Here is a list of great beer happenings – courtesy of beerfestivals.org an excellent resource from Michigan-based freelance writer Paul Ruschmann. Paul is a beer enthusiast who’s traveled to many of the world’s “hop spots.” Beerfestivals.org is a labor of love for Paul, whose “day job” is analyzing and writing about legal and public policy issues. You can see more of his work on his website www.paulruschmann.com.
April 1-4: Newcastle Beer Festival
Location: Students Union, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Organized By: Tyneside & Northumberland Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Recent festivals featured more than 100 ales and ciders, including beers specially brewed for the festival. More details about this year’s festival will be posted on the branch’s website.
April 3-4: Okanagan Fest-of-Ale
Location: Penticton Trade & Convention Centre, Penticton, BC, Canada
Benefit For: Local charities
Highlights: Recent festivals featured more than 75 beers from over 25 breweries, food from some of the South Okanagan’s best restaurants, and live entertainment. More details about this year’s event will be posted on the festival website.
April 4: Gitchee Gumee Brewfest
Location: Wessman Arena, Superior, WI
Presented By: Superior Jaycees
Highlights: More than 120 beers from over 30 Wisconsin and Upper Midwest brewers; special VIP tickets available; event benefits local charities selected by the Jaycees.
April 4: Smuggler’s Notch Beer Festival Part 2
Location: Smuggler’s Notch Resort, Jeffersonville, VT
Highlights: Local and regional beers and wines with food, music, and prizes.
April 5: Classic City Brew Fest
Location: Foundry Park Inn, Athens, GA
Benefit For: Project Safe and Athens Area Humane Society
Highlights: Sampling of 175 beers from around the world, including world-class, gourmet, and strong beers; food and live music, T-shirt and collectibles booth. Buy your tickets early; only 750 will be sold.
April 10-11: Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival
Location: Winter Gardens, Margate, England
Organized By: Thanet Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year’s festival featured about 200 Real Ales including a special festival ale, ciders and perries, live entertainment; hot and cold food, and a tombola and CAMRA stand. More information about this year’s event will be posted on the festival website.
April 10-11: Spring Beer and Wine Fest
Location: Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Presented By: Spring Beer & Wine Fest, Inc., a non-profit organization
Highlights: Fifteenth annual event; beer from nearly 40 breweries and vendors, most from the Northwest; gourmet food, including the Tour de Cheese; cooking demonstrations at the Chefs’ Stage; live Northwest bands, with dancing; outdoor smokers’ tent with cigars for sale; free admission the first two hours of each day.
April 15-18: Maldon Beer Festival
Location: Town Hall, top of Market Hill, Maldon, England
Organized By: Dengie Hundred Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year’s festival featured more than 60 Real Ales and ciders, and food and live music. More details about this year’s festival will be posted on the branch’s website.
April 18: Great Brews From Around the World
Location: Split Rock Resort, Lake Harmony, PA
Organized By:
Highlights: Beer from 30 of the world’s finest breweries, along with music, crafts, a variety of international food; tutored tastings led by by award-winning homebrewer George Hummel and wine and beer aficionado Sam Cohen.
April 18: New Times Original Beerfest
Location: Downtown Fort Lauderdale, FL
Presented By: New Times
Highlights: Last year’s festival featured more than 170 beers, food tents offering food from local restaurants, and live entertainment all evening long. More details about this year’s event will be posted on the festival MySpace.com page.
April 19: Hops & Props 2009
Location: Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA
Benefit For: Museum of Flight
Highlights: Beer from 50 craft breweries, with brewmasters on hand; food from McCormick and Schmick’s; live music; admission includes access to museum galleries.
April 21-24: Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America
Location: Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center, Boston, MA
Organized By: Brewers Association
Highlights: North America’s number-one educational event for professional brewers, with four different learning tracks; keynote address by Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch; exhibits; tours of local breweries; World Beer Cup competition reception and awards dinner.
April 23-25: Maltings Beer Festival
Location: Tuckers Maltings, Newton Abbot, England
Organized By: Society of Independent Brewers, South West Branch
Highlights: Recent festivals have featured more than 250 Westcountry beers, beer championships in a number of categories (including Overall Champion of the Competition), and live music Friday and Saturday evenings. More details about this year’s event will be posted on the festival website.
April 24-25: Brewski Festival
Location: Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Seven Springs, PA
Highlights: Evening session each day; admission includes beer tasting, a buffet prepared by Seven Springs’ culinary staff, beer seminars, and musical entertainment.
April 25: Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival
Location: Southside Oktoberfest Grounds, La Crosse, WI
Presented By: La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Highlights: New venue this year; more than 40 vendors, including breweries, wineries (new this year), and cheese makers from the Great Lakes region (list TBA on the festival website)
April 25: Parkville Microbrewery Festival
Location: English Landing Park, downtown Parkville, MO
Benefit For: Main Street Parkville Association
Highlights: Historic venue on the banks of the Missouri River; beer from 24 Midwest breweries, food and live music.
April 25: San Francisco International Beer Festival
Location: Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA
Organized By: Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery Association
Highlights: Twenty-fifth annual event, with more than 300 craft-brewed beers from around the world; food provided by some of San Francisco’s best restaurants; live music; raffle. Tickets go on sale around St. Patrick’s Day.
April 25: Virginia Beer Festival
Location: Half Moone Cruise & Celebration Center, Norfolk, VA
Highlights: Beer from more than three dozen domestic and international breweries, with live music; event is part of the Virginia Arts Festival.
April 25: World Beer Festival – Raleigh
Location: Moore Square, Downtown Raleigh, NC
Presented By: All About Beer Magazine
Highlights: Two tasting sessions; 300 beers from 150 breweries (last year’s program available on the website), food from local restaurants, live music, children’s entertainment, and beer presentations; festival benefits the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.
April 25-26: TAP New York
Location: Hunter Mountain, Hunter, NY
Organized By: Hudson Valley Beer & Fine Food Festival, Inc., and Hunter Mountain
Highlights: More than 100 beers from New York State craft breweries and brewpubs; gourmet foods, prepared by chefs from some of the area’s best restaurants; presentation of Matthew Vassar Cup and the F.X. Matt Memorial Cup to winning beers.
