A Beer Festival on Tap?
Greetings,
Now that winter has settled in on top of North America and Europe, and the holiday season is over, it will be a long stretch until warm weather and longer days come. What is a person to do to keep body and soul together for the next four or five months? Celebrate beer that’s what! The following is a partial listing of the beer festivals that are going to be held in the U.S., Canada and the E.U. over those chilly months:
January 31-February 2: Chelmsford Winter Beer Festival
Chelmsford, England
Last year’s festival featured more than 120 Real Ales, plus Real Ciders, perries, and Belgian beers, along with food at all sessions.
January 31-February 2: Pendle Beer Festival
Colne Municipal Hall, Colne, England
This year’s theme is “All at Sea,” with half of the more than 65 Real Ales from breweries with a nautical connection and other beers from local breweries; Real Ciders and Perries and bottled beers; event benefits the Pendleside Hospice.
February 1-2: Chesterfield & District Beer Festival
The Winding Wheel, Chesterfield, England
Festival celebrates the branch’s 30th anniversary; 10th annual event; more than 100 beers from 60 area breweries, including cask ales from within a 30-mile radius of the festival site; ciders, perries, fruit wines, and foreign bottled beers; food and live entertainment (quiet session Friday evening).
February 1-2: Dorchester Beerex
Corn Exchange, Dorchester, England
More than 50 beers, plus ciders; live music at evening sessions; “quiet room” available; free pint for CAMRA members.
February 1-2: Festiv-Ale
Conexus Arts Centre, Regina, SK, Canada
More than 300 beers; live music, singing, and dancing; a variety of food; Festiv-Ale store; blackjack dealers in the VIP Lounge; Legion Color Party Parade, with pipers.
February 1-2: Festival of Winter Ales
Maison Dieu (Town Hall), Dover, England
Fifteenth annual event; about 75 winter and strong ales, none less than 5% ABV, mostly from small independents and micro-breweries; “Beer of the Festival,” awarded to the event’s first empty firkin; food and live music; CAMRA stall and tombola; festival site is the country’s oldest and most historic beer festival venue.
February 1-2: Tewkesbury Beer Festival
George Watson Hall, Tewkesbury, England
Last year’s festival featured 60 winter-only ales, stouts and porters, local cider and perry, and food at all sessions.
February 2: Bock Fest 2008
New Ulm Brewery, New Ulm, MN
New Ulm’s Fasching celebration, with Bock beer, music, grilled bratwurst and other food, and the traditional “Bock Hunt”; museum and gift shop will be open.
February 2: Central New York Brewfest
John Deere Horticultural Building, Empire Expo Center, Syracuse, NY
Two tasting sessions; beer from breweries throughout the Northeast and Canada; food available.
February 6-8: Battersea Beer Festival
Grand Hall, Battersea Arts Centre, London, England
More than 100 Real Ales from across Britain; ciders, perries, and foreign beer; food available; venue is 10 minutes’ walk from Clapham Junction Station.
February 7-9: “Ale & Arty.” the Stockton Beer Festival
Arc, Stockton-on-Tees, England
More than 70 Real Ales; ciders, perries, and bottled beers; CAMRA stall and tombola; live entertainment; food available at all sessions.
February 8-9: Ilkley Beer Festival
Kings Hall & Winter Gardens, Ilkley, England
First major beer festival in Ilkley, with more than 50 Real Ales, plus ciders and perries; live entertainment Saturday evening; food available at all sessions; proceeds support local charities, clubs, and societies.
February 8-9: International Mead Festival
Sheraton Denver West Hotel, Lakewood, CO
The world’s largest and most prestigious mead competition and festival; three tasting sessions, including a new third connoisseur session Saturday afternoon; nearly 100 commercial meads; commercial and home mead competition; educational seminars.
February 8: KLCC Microbrew Festival 2008
Lane Events Center, Eugene, OR
Microbrewed beer from all over the West; collaboration brew and homebrew competition; live music; record and CD sale.
February 9: Food & Froth Fest
Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI
Tenth annual event; last year’s festival featured more than 200 beers from Midwest and international breweries, including special creations and seasonal beers; food and live music; a raffle; and exhibits in museum’s Brewing Heritage Hall
February 9-22: Beerapalooza 2008
Various locations, San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Twentieth annual event, featuring a Double IPA Fest at The Bistro (Hayward); a beer and cheese tasting at the Rogue Ales Public House (San Francisco), a chocolate and Belgian beer dinner at the Cathedral Hill Hotel (San Francisco), a barleywine festival at Toronado (San Francisco; see separate listing on this page); and Celebrator Beer News’ 20th Anniversary Bash (Oakland).
February 10: Mid*Winter Beer Festival
Milwaukee Ale House, Milwaukee, WI
Beer from 25 breweries, Usinger’s sausage, and live music; this year’s theme is “back to the keg,” with all participating breweries bringing fresh draft beer.
February 10: Tokyo Real Ale Festival
Sumida Riverside Hall, Azumabashi, Tokyo, Japan
Tasting of Japanese Real Ales, with entertainment. Most of the website is in Japanese.
February 13-16: Oakwood Real Ale & Music Festival
Oakwood Technology College, Rotherham, England
More than 250 Real Ales from across the U.K. served at 11 bars, plus European beers, Real Ciders, and wines; a variety of live music at four separate venues; event is a fund-raiser for Rotherham children. Wednesday and Thursday evening sessions are reserved for CAMRA members, sponsors and their guests.
February 14-16: Fleetwood Beer Festival
Marine Hall, The Esplanade, Fleetwood, England
Twenty-fifth annual event; more than 100 British cask beers, plus ciders and foreign bottled beers; “Beer of the Festival” competition; live music.
February 14-16: Liverpool Beer Festival
Metropolitan Catholic Cathedral Crypt, Liverpool, England
More than 175 Real Ales, including special festival beers; ciders, perries, and fruit wines; food; live entertainment Friday and Saturday evening.
February 14-16: Luton Beer Festival
Hightown Community Sports and Arts Centre, Luton, England
Twenty-fifth annual event; last year’s festival featured 80 Real Ales, 10 real ciders and perries, a range of imported bottled beer, hot and cold food, live music Friday and Saturday evenings, and CAMRA products and a tombola. Details of this year’s festival will be posted on the branch website.
February 15-16: Extreme Beer Fest
The Cyclorama, Boston, MA
Fifth annual event: Friday, “Night of the Barrels,” featuring wood-aged beers, guest speakers, and snacks; Saturday, two tasting sessions with distinctive American craft-brewed beer.
February 15-16: Litchfield Winter Beer Festival
Litchfield Guildhall, Litchfield, England
Last year’s festival featured more than 35 Real Ales and 15 wines, soft drinks, and live entertainment.
February 15-17: Max’s Taphouse Belgian Beer Festival
Max’s Taphouse, Baltimore, MD
Three days of beer; last year’s festival offered more than 60 Belgian and domestic Belgian-style beers on draft and another 120 beers in bottles, and a full Belgian-style food menu. More details of this year’s festival will be posted on Max’s website.
February 16: Alton Winter Beer Festival
Alton Maltings Centre, Alton, England
Last year’s festival featured more than 40 Real Ales, served at mid-day and evening sessions, food, and live entertainment. Details of this year’s event will be posted on the festival website.
February 16: Arizona Craft Brewers Guild Strong Beer Festival
Mesa Amphitheatre, Mesa, AZ
Strong beers and a variety of other styles brewed in Arizona and other Western states; food vendors and live entertainment.
February 16: Beats Brews and BBQ
World Live Café, Philadelphia, PA
Beer from 30 local and regional breweries (to be announced on the festival website), as well as other beverages; food, including Tommy Gunn’s American Barbeque; live music; beer seminars; homebrew shops; VIP tickets, with early admission and access to limited-edition specialty beers.
February 16-17: Confluence Wine, Beer, Seafood and Music Festival
Gardiner, OR (two miles north of Reedsport, on the Oregon Coast)
Beverages from area breweries and wineries; craft and food vendors; entertainment, including seven bands and solo acts; chef demonstration; free shuttle bus between Gardiner, Reedsport, and Winchester Bay.
February 16: Winterfest
General Lafayette Inn & Brewery, Lafayette Hill, PA
Strong beers from the regional microbreweries; food will be served; limited-availability brewers’ post-party. This event is likely to sell out.
February 17: Hillsboro Brewfest
Hillsboro Brewery & Public House, Portland, OR
The “Battle of the Belt,” in which 20 beers from 20 McMenamins breweries compete for the right to represent McMenamins at the Oregon Brewers Festival; entertainment, including Joe Mishkin the Balloon Guy; and food, including bratwurst, beer potato cheese soup and cake.
February 18-24: Audley Football Club Beer Festival
Audley Football Club, Audley, Newcastle under Lyme, England
More than 35 Real Ales and Real Ciders; specially-priced beer every evening; snacks, pies, and filled rolls available.
February 22-March 9: Munich Starkbierzeit
Various locations, Munich, Germany
Munich’s annual Lenten celebration of strong beers; a number of breweries offer extra-strong doppelbocks, and both the Paulaner Keller and the Loewenbraukeller offer Bavarian-themed entertainment.
February 22-23: Winterfest XVI
Thorngate Halls, Gosport, England
Last year’s festival featured more than 80 beers, three tasting sessions, including two on Saturday, and live entertainment.
February 23: Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival
Fifth Third Ballpark, Grand Rapids, MI
New city and larger venue this year; a celebration of Michigan-brewed barrel-aged, cask, and “big” beers; hot food and live music; the festival will be held outdoors, “snow, rain or shine.”
February 23: Midwest Winter Beer Festival
Radisson Cincinnati Riverfront Hotel, Covington, KY
Inaugural event; two tasting sessions; more than 100 beers, featuring winter ales, from 30 brewers and distributors; appetizer buffet; organizers also plan a VIP reception with brewers in attendance and a Cincinnati pub crawl the evening before the festival.
February 23: New Zealand Beer Festival
Ellerslie Racecourse and Convention Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Last year’s festival was held in two great halls and a beer garden, with more than 45 different beers from about 20 breweries, most from New Zealand; gourmet food to complement the beer tasting; and live music. More details of this year’s event will be posted on the festival website.
February 23: Shadowbrook Beer Fest
Shadowbrook Inn and Resort , Tunkhannock, PA
More than 50 microbrewed and imported beers; live music.
February 27-28: Cardiff University Real Ale & Cider Festival
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Cardiff, Wales
The U.K.’s largest student-run beer festival, with at least 80 firkins of Real Ale, along with the biggest cider & perry bar in Wales; live music, a pub quiz, snacks, and non-alcoholic options; proceeds benefit Ty Hafan, a children’s hopsice.
February 27-28: Victorian Microbreweries Showcase
The Atrium at Federation Square, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Beer from Melbourne and Victoria’s boutique and microbreweries, with brewmasters in attendance; event is held in the heart of the city.
February 27-29: Warwick University Real Ale Festival
Students Union, Warwick University, Coventry, England
The UK’s largest student-run beer festival, with more than 100 ales, plus ciders, fruit wines and mead; and live music at some sessions. Email Conrad Bebbington at publicity (at) warwickale (dot) co (dot) uk for more information.
February 28-March 1: Bradford Beer Festival
Victoria Hall, Saltaire, England
Last year’s festival featured more than 100 beers and live entertainment. Details of this year’s festival will be posted on the branch’s website.
February 28-March 1: Forever Bury Beer Festival
Bury FC Social Club, Bury, England
”For lovers of beer and football all over the world”; last year’s festival featured more than 35 beers, including a special “Forever Bury” festival beer. Details of this year’s festival will be posted on the event’s website.
February 29-March 1: Salisbury Winterfest XI
Castle Street Social Club, Salisbury, England
Twenty-one very different, seasonal Real Ales; live music Saturday evening; cooked food and cold snacks at all sessions.
For more information click on the following:
http://www.beerfestivals.org/calendar/february.html
Cheers!
Peter LaFrance
