February 2010 Events
4-6: Chelmsford Winter Beer Festival, Chelmsford, England
The Chelmsford Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Chemlsford Winter Beer Festival, which will take place at the Essex County Council Social Club. Last year's festival featured 140 Real Ales, a selection of ciders and perries, and a wide selection of hot and cold food and snacks.
4-6: Derby CAMRA Winter Beer Festival, Derby, England
The Derby Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Derby CAMRA Winter Beer Festival, which will take place in the Darwin Suite of the Assembly Rooms on Derby Market Place. The 2010 festival, which returns to its traditional February dates, will feature more than 100 Real Ales along with Real Cider, a wide range of continental bottled beers, and wine.
4-6: Pendle Beer Festival, Colne, England
The East Lancashire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Pendle Beer Festival, which will take place at the Colne Muni Theatre. The theme for this year's festival is "Down on the Farm," with many of the over 65 Real Ales bearing the names of animals and birds. The festival is a benefit for the Pendleside Hospice.
4-6: SIBA Champions Beer Festival, Nottingham, England
The Canal House Bar & Restaurant, which is located in Nottingham, will for the second time serve as host of the 2010 SIBA Champions Beer Festival. The festival will offer "the best of the best": 56 gold award-winning beers from around the country, all on hand pull. Admission is free. For more information, contact the Canal House at 0115 955 5060.
4: Wines and Beers of the World, Milwaukee, WI
Wines and Beers of the World, a fund-raiser for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, will take place at the Peck Warehouse Center in the Milwaukee County Zoo. This evening event will feature a large selection of beers and wines along with breads, cheeses, desserts, and other food. The festival venue adjoins the Apes of Africa and Primates of the World exhibits, which will be open until 9 pm.
5-6: Chesterfield Beer Festival, Chesterfield, England
The East Lancashire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Chesterfield Beer Festival, which will take place a new venue this year, the Winding Wheel Inn. More than 100 Real Ales will be available, along with 16 ciders and perries, a selection of world beers, and country wines. There will be live entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings, and barbecue and other food will be served at all sessions.
5-6: Dorchester Beerex, Dorchester, England
Dorchester Round Table, together with Dorchester Ellipse and the West Dorset Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, present the Dorchester Beerex, which will take place at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester. Organizers expect to have 80 Real Ales and Real Ciders to sample. Food will be available, and there will be live music during the evening sessions.
5-6: Festiv-Ale, Regina, SK, Canada
Festiv-Ale will be held at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. The festival, which is presented on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion, will feature some 300 beers "from micro to macro"; wine and spirits; pub food; live music and dancing; and a Canadian Legion color presentation complete with pipers.
5-6: Festival of Winter Ales, Dover, England
The Deal, Dover, Sandwich & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 2010 Festival of Winter Ales, which will take place at Maison Dieu in Dover. About 75 winter and strong ales from small and independent UK breweries will be available (beer list TBA on the branch's website). Food will be served, there will be a CAMRA stand and tombola, and music will be performed on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Card-carrying CAMRA members will be admitted free.
5-6: Ilkley Beer Festival, Ilkley, England
The Ilkley & District Round Table presents the Ilkley Beer Festival, which will take place at King’s Hall in Ilkley. This year’s festival will offer an expanded selection of more than 130 beers from all over the UK, plus ciders, perries, and foreign bottled beers. There will be musical intermissions at all three sessions, and local butcher Lishman's will provide food. Proceeds from the festival will go to local charities.
5-14: San Francisco Beer Week, San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Beer Week is a ten-day celebration which includes more than 150 events throughout the Bay Area, including the Bistro Double IPA Festival, the Toronado Barleywine Festival, and Celebrator's Best of the West Beer Fest. Other events include beer dinners, cheese and beer pairings and other gourmet food events, "meet the brewer" evenings, homebrewing demonstrations, music, films, and a museum exhibition devoted to the history of Bay Area brewing.
5-6: Tewkesbury CAMRA Winter Ales Festival, Tewkesbury, England
The Tewkesbury Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 15th annual Tewkesbury CAMRA Winter Ales Festival, which will take place at George Watson Hall. Sixty or more winter-only ales, stouts, and porters will be available, along with local ciders and perries. Food will be served at all sessions, and admission to Friday's lunchtime session is free.
5: Winterfest, St. Paul, MN
The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild presents Winterfest, which will take place at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. The festival celebrates beer brewed in Minnesota, with an emphasis on winter warmers; all breweries and brew pubs represented are members of the Guild. There will also be appetizers and live jazz.
6: AleFest Columbus, Columbus, OH
AleFest Columbus will be held at the Alladin Shrine Center Ballroom. This is an afternoon event featuring more than 150 beers from over 50 breweries along with live entertainment; food, beer wearables and memorabilia for sale, a breweriana silent auction, and a homebrewing demonstration. The charity for this year's festival is Special Olympics Columbus Schools.
6: Alton Winter Beer Festival, Alton, England
The Alton Winter Beer Festival will be held at the Alton Maltings Centre, the home of the Harvest Grain Church. This is a one-day event, sponsored by Triple fff. Last year's event featured about 65 Real Ales (the 2010 beer list TBA on the festival website). Food will be available at both sessions.
6: Belgium Comes to West Chester, West Chester, PA
Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant location will host its fourth annual Belgium Comes to West Chester. This is an afternoon event with more than 30 Belgian-style beers from over 25 breweries, including several brewpubs in the Iron Hill chain.
6: Brazen Head "Cask Head" Ale Festival, Brooklyn, NY
The Brazen Head and Alex Hall present the 20th annual "Cask Head" Ale Festival, which will take place at The Brazen Head, located in Brooklyn. The festival will feature 30 rare cask-conditioned ales and lagers through the weekend, with up 12 in tap at any one time. Admission is free.
6: Central New York Brewfest, Syracuse, NY
The Central New York Brewfest will be held at the John Deere Horticultural Building at the Empire Expo Center. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with beer from around 60 breweries from the Northeast and Canada, along with food and live music.
6: Extreme Beerfest, Omaha, NE
Beertopia presents the Extreme Beerfest, which this year will take place at a new location, the Tip Top Ballroom in Omaha. More 100 extreme beers, most with an ABV above 7%, will be available, and brewery and distributor representatives will be on hand. Food will be available, and a free shuttle will run between Beertopia and the festival site.
6: Fond du Lac Brewfest, Fond du Lac, WI
The inaugural Fond du Lac Brewfest will take place at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds Expo Center. More than 50 Wisconsin microbrewed beers will be available, along with food from local restaurants; the Scotty Meyer Band will perform; there will be raffles for cash and prizes; and festival-goers will vote for the top breweries. The festival charity is the Solution Center of Fond du Lac.
10-12: Battersea Beer Festival, London, England
The South-West London Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 20th annual Battersea Beer Festival, which will take place in the Grand Hall of the Battersea Arts Centre in Lavender Hill. More than 160 Real Ales from across Britain will be available, plus beers from Belgium and Dutch breweries and ciders as well as ciders perries. Food, including traditional Polish specialties, will be served.
12-13: KLCC Microbrew Festival, Eugene, OR
The KLCC Microbrew Festival will take place in Eugene. Last year's festival, held at the Lane Events Center, featured more than 100 beers from over 50 breweries, many from Oregon and the West Coast; a homebrewing contest; the "people's choice" awards; and live music. The festival is a benefit for KLCC-FM, Eugene's public broadcasting station.
12-14: Max's Belgian Beer Fest 2010, Baltimore, MD
Max's Taphouse will host Belgian Beer Fest 2010. This three-day, day-long event will feature more than 120 Belgian and Belgian-style beers on draft, over 175 bottled Belgian beers, and a full Belgian-influenced food menu. Admission is free.
12: Traverse City Winter Microbrew & Music Festival, Traverse City, MI
Porterhouse Productions presents the inaugural Traverse City Winter Microbrew & Music Festival, which will take place at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Dozens of breweries will be represented at the festival, which kicks off Traverse City's weekend-long Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest. Entertainment will include three live bands, bonfires, free sleigh rides, and beer games. In addition, a Michigan Brewers Guild after-party will take place in the resort's tower.
13: Arizona Craft Brewers Guild Strong Beer Festival, Phoenix, AZ
The Arizona Craft Brewers Guild presents the tenth annual Strong Beer Festival, which will take place at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix. Although this afternoon event will feature strong beer, other styles will be available as well. There will also be food and live music. The festival venue is four blocks from the light rail station.
13: Best of Both World's Wine and Beer Tasting, Oak Creek, WI
The Best of Both World's Wine and Beer Tasting will be held at the Oak Creek Community Center. This is a Valentine's Day evening event featuring more than 30 Wisconsin craft-brewed beers and over 30 wines, along with live musical entertainment and light appetizers. Representatives from World Market will be on hand to provide information on the latest trends in the wine and craft beer industries.
13: Bock Fest, New Ulm, MN
August Schell Brewing Company will host Bockfest 2010 at the brewery in New Ulm. This is the town's annual Fasching celebration, which features bock beer, live music, a bonfire, grilled bratwurst and other food, and the traditional "Bock Hunt." The brewery's museum and gift shop will be open.
13: Brewbies Festival, Carlsbad, CA
Pizza Port will host the Brewbies Festival, a benefit for the Keep a Breast Foundation, at its Carlsbad Village location. Twenty hand-crafted beers from local breweries, including a special edition pink beer brewed at Pizza Port, will be served. Admission includes four six-ounce tasters and a raffle ticket.
13-14: Confluence 2010 Wine, Beer, Seafood & Music Festival, Gardinier, OR
The Confluence 2010 Wine, Beer, Seafood & Music Festival will be held at the old W.F. Jewett School building in Gardiner. The festival, which is featured by the Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce, will feature beverages from the area's breweries and wineries, craft and food vendors, live bands and solo performers, ice sculpting, and chef demonstrations. Free shuttle service is available between the festival site and Gardinier, Reedsport, and Winchester Bay.
13: Oconomowoc Beer and Food Festival, Oconomowoc, WI
The Oconomowoc Rotary Club presents the fourth annual Beer and Food Festival, which will take place at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center. Beer from a dozen Midwestern breweries will be served at this evening event, along with hors d’oeuvres, Italian and Mexican food, and "sweet treats." Proceeds will go to the Oconomowoc Rotary Charitable Foundation.
13: Liquorland New Zealand Beer Festival, Auckland, New Zealand
Liquorland presents the Auckland edition of the New Zealand Beer Festival, which will take place at the Ellerslie Racecouse. More than 20 breweries and 70 beers will be represented at the festival, featuring New Zealand-brewed beers along with "a few notable overseas visitors." There will be a range of international food and an eclectic lineup of live musical performers.
13-14 Toronado Barleywine Festival, San Francisco, CA
Toronado, a beer bar located in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, hosts an annual Barley Wine Festival. The event is part of San Francisco Beer Week. Past events have featured a wide selection of barleywine-style ales. Admission is free.
13: Zwickelmania, various locations, OR
The second annual Zwickelmania, the Oregon Brewers Guild Brewery Open House, will take place at participating breweries throughout Oregon. This is a free afternoon event that offers visitors a chance to tour Oregon breweries, meet the brewers, and sample their beers.
14: Celebrator Beer News 22nd Anniversary Party, Berkeley, CA
Celebrator Beer News will celebrate its 22nd anniversary at Trumer Brauerei in Berkeley, More than 30 breweries from the West Coast and beyond will be represented. Celebrator staff and writers, brewers, brewery owners and beer industry figures, including craft brewing pioneers, will be on hand. There will also be a silent auction for breweriana and other items. Proceeds will go to the California Small Brewers Association.
18-20: Fleetwood Beer Festival, Fleetwood, England
The Blackpool, Fylde and Ware Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Fleetwood Beer Festival, which will take place at the Marine Hall. Organizers expect to have 135 Real Ales, along with ciders, perries, and a World Bar with a range of beers not easily found in the UK. In addition, live bands will perform during the Friday and Saturday evening sessions.
18-20: Great British Northern Beer Festival, Rotherham, England
The Great British Northern Beer Festival will be held at Oakwood Technical College. Organizers bill this event as "the biggest hand pulled festival in the world", with more than 220 Real Ales served on hand pulls. Real Cider and Real Perry, foreign bottled beer, and wine will also be available. Twenty-eight bands are scheduled to perform on four stages, and two cafe bars will be serving food.
18-20: Liverpool Beer Festival, Liverpool, England
The Liverpool & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Liverpool Beer Festival 2010, which will take place at the Metropolitan Cathedral Crypt in Liverpool. There will be 200 or more Real Ales, plus ciders and perries, fruit wines, and soft drinks. Food will be served, and there will be live entertainment.
18-20: Luton Beer Festival, Luton, England
The South Bedfordshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, in association with Active Luton, presents the Luton Beer Festival, which will take place at the Hightown Sports and Arts Centre. Organizers expect to have about 80 Real Ales from independent breweries, most of them new to the festival, along with a bar dedicated to local breweries. There will also be food, live music (with quiet drinking areas), and a CAMRA products stand.
19-20: Beer Advocate Extreme Beer Fest, Boston, MA
In February, BeerAdvocate.com presents the Extreme Beer Fest, which takes place at The Cyclorama in Boston. This is a two-day event. Friday evening, "The Night of the Barrels," features wood-aged beers, guest speakers, and snacks. On Saturday, there are two tasting sessions, each with distinctive American craft-brewed beer.
19-20: Boston Spa Beer Festival, Boston Spa, England
The Boston Spa Beer Festival will be held at the Boston Spa Village Hall. This year's festival will feature more than 20 Yorkshire-brewed Real Ales, including a specially-brewed festival ale and a mystery ale for the "guess the ale" competition, as well as a selection of bottled lagers. The festival is a fund-raiser for the Village Hall and St. Mary's School.
19: Bow-Wow's and Brews, Grand Rapids, MI
C-SNIP, an organization dedicated to animal spaying and neutering, presents Bow-Wow's and Brews, which will take place at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art in Grand Rapids. This dog-friendly event (dogs admitted free) will feature craft-brewed beers, heavy
appetizers, beverages and snacks for dogs, and live and silent auctions for pet dishes and beer steins. Michelle and Scott from WOOD-AM will emcee the event. Proceeds will go to C-SNIP's subsidy fund.
appetizers, beverages and snacks for dogs, and live and silent auctions for pet dishes and beer steins. Michelle and Scott from WOOD-AM will emcee the event. Proceeds will go to C-SNIP's subsidy fund.
19-20: Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival, National Harbor, MD
Trigger Agency presents the Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival, which will take place at on the waterfront at National Harbor. There will be three sessions, each with more than 40 beers, wines and liquors, served on an all-you-can-taste basis, along with thousands of oysters plus other seafood and pit beef. There will also be live music, seminars, and exhibits.
19-20: Gosport Winterfest XVIII, Gosport, England
The Porthsmouth and South East Hants branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents Gosport Winterfest XVIII, which will take place at Thorngate Halls in Gosport. More than 80 Real Ales, Real Ciders, and bottled beers will be available, and there will be live entertainment at all three sessions.
20: Brewz Crewz Craft Beer Festival, Lakeland, FL
Downtown Lakeland presents the inaugural Brewz Crewz Craft Beer Festival, which will take place at Munn Park in downtown Lakeland. This is an evening event, with 50 or more craft-brewed beers, food, and live entertainment.
20: Firkin Rendezvous, Colorado Springs, CO
The Bristol Brewing Company will host its sixth annual Firkin Rendezvous. This is an afternoon event featuring more than 20 one-of-a-kind cask ales from Colorado-based microbreweries. Brewers will be on hand, and several brewpubs and restaurants will provide complimentary appetizers.
20: Food & Froth Fest, Milwaukee, WI
The Milwaukee Public Museum will host the 12th annual Food & Froth Fest. More than 200 beers from Midwest and beyond, including special and seasonal beers, will be available. There will also be appetizers from Milwaukee restaurants and caterers, music from local bands, and a prize raffle. VIP tickets, with early admission, appetizers, and entertainment, are available.
20: Hillsdale Brewfest, Portland OR
McMenamin's Hillsdale Brewery and Public House will host the 17th annual Hillsdale Brewfest. This is "The Battle of the Belt 2010," day-long competition among original ales from throughout the McMenamin's brewery chain. Food will be available. The winning beer, chosen by festival-goers, will represent McMenamin's at this year's Oregon Brewers Festival. Admission is free.
20: Light Rail Pub Crawl, Phoenix, AZ
The second annual Light Rail Pub Crawl by the Great Arizona Beer Festival is an afternoon event with scheduled stops at SunUp Brewing and Coach & Willie's in Phoenix and Gordon Biersch and Dave's Electric Brew Pub in Tempe. A raffle will be held at the end of the Pub Crawl, with two VIP tickets to the Great Arizona Beer Festival going to the grand prize winner.
21: Mid-Winter Brewfest, Milwaukee, WI
The Milwaukee Ale House will host the 13th Annual Mid Winter Brewfest. More than 25 breweries will be represented at this event. A portion of the proceeds will go to the MACC (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer) Fund.
21: Winter Warmer Festival, Cleveland, OH
The Rock Bottom Brewery in Cleveland will host its fourth annual Winter Warmer Festival. This is an afternoon event featuring "big beers of winter" from 12 local microbreweries. A buffet-style lunch will be served, there will be live music, and festival-goers will vote for the Peoples' Choice Big Beer award winner.
25-27: Stockton Ale & Arty Beer Festival, Stockton-on-Tees, England
The Cleveland Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Stockton Beer Festival, which will take place at The Arc in Stockton-on-Tees. About 70 Real Ales will be available along with lagers, ciders, and perries. Food will be served, and the entertainment will include comedy and blues rock bands.
22-27: Audley Football Club Beer Festival, Newcastle Under Lyme, England
The Audley Football Club will host Beer Festival Number Nine at the club's grounds on Old Road in Newcastle Under Lyme. Forty Real Ales and Real Ciders will be available, each at £2 a pint. Admission is free. The festival will be staffed by volunteers, with part of the proceeds going to local community groups.
22-28: Sacramento Beer Week, Sacramento, CA
During the last week of February, the Sacramento beer community will host of Sacramento Beer Week. More than 100 events are planned at venues throughout the Sacramento Valley. Events include beer and cider dinners, tastings, trivia contests, a "hophead scavenger hunt," and specially-priced pints.
25-27: Harrogate Charity Beer Festival, Harrogate, England
The Harrogate & District Round Table presents the 20th annual Harrogate Charity Beer Festival, which will take place at the Harrogate International Centre. Last year's festival featured more than 30 draft beers (this year's beer list TBA on the festival website), along with ciders, perries, bottled beers, and wines. All proceeds of the festival will go to local charities.
25-26: "Piglet 10" Beer Festival, London, England
The Leyton Orient Supporters' Club will host "Piglet 10," an annual beer festival that will be held at Matchroom Stadium in London. Organizers expect to have 30 or more beers from the Midlands and the North.
26-28: Belgian Beer Fest 2010, Melbourne, FL
Coasters Pub, located in Melbourne, will host its inaugural Belgian Beer Fest. This weekend-long event is billed as "the most extensive lineup of Belgian beer taps that Florida has ever seen." Thirty-five Belgian and Belgian-style beers, some of them "rare and eccentric," will be on tap, and there will be a range of specially-priced bottled beers as well.
26-27: Chappel Winter Beer Festival, Chappel, England
The Essex Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale present the inaugural Chappel Winter Beer Festival, which will take place in the Goods Shed at the at the East Anglia Railway Museum. There will be two afternoon and evening sessions on both Friday and Saturday, each with more than 60 beers. This is a smaller version of the Chappel Beer Festival held in September at the same venue.
26-27: Ropetackle Beer & Music Festival, Shoreham by Sea, England
The Ropetackle, Attila the Stockbroker, and the Dark Star Brewery present
the inaugural Ropetackle Beer & Music Festival, which will take place at the Ropetackle Centre in Shoreham by Sea. There will be three sessions, each with 25 beers from small independent breweries. Food, including fish and chips, will be served, and there will be live entertainment at both evening sessions.
the inaugural Ropetackle Beer & Music Festival, which will take place at the Ropetackle Centre in Shoreham by Sea. There will be three sessions, each with 25 beers from small independent breweries. Food, including fish and chips, will be served, and there will be live entertainment at both evening sessions.
26-27: Wrexham Beer Festival, Wrexham, Wales
The Chester and South Clwyd Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale present the Wrexham Beer Festival, which will take place at Gresford Colliery Club on the outskirts of town. Organizers expect to have about 32 beers from local breweries and from around the UK, along with six ciders and perries. There will also be food, live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, the Wales v. France rugby match on television Friday evening, and a skittle alley.
25-27: Bradford Beer Festival, Saltaire, England
The Bradford Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Bradford Beer Festival, which will take place at Victoria Hall in Saltaire. This year's festival will feature more than 100 Real Ales, along with bottled and international beers, ciders, and fruit wines. There will be live entertainment Friday evening, and at both Saturday sessions; and hot and cold food will be served throughout the festival.
25- March 27: Starkbierzeit, Munich, Germany
Starkbierzeit, which is German for "strong beer season," will take place at various locations in Munich. A number of breweries (the city's website has links to their websites) carry on the Lenten tradition of brewing doppelbocks and other strong beers. The first barrel will be tapped at the Paulaner Wirtshaus, where the annual celebration began, and the Loewenbraeukeller will offer a program of traditional Bavarian entertainment.
26: Art of Beer, Niagara Falls, NY
The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center will host its fourth annual Art of Beer. This evening event, featuring beer from local microbreweries, food, and live music, is the center's premier fund-raising event. More than 15 breweries and restaurants from western New York State were on hand for last year's festival, and organizers hope to expand the lineup this year. There will also be an art sale and auction and a prize raffle.
26: 93 ROCK Best Damn Brew Review, Hallandale Beach, FL
93 ROCK presents The Best Damn Brew Review, which will take place at Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino. This rain-or-shine evening event will feature more than 200 craft-brewed beers from around the world, food from local restaurants, and three bands performing on the Budweiser Stage. There will be plenty of free parking.
26: Lewes Football Club Beer Festival, Lewes, England
The Rook Inn will host the Lewes Football Club's inaugural beer festival. This is a Friday evening fund-raising event with about 20 Real Ales, some of them brewed in the Lewes area (Lewes is one of the few places in Britain with 100 percent Real Ale in its pubs). Gourmet food will be served at the festival.
26-28: World of Beers, Phoenix, AZ
Pro's Ranch Markets presents World of Beers, which will take place at Margaret T. Hance Park in Phoenix. The event is part of Phoenix Sister Cities Worldfest 2010, and will feature more than 50 beers and four ciders along with games and entertainment. Admission is free.
27-March 6: Barleywine Bacchanal, Seattle, WA
The Beveridge Place Pub, located in Seattle, will host its seventh annual Barleywine Bacchanal. This eight-day event will feature more than 40 barleywine-style ales on tap, including three-year vertical tastings on featured nights.
27: Beats, Brews and BBQ, Philadelphia, PA
The World Beat Cafe, located in Philadelphia, will host the sixth annual Beats, Brews and BBQ. This festival brings together the offerings of 30 local and regional breweries, with an added emphasis this year on hard-to-find beers. Wine and spirits will also be available. The Bob Lowery Band will perform, and Tommy Gunns American Barbeque will prepare food that pairs with the beer. VIP tickets, with early admission, are available.
27: Bigfork Brewfest, Bigfork, MT
The inaugural Bigfork Brewfest will be held at Electric Avenue, in front of the Garden Bar. This afternoon event will feature beer from eight Montana breweries. Proceeds will be donated to local non-profits and charities.
27: Bock Fest, Middletown, WI
The Capital Brewery will host its annual celebration for the release of its Blonde Doppelbock. The festivities including Kirby going on the roof and throwing smoked chub into the crowd below.
27: Boulder Sour Beer Fest, Boulder, CO
Avery Brewing Company will host the inaugural Boulder Sour Beer Fest. It will take place in the Barrel-Aging Room at The Avery Tap Room. Thirty to 35 sour ales, wild ales, and "brett beers" from across the the United States, and a few from Europe, will be available for tasting. Only 400 tickets will be sold for this event.
27: Charleston Brewvival, North Charleston, SC
Coast Brewing and the Charleston Beer Exchange present the Charleston Brewvival, which will take place at Coast Brewing in North Charleston. Thirty breweries from across the country will be represented. Greg Koch, the CEO and co-founder of Stone Brewing Company, will be the special guest speaker. Food vendors will be on hand, and there will be live music.
27: Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival, Grand Rapids, MI
In February, the Michigan Brewers Guild presents the annual Winter Beer Festival, which takes place at Fifth Third Ballpark in Grand Rapids. This is an outdoor event, held "snow, rain or shine." It attracts more than 40 Michigan breweries and specializes in barrel-aged, cask, and "big" beers. Hot food will be served, and there will be live music.
27: Stoudt Winterfest, Adamstown, PA
Stoudts Brewing Company will host its annual Winterfest at the brewery's Biergarten. In addition to Stoudts, participating breweries include Lancaster Brewing, Yards, Allagash, Great Divide, Smuttynose, and 21st Amendment. Octavia and the EarthBlood Blues Band will perform.
27: West Palm Beach Beer Festival, West Palm Beach, FL
FloridaBeerFestivals.com presents the West Palm Beach Beer Festival, which will take place at CityPlace in front of Macy's. More than 100 beers from around the world will be available; and there will be live entertainment, free food samples from area restaurants, and free soft drinks and bottled water.
27: Winter Beer Carnival, Atlanta, GA
Premier Events presents the inaugural Winter Beer Carnival, which will take place at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. This is an indoor/outdoor afternoon event with a carnival theme. In addition to more than 60 beers (including some winter warmers), there will be midway games, DJs, live entertainment, and food. VIP tickets, with early admission, are available.
28: Beers to You and Gourmet Too!, Waterloo, IA
The Friends of the Gallagher-Bluedorn will host Beers to You and Gourmet Too! at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in Waterloo. This is a food and beer pairing event featuring more than 40 import, craft and specialty beers, paired with gourmet small-plate offerings from local chefs and restaurants. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to meet and hear from a brewmaster.