Six of the best beer festivals in North America

[uzziboy]

Ok this is the best reason to take a lllooooooonnnggggg road trip. and trying to catch rides in the same area

Ready to take it on the road? Here are six of the best beer festivals in North America:

Mondial de la Bière (May 28 to June 1)
The Mondial (which, as you might expect, is in Montreal) is not just about beer but also about food, cider, and mead (a beer-strength drink made with fermented honey). Beer is still king, though, and you’ll find many Canadian breweries which you’ve likely never heard of. The Mondial emphasizes connoisseurship—learning about what you’re enjoying at seminars and guided tastings. Best of all, it takes place over five days with free admission, so you’ll have plenty of time to try the more than 350 beers (and all the cheese).

Oregon Brewers Festival (July 24 to 27)
The O.B.F. is held in Portland, home to 30-odd breweries and brewpubs, more than in any other U.S. city. This multiday fest takes place on green, grassy fields along the lovely Willamette River. The idea is to experience new breweries, so more than 70 brewers, from Oregon and elsewhere, each bring one beer. Some offer their best-known beer, while others showcase special releases. If you run out of time, several great brewpubs are within walking distance. Admission is free; you only pay for the beer you drink and your souvenir mug.
Belgium Comes to Cooperstown (August 1 to 3)B.C.T.C. is a small event, with only 800 tickets available. But the experience is fantastic: more than 150 Belgian and Belgian-style beers, including those of the host, Brewery Ommegang, all situated in wooded farmland near Cooperstown, New York, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Add in the music, camping, starlight, some wild brewer behavior, and you’ve got the Woodstock of brewing, without the brown acid.

Great Taste of the Midwest (August 9)It’s neither the biggest nor the oldest festival, but it may be the hardest ticket to get. The Great Taste is held in a pretty lakeside setting in Madison, Wisconsin, with 600 beers from 100 brewers—and only 5,000 tickets. The home brewers who sponsor the festival will release 3,000 tickets locally on May 4; there will be a mail-order lottery for the other 2,000. Oh, but it’s worth it! Great beer, great brats, and, of course, great Wisconsin cheese.

World Beer Festival (October 4)At World Beer, All About Beer magazine gathers together not just craft brewers from around the country but also importers who bring beers from around the world. On the first Saturday in October, they all arrive at the historic ballpark in Durham, North Carolina, where "Bull Durham" was filmed. There are specialty presentations of aged beers, cask-conditioned beers, and rare and expensive beers. It doesn’t hurt that Durham sits smack-dab in the middle of some of the best barbecue country in the South.

Great American Beer Festival (October 9 to 11)The G.A.B.F., which takes place in Denver, boasts more breweries and beers than any other fest in the world. Last year, 408 breweries, from Anheuser-Busch to the smallest brewpubs, poured 1,884 different beers for 46,000 attendees during the course of three days. You only get one-ounce pours, but you won’t taste everything: One ounce of every beer on offer would be 117 pints! The G.A.B.F. awards medals in a dizzying list of categories (86 this year), and when the winners are announced on Saturday afternoon, it’s a rush to the annointed taps. Buy tickets beforehand, or pay scalpers’ premiums on the sidewalk.

And, finally, the first Philly Beer Week (I’m one of the organizers) was a big success last month. Watch for this week of 200-plus beer events—festivals, dinners, tastings, pub crawls—again next spring.

[CPATCRASH]

I think we need an OC beer festival!

[uzziboy]

Originally Posted by CPATCRASH

I think we need an OC beer festival!

a serious one not a half assed one
yeah how come they are all back east except portland and denver wtf

[CPATCRASH]

Originally Posted by uzziboy

a serious one not a half assed one
yeah how come they are all back east except portland and denver wtf

I guess we will just have to do it ourself!

[atomrat]

It's not OC, but it is close enough. I went last year and it was a blast. I couldn't go this year.

California Homebrew Fest
http://www.calhomebrewers.org/

Many Homebrew beer and Mead.

[xhuskr]

Originally Posted by atomrat

It's not OC, but it is close enough. I went last year and it was a blast. I couldn't go this year.

California Homebrew Fest
http://www.calhomebrewers.org/

Many Homebrew beer and Mead.

this event can be a blast for sure. you get to try some GREAT homebrew and some bad homebrew...all in the name of having fun!

"Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew" C.P.

[CPATCRASH]

WTF!!! It's today!!!

[BrewMaster]

Pizza Port Carlsbad has several festivals every year.

[xhuskr]

to add to Sam's post, click on the link below
http://pizzaport.com/festivals.htm

[CPATCRASH]

Originally Posted by xhuskr

to add to Sam's post, click on the link below
http://pizzaport.com/festivals.htm

Sounds like fun!

[Chopper]

We should get a group together and ride down.
We can take the train back.

[CPATCRASH]

Originally Posted by Chopper

We should get a group together and ride down.
We can take the train back.

That sounds like a good idea!

[atomrat]

Originally Posted by CPATCRASH

WTF!!! It's today!!!

I know. Keep it in mind for next year. It is worth the $40 or so dollars.

I had previously planned to be in Moab this week. But my friends brother ended up having brain surgery and was unable to go. Seemed like everything went down hill from there. So far, the surgery seems to be a success.

I will be brewing a Red Ale tomorrow and IPA next weeken d.

[CPATCRASH]

Originally Posted by atomrat

I know. Keep it in mind for next year. It is worth the $40 or so dollars.

I had previously planned to be in Moab this week. But my friends brother ended up having brain surgery and was unable to go. Seemed like everything went down hill from there. So far, the surgery seems to be a success.

I will be brewing a Red Ale tomorrow and IPA next weeken d.

Brain surgery is a valid excuse!

[Stray_Bullit]

There was one @ Northstar last year when I was there riding. Too bad I am not a beer drinker! I did get a cool lil mug from it though...You would have been in heaven! Beer and bikes!

[RustyIron]

Originally Posted by uzziboy

Here are six of the best beer festivals in North America:

???

How was the Number One beer festival in North America was overlooked?

http://xrl.us/bj5dj

[bighit8]

Oh I am making my yearly trip to visit mom in Seattle, I think I will stop in Portland on the way!