March 2012 Events
February 24-4: Sacramento Beer Week, Sacramento, CA
The Sacramento beer community will host the third annual Sacramento Beer Week. There will be more than 400 events at venues throughout the Sacramento Valley, highlighted by the Capital Beerfest at Cal Expo. Other events include beer dinners, tastings, trivia contests, a "hophead scavenger hunt," and specially-priced pints.
February 29-3: Rotherham Real Ale & Music Festival, Rotherham, England
The 20th annual Rotherham Real Ale & Music Festival, also known as the White Rose Festival, will take place at the MAGNA Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham. The theme for this year's festival is "Steel," celebrating Rotherham's steel industry. More than 200 Real Ales will be served on hand pulls at seven different locations; and there will also be Real Cider and wine. The festivities will also include food and a variety of live entertainers. Proceeds will go to Rotherham Hospice, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, Weston Park Hospital and Magna Trust.
1-3: CAMRA Wigan Beer Festival, Wigan, England
The Wigan Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 25th annual CAMRA Wigan Beer Festival, which will take place at the Robin Park Indoor Sports Centre. Organizers expect to have more than 80 Real Ales, ciders, perries, and foreign beers. There will be live entertainment each day, along with games and a tombola. CAMRA members will be admitted free.
1-3: Royal Blenheim Celtic Beer Festival, Oxford, England
The Royal Blenheim, the White Horse Brewery's first public house, will host a Celtic Beer Festival. This three-day event, which coincides with the saint's days of the patron saints of Wales and Cornwall, will feature around 30 ales. Twenty ales, half from gravity and half from pump, will be available throughout the festival. The regular pub menu will be supplemented by Welsh dishes and Cornish pasties.
2-4: Bockfest, Cincinnati, OH
The 2012 edition of Bockfest, the oldest and largest in the United States, will be held in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine and central business districts. This weekend event, which celebrates the city's brewing heritage and the coming of spring, starts with a parade on Friday evening that goes from Arnold's Bar & Grill to Bockfest Hall where the ceremonial first keg is blessed. The Hall, which will be open throughout the weekend, will feature live entertainment, food, historic walking tours, authors and breweriana, a homebrew competition, Continental Sunday celebrations and plenty of bock beer.
2: Glass City Beer Fest, Toledo, OH
The sixth annual Glass City Brew Fest will be held at the Erie Street Market in downtown Toledo. This evening event will feature more than 100 beers from over 25 microbreweries. Food will be available, and there will be live music. All proceeds will go to The Arc of Lucas County and the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation.
2-3: Horsforth Beer Festival, Horsforth, England
The fourth annual Horsforth Beer Festival will be held at St Margaret's Church in Horsforth. More than 60 draft beers will be available, along with 20 draft ciders and perries. Home-cooked food will be served, and there will be live entertainment.
2-3: Mazer Cup Commercial and Home Mead Competition, Boulder, CO
GotMead.com presents the 2012 Mazer Cup International Commercial and Home Mead Competition, which will take place at the Outlook Hotel in Boulder. The event will feature competitions for both professional meaderies and home mead enthusiasts from around the world, along with (new this year) a Public Pour.
3-4: Alvinne Craft Beer Festival, Avelgem, Belgium
Picobrewery Alvinne will host the fifth annual Alvinne Craft Beer Festival. The festival, described as a "yearly discovery of some of the world's most innovative microbreweries," will feature beer from 15 invited breweries from Belgium and other European countries.
3: Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival, Atlanta, GA
Trigger Agency, LLC, presents the first-ever Atlanta stop on the Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival tour. It will take place "under the big tents" at Atlantic Station. This afternoon event 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. VIP tickets, with early admission, an expanded selection of bacon dishes, and special stage access, are available.
3: Day of the Living Ales, Chicago, IL
The Chicago Beer Society presents the eighth annual Day of the Living Ales, which will take place at Goose Island Wrigleyville. The festival, which organizers describe as "a walk-around real ale tasting," will consist of afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with more than 40 cask-conditioned ales from Chicagoland breweries and invited guests; meats, cheeses, and other appetizers; and voting for the Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland.
3: FestivAle, St. Louis, MO
The Gateway Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation presents the fourth annual FestivAle, which will take place at Factory STL in St. Louis. This evening event, which is a benefit for the CFF, will be "a casual evening of beer tasting" featuring the local beers of the St. Louis region. VIP tickets, which include a pre-event reception and beer class, are available.
3: Florida Brewers Guild Beerfest, Tampa, FL
The Florida Brewers Guild presents the 2012 Beerfest, which will take place in Tampa's historic Centro Ybor. This afternoon rain-or-shine event will feature more than 100 Florida-brewed craft beers. This festival is expected to sell out.
3: Great Arizona Beer Festival, Tempe, AZ
AZCentral.com presents the 2012 Great Arizona Beer Festival, which will take place at Tempe Beach Park. This afternoon event will feature more than 200 craft beers which, according to organizers, is a larger selection than any beer festival in the Southwest. VIP tickets, with early admission, catered food, and casino games, are available. All proceeds will benefit Sun Sounds of Arizona.
3-5: Hard Liver Barleywine Fest, Seattle, WA
Brouwer's Cafe, a beer bar located in Seattle, will host the tenth annual Hard LIver Barleywine Fest. This all-day, three-day will feature more than 60 barleywine-style ales, most of them brewed in Washington State and the West.
3: Heavy Seas Real Ale and BBQ Festival, Halethorpe, MD
Clipper City Brewery, the home of Heavy Seas beer, will host the 2012 Heavy Seas Real Ale and BBQ Festival. This afternoon event will feature a dozen cask- and firkin-conditioned Heavy Seas ales; barbecue, prepared in a variety of styles; live music; and behind-the-scenes brewery access.
3: NYC American Craft Beer Festival, New York, NY
The Hand Crafted Tasting Company presents the inaugural NYC American Craft Beer Festival, which will take place at the Lexington Avenue Armory in Manhattan. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with beer from 75 American craft breweries, many with representatives on hand; beer-related seminars; and a food court. VIP tickets, with early admission, gourmet finger foods, and beer experts in attendance, are available.
3: Philly Craft Beer Festival, Philadelphia, PA
Starfish Junction Productions presents the sixth annual Philly Craft Beer Festival, which will take place under heated tents on the former Naval Airstrip, just blocks from the previous cruise terminal location. This year's festival will be an afternoon event featuring more than 100 beers from 50 breweries. Food will be available for purchase. Proceeds will go to the Committee to Benefit the Children. VIP tickets, with early admission, brewers in attendance, and a special selection of beers, are available.
5: Kate the Great Release, Portsmouth, NH
The Portsmouth Brewery will host its annual release of Kate the Great, a Russian imperial stout. Doors will open at 11 pm, and Kate the Great will be served until it runs out. Bottled Kate the Great will be distributed via scratch tickets; and this year's bottles will be smaller in order to make it available to more people.
7-10: Leicester Beer Festival, Leicester, England
The Leicester Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 2012 Leicester Beer Festival, which will take place at the Charotar Patidar Samaj. This year's festival, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens's birth, will feature more than 220 beers, with about 85 coming from breweries within a 25-mile radius of Leicester City Centre, along with 35 ciders and perries. The festival will also feature curries, pork pies, and other English food.
7-9: London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival, London, England
The North London Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 2012 London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival, which will take place at the Camden Centre, opposite St Pancras Station in London. This event, which is staffed by CAMRA volunteers, will feature more than 80 beers and ciders from the U.K., along with a selection of imported beers. Food will be served, and admission to the Wednesday and Thursday afternoon sessions is free.
8-10: Sussex Beer Festival, Hove, England
The Sussex Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale present the 22nd annual Sussex Beer Festival, which will take place at Hove Centre. Organizers expect to have more than 230 traditional beers, along with ciders, perries, country wines, and British and foreign bottled beers. There will be live entertainment on Saturday night, and hot and cold food will be available at all times. Proceeds will be donated to charity.
9: Art of Beer, Niagara Falls, NY
The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center will host the sixth annual Art of Beer, which is the center's premier fund-raising event. This evening event has been expanded to include two floors filled with western New York’s microbrews. The festivities will also include local food vendors, live music, prize raffles, and three beer memorabilia collections.
9-11: Barcelona Beer Festival, Barcelona, Spain
The Associacio per la Cultura de la Cervesa Artesana presents the 2012 Barcelona Beer Festival, which will be held at the Convent Sant Agusti. Organizers expect to have more than 100 draft beers on 36 taps, half from local craft beer movement and half from foreign brewers, at this three-day event.
9-10: Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival, Hitchin, England
The North Hertfordshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 2012 Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival, which will take place at Town Hall. More than 70 cask ales will be available, along with ciders, perries, and foreign bottled beer.
10: Beertopia, Fort Mill, SC
Grapevine, a retail store and wine bar located in Fort Mill, will host the fourth annual Beertopia. This afternoon event will feature more than 120 beers from at least 40 different breweries; live entertainment by U-Phonik; and food, including Carolina barbecue, sushi, and bratwurst. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Pints for Prostates. This event sold out last year.
10: Brew-Ski Festival, Harbor Springs, MI
Boyne Highlands, a resort located in Harbor Springs, will host the third annual Brew-Ski Festival. Last year's festival was an afternoon event, held under a tent at the base of the ski slopes. It featured more than 100 craft-brewed beers, along with bratwurst, a rail jam, and live entertainment; and, in the evening, a party with live music in the Zoo Bar.
10: Brew Your Cask Off, Atlanta, GA
SweetWater Brewery, located in Atlanta, presents the 2012 edition of Brew Your Cask Off. This is an evening event. The brewery has invited 80 special guests--including homebrewers and local celebrities--to create a one-of-a-kind cask ale under the direction of SweetWater's brewers. These ales, along with SweetWater's regular lineup of beers, will be served at the festival; the brewery will be open for tours; and food will be available.
10: Brewfest, Fort Wayne, IN
The 2012 Brewfest will take place at the Masonic Hall, a historic building in Fort Wayne. This afternoon event will feature beer from several Midwest breweries, along with a judged homebrew competition and a silent auction.
10: Kona Brewers Festival, Kailua-Kona, HI
The 17th annual Kona Brewers Festival will be held at the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel on the shores of Kailua Bay. This afternoon outdoor event, which is made possible by the Bill Healy Foundation, will feature 70 beers, food prepared by 30 Island chefs, and live entertainment. The festival benefits local cultural and environmental organizations.
10: SLO Xtreme Beer Fest, San Luis Obispo, CA
The Vintage Bicycle Association of California presents the 2012 SLO Xtreme Beer Fest, which will take place at Vets Hall in San Luis Obispo. This afternoon event will feature sour, extra hoppy, high alcohol, barrel-aged, and other "extreme" beers from more than 30 breweries. Food will be available, and there will be an educational seminar. Proceeds from the festival will help support bells4bikes and Pints for Prostates.
10: Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival, Jackson, MI
The second annual Southern Michigan Winter Beer Festival will be held at the American 1 Events Center in Jackson. This afternoon event, which will take place in an expanded indoor/outdoor venue on the Jackson County Fairgrounds, will feature more than 150 beers, with brewery and distributor representatives on hand. The festivities will also include a homebrewing demonstration; bratwurst, pretzels, and other food items; and premium coffee.
10: Spring Craft Beer Festival, Uniondale, NY
Starfish Junction Productions presents the sixth annual Spring Craft Beer Festival, which will take place at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This event will consist of afternoon and evening sessions, each featuring a beer garden with more than 100 beers from over 50 craft breweries from around the country, including beer brewed on Long Island. Food will be available, and there will be special demonstrations and other entertainment. The festival charities are the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund.Your Name: Joe Chierchie
15: Bluffton Bold Beer Bash, Bluffton, SC
Bear Foot Sports presents the Bluffton Bold Beer Bash, which will take place at Old Myrtle's Restaurant in downtown Bluffton. This Thursday evening event, which organizers describe as a "high gravity" beer sampling, will feature more than 40 strong (over 7% ABV) craft and imported beers, along with food pairings provided by Reeves Outdoor Catering and live music from "Neil & Bob." Part of the proceeds will benefit the Palmetto Aninal League.
15-17: Bristol Beer Festival, Bristol, England
The Bristol & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 15th annual Bristol Beer Festival, which will take place at the Brunel Passenger Shed. This year's festival will feature around 130 Real Ales, along with a range of ciders and perries. Food will be available at all sessions.
15-17: Burton Beer Festival, Burton-on-Trent, England
The Burton & South Derbyshire Branch of the Burton Beer Festival presents the 33rd annual Burton Beer Festival, which will take place at Town Hall in Burton-on-Trent. Organizers expect to have a large selection of beers from around the country (recent festivals have featured more than 100), along with Real Ciders, perries, and country wines. There will be live entertainment on Friday and Saturday, hot and cold food will be available, and a selection of local traders will be on hand during daytime sessions.
16-17: Booze on the Ouse," St Neots, England
The Huntingdon Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the 36th annual "Booze on the Ouse," the St Neots Beer Festival, which will take place at the Priory Centre in St Neots. Last year's festival featured around 55 Real Ales over the duration of the festival, along with Real Cider and bottled foreign beer; cold food at all sessions; a CAMRA merchandise stand; and an "Everyone's a Winner" tombola.
16-17: Winchester Real Ale and Cider Festival, Winchester, England
The Winchester Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the Winchester Real Ale and Cider Festival, which will take place at the Winchester Guildhall. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions both days, each with 75 Real Ales, ciders, perries, and foreign bottled beers. Hot and cold food will be served, and there will be live entertainment on Friday evening and at both Saturday sessions.
22-23: Beer Fest, St. John's, NL, Canada
The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation presents the fourth annual Beer Fest, which will take place at the St. John's Convention Centre. Last year's festival was a two-evening event featuring 70 beers and a variety of ciders, 30 percent of which are new to the market, served in a beer garden atmosphere. The festivities also included interactive demonstrations, food, and live music.
23-24: Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival, Timonium, MD
Trigger Agency, LLC, presents the Timonium stop on the Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue Festival tour. It will take place this year in a new venue, the Cow Palace on the Timonium Fairgrounds. 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.
24: MarchFest, Nelson, New Zealand
The 2012 MarchFest, a celebration of craft beers, regional wines, slow food, and eclectic music, will be held at Nelson's Founders Heritage Park. This year's festival theme is "Special Ingredients," and participating breweries have been asked to ignore the Bavarian Beer Purity Law. Ten local microbreweries will create special festival beers. There will also be a selection of ciders and wines. The festivities will also include food, live entertainment, and an interactive are with beer education.
22-24: MOSI Real Ale & Cider Festival, Manchester, England
The Trafford and Hulme Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the second annual MOSI Real Ale & Cider Festival, which will take place in Power Hall at the Manchester Museum Of Science and Industry (MOSI). The festival, which has been expanded to include an extra session, will feature 56 Real Ales, most of them from breweries in Greater Manchester and the rest from Cumbria, along with a selection of traditional foreign beers. The festivities will also include food, live entertainment, and an opportunity to wander through the museum's collection. Proceeds from the festival will help bring the museum's collection of steam engines back to life.
24: Spring Craft Beer Festival, Uniondale, NY
Starfish Junction Productions presents the sixth annual Spring Craft Beer Festival, which will take place at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This event will consist of afternoon and evening sessions. Each will feature a beer garden with more than 100 beers from over 50 craft breweries from around the country, including beer brewed on Long Island. There will also be craft beer infused fare, and giveaways from the beer garden sponsor. Last year's festival sold out.
28-31: New England Real Ale Exhibition (NERAX), Somerville, MA
The Cask-Conditioned Ale Support Campaign (CASC) presents the 16th annual New England Real Ale Exhibition (NERAX), which will take place at the George Dilboy VFW Post in Somerville. There will be four tasting sessions in a pub-like atmosphere; and organizers expect to have around 90 cask-conditioned ales, comprised of over 50 beers from England, Scotland, and Wales, and about 40 American beers, mostly from New England. The festivities will also include musical entertainment and barbecue from Redbones.
29-31: Darlington Spring Thing Beer Festival, Darlington, England
The Darlington Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale presents the annual 26th Darlington Spring Thing Beer Festival, which will take place at East Hall, The Arts Centre. This event, described as a "festival within a festival," will feature 55 beers, including ciders and perries, along with folk music, sing-arounds, and workshops. Food will be available, and admission is free.
30-31: Atlantic City Beer Festival, Atlantic City, NJ
The 2012 Atlantic City Beer Festival, formerly known as The Celebration of the Suds, will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center. There will be tasting sessions on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening, each with beer from 75 breweries from around the world. There will also be food, live music, entertainment, and guest speakers. Last year's festival sold out.
30: From the Barrel, Santa Margarita, CA
Firestone Walker Brewing Company and the historic Santa Margarita Ranch present From the Barrel, which will take place at the ranch. This evening event, which celebrates the end of Prohibition (20s and 30s attire is encouraged), will feature a selection of barrel-aged beers from Firestone Walker and five other breweries, along with barrel-aged bourbons and ports. Several local restaurants will serve tapas, and the Tipsy Gypsies will provide musical entertainment.
30-31: Hop Scotch Spring Beer & Scotch Festival, Seattle, WA
Bold Hat Productions presents the 2012 Hop Scotch Spring Beer and Scotch Festival, which will take place at the Fremont Studios in Seattle. This indoor event will feature more than 80 beverages, including beer, wine, Scotch, and tequila; spirits samplers; and a Scotch tasting seminar led by a Master of Whisky. Hop Scotch is a benefit for the Seattle International Film Festival.
30-31: Myrtle Beach Beer Festival, Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Beer Festivals present the fourth annual Myrtle Beach Beer Festival, which will take place at Valor Park in the Market Common. Organizers expect to have more than 120 beers, with representatives from over 20 breweries expected to attend. The festivities will also include live entertainment and a variety of vendors. Admission is free, but attendees must buy a sampling glass. There will also be a Rare Beer Event on the Thursday before the festival itself at the Myrtle Beach Train Depot.
31: Beer for Beasts, Brooklyn, NY
BeerAdvocate and Sixpoint present the second annual Beer for Beasts, which will take place at the Bell House in Brooklyn.There will be afternoon and evening sessions, each with a wide variety of beers from Brooklyn's Sixpoint Brewery (there were 30 small-batch beers last year), including a spontaneously fermented brew with indigenous yeasts. The festivities will also feature live entertainment and food trucks.
31: Chicago Beer Festival, Chicago, IL
Drink Eat Play presents the inaugural Chicago Beer Festival, which will take place at Union Station. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with beer from dozens of domestic and international breweries, including Chicago-brewed beer.
31: East Nashville Beer Festival, Nashville, TN
Midtown Wine and Spirits presents the second annual East Nashville Beer Festival, which will take place in East Park in Nashville. This afternoon event will feature a variety of craft beer, along with live music and food from local restaurants. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Ride for Reading. There will be a pre-festival party the evening before the festival, and a post-festival party, both at 3 Crow Bar.
31: Lyme Regis Beer Festival, Lyme Regis, England
The Three Brewers Beer Festivals presents the second annual Lyme Regis Beer Festival, which will be held at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis. This all-day event will feature a selection of locally-made beers and ciders; food, including a hog roast; and live local entertainment.
31: New Times "Original" Beerfest, Fort Lauderdale, FL
New Times Broward/Palm Beach presents the 15th annual New Times "Original" Beerfest, which will take place at Huizenga Plaza in Fort Lauderdale. This evening event will feature more than 100 domestic and imported beers; live music, including a national act; food and merchandise vendors; and NCAA basketball tournament games on Jumbotrons. Beefest will be hosted by Big 105.9 radio personality Doc Reno. VIP tickets, with a special selection of beer and unlimited food sampling, are available. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Children’s Starlight Foundation.
31: River City Brewer's Festival, Memphis, TN
River City Management Group, LLC, presents the third annual River City Brewer's Festival, which will take place at Handy Park on Memphis's Beale Street. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with more than 100 craft-brewed beers, including some not normally available in the area, along with live music and free samples of local restaurants' signature dishes. This year's festival charity is The Ronald McDonald House of Memphis.
31: Rock the Zoo, Phoenix, AZ
SRP presents the 2012 Rock the Zoo, which will take place at the Phoenix Zoo. This evening event, which is one of the zoo's largest fund-raisers, will feature beverages from more than 30 local breweries, wineries, and national distributors; a battle of the bands; samples from 15 restaurants at The Lion's Den; and food for purchase. VIP tickets, with a full catered dinner, are available.
31: Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest, Suwanee, GA
The second annual Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest will be held at Town Center Park in the heart of Suwanee. This afternoon event will feature more than 120 beers from over 40 breweries. There will also be a homebrew competition, live music from local artists, and food available for purchase. Part of the proceeds will be donated to Kingdom Kids.
31: Washington Cask Beer Festival, Seattle, WA
The Washington Brewers Guild presents the 2012 Washington Cask Beer Festival, which will take place in the Seattle Center's Fisher Pavilion. There will be afternoon and evening tasting sessions, each with about 70 cask-conditioned beers from Washington State microbreweries. Food will be served, and festival-goers are invited to vote for the "People's Choice" awards.