and wines; live entertainment, including Morris dancers Saturday afternoon; and food at all sessions. More details about this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.

2-5: West Bromwich Beer Festival, West Bromwich, England

Coture Cafe Bar is hosting the West Bromwich Beer Festival, which will be held at The Public, West Bromwich's new cultural center. Eighteen Real Ales–including four from local brewery Enville Ales–and two ciders will be available. There will be free live music, including the Trevor Burton Band and Tipitina, and there will be a bouncy castle for children on the town square.

3-4: Okanagan Fest-of-Ale, Penticton, BC, Canada

Okanagan Fest-of-Ale will be held at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre. Recent festivals featured more than 75 beers from over 25 breweries, food from some of the South Okanagan's best restaurants, and live entertainment. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

Benefit For: Local charities

4: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, Timonium, MD

Maryland's edition of the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival will be held in a larger venue this year: under cover at the grandstands of the Timonium Fairgrounds. This year there will be more than 60 beers and 40 bourbons; gourmet cooking demonstrations; live music all day; and games and contests. Special VIP tickets are available.

Presented by: Moorea Marketing LLC.

4: Cascade Brewers Cup ExBeerience, Woodinville, WA

The Cascade Brewers Cup ExBeerience will be held at the Red Hook Ale Brewery in Woodinville. Beer from 20 breweries will be available for sampling. There will be an awards ceremony for the area's best amateur brewers; complimentary beer judging workshops will be held throughout the afternoon; and the "Joes vs. Pros" booth will challenge festival-goers to tell the difference between a homebrewed and commercially-brewed beer. Appetizers will be available inside, and full meals will be sold at the brewery's Forecasters Pub. The event is a benefit for the American Hop Museum.

4: Gitchee Gumee Brewfest, Superior, WI

Gitchee Gumee Brewfest will be held at the Wessman Arena and feature more than 120 beers from over 30 Wisconsin and Upper Midwest brewers; special VIP tickets available; event benefits local charities selected by the Jaycees.

Presented By: Superior Jaycees

4-5: Los Angeles Beer Festival, Culver City, CA

The inaugural Los Angeles Beer Festival will be held at the Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City. Dozens of international and domestic beers will be available. Tom Petty and U2 tribute bands will play, and food from "beer-friendly" vendors will be available. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

4: Mount Snow Winter Brewer's Festival, West Dover, VT

Mount Snow Ski Resort will host its inaugural Winter Brewer's Festival this year. This event, like the resort's annual end-of-summer festival, features beer from leading breweries from New England and the Northeast.

4: Smuggler's Notch Beer Festival Part 2, Jeffersonville, VT

Smuggler's Notch Beer Festival Part 2 will be held at the Smuggler's Notch Resort and feature local and regional beers and wines with food, music, and prizes.

4: The Taming of the Brew, Bloomsburg, PA

The Taming of the Brew 2009 will be held at the Cadwell Consistory in Bloomsburg. The festival features a selection of beers (festival-goers can vote for the People's Choice Award), food from area restaurants and caterers, live entertainment, and a silent auction. Proceeds go to the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble. This event is now sold out.

4: TAP Into the MOST, Syracuse, NY

The fifth annual TAP into the MOST will be held at the Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse. There will be 30 beers to sample, a large selection of food, live entertainment, and a prize raffle. Proceeds go to the museum’s science and technology outreach and education programs.

5: Classic City Brew Fest, Athens, GA

Classic City Brew Fest will be held at the Foundry Park Inn and feature a sampling of 175 beers from around the world, including world-class, gourmet, and strong beers; food and live music, T-shirt and collectibles booth. This event is sold out.

Benefit For: Project Safe and Athens Area Humane Society

6-13: National Cask Ale Week, United Kingdom

The Campaign for Real Ale, Cask Marque, The Independent Family Brewers of Britain, Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns present National Cask Ale Week. Billed as "the world's largest ale festival," the celebration will take place at more than 5,000 pubs. National Cask Ale Week will be a week of campaigning across the UK to promote the importance and pleasures of drinking real ale in pubs.

7-13: Braich Goch Cask Ale Society Beer Festival, Corris, Wales

As part of the UK's National Cask Ale week, the Braich Goch Cask Ale Society presents a mini beer festival at the Braich Goch Bunkhouse and Inn, in Corris (near Machynlleth). A range of cask ales will be available, and there will be impromptu open mic and live music sessions.

9-13: Easter Weekend Beer Festival, Manchester, England

Manchester's KRO-2 will host an Easter weekend beer festival, which will be held in the bar's beer garden. There will be more than 60 Real Ales from smaller breweries in the North-West along with 20 ciders, a whisky tent, and barbecue.

10-13: Barnsley Beer Festival, Elsecar, England

The Barnsley Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Barnsley Beer Festival, which will take place at Milton Hall in Elsecar "by the sea." This Easter weekend festival will feature about 40 Real Ales, hot and cold food, and a family room until 8 pm.

10-11: Beerex 2009, Wareham, England

Wareham Round Table presents Beerex 2009, which will take place at Masonic Hall in Wareham. Real Ales from around the country will be available, along with wines, ciders, perries, and soft drinks. There will be live music at evening sessions.

10-13: George Inn Beer Festival, Eccleshall, England

The George Inn in Eccleshall will host a beer festival over the Easter weekend. There will be 15 Real Ales, including the latest ales from the Eccleshall Brewery, along with traditional cider. Food will be available all day every day, and there will be live music Friday evening and on Sunday. For more information, call 01785 850300.

10: Montana Beer Festival, Bozeman, MT

The Montana Beer Festival will be held at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds in Bozeman. There will be more than 200 beers from over 35 Rocky Mountain region breweries. Ten medals awarded in four categories (Montana Brew, IPA, People's Choice and Best Overall). Food will be available, and there will be live music. This year's festival will also include a "beer taster's happy hour," a dinner and food pairing held in a more intimate setting.

10-13: Pineapple Beer Festival and Easter Bonnet Parade, London, England

The Pineapple Beer Festival and Easter Bonnet Parade will be held in the garden and conservatory of the Pineapple Free House over Easter weekend. More than 20 cask-conditioned beers and ciders will be available, and barbecued food will be served all weekend. The Pineapple's Easter Bonnet parade will coincide with the festival on Easter Sunday.

10-11: Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival, Margate, England

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival will be held at Winter Gardens. Last year's festival featured about 200 Real Ales including a special festival ale, ciders and perries, live entertainment; hot and cold food, and a tombola and CAMRA stand. More information about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

Thanet Branch, Campaign for Real Ale

10-11: Spring Beer and Wine Fest, Portland, OR

The fifteenth annual Spring Beer and Wine Fest will be held at the Oregon Convention Center and feature beer from nearly 40 breweries and vendors, most from the Northwest; gourmet food, including the Tour de Cheese; cooking demonstrations at the Chefs' Stage; live Northwest bands, with dancing; outdoor smokers' tent with cigars for sale; free admission the first two hours of each day.

Presented By: Spring Beer & Wine Fest, Inc., a non-profit organization

11: Breckenridge Massive Beer Festival, Breckenridge, CO

KSMT, "The Mountain," presents the Breckenridge Massive Beer Festival, which will take place at Main Street Station in Breckenridge. There will be beer from 20 breweries, most of them from around Colorado, Papa Mali and two other bands will perform, and food and merchandise will be on sale. VIP tickets, with catered lunch, private tasting, and exclusive early entrance, are available. A Sam Adams Brewmaster's Dinner will be held on the evening before the festival.

15-18: Maldon Beer Festival, Maldon, England

The Maldon Beer Festival will be held at the Town Hall at the top of Market Hill. Last year's festival featured more than 60 Real Ales and ciders, and food and live music. More details about this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.

Organized By: Dengie Hundred Branch, Campaign for Real Ale

16-18: Doncaster Beer Festival, Doncaster, England

The Doncaster & District Branch of the Campaign For Real Ale present the Doncaster Beer Festival, which will be held at "The Hub," Doncaster College. At least 90 Real Ales will be available, along with a selection of foreign bottled beers, ciders, perries, and fruit wines.

16-18: Hull Real Ale & Cider Festival 2009, Hull, England

The Hull & East Yorkshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Hull Real Ale & Cider Festival 2009, which will take place at Hull College's Horncastle Building. Seventy-four Real Ales will be available, including some of the "Champion Beers of Britain 2007" and a selection from the local breweries, along with a separate Cider and Bottled Beer Bar. There will also be a tombola and pub quiz, and live entertainment in the separate theater on the Thursday and Friday evening.

16: Vermont's Magic Hat Brewery at the Museum, Akron, OH

As part of its Third Thursday Concert & Cocktails series, the Akron Art Museum will host "Vermont's Magic Hat Brewery at the Museum." The Mickeys will perform Celtic music, and admission to the concert is free.

17-20: Bamber Bridge Football Club Beer Festival, Bamber Bridge, England

The Bamber Bridge Football Club Beer Festival will be held at Irongate Ground. There will be up to 25 ales and ciders on tap, including a few beers not often seen locally; food and live entertainment; and a quiz night on Saturday evening. There will be football match Saturday afternoon between Bamber Bridge and Ossett Albion.

17-18: Beer Summit 10th Anniversary Party, Boston, MA

BeerSummit.com presents the annual Beer Summit, which will take place at the Castle @ Park Plaza in Boston. There will be three tasting sessions, each with more than 200 beers from 50 breweries along with live music.

17-May 3: Fruhling'sfest, Munich, Germany

Fruhling'sfest, a smaller, more family-oriented version of Oktoberfest, will be held on the Oktoberfest grounds (Theresienwiese) in Munich. The will be several Oktoberfest-style beer tents, food and a variety of entertainment, more than 100 carnival rides, merchandise for sale, and fireworks at night.

17-19: Mazer Cup International Mead Competition, Boulder, CO

The Mazer Cup International Mead Competition, sponsored by GotMead.Com, has been revived for 2009. It will take place out the Outlook Hotel in Boulder. This year's event will feature competitions for both professional meaderies and home mead enthusiasts from around the world.

17-18: Peoria International Beer Festival, Peoria, IL

The Peoria Jaycees present the Peoria International Beer Festival, which will be held at the Exposition Gardens. There will be tasting sessions on Friday evening and all day Saturday, each with more than 300 beers (with most four-ounce samples will cost 75 cents), food, and live music. The Friday session will be smaller, quieter, and more relaxing.

18: Erie Micro Brew Festival, Erie, PA

The Erie Micro Brew Festival, which will be held at the Brewerie at Union Station. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with beer from 25 craft breweries, and an appearance by Erie's famous one-man band. This year's event will feature the Sweet Treats Fair: gourmet ice cream and soda for designated drivers and non-drinkers. Proceeds will benefit Public Broadcasting of Northwest Pennsylvania.

18: Centeral Maine Brew Fest, Augusta, ME

Central Maine Festivals, LLC presents the inaugural Centeral Maine Brew Fest, which will take place at the Augusta Civic Center. There will be two tasting sessions, each with beer from more than 15 Maine companies, large and small. Two live bands will play at each session. Food will be available, and there will be a drawing for prizes.

18: Great Brews From Around the World, Lake Harmony, PA

Great Brews From Around the World will be held at the Split Rock Resort and feature beer from 30 of the world's finest breweries, along with music, crafts, a variety of international food; tutored tastings led by by award-winning homebrewer George Hummel and wine and beer aficionado Sam Cohen.

18: Hickory Hops, Hickory, NC

The Hickory Downtown Development Association and the Old Hickory Tap Room will host Hickory Hops, which will take place downtown at Union Square. Beer from 35 microbreweries from throughout the South will be available, and a separate tent will serve cask-conditioned ales. There will be live music, and the Best of Show winners from the Carolinas Championship of Beer will be introduced. This is an outdoor event, and will be held rain or shine.

18: Leavenworth Ale-Fest, Leavenworth, WA

The Leavenworth Ale-Fest will be held at the Festhalle in the German-themed town of Leavenworth. Beer from more than 20 breweries will be available, along with live bands, food vendors, and a tombola. The festival is a benefit for the Leavenworth Nutcracker Foundation.

18: New Times Original Beerfest, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL

Last year's New Times Original Beerfest featured more than 170 beers, food tents offering food from local restaurants, and live entertainment all evening long. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival MySpace.com page.

Presented By: New Times

18: Rockfest 2009, Chicago, IL

The Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery in Chicago will host Rockfest 2009, a walk-around sampling of more than 50 beers from Rock Bottom breweries from throughout the Midwest.

19: Hops & Props 2009, Seattle, WA

Hops & Props 2009 will be held at the Museum of Flight and feature beer from 50 craft breweries, with brewmasters on hand; food from McCormick and Schmick’s; live music; admission includes access to museum galleries.

Benefit For: Museum of Flight

19: Repeal of Prohibition Party 2009, St. Louis, MO

The Repeal of Prohibition Beer Festival 2009 will be held at Schlafly Bottleworks in St. Louis. The 76th anniversary of Repeal will be celebrated with 20 beer styles, including beer from Tennessee microbreweries, along with Schlafly favorites. There will also be live music and food for sale.

24: ZooBrew, Phoenix, AZ

ZooBrew, one of the largest fund-raisers for the Phoenix Zoo, will be held at the zoo on the evening of April 24. General admission includes beverage sampling from more than 30 providers, live music from a nationally-recorded band, specialty food, and a variety of activities. Special VIP tickets, which includes a full catered meal served inside a private tented area, are also available.

21-24: Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America, Boston, MA

Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America will be held at the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center. This is North America's number-one educational event for professional brewers, with four different learning tracks; keynote address by Stone Brewing's Greg Koch; exhibits; tours of local breweries; World Beer Cup competition reception and awards dinner.

Organized By: Brewers Association

22-26: Ship and Mitre Real Ale Festival, Liverpool, England

The Ship and Mitre, located in Liverpool town center, will host a Real Ale festival at the pub. About 80 to 100 cask ales will be available on 12 hamdpumps. Food--including bratwurst, cheeses, and scouse–will be served, and admission is free.

23-25: Maltings Beer Festival, Newton Abbot, England

The South West Branch of the Society of Independent Brewers presents the Maltings Beer Festival, which will take place at Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbot. Recent festivals have featured more than 250 Westcountry beers, along with live music.

23-25: Skipton Beer Festival, Skipton, England

The Keighley & Craven Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Skipton Beer Festival, which will take place at Skipton Town Hall. There will be 60 Real Ales (including a "Mild Trail") along with German and Belgian bottled beers, cider and perry, and English fruit wines. The Bradford University Jazz Band will perform on Saturday evening. Hot and cold food and CAMRA merchandise will also be available.

24-25: Brewski Festival, Seven Springs, PA

The Brewski Festival will be held at theSeven Springs Mountain Resort. There will be an evening session each day; admission includes beer tasting, a buffet prepared by Seven Springs' culinary staff, beer seminars, and musical entertainment.

24-25: Chippenham Beer Festival, Chippenham, England

The North West Wilshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Chippenham Beer Festival, which will be held at The Olympiad. There will be more than 90 Real Ales, Real Ciders, and Real Perries, all served at cellar temperature in an air-conditioned hall; live music at all sessions; and food and soft drinks. Tickets to evening sessions will be sold in advance only.

25: Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival, La Crosse, WI

The Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival will be held at the Southside Oktoberfest Grounds, a new venue this year. It will feature more than 40 vendors, including breweries, wineries (new this year), and cheese makers from the Great Lakes region (list TBA on the festival website).

Presented By: La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

24-25: Oregon Garden Brewfest, Silverton, OR

The Oregon Garden Brewfest will be held at the J. Frank Schmidt, Jr., Pavilion in the Oregon Garden. There will be beer from about 20 breweries, many of them from Oregon, along with local food and live music. Admission to the festival includes free entry to the garden.

25: Brew Fest Extravaganza, Philadelphia, PA

The Manayunk Brewery will host its annual Brew Fest Extravaganza at the brewery. Recent festivals have featured more than 50 beers from Delaware Valley breweries, along with live acoustic music. More details about of this year's festival will be posted on the brewery's website.

25: Brewphoria, Reading, PA

Brewphoria is a semi-annual beer festival, held inside the Canal Street Pub & Restaurant in Reading. Recent festivals have featured beer from 15 breweries and distributors, most of them from Pennsylvania, as well as a complimentary buffet, live music, and breweriana for sale.

25: Dark Lord Day, Munster, IN

Three Floyds Brewing Company celebrates Dark Lord Day at the brewery in Munster. This is a one-day-only release of Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout. This this year, it is necessary to register for a "Golden Ticket" entitling you to buy Dark Lord in bottles. The festival itself features beers from all over the world, including Dark Lord's lineup, as well as live music and barbecue.

25: Higgins Armory Museum Spring Beer Fest, Worcester, MA

The Higgins Armory Museum will host its inaugural Spring Beer Fest. There will be beer from more than 15 craft brewers, and food catered by Tastings Caterers. This event is expected to sell out.

25: Reading Phillies Beer Tasting Festival, Reading, PA

The Reading Phillies baseball club will host a Beer Tasting Festival in the Pool Picnic Area at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading. This is a pre-game sampling of imported and domestic beer and an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring barbecue chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs.

25: San Francisco International Beer Festival, San Francisco, CA

The San Francisco International Beer Festival will be held at the Festival Pavilion in Fort Mason. This is a twenty-fifth annual event, with more than 300 craft-brewed beers from around the world; food provided by some of San Francisco’s best restaurants; live music; raffle. Tickets go on sale around St. Patrick's Day.

Organized By: Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery Association

25-26: Virginia Beer Festival, Norfolk, VA

The Virginia Beer Festival will be held at the Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center featuring beer from more than three dozen domestic and international breweries, with live music; event is part of the Virginia Arts Festival.

25-26: TAP New York Hunter, NY

TAP New York will be held at Hunter Mountain and feature more than 100 beers from New York State craft breweries and brewpubs; gourmet foods, prepared by chefs from some of the area's best restaurants; presentation of Matthew Vassar Cup and the F.X. Matt Memorial Cup to winning beers.

Organized By: Hudson Valley Beer & Fine Food Festival, Inc., and Hunter Mountain

25: Vilvordia BierProefFestival, Jette, Belgium

The Vilvordia BierProefFestival will be held at the Brussels campus of the Erasmushogeschool in Jette. This year's event has been moved to a new venue, the cafeteria ("The Link"). More than 70 Belgian beers will be served. Most of the festival website is in Flemish only.

29-May 2: Paisley Real Ale Festival, Paisley, Scotland

The Renfrewshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Paisley Real Ale Festival, which will take place at Paisley Town Hall. This event is billed at "the biggest beer festival in Scotland," and recent festivals have featured more than 130 cask-conditioned beers and voting for "Champion Beer of the Festival."

30-May 4: Crown Inn Beer Festival, Elton, England

The Crown Inn Beer Festival will be held at the Crown Inn in Elton (near Peterborough) over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. More than 30 Real Ales, ciders, and perries from local and national microbreweries will be served, both at the bar and in a heated beer tent. Food will be available, and a hog roast will be held on May Day to coincide with the village fete on the green opposite. There will be live bands, along with Maypole and Morris dancing.

30-May 2: Kingdom of Fife Beer Festival, Glenrothes, Scotland

Inveralmond Brewery presents the Kingdom of Fife Beer Festival, which will take place at Rothes Halls in Glenrothes. Forty Real Ales, half on gravity and half on handpulls, will be available, along with ciders, perries, continental beers, and wine. Food will be available all day, and there will be live music.

30-May 3: Reading Beer and Cider Festival, Reading, England

The Reading and Mid-Berkshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 15th annual Reading Beer and Cider Festival, which will take place at King's Meadow. At least 430 Real Ales will be available, and the LocAle Bar will showcase beers from breweries within 25 miles of the festival site. In addition, there will be at least 140 ciders and perries, 140 foreign beers, and 45 English wines. On Friday through Sunday there will be live music. The festival will host the National CAMRA Cider & Perry Awards on Saturday.

30-May 2: Stourbridge Beer Festival, Stourbridge, England

The Stourbridge & Halsowen Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Stourbridge Beer Festival, which will take place at Stourbridge Town Hall. Organizers expect to have about 85 Real Ales, plus a large selection of real ciders and perries.