April 2010 Events
March 29-5: National Cask Ale Week, United Kingdom
The Campaign for Real Ale, Cask Marque, and the Independent Family Brewers of Britain, in association with The Daily Telegraph, present National Cask Ale Week, a campaign to celebrate the importance and pleasure of drinking Real Ale in pubs. Last year's inaugural event, billed as "the world's largest ale festival," was celebrated at more than 6,000 pubs throughout the U.K.
1-5: Plough Beer Festival, Hundon, England
The Plough Inn will host its fourth annual Plough Beer Festival over the Easter weekend. This year's theme is "Colours," with 15 or more local and national ales along with local ciders. Food will be available, and there will be live music in the evening on Friday (Jurassic Rock), Saturday (Ugly Dog Skiffle Combo), and Sunday (Liquid Cosh). Admission is free.
2-4: The Big Bournemouth Beer Festival, Bournemouth, England
The Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), in association with East Dorset Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, presents The Big Bournemouth Beer Festival, which will take place at BIC Purbeck Hall. The festival, which is sponsored by Hot Rocks, will feature 150 beers from across the UK, along with ciders, perries, and wine. There will also be entertainment in association with Bournemouth Folk Club.
2-3: Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival, Margate, England
The Thanet Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival. Last year's festival, held at Winter Gardens in Margate, featured more than 200 Real Ales including a special festival ale, along with ciders and perries; live entertainment; hot and cold food; and a tombola and CAMRA stand. More details about this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.
2-3: Spring Beer and Wine Fest, Portland, OR
Rosewood Productions, Inc., presents the Spring Beer and Wine Fest, which will take place at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Recent festivals have featured beer from about 40 breweries and vendors, most of them from the Northwest; gourmet food, including the Tour de Cheese; cooking demonstrations; live music and dancing; and cigars for sale. Admission is free the first two hours of each day's session. More information about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.
3: Breckenridge Massive Beer Festival, Breckenridge, CO
KSMT, "The Mountain," presents the Breckenridge Massive Beer Festival, which will take place at Main Street Station in downtown Breckenridge. This is an outdoor afternoon event featuring beer from more than 20 breweries. Fried Grease, Filthy Children and Chuck Prophet will perform. VIP tickets, with early admission and an exclusive VIP room, are available.
3: Mount Snow Winter Brewer's Festival, West Dover, VT
Mount Snow Ski Resort will again host a Winter Brewer's Festival. This afternoon event will take place in the Main Base Area. Beer from a number of top breweries from across New England and the Northeast will be available, One Jack Move will perform, and there will be barbecue and souvenir T-shirt vendors.
3: Smuggler's Notch Brewfest, Jeffersonville, VT
Smuggler's Notch Resort will host its 15th annual Brewfest. This evening event will take place in the resort's Meeting House. Local and regional beers will be available, along with wine and munchies. There will be live music, and prizes will be awarded.
3: Top of the Hops-Lafayette Beer Fest, Lafayette, LA
Red Mountain Entertainment presents the inaugural Top of the Hops-Lafayette Beer Fest, which will take place at the Cajundome Convention Center. This is an afternoon event, with more than 125 craft beers available. At the Sam Adams Brew University Education Area, festival-goers will learn about cooking with beer, food pairing, how to brew, and other topics. Local restaurants will provide food, and there will be live music. VIP tickets, with early admission and an exclusive beer section, are available.
7-10: Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America, Chicago, IL
The Brewers Association presents the annual Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America, which will take place at the Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Tower. This is North America's number-one educational event for professional brewers, with four different learning tracks. Activities include the World Beer Cup competition reception and dinner, a keynote speaker, and brewery tours and other events. More details about the 2010 conference will be posted on the Brewers Association's website.
7-10: Maldon Beer Festival, Maldon, England
The Dengie Hundred Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Maldon Beer Festival. Last year's festival, which was held at the Town Hall at the top of Market Hill in Maldon, featured more than 60 Real Ales and ciders, along with food and live music. More details about this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.
8-10: Bexley Beer Festival, Sidcup, England
The Bexley Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the fifth annual Bexley Beer Festival, which will take place at the Sidcup Sports Club. The festival will feature at least 60 beers and ciders (TBA on the festival website), along with snacks and entertainment.
8-10: Rotary Club Beer Festival, Newton-le-Willows, England
The Rotary Club of Newton-le-Willows, England, will hold its third Beer Festival at the Newton Sports Club in Newton-le-Willows. More than 50 traditional beers will be available, along with a selection of ciders and continental bottled beers. Proceeds will go to the club's charity account.
9-10: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, Timonium, MD*
Trigger Agency presents the Baltimore-area's edition of the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, which returns to the State Fairgrounds in Timonium. This is a tented event, with more than 60 beers and 40 bourbons available on an all-you-can-taste basis. Barbecue teams from North Carolina, Texas, and Kansas will be on hand, and there will also be barbecue and homebrewing contests, seminars, and live music all day. VIP tickets, for either a special Friday evening session with unlimited barbecue or for early admission on Saturday, are available. This event sold out last year.
9-30: Cooper's IPA Fest, Seattle, WA
Cooper's Alehouse, located in Seattle, will host its eighth annual IPA Fest. This three-week-long celebration will feature a rotating selection of more than 50 India pale ales, including cask-conditioned, imperial, and industrial IPAs. An all-Washington-brewed lineup will be available during the first week.
9-10: Lichfield Winter Into Spring Beer Festival, Lichfield, England
Lichfield Arts presents the Winter into Spring Beer & Wine Festival, which will take place at the Guildhall. This community festival, held in February in past years, will feature at least 35 Real Ales along with draft European beers, traditional ciders, a range of bottled beers, and over 20 wines from around the world. Food, including pork pies, will be served; and there will be live entertainment, headlined by Kent Duchaine.
9-10: Okanagan Fest-of-Ale, Penticton, BC, Canada
The 15th annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale will be held at in Penticton. Recent festivals have featured 75 beers from 25 breweries (this year's lineup TBA on the festival website), food from the Penticon area's restaurants, and live entertainment. Proceeds from the festival will go to local charities. Tickets go on sale March 1.
9-10: Helsinki Beer Festival, Helsinki, Finland
The Helsinki Beer Festival is held at the Cable Factory in downtown Helsinki. Last year's event, which took place in May, featured hundreds of beers from around the world, along with numerous ciders and whiskies; professionally judged beer, cider, and whisky competitions; music from top Finnish bands; food and cigar stands; and appearances by international beer celebrities.
10: Gitchee Gumee Brewfest, Superior, WI
The 13th annual Gitchee Gumee Brewfest will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Superior's Wessman Arena. The festival, which is a fund-raiser for the Superior Jaycees, will feature more than 100 beers from 25 breweries (TBA on the festival website). VIP tickets, with early admission, are available.
10: Los Angeles Beer Festival, Culver City, CA
The Los Angeles Beer Festival returns to Sony Studios in Culver City. This year's edition will have two sessions, each with more than 70 international and domestic beers, over a dozen food trucks, and live entertainment (a Tom Petty/Johnny Cash tribute band, at the afternoon session, and the tribute band Sublime in the evening). Tickets will not be sold at the door.
10: Taming of the Brew, Bloomsburg, PA
The Taming of the Brew will be held at the Caldwell Consistory in Bloomsburg. This event, which is a fund-raiser for the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, will feature beer from more than 25 breweries and distributors, "People's Choice Award" voting, and a silent auction for items donated by local businesses and craftspeople.
10: Tap Into the MOST, Syracuse, NY
The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), located in Syracuse, will host the sixth annual Tap Into the MOST. This Saturday evening event will feature more than 30 brands of beer, food from local restaurants, music by The Fabulous Ripcords and the Baby Boomers, and a prize raffle. Free parking will be available. All proceeds will benefit the MOST’s science and technology outreach and education programs.
10: Tinley Park Brew and Vine Festival, Tinley Park, IL
The Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce presents the inaugural Tinley Park Brew and Vine Festival, which will take place at the Convention Center. This upscale, evening event will showcase an extensive list of craft beers and wines, along with gourmet food. There will also be live music and artisans from the area.
10: Top of the Hops-Greenville Beer Fest, Greenville, SC
Red Mountain Entertainment presents the inaugural Top of the Hops-Greenville Beer Fest, which will take place at the BI-LO Center. This is an afternoon event, with more than 125 craft beers available. At the Sam Adams Brew University Education Area, festival-goers will learn about cooking with beer, food pairing, how to brew, and other topics. Local restaurants will provide food, and there will be live music. VIP tickets, with early admission and an exclusive beer section, are available.
10: White County Cork & Keg, Helen, GA
The inaugural White County Cork & Keg will be held at The Festhalle in Alpine Helen, "home of the world's longest Oktoberfest." Dozens of craft-brewed beers from Georgia and the Southeast, along with wine from northeast Georgia's wine country, will be available. Local musicians will perform, and there will be food from local restaurants. Proceeds will go to the Sautee Nacoochee Community Association.
11: Classic City Brew Fest, Athens, GA
The 15th annual Classic City Brew Fest will be held at the Foundry Park Inn in downtown Athens. Billed as one of the Southeast's favorite beer festivals, this mainly indoor event will feature 200 regional and international beers, along with live music. All proceeds will benefit the Athens Area Humane Society. Attendance is limited to 750 people, and tickets will go on sale in late 2009.
14-17: Newcastle Beer Festival, Newcastle, England
The Tyneside & Northumberland Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Newcastle Beer Festival, which will take place at the Newcastle University Students Union. Recent festivals have featured more than 100 ales and ciders, including beers brewed specially for the festival. More details about the 2010 festival will be posted on the branch's website.
16-17: Boston Beer Summit, Boston, MA
BeerSummit.com presents the Boston Beer Summit, which will take place at the Park Plaza Castle. This two-day event will consist of three sessions, each of which will offer more than 200 beers from over 50 breweries, many of them from New England. Chopville will perform on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, and The Not Pretty's will perform on Saturday evening.
16: Haymarket Cork & Ale Festival, Lincoln, NE
The Haymarket Cork & Ale Festival will be held at the Holiday Inn in downtown Lincoln. This evening event will feature Nebraska-produced beer and wine, together with food and live entertainment. The festival is a fund-raiser for the Historic Haymarket, a non-profit organization.
17: Hickory Hops, Hickory, NC
Olde Hickory Tap Room and Downtown Hickory present Hickory Hops, which will take place in Union Square in downtown Hickory. This afternoon-long, rain-or-shine festival will feature beer from more than 35 microbreweries, most of them based in North Carolina. Food from local restaurants will be available, live bands will perform, and beer-related merchandise will be on sale. Winners of the Carolinas Championship of Beer will be honored at a private brewers' dinner the evening before the festival.
17: Central Maine Brew Fest, Augusta, ME
Central Maine Festivals, LLC, presents the Central Maine Brew Fest, which will take place at the Augusta Civic Center. Last year's festival consisted of two tasting sessions, each with beer from more than 15 Maine-based companies, along with food, live entertainment, and a drawing for prizes. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.
17: Erie Micro Brew Festival, Erie, PA
WQLN-TV, Erie's PBS television station, and the Brewerie at Union Station present the Erie Micro Brew Festival, which will take place at the Brewerie. This year's festival theme is "Gears to Beers," a bicycle tour through the history of brewing in the Erie area. Twenty-five brewers will be represented, and their beer will be served in a tented area called "The American Experience Beer Garden." Tom, Stein, The One Man Band, will entertain. The festival is a fund-raiser for WQLN.
17: Leavenworth Ale-Fest, Leavenworth, WA
The Leavenworth Ale-Fest will be held at the Festhalle in the German-themed town of Leavenworth. Last year's inaugural festival featured beer from more than 20 breweries (this year's lineup TBA on the festival website); food, including cheese, sausage, and smoked salmon; and live music. Proceeds will go to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum.
17: MarchFest, Nelson, New Zealand
MarchFest 2010, a celebration of craft beers, regional wines, slow food, and eclectic music, will be held at Nelson's Founders Heritage Park. The craft been lineup (TBA on the festival website) will include special festival brews, which must have been unavailable anywhere else in the world before the festival. Why is MarchFest in April? Organizers explain, "The Munich Oktoberfest is actually in September so there is a precedent for our quirkyness."
17-18: National Capital Craft Beer Festival, Canberra, Australia
This year's edition of the National Capital Craft Beer Festival has been moved to April, between the Easter and Anzac long weekends, and will take place at a new venue, Olims Hotel in Canberra. More than 80 craft-brewed beers will be available. There will also be live entertainment both days of the festival, food from local gourmet stores, and prize giveaways. The festival is a fund-raiser for the Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group.
17: New Times Original Beerfest, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
New Times magazine presents the New Times Original Beerfest , which will take place at Esplanade Park in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. More than 200 craft-brewed and imported beers from around the world will be available. Paul and Young Ron in the Morning from Big 105.9 will host the event, and live bands will perform. VIP tickets, with unlimited beer, food, and spirits, are available. Part of the proceeds will be donated to charity.
17-18: Southwest Festival of Beers, Scottsdale, AZ
The Southwest Festival of Beers will be held at the Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza. This is a two-day event, with a beer garden featuring more than 200 specialty beers. Food will be available, and there will be musical entertainment on the stage. This event is part of the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, presented by the Scottsdale League for the Arts.
17-18: SweetWater 420 Fest, Atlanta, GA
The SweetWater Brewery presents the sixth annual SweetWater 420 Fest, a two-day music and arts festival. It will take place at Candler Park in Atlanta. The lineup of performers will be announced on the festival website. The festivities will also include Earth-friendly educational workshops and children's activities, and food will be available. Part of the proceeds will go to the Candler Park Neighborhood Organization.
22-24: Maltings Beer Festival, Newton Abbot, England
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), South West Branch, presents the Maltings Beer Festival, which will take place at Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbot. Recent festivals 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. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.
22-25: Sir William Peel Beer Festival, Sandy, England
The Sir William Peel Beer Festival, a pub located in Sandy, will host its second Beer Festival. This four-day event will have a "Beers from the Coast" theme, with a lineup of more than 25 Real Ales and Real Ciders. Food, including seafood, will be available, and there will also be live music.
22-24: 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 Town Hall in Skipton. Last year's festival featured 70 cask-conditioned ales, along with continental bottled beers, traditional ciders and perries, and English fruit wines, plus live entertainment and voting for "Beer of the Festival." More information about this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.
23-24: Edmonton's International Beerfest, Edmonton, AB, Canada
LoudCity.ca presents Edmonton’s International Beerfest, which will take place at the Shaw Conference Centre. This two-evening event will feature more than 200 beers from around the world, including the products of Edmonton’s most popular establishments. Eight bands will perform during the festival.
23-24: Forever Bury Beer Festival, Bury, England
The Forever Bury Beer Festival will be held at the Bury FC Social Club. This year's edition has been moved from February to April to coincide with the football club's 125th anniversary and the St. George's Day bank holiday. Thirty-nine beers, along with ciders, will be available at £2 a pint, and bottled beer will be available as well. There will also be live entertainment.
23-24: Hop Scotch Spring Beer and Scotch Festival, Seattle, WA
Bold Hat Productions presents the Hop Scotch Spring Beer and Scotch Festival, which will take place at the Fremont Studios in Seattle. More than 80 beverages, including beer, wine, Scotch, and tequila (TBA on the festival website), will be served in an indoor venue. Spirits samplers will be available, along with a Scotch tasting seminar led by a Master of Whisky. This event is a benefit for the Seattle International Film Festival.
23-24: Oregon Garden Brewfest, Silverton, OR
The Oregon Garden Resort, located in Silverton, will host the sixth annual Oregon Garden Brewfest. This two-day craft beer festival will feature beer from a number of local breweries. A variety of musical acts will perform on both days of the festival, and food will be available. In addition, the Capitol Brewers Club of Salem will hold a judged homebrew competition. Lodging is available at the resort.
23-24: Peoria Jaycees Annual International Beer Festival, Peoria, IL
The Peoria Jaycees will host their 18th annual International Beer Festival, which will take place at the Peoria Exposition Gardens. About 150 beers will be available at Friday evening's session, along with food from a dozen local restaurants and the slow jams of Peoria's own Elwood. Saturday's session will feature more than 300 craft- and homebrewed beers; several bands, including bagpipers; a concession area; and beer-related merchandise. There will be an updated beer garden at this year's event. A large portion of the proceeds from the festival will go to local charities.
23: Rock the Zoo, Phoenix, AZ
Rock the Zoo, formerly known as ZooBrew, will take place at the Phoenix Zoo. This evening event is one of the zoo's largest fundraisers. Beer and wine from more than 15 providers will be available. This year's headline performers are Vertical Horizon and Marcy Playground. All proceeds from the festival will support the zoo.
24: Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival, La Crosse, WI
The La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau presents the Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival, which will take place at the Southside Oktoberfest Grounds. Last year's festival attracted more than 40 vendors of beer, wine, and cheese from the Great Lakes region, and organizers will be making some major changes for 2010 to improve crowd control and improve access to the exhibitors.
24: Big Tap-In, Boardman, OH
The inaugural Big Tap-In will take place at the Shepherd Event Center in Boardman. Organizers expect 30 to 40 breweries to take part at this afternoon event. There will also be food from area vendors. VIP tickets, with early admission are available. The festival is a benefit for the HandsOn Volunteer Network of the Valley.
24-25: Cleobury Mortimer Beer Festival, Cleobury Mortimer, England
The Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club will celebrate the St. George's Day weekend by hosting the Cleobury Mortimer Beer Festival. This year's festival will showcase cask-conditioned ales from within a 30-mile radius of the festival venue. Professional musicians will perform acoustic sets, and there will be an open mic session for festival-goers. Local providers will offer sausages, cheese, and other food.
24: Hops & Props, Seattle, WA
Hops & Props 2010, an evening event, will be held at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Last year's festival featured more than 50 craft-brewed beers, with brewers in attendance; gourmet food from Catering by McCormick and Schmick’s; live music; and access to the museum’s galleries.
24: LS6 Beer Festival, Leeds, England
The inaugural LS6 Beer Festival, which will be held at Leftbank on Cardigan Road in Leeds. Organizers expect to have at least 25 cask beers, along with a selection of ciders and wines. Hot and cold food will be served, and live bands (TBA on the festival website) will perform. This is a benefit for Village to Village, a local charity supporting community initiatives in Tanzania and Uganda.
24: Parkville Microbrew Fest, Parkville, MO
The Main Street Parkville Association presents the seventh annual Parkville Microbrew Fest, which will take place at English Landing Park. This is an afternoon event, which will be held under the cottonwoods in the heart of Old Towne Parkville. Beer from breweries throughout the Midwest will be served, food will be available, and there will be live music.
24: San Francisco International Beer Festival, San Francisco, CA
The 27th annual San Francisco International Beer Festival will be held in the Festival Pavilion at San Francisco's Fort Mason. Organizers expect to pour more than 300 beers from around the world, and some of San Francisco’s best restaurants will provide food, at this evening event. The proceeds will go to the teaching and learning programs at the Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery School.
24-25 TAP New York, Hunter, NY
In April, Hudson Valley Beer & Fine Food Festival, Inc., and Hunter Mountain present TAP New York, which takes place at Hunter Mountain, a resort in Hunter. The festival features more than 80 beers from New York State craft breweries and brewpubs; gourmet foods, prepared by chefs from some of the area's best restaurants; and the presentation of Matthew Vassar Cup and the F.X. Matt Memorial Cup to winning beers.
24: World Beer Festival, Raleigh, NC
All About Beer magazine presents the World Beer Festival - Raleigh, which will take place in Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. The festival consists of two tasting sessions; and recent editions of this festival have featured more than 300 beers from 150 breweries (the 2009 program is on the festival website). There will also be live music, children's activities, and beer-related presentations.
28-May 1: Paisley Beer Festival, Paisley, Scotland
The Renfrewshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Paisley Beer Festival, which will take place at Paisley Town Hall. The event is billed as "the biggest beer festival in Scotland." Recent festivals have featured a lineup of about 130 cask-conditioned beers, with festival-goers voting for the "Champion Beer of the Festival."
29-May 1: 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 90 Real Ales (TBA on the branch's website about a month before the festival), along with up to 20 traditional ciders and perries and a selection of wines. Hot meals and snacks will be available. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Mary Stevens Hospice.
30-May 1: St. Louis Microfest, St. Louis, MO
The 2010 edition of the St. Louis Microfest will again be held in the Upper Muny Lot in Forest Park in St. Louis. More than 50 of the region's breweries were represented at the 2009 festival, with International Night on Friday, two tasting sessions on Saturday, demonstrations by local chefs, the "Brewers Olympics," a strongman competition, and music in the evening. Details about the 2010 event will be posted in January on the festival website. The festival is a benefit for the Lift for Life Gym.
30-May 1: Brewski Festival, Seven Springs, PA
The ninth annual Brewski Festival will be held at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort. There will be Friday evening and Saturday evening sessions, each with beer from more than 20 breweries, along with a dinner buffet, entertainment, and beer seminars.
30-May 2: Gateshead Beer Festival, Gateshead, England
The Gateshead Rugby Club presents the inaugural Gateshead Beer Festival, which will take place at the club's grounds in the Low Fell. This Bank Holiday weekend festival will feature more than 40 beers and ciders from all over the U.K.; food, including a hog roast; entertainment from a range of local musicians; and clog and Morris dancers.
30-May 3: Long Itchington Beer Festival, Long Itchington, England
The village of Long Itchington, located in Warwickshire, will host a beer festival over the bank holiday weekend. It will take place at six pubs, three of which are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. More than 150 beers will be available. The festivities will also include Morris dancers, band and singers, shire horses and drays, and family activities.
30-May 1: Boulder Strong Ale Festival, Boulder, CO
The eighth annual Boulder Strong Ale Festival will take place at a new and larger venue, the Avery Brewing Company. There will be tasting sessions on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, each with more than 60 of the nation's best strong ales, all with 8% ABV or higher.