May 2008

April 30-May 3: New England Real Ale Exhibition (NERAX)

Location: George Dilboy VFW Post, Somerville, MA
Organized By: Cask-Conditioned Ale Support Campaign (CASC)
Highlights: About 80 cask-conditioned ales, equally divided between the British Isles and New England; six tasting sessions, with all-session passes available; musical entertainment and barbecue from Redbones.

April 30-May 3: Paisley Real Ale Festival

Location: Paisley Town Hall, Paisley, Scotland
Organized By: Renfrewshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: The biggest beer festival in Scotland; last year's event featured more than 130 cask-conditioned beers, and voting for "Champion Beer of the Paisley Beer Festival."

May 1-4: Reading Beer and Cider Festival

Location: King's Meadow, Reading, England
Organized By: Reading the Mid-Berkshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 430 Real Ales, plus over 140 foreign beers, over 140 ciders and perries, and over 30 wines; entertainment program; food and merchandise stalls. More details about this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.

May 2-3: Hop Scotch

Location: Fremont Studios, Seattle, WA
Benefit For: Northwest Folklife
Highlights: A tasting experience highlighting more than 50 beers, including many seasonal beers; and a Scotch tasting garden hosted by Master of Scotch Ari Sharpio.

May 3: Atlantis Craft & Import Beer Festival

Location: Atlantis Marine World Aquarium, Riverhead, NY
Benefit For: Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research
Highlights: Inaugural event, held inside the aquarium; more than 150 domestic and imported beers from over 40 breweries, brewpubs, and importers; "endless buffet," food from area restaurants, and food and beer pairings; interactive tasting seminars; live music; VIP tickets available, with a pre-festival reception, reserved seating, and personal beer tutoring.

May 3: Beer on the Pier

Location: Festival Hall A, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
Highlights: In/door venue; two tasting sessions; last year's festival featured more than 150 beers (this year's beer list TBA on the festival website) and live entertainment.

May 3-5: Isle of Wight Steam Railway May Bank Holiday Beer Festival

Location: Havenstreet Station, near Ryde (Isle of Wight), England
Presented By: Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Highlights: More than 24 ales, including ales brewed on the Isle of Wight and the west and southwest of England; food, including barbecue on Saturday and Sunday; special evening trains during the festival.

May 3: Larkin's Carolina Festival

Location: Larkin's on the River, Greenville SC
Highlights: A tasting of wine and beer from all over the Carolinas. Call 864.467.9777 for more information.

May 3: Milwaukee Beer Festival

Location: Old Heidelberg Park (Bavarian Inn), Glendale, WI
Benefit For: United German Societies--Milwaukee
Highlights: Twentieth annual event, in a new venue with new sponsorship; festival features "The Blessing of the Bock," bock and specialty beer tastings, with brewery representatives in attendance; breweriana on sale; admission includes buffet lunch. This event has been cancelled.

May 3: Seend Beer Festival

Location: Seend Social Club, Seend, England
Highlights: A wide variety of ales (complete list to be posted on the festival website); ciders and other beverages; food, including a pig roast; musical entertainment.

May 5-6: Japan Craft Beer Festival–Tokyo

Location: Garden Hall, Ebisu Garden Place, Tokyo, Japan
Organized By: Japan Craft Beer Association and Beer Taster Non Profit Organization
Highlights: More than 120 craft beers available for sampling; announcement of the winners of the Japan Asia Beer Cup 2008.

May 5: Reading Phillies Beer Tasting Festival

Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Reading, PA
Sponsored By: The Reading Eagle
Highlights: Pre-game sampling of imported and domestic beer provided by All-Star Distributing; all-you-can-eat buffet featuring barbecue chicken and hot dogs; access to the heated pool.

May 8-10: Banbury Beer Festival

Location: TA Centre, Banbury, England
Organized By: North Oxfordshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Eighty beers (this year's theme is "Beers From the North West"), plus a selection of ciders and perries; "Beer of the Festival" competition.

May 8-10: Macclesfield Charity Beer Festival

Location: The Big Marquee, Macclesfield Rugby Club, Macclesfield England
Organized By: Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Fifteenth annual event; more than 100 Real Ales plus ciders, bottled beers, wine, and soft drinks; food, including Mega Bread and Cheese Butties inside and a burger van outside; two live bands each evening; proceeds will be donated to the Park Lane School.

May 8-10: St. Louis Brewers Heritage Beer Festival

Location: Lindell Pavilion, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO
Presented By: Here's to Beer!
Highlights: General tasting sessions on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening, plus special VIP and businessman's sessions; an expanded lineup of breweries and beers, featuring the return of St. Louis Dark Lager as well as a special festival beer; food from local restaurants, live entertainment, and exhibits detailing beer's place in the history of St. Louis. Festival proceeds benefit Lift for Life Gym.

May 8: Spring Beer Tasting

Location: Downriver Italian American Club, Wyandotte, MI
Highlights: An assortment of beers from around the world, with snacks and appetizers available. Tickets are on sale at Discount Drinks, 2811 Fort Street in Wyandotte; telephone 734.282.3800.

May 9-10: Clarets Trust Beer Festival

Location: 1882 Lounge, Burney Football Club, Burnley, England
Organized By: Clarets Trust, in association with The Burnley Express, Burnley F.C., and East Lancashire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Burnley's only beer festival, in a new venue this year; more than 20 Real Ales from area breweries, including glocal breweries Prospect, Brewhouse, and Bradfield; live music on Saturday; official opening by Burnley F.C. legend Paul Fletcher.

May 9-10: Ilkeston Beer Festival

Location: King Edward IV Suite, Regency Rooms, Ilkeston, England
Organized By: Erewash Valley Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 60 Real Ales, ciders, perries, and fruit wines; live music Saturday evening; free admission to CAMRA members.

May 9-10: Mayfest 2008 (Halifax Beer Festival)

Location: Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, Halifax, England
Organized By: Halifax & Calderdale Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year's event featured more than 70 Real Ales plus ciders and perries, food, and a specialist bookstand. Details of this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.

May 9-11: Rail Ale Beer Festival

Location: Welsh Highlands Railway, Dinas Goods Shed, near Caernarfon, Wales
Organized By: WHR Society/Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri
Highlights: Event will be opened by Welsh television personality Arfon Haines Davies; more than 40 Real Ales, including beer from four local breweries within walking distance of the railway's stations; live music, featuring a community orchestra, jazz, and Welsh music; stalls operated by local groups; regular shuttle train service between Caernarfon and Dinas.

May 10: Brew-Ha-Ha

Location: Veterans Park, Canon City, CO
Benefit For: Fremont Center for the Arts
Highlights: Beer from more than 20 Colorado microbreweries, and a lineup of top-notch comedians; live music after the tasting.

May 10: Of Ale and History

Location: Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown, VA
Highlights: Festival venue is a mansion with German and English heritage; 35 microbrewed beers, and musical entertainment provided by The Reflex and Junkfood.

May 10: Oregon, Wisconsin, Micro Brew Fest

Location: Oregon Center Drive, Oregon, WI
Presented By: Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce
Highlights: More than 100 beers, with "Favorite Beer Award" voting; music by Queenie & the Blue Cats and Aaron Williams & the Hoodoo; a portion of the proceeds benefit downtown road construction.

May 10: The Legendary Boonville Beer Festival

Location: Mendocino County Fairgrounds, Boonville, CA
Presented By: Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Highlights: Open-air setting in the scenic Anderson Valley; more than 100 beers from over 50 breweries, most of them from California and the West; music and dancing; food and merchandise offered by vendors; on-site camping available; all proceeds are donated to area non-profit organizations.

May 10-11: Pegasus Farm Brew Ha Ha

Location: Pegasus Farm Campground, Elkins, WV
Highlights: An event centered around, but not limited to, West Virginia microbrewed and homebrewed beer; brewing demonstrations, tastings, and awards; camping, food, music, and a bonfire.

May 14-17: Rugby Beer Festival

Location: Thornfield Bowling Club, Rugby, England
Organized By: Rugby Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Twenty-fifth annual event; last year's festival featured about 60 different beers, along with five different ciders; food at all sessions. Additional details will be posted on the branch's website.

May 15-17: Chester Charity Beer Festival

Location: Chester Rugby Club, Chester, England
Organized By: Chester & South Clywd Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Twentieth annual event; more than 70 Real Ales and Ciders; live music all three evenings; food; yards of ale; pub games.

May 16-17: Beacon Hill Beer Festival

Location: Royal British Legion, Hindhead, England
Highlights: Independent beer festival, featuring "an eclectic selection of English ales and cideers with a geographical twist." More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

May 16-17: Fete de la Biere

Location: Lausanne-Ouchy, Switzerland
Organized By: Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Lakeshore venue, with a view of the Swiss Alps; more than 170 beers; concerts every evening. Website is in French only.

May 16-17: Philadelphia Blues & Beer Festival

Location: George IV, Sheffield, England
Highlights: Last year's festival offered live blues music and a selection of cask-conditioned ales, including special festival ales. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

May 16-17: Rail Ale Festival

Location: Barrow Hill Roundhouse, near Chesterfield, England
Highlights: More than 120 ales plus ciders, fruit wines, and continental bottled beers; live entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings; hot food and sandwiches served throughout the festival; admission includes train rides.

May 16-17: SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience

Location: Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Washington, DC
Presented By: The Brewers Association
Highlights: Inaugural event, featuring beer provided by 48 independent craft breweries from eight regions of the United States; chosen by the brewers to pair with the beers; educational salons with live presentations by brewers, journalists, and chefs; event celebrates American Craft Brew Week.

May 16: Springfest and Chili Cook-Off

Location: Ocean Beach Park Pavilion, New London, CT
Presented By: New London Rotary Foundation
Highlights: Seashore venue; more than 100 beers from over 30 breweries and providers; chili competition and tasting; live music; proceeds benefit the foundation's charity projects.

May 16-17: Stratford-upon-Avon Beer & Cider Festival

Location: Chris Rookes Bar/Paddock Suite, Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Organized By: Shakespeare Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 50 Real Ales, ciders, and perries; "Champion Beer of the Festival" competition; food available.

May 16-18: Yapton Beerex

Location: Yapton Village Hall, Yapton, England
Organized By: Western Sussex Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 65 beers from small, independent breweries (including plenty of golden, hoppy beers); four ciders and perries; and a range of British and imported bottled beers.

May 16-17: World Expo of Beer

Location: Heritage Park, Frankenmuth, MI
Benefit For: Frankenmuth Jaycees
Highlights: Beer from Michigan and around the world; beer judging and "people's choice" awards; brewing demonstrations; food, live music, and souvenirs.

May 16-18: Beer & Cocktail Show

Location: Downsview Park, Toronto, ON, Canada
Highlights: Canada's largest beer and cocktail show, in a new venue with a wider beverage selection this year; tips and recipes for cooking with beer; entertainment, including live music, a fashion/bikini contest, and interactive shows.

May 16-17: Brewer's Memorial Ale-Fest

Location: Rogue Brewery, Newport, OR
Benefit For: Oregon Humane Society and other canine charities
Highlights: Festival honoring "Brewer," the brewery's beloved mascot; beer from more than 50 microbreweries; local cuisine, live music, and events for dogs.

May 17: Bierfest

Location: German-American Club of Albany, Albany, NY
Highlights: German lagers, pilsners, bock beers, and hefeweizens; German-style dinner.

May 17: Brandywine Valley Craft Brewers' Festival

Location: Iron Hill Brewery, Media, PA
Benefit For: Media Youth Center
Highlights: Beer from more than 25 microbreweries from the region; live music all day; food for sale, prepared by the Iron Hill Brewery.

May 17: Great Orlando Beer Festival

Location: Downtown Orlando, FL
Highlights: Inaugural event; craft-brewed beer from around the world (breweries TBA on festival website); live music and entertainment; food; raffles; a portion of the proceeds benefits Habitat for Humanity.

May 17: Hops for Hope, the Dunwoody Beer Festival

Location: Perimeter Mall, Dunwoody, GA
Benefit For: Camp Twin Lakes
Highlights: More than 150 beers, malt beverages, and liquors from around the world, with live entertainment.

May 17: Oregon Micro Brew Fest

Location: Jaycee Park, Oregon, WI
Presented By: Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce
Highlights: Last year's festival featured 80 beers from 20 area breweries and brewpubs and food sold by nonprofit groups. Details of this year's festival will be posted on the city's website.

May 17: Pints for Pets

Location: Blair County Ballpark, Altoona, PA
Benefit For: Central Pennsylvania Humane Society
Highlights: Beer tasting at the home of the Altoona Curve ballpark.

May 17: Stillwater Brewers Bazaar

Location: Water Street Inn, downtown Stillwater, MN
Presented By: Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club
Highlights: Beer from area microbreweries; music by The Squires Band; Bass Lake Cheese tasting; artwork on display at the Rivertown Art Festival; festival site overlooks the St. Croix River.

May 17: Virginia Beer Festival

Location: Town Point Park, Norfolk, VA
Highlights: Waterfront venue; beer from more than three dozen domestic and international breweries, with live music; event is part of the Virginia Arts Festival.

May 17: West Coast Brew Fest 2008

Location: Miller Park, Sacramento, CA
Benefit For: Make a Difference Project
Highlights: Riverfront venue; beer from California, Oregon, and Washington breweries; commercial craft beer competition; food and live music.

May 17: Yardley Beer Festival

Location: Buttonwood Park, Yardley, PA
Benefit For: Yardley Flood Relief Mitigation Fund
Highlights: Inaugural event; two tasting sessions; microbrewed beer, featuring breweries from Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey (beer list TBA)

May 18: Atlantic Beer Festival

Location: Moncton Coliseum, Moncton, NB, Canada
Highlights: More than 100 beers, including cask beers, from over 40 breweries; live music; free bus service available after each session.

May 18: Wisconsin Micro-Brewers Beer Fest

Location: Calumet County Fairgrounds, Chilton, WI
Hosted By: Rowland's Calumet Brewing Company
Highlights: Beer from at least 25 Wisconsin breweries; music by Jerry Schneider Band and Copper Box; food, festival shirts, and breweriana on sale. No tickets will be sold at the gate.

May 19-24: Cambridge CAMRA Beer Festival

Location: Jesus Green, Cambridge, England
Organized By: Cambridge Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Thirty-fifth annual event; last year's festival featured more than 140 Real Ales and more than 60 foreign beers plus ciders, perries, and English wines, along with and traditional food including famous cheeses. Details of this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.

May 19: Connecticut Craft Brewers' Beer Festival

Location: Jesse Camille's Restaurant, Naugatuck, CT
Benefit For: Camille B. Perugini Memorial Scholarship Fund
Highlights: "Under the big top," with more than 100 beers from over 50 breweries; live music; food for sale; homebrewing demonstration by the Maltose Express homebrew club.

May 22-26: Mount Bures Beer Festival

Location: The Thatchers Arms, Colchester, England
Highlights: Around 20 Real Ales, predominantly from Essex and Suffolk microbreweries, including a specially-brewed beer from the Mersea Island Brewery to commemorate the Thatchers Arm's 100th guest ale since the present owners took it over, plus the pub's ever-changing World Beer selection; limited camping facilities available during the festival; food and live music.

May 22-24: Lincoln Beer Festival

Location: The Drill Hall, Lincoln, England
Organized By: Lincoln Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 70 Real Ales, including some specially-kept and -aged beers, odd "one-off" beers, and a selection of Lincolnshire beers; traditional ciders and perries; live music in the Armoury on both Friday and Saturday evenings.

May 23-24: Crabble Corn Mill Beer Festival

Location: Crabble Corn Mill, Dover, England
Benefit For: Crabble Corn Mill Trust
Highlights: This year's theme is "East/West"; 45 ales, with about 30 from Kent and the rest from Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset; Kentish and West Country ciders; live entertainment; exclusive preview evening for festival sponsors.

May 23-June 1: Czech Beer Festival

Location: Prague Fairgrounds, Holesovice, Czech Republic
Highlights: A 10-day gastronomic and cultural event, featuring a wide selection of draft beer from Czech breweries; servers in traditional folk costumes; food, including Czech pork and deil food; cultural program, with daily performances by entertainers and musicians from the country's various regions; venue has room for 10,000 festival-goers.

May 23-25: Newark Beer Festival

Location: Riverside Park, Newark-on-Trent, England
Organized By: Newark Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Festival venue is in the shadow of Newark Castle; 150 traditionally-crafted beers, along with Real Ciders, Real Perries, and locally-made country wines; a variety of live entertainers.

May 23-24: Skipton Beer Festival

Location: Skipton Town Hall, Skipton, England
Organized By: Keighley & Craven Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Sixty Real Ales (TBA on the branch's website), featuring the "Mild Trail," along with ciders and foreign bottled beers also available; live music Saturday evening, plus other entertainment; hot and cold food; CAMRA stall; tombola; free bus service between the Skipton railway station and the festival; free admission to CAMRA members. No advance tickets will be sold.

May 23-25: Southwick Beer Festival

Location: Southwick Community Centre, Southwick, England
Benefit For: Southwick Community Association charities.
Highlights: More than 60 ales and ciders will be available, along with other refreshments; food, including barbecue and home-cooked dishes; live entertainment Friday evening and during both Saturday sessions.

May 24-25: Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival

Location: Park Hyatt Resort and Spa, Beaver Creek, CO
Highlights: More than 100 beers from 35 microbreweries, all based in Colorado; barbecue, be prepared by top chefs from Kansas City and other locations nationwide; live blues music, children's activities, and cooking demonstrations.

May 24: California Festival of Beers

Location: Avila Beach Resort and Golf Course, Avila Beach, CA
Benefit For: Hospice of San Luis Obispo County
Highlights: Beautiful outdoor setting; more than 100 beers from over 50 microbreweries; this year, a wider array of food and live entertainment.

May 24: Brew at the Zoo and Wine, Too

Location: Maryland Zoo, Baltimore, MD
Benefit For: Maryland Zoo
Highlights: Locally-produced craft beers and wines; food from a variety of vendors; live music by the Kelly Bell Band; give-aways, VIP tents, DJs, and merchants.

May 24-25: Great Pennsylvania FlavorFest

Location: Mount Hope Estate and Winery
Hosted By: Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire and the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and visitors Bureau
Highlights: Beer sampling; beer lectures hosted by author Lew Bryson; brewing demonstrations and food and beer pairing; event also features wine tasting, musical entertainment, and local food and craftspeople.

May 24-25: Helensburgh and Lomond Real Ale Festival

Location: Victoria Halls, Helensburgh, Scotland
Organized By: Helensburgh and District Round Table
Highlights: Festival has been expanded to two days, with a wider range of ales and more live music; proceeds benefit local charities.

May 24: Michigan Beer & Brat Festival

Location: Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville, MI
Hosted By: Crystal Mountain and the Michigan Brewers Guild
Highlights: More than 40 Michigan microbrews; bratwurst, with flavors ranging from spicy jalapeno to tart cherry; Bavarian pretzels; live entertainment; weekend packages available.

May 24: Raley Field Brewfest

Location: Raley Field, Sacramento, CA
Presented By: Raley Field and the Northern California Brewers Guild
Highlights: Beer from more than 30 northern California breweries; a limited supply of VIP tickets, with early admission, are available.

May 24: Valley Fest

Location: Massanutten Resort, near Harrisonburg, VA
Presented By: Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce
Highlights: Nearly 30 beers, plus more than 50 different wines from 10 Virginia wineries; brewing demonstration; booths featuring handicrafts, specialty food items, and other merchandise; live music; event is a fund-raiser for the chamber of Commerce.

May 24-25: Weekend of Spontaneous Fermentation

Location: Tapperij Beukenhof, Buggenhout, Belgium
Organized By: Opstalse Bierpallieters, a branch of Zythos, the Belgian beer consumers' organization
Highlights: About 70 beers, featuring lambic-based beers such as lambic, kriekenlambic, faro, gueuze, and framboise from Belgium's surviving lambic brewers and blenders.

May 25: Festival of the Brewpubs and Memorial Weekend Beach Party

Location: Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, CO
Highlights: Beer from Summit County craft brewers, including Pug Ryan’s, Breckenridge, Dillon Dam, Backcountry and Wolf Rock; entertainment by DJ Jammin Sound and That Eighties Band; springtime skiing and much more.

May 27-31: Colchester Beer Festival

Location: Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester, England
Organized By: Colchester Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year's festival featured more than 90 beers from breweries all over the U.K., plus foreign beers, ciders, perries, and wines, along with food and live music. More details of this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.

May 28-June 1: Mondial de la Biere

Location: Windsor Station and Courtyard, Montreal, QC, Canada
Highlights: Fifteenth anniversary event; free admission; more than 350 beers, including 100 new beers and 15 beers brewed especially for the festival; Quebec cider; food items for sale; beer seminars and workshops; cooking demonstrations; a variety of entertainment; popular vote for festival's favorite beer.

May 29-31: Stockport Beer & Cider Festival

Location: Edgeley Park, Stockport, England
Benefit For: Independent Options
Highlights: Indoor/outdoor drinking areas; 100 beers, ciders, and perries; live music; hot and cold food; families welcome at all times; quiet area at all sessions.

May 30-31: Kelowna Beer Festival

Location: Kelowna Curling Club, Kelowna, BC, Canada
Highlights: Craft beer, ciders, and imports from around the world (beer list TBA); "Judges' Choice" and "People's Choice" awards; food from Kelowna area restaurants; live entertainment.

May 30: Zoo Brew, the Oregon Zoo Brewers Festival

Location: Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR
Highlights: Beer from about 20 Northwest craft breweries, food from Oregon Zoo Catering, and live entertainment; proceeds will help bring lions and other predators back to the zoo.

May 31: Alton Summer Beer Festival

Location: The Alton Maltings Centre, Alton, England
Organized By: Triple fff
Highlights: Last year's festival had mid-day and evening tasting sessions, with 40 beers, live music, and music catered by the Alton Maltings Centre. More details of this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

May 31: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

Location: Richmond Raceway Complex, Richmond, VA
Presented By: Moorea Marketing
Highlights: More than 60 beers, and up to 40 bourbons; a number of barbecue tastes for sampling; "bourbon college," with tasting classes from master distillers; heated cigar tent. More details of this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

May 31: Blues 'n Brews

Location: Campbellton Landing, Fayetteville, NC
Benefit For: Cape Fear Regional Theatre
Highlights: Fifth annual event; outdoor venue; more than 100 different beers and blues music by area bands; food and non-alcoholic beverages; children's activities.

May 31: Blues 'n' Brews Festival

Location: Campbellton Landing, Wilmington, NC
Benefit For: Cape Fear Regional Theater
Highlights: More than 100 beers, with blues music by some of the region’s most popular bands; food; family-friendly environment, with children's activities.

May 31: City Pages Beer Festival

Location: Hennepin Avenue, uptown Minneapolis, MN
Presented By: City Pages magazine
Highlights: One of the upper Midwest's biggest beer festivals with more than 100 different beers, including summer seasonals; lemonade and "malternatives"; food, including pizza and wings; live music on the 92 KQRS stage; strolling musicians; a portion of the proceeds will benefit the St. Paul Jaycees.

May 31: Maryland Brewer's Springfest

Location: Harry Grove Stadium, Frederick, MD (home of the Frederick Keys)
Highlights: Beer from Maryland microbreweries (last year's event featured 12 breweries), food, live entertainment, and shopping.

May 31-June 1: Japan Craft Beer Festival–Osaka

Location: Osaka Dome Sky Hall, Osaka, Japan
Organized By: Japan Craft Beer Association and Beer Taster Non Profit Organization
Highlights: More than 120 craft beers available for sampling.