April 2012 Events
4: Gitchee Gumee Brewfest, Superior, WI
The 15th annual Gitchee Gumee Brewfest will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Superior's Wessman Arena. The late afternoon event, which is a fund-raiser for the Superior Jaycees, will feature more than 100 beers from over 35 breweries. VIP tickets, with early admission, are available.
6-7: Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival, Margate, England
The Thanet Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 2012 Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival, which will take place at Winter Gardens in Margate. Recent editions of this festival have featured more than 200 Real Ales, including a special festival ale, along with ciders, perries, and continental bottled beers. The festivities have also included live entertainment, hot and cold food, and a giant pub-style quiz on Saturday.
6-7: Spring Beer and Wine Fest, Portland, OR
Rosewood Productions, Inc., presents the 18th annual Spring Beer and Wine Fest, which will take place at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. This event will feature from more than 40 breweries, most of them from the Northwest. The festivities will also include gourmet food, including the Tour de Cheese; cooking demonstrations on the Chefs' Stage; live music and dancing; and cigars for sale.
11-14: Maldon Beer Festival, Maldon, England
The Dengie Hundred Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the tenth annual Maldon Beer Festival, which will take place at Town Hall at the top of Market Hill. Recent editions of this festival featured more than 50 Real Ales and ciders, along with food and live music.
12-14: Doncaster Beer Festival, Doncaster, England
The Doncaster Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 22nd annual Doncaster Beer Festival, which will take place at The Hub, Doncaster College. Recent editions of this festival have been themed, with more than 100 beers, (including a selection from the local area), along with continental bottled beers, ciders, and country fruit wines. Food will be available, and there will be live entertainment Friday evening and all day Saturday.
13: Friday the Firkenteenth, Philadelphia, PA
Friday the Firkenteenth, held at the Grey Lodge in Philadelphia, has become a Friday the 13th tradition, with 20 or more firkins of cask-conditioned beer to sample. This is the only known beer event in the world whose frequency and timing are entirely at the mercy of the calendar.
13-14: Okanagan Fest-of-Ale, Penticton, BC, Canada
The 17th annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale will be held at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre. Recent editions of this festival have featured more than 75 beers from around 20 breweries, voting for the "People's Choice" winning beers, food from the Penticon area's restaurants, and continuous live entertainment. Proceeds from the festival will go to local charities.
14: Blue Chip Brewfest, Michigan City, IN
The Stardust Event Center at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel and Spa, located in Michigan City, will host the second annual Blue Chip Brewfest. This afternoon event will feature beer from a wide variety of craft breweries from around the country. VIP tickets, with early admission, a special selection of beer and food, and an assortment of gift items, are available.
14-15: National Capital Craft Beer Festival, Canberra, NCT, Australia
The fifth annual National Capital Craft Beer Festival will take place at the Mercure Canberra, formerly the Olims Hotel. This outdoor event (indoor in case of rain) will feature more than 80 craft-brewed beers, live entertainment throughout the day, food from local gourmet stores, beer and food pairings, games and contests, and prize giveaways. The festival is a fund-raiser for the Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group.
14: Taming of the Brew, Bloomsburg, PA
The 11th annual Taming of the Brew will be held at the Caldwell Consistory in Bloomsburg. This evening event, which is a fund-raiser for the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, will feature beer from more than 25 breweries and distributors, food available for purchase, "People's Choice Award" voting, and a silent auction for items donated by local businesses and craftspeople.
14: Wickham Charity Beer Festival, Wickham, England
The spring 2012 edition of the Wickham Spring Beer Festival will be held at the Wickham Centre. The festival consists of afternoon and evening sessions, each with 30 or more Real Ales and ciders; food, including a barbecue staffed by the Meon Valley Lions Club; and live music in the evening. Proceeds will go to local organizations and charities.
15: Classic City Brew Fest, Athens, GA
The 17th annual Classic City Brew Fest will be held at the Foundry Park Inn in downtown Athens. This afternoon, mainly indoor event, which organizers describe as one of the Southeast's favorite beer festivals, will feature 250 regional and international beers, plus (new this year) a cask ale pavilion. There will be live music. All proceeds will benefit the Athens Area Humane Society. This event is likely to sell out.
16: Leavenworth Ale-Fest, Leavenworth, WA
The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum presents the sixth annual Leavenworth Ale-Fest, which will take place at the Festhalle in the German-themed town of Leavenworth. This all-day event will feature beer from more than 20 Northwest breweries; food, including cheese, sausage, and smoked salmon; and live music. Proceeds will go to the museum.
18-21: Newcastle Beer Festival, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
The Tyneside & Northumberland Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 36th annual Newcastle Beer Festival, which will take place at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne. Last year's festival featured more than 100 Real Ales, along with over 100 ciders and perries.
19-21: Maltings Beer Festival, Newton Abbot, England
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), South West Branch, presents the 2012 Maltings Beer Festival, which will take place at Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbot. Recent editions of this festival have featured about 250 beers, along with live music. The winning beers at the festival will go on to represent the South West Region at the SIBA National Final.
20-21: Hook Beer Festival, Surbiton, England
The third annual Hook Beer Festival will be held at the Hook Scout Hall in Surbiton, a venue with both an indoor and an outdoor drinking area. The festival, which is supported by the Kingston & Leatherhead Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, will feature 50 beers and ciders. Food will be available at all sessions. Proceeds will go to The Surrey Air Ambulance and other charities.
20-21 Peoria Jaycees International Beer Festival, Peoria, IL
The Peoria Jaycees present the 20th annual International Beer Festival, which will take place at the Peoria Exposition Gardens. Recent festivals have featured about 150 beers at Friday evening's session, along with food from a dozen local restaurants and live music; and a Saturday beer garden session with over 300 craft- and homebrewed beers; several bands, including bagpipers; a concession area; and beer-related merchandise. VIP tickets are available. A large portion of the proceeds from the festival will go to local charities.
21: A Night At The Brew-seum, McAllen, TX
The International Museum of Art and Science, located in McAllen, will host the fourth annual A Night At The Brew-seum. This evening event will pair beer from around the world with food from some of the area's best restaurants, accompanied by the "World's Most Dangerous Dueling Pianos" from Howl At The Moon. This year's "Brew-seum Week" also includes the Brew-seum Beer Dinner on Thursday, April 19, along with the judging of the Brew-seum "Battle of the Brew" homebrew competition on Tuesday, April 17.
21: The Big Tap-In Real Craft Beer Festival, Youngstown, OH
The third annual Big Tap In Real Craft Beer Festival will be held at a new venue, the Covelli Centre in Youngstown. "The biggest craft beer festival between Pittsburgh and Cleveland" will feature beer from more than 75 different breweries, along with food vendors, local artists, and entertainers. Proceeds will benefit Making Kids Count, Inc.
21: Dairy State Cheese & Beer Festival, Kenosha, WI
The fifth annual Dairy State Beer and Cheese Festival will be held at The Brat Stop in Kenosha (intersection of Highway 50 and I-94). This afternoon event will feature beer from breweries in and around Wisconsin (about 40 were represented at recent festivals), cheese from around the state, a biergarten food menu, music by two live bands, and merchandise for sale. The festival is a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha.
21: Great Vegas Festival of Beer, Las Vegas, NV
Motley Brews presents the second annual Great Vegas Festival of Beer, which will take place at Tivoli Village, a complex of restaurants and stores in Las Vegas. This evening event, to be held in an expanded venue, will feature more than 150 beers from over 40 breweries, along with food for purchase from local restaurants. Part of the proceeds will be donated to area non-profits. VIP tickets, with early admission, are available.
21: Hickory Hops, Hickory, NC
Olde Hickory Brewery and Downtown Hickory present the tenth annual Hickory Hops, which will take place at Union Square. This afternoon-long, rain-or-shine festival will feature beer from more than 40 microbreweries, most of them from North Carolina, and including cask-conditioned and seasonal beers. The festivities will also include food from local restaurants, live music, and beer-related merchandise for sale. On the evening before the festival, the winners of the Carolinas Championship of Beer will be honored at a private brewers' dinner.
21: Patchway Beer Festival, Patchway, England
Brizzle Beer Festivals presents the inaugural Patchway Beer Festival, which will be held at the Patchway Community Centre. There will be two tasting sessions, each with 20 ales and eight ciders, along with wine and soft drinks. Food, including a hog roast, snacks, and nibbles, will be available, and a live band will perform during the evening session.
27: Brewski Festival, Seven Springs, PA
The 11th annual Brewski Festival will be held at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort. This evening event will feature beer from a variety of breweries, with an emphasis on those in Pennsylvania and the Northeast. A buffet dinner will be served with the beer samples.
27-28: Chippenham Beer and Cider Festival, Chippenham, England
The North West Wiltshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 21st annual Chippenham Beer and Cider Festival, which will take place at the Olympiad Leisure Centre--Monkton Park. Recent editions of this two-day, three-session event have featured more than 90 Real Ales, ciders, and perries.
27-28: Edmonton International Beer Fest, Edmonton, AB, Canada
The 2012 Edmonton International Beer Fest will be held at the Shaw Conference Centre. Recent editions of this festival have feature more than 200 beers, with Edmonton's most popular beer serving establishments represented, along with live music. This festival has sold out each of the last three years.
27-28: Oregon Garden Brewfest, Silverton, OR
The Oregon Garden Resort will host the eighth annual Oregon Garden Brewfest. Recent editions of the festival have featured seasonal and flagship beers from more than 30 breweries, along with live music and Northwest cuisine. The price of admission includes entry to the gardens.
28: Between the Bluffs: Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival, La Crosse, WI
The La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau presents the tenth annual Between the Bluffs: Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival, which will take place at 1 Oktoberfest Strasse in La Crosse. This afternoon event will feature unlimited sampling of beer, wine, and cheese from more than 60 vendors. The festivities will also include live music, a bean bag tournament, an "Between the Bluffs" apparel shop, food for sale, and cooking demonstrations by area chefs. VIP tickets, which include pre-fest activities on Friday night, early admission to the festival, and food and special samples, are available.
28: McCoole's Spring Beer Festival, Quakertown, PA
The 2012 McCoole's Spring Beer Festival will be held at McCoole's Arts and Events in Quakertown. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with more than 60 beers and a selection of Barefoot wines, along with live music, food, beer trivia, and a homebrew competition. Parking is free.
28: San Francisco International Beer Festival, San Francisco, CA
The 29th annual San Francisco International Beer Festival will be held in the Festival Pavilion at San Francisco's Fort Mason. Recent editions of this festival have featured more than 300 beers from around the world, along with food from some of San Francisco's best restaurants. The proceeds will go to the teaching and learning programs at the Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery School. This event sold out last year.
28: Texas Beer Fest, Humble, TX
The 2012 edition of the Texas Beer Fest will be held at a new venue, Discovery Green in Humble. Last year's inaugural festival was a day-long event, described by organizers as "a craft beer festival that hopes to bring as many craft breweries as possible to one place," along with local music and food.
28-29: TAP New York Hunter, NY
Hudson Valley Beer & Fine Food Festival, Inc., and Hunter Mountain present the 2012 TAP New York, which will take place at Hunter Mountain. This two-day event will feature well over 100 beers from 40 invited breweries; food; daily cooking demonstrations; and a judged competition, with the presentation of Matthew Vassar Cup and the F.X. Matt Memorial Cup to the winning beers.
28-29: Zythos Beer Festival, Leuven, Belgium
Zythos, the Flemish beer consumers' organization, presents the Zythos Beer Festival, which will take place at a new location, Brabanthal in Leuven. There will be about 300 beers from 100 breweries along with food, a beer shop, and a tombola. Admission is free.
TBA: Helsinki Beer Festival, Helsinki, Finland
The 15th annual Helsinki Beer Festival will be held at the Cable Factory in downtown Helsinki. Recent editions of this festival have featured hundreds of beers from around the world; numerous ciders and whiskeys; professionally judged beer, cider, and whiskey competitions; food and cigar stands; and appearances by the beer world's leading personalities. The festival website is entirely in Finnish.