June 2012 Events
May 17-2: Czech Beer Festival, Prague, Czech Republic
The fifth annual Czech Beer Festival will be held at the Pva Letnany Exhibition Centre in Prague. The festival, which organizers describe as "the largest gastronomic event in the Czech Republic," will feature more than 70 Czech beer served in custom-made glass mugs; a wide range of food from pork and beef butchers, delicatessens, and confectioners; servers dressed in traditional Czech folk costumes; and live music on stage in three tents.
1-2: Keswick Beer Festival, Keswick, England
The Keswick Rugby Club and Keswick Lions Club present the 2012 Keswick Beer Festival, which will take place at the Rugby Club. Last year's festival featured more than 250 beers and ciders; performances by six live bands; and food, including sausage baguettes, beef burgers, pork rolls and chicken curries. Proceeds will go to the Rugby Club and Lions Club charities.
1-10: Philly Beer Week, Philadelphia, PA
Philly Beer Week will take place at numerous locations in and around Philadelphia. Recent Beer Weeks have included a number of signature events, including the Opening Tap; Smoke 'Em If Yous Got 'Em, a beer and barbecue festival; Forum of the Gods, a panel discussion with the top names in beer culture; the Jackson Tutored Tastings; and Zythos America. In addition, there were hundreds of other events including beer dinners, special tastings, releases, and meet-the-brewer evenings.
1-2: Two Brothers Hop Juice Festival, Aurora, IL
Two Brothers Brewing presents the fourth annual Hop Juice Festival, which will be held at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. The festival, which has been expanded to two days, will feature beer from Two Brothers and a number of guest breweries, live entertainment, food and merchandise vendors, and a homebrew competition. VIP tickets, with exclusive access to the Two Brothers Tap House, bar, and patio, finger foods, and a special dinner buffet, are available.
2: Davis Beerfest, Davis, CA
The sixth annual Davis Beerfest will be held at the The Sudwerk Brewery in Davis. Recent editions of this festival were afternoon events with 100 beers from more than 30 breweries, tours of the brewery, appearances by local brewers, live music, food, and a raffle. All proceeds will go to the Citizens Who Care Foundation.
2: Milwaukee Beer Barons World of Beer Festival, Menomonee Falls, WI
The Milwaukee Beer Barons present the ninth annual World of Beer Festival, which will take place at Schwabenhof Pavillion in Menomonee Falls. This afternoon event, which organizers describe as "the best beer festival you never heard of," features more than 200 beers from over 80 breweries; a homebrewing demonstration; beer memorabilia on display, a guest speaker; and live music. The festival is a benefit for a number of brewing-related organizations. This festival sold out last year.
2: Mountain Brewers Festival, Idaho Falls, ID
The North American Brewers Association presents the 18th annual Mountain Brewers Festival, which will take place at Sandy Downs Racecourse in Idaho Falls. The rain-or-shine event, held "under the big top," is described as "one of the nation's premier judging festivals." Recent editions of this festival have featured beer from about 80 breweries, along with a food court and live music.
8-9: SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Washington, DC
The Brewers Association presents the 2012 edition of SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, which will take place at the National Building Museum. This event will feature more than 120 craft beers from 65 independent breweries, with brewery owners and brewmasters on hand; a reception-style presentation of sweet and savory foods; and directed tasted salons with the top names in beer and food. This event is likely to sell out.
8-12: Mondial de la Biere, Montreal, QC, Canada
The 19th annual Mondial de la Biere returns to Place Bonaventure and the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure in downtown Montreal. Organizers expect to have about 500 beers from around the world, including hard-to-find beers and with beers specially brewed for the festival; Quebec cider and other food specialties from the province; the Mbeer series of conferences and seminars; and a Silent Dance Esplanade.
9: Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival, Richmond, VA
Trigger Agency, LLC, presents the Richmond stop on the Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival tour, which will take place at Exhibition Hall in the Richmond Raceway Complex. This afternoon event will feature unlimited sampling of 60 beers and 40 bourbons; live rock, blues, and bluegrass music; barbecue, Southern specialties, and other foods; and seminars led by master distillers, brewmasters, and pit masters. VIP tickets, with early admission, an expanded selection of bacon dishes, and special stage access, are available.
9: Great Northern Beer Festival, Eagle River, WI
The Great Northern Beer Festival will be held at Festival Grounds at Hi-Pines Campground in Eagle River. Recent editions of this festival have been afternoon events with beer from around 30 Wisconsin and Upper Midwest breweries; homebrew from the Northwoods LUSH Inc., Club; and food and snacks. Proceeds will benefit local charities.
9: Orange County BBQ Festival, Costa Mesa, CA
The fourth annual Orange County BBQ Festival will be held at the Orange County Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa. Local breweries will be serving samples of their beer. The festivities will also include one of California's largest barbecue contests, with "People's Choice" voting; live music and other entertainment; a huge Kid Zone; a car show; a rib-eating contest; and a "Mr. BBQ" beauty pageant.
14-16: Braintree Real Ale Festival, Braintree, England
The Braintree Lions Club and the North West Essex Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale present the eighth annual Braintree Real Ale Festival, which will take place at the Braintree Institute. Last year's festival featured more than 50 Real Ales, ciders, and perries, with an emphasis on Essex breweries and a special festival ale. The festival is a fund-raiser for charity.
14-16: Tynedale Beer Festival, Corbridge, England
The Tynedale Lions Club and the Tynedale Rugby Football Club present the 2012 Tynedale Beer Festival, which will take place at the football club's grounds in Corbridge. Organizers expect to have around 110 beers and ciders, The festivities will also include food, along with live music at all sessions.
15-16: Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival, National Harbor, MD
Trigger Agency, LLC, presents the National Harbor stop on the Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival tour, which will take place under tents at National Harbor. Friday evening's "VIP Whole Hog Session" will feature a barbecue dinner, unlimited bourbon and beer tasting, and four pit masters on hand. On Saturday afternoon, the regular session will feature unlimited sampling of 60 beers and 40 bourbons; live rock and blues music; barbecue, Southern specialties, and other foods; and seminars led by master distillers, brewmasters, and pit masters. Saturday VIP tickets, with early admission, and all-session "Grand Poobah" tickets, are available.
15-16: Sisters Wine and Brew Festival, Sisters, OR
The 2012 Sisters Wine and Brew Festival will be held downtown on the Village Green. This two-day event will feature wines and beers of the Pacific Northwest. The festivities will also include live music, wine and beer pairing classes, cooking demonstrations, art vendors, and food from local restaurants and purveyors. Admission is free.
16-17 (provisional): Beer in the Gibberd Garden, Old Harlow, England
The Herts & Essex Borders Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, along with the Gibberd Garden Trust, present the fifth annual Beer in the Gibberd Garden. This daytime event will feature more than 25 beers and ciders from local independent breweries. Admission to the festival includes entry to the garden. Sunday is Family Fun Day, with free children's entertainment and a treasure hunt.
16: Silverton Rockin' Brews, Silverton, CO
The 2012 Rockin' Brews Festival will be held in the baseball stadium in the small mountain town of Silverton. This afternoon event will feature beer from local craft breweries (12 were represented at last year's festival), along with distilled spirits, from Colorado's western slope, and music from bands from throughout the region.
17-23: Ohio Brew Week Festival, Athens, OH
The seventh annual Ohio Brew Week Festival will take place at various locations in around Athens. This year's festival, which has been moved from July to June, is a celebration of Ohio's craft brewing industry with more than 100 beers from the state's microbreweries. More than 20 establishments took part past year in events that included a "brew-b-q" cook-off, a brewers' gourmet feast, the "brew choo-choo," special tastings, and a homebrewing competition.
22: Summer Brewfest, Syracuse, NY
Galaxy Events, the producers of A Taste of Syracuse, presents the inaugural Summer Brewfest, which will take place in Syracuse's Clinton Square. This evening event will feature a wide variety of local and international microbrewed beers, with brewery representatives in attendance. Area musicians are scheduled to perform, and local food will be available.
23: Brew Bern Beer Fest, New Bern, NC
Beer Army presents the third annual Brew Bern Beer Fest, which will take place at the Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern. Last year's festival was an afternoon/evening event with more than 100 breweries from over 40 breweries, most of them American craft breweries. VIP tickets, with early admission, are available. Last year's festival charities were the Museum of the Marine and the North Carolina Brewers Guild.
23-24: Colorado Brewers' Festival, Fort Collins, CO
The Fort Collins Downtown Business Association presents the 23rd annual Colorado Brewers' Festival, which take place in the city's historic Old Town district. This afternoon event will feature beer an all-Colorado lineup of 40 breweries, including several from the immediate area. There will be a variety of live music both days of the festival.
23-24: Great European Beerfest, Pittsburgh, PA
The 16th annual Great European Beerfest will be held at the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium in Pittsburgh. This two-day event, which organizers describe as America's "only all-European Beerfest," features about 135 beers, including 40 from Belgium. Importers' representatives will be on hand, and there will be homemade food, entertainment, and a drawing for prizes at all three sessions.
23-24: Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest, Leesburg, VA
The High Road, Inc., presents the fifth annual Northern Virginia Summer BrewFest, which will take place at Morven Park in Leesburg. This two-day event will feature beer from more than 50 American breweries, a variety of food, and music by local and regional bands.
29-July 1: Beer Passion Weekend, Antwerp, Belgium
Beer Passion magazine presents Beer Passion Weekend, which will take place at Groenplaats in downtown Antwerp. This three-day event will feature around 200 beers, most of them brewed in Flanders, along with beer cuisine and musical entertainment. The Beer Passion magazine website is entirely in Dutch.
29-July 1: Billericay Lions Beer Festival, Billericay, England
The Lions Club of Billericay presents the third annual Billericay Beer Festival, which will take place on the grounds of the Billericay Football Club. Last year's festival featured more than 40 Real Ales, ciders, and perries, along with a hog roast all weekend. All profits will be donated to worthy causes.
30: Clifford Champion Beer Festival, Clifford, England
The third annual Clifford Champion Beer Festival will be held at Clifford Village Hall. Last year's festival featured more than 20 beers, many of them from Yorkshire breweries, including several special festival ales, along with traditional ciders and wine. The festivities also include live entertainment, dancing, and hot and cold food.
30: Hop N' Barley Beer Festival, Scotts Valley, CA
The 2012 Hop N' Barley Beer Festival will be held at Skypark in Scotts Valley. This afternoon event, described as Santa Cruz County's original beer festival, will feature more than 100 beers, music by five local bands, bocce ball, food for purchase, and a children's area. The park is dog-friendly, and admission is free for those not tasting beer. Proceeds will go to the Community Housing Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.
30: New England Brewfest, Lincoln, NH
The eighth annual New England Brewfest will be held at the Lincoln Village Shops in Lincoln. This rain-or-shine, afternoon./evening event will feature beer from 20 of New England's leading microbreweries, live entertainment, educational programs, food, and merchandise vendors.
TBA: Founders Fest, Grand Rapids, MI
Founders Brewing Company presents the fifth annual Founders Fest, which will take place in downtown Grand Rapids. Recent editions of this festival were outdoor daytime beer and music festivals with Founders beer, including Founders Fest Wheat; live music; food vendors; and a "Local Artists Row" showcasing area artists and designers.