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.
Planning your own festival? Here’s a tip: You can get invitationsfor your beer events (or any events) from the folks at VistaPrint like we are for our own beer events!
July 3-4: Beer on the Wye
Location: Hereford Rowing Club, Hereford, England
Organized By: Herefordshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Outdoor riverside venue; more than 110 draft beers (including some new beers) from over 80 breweries throughout the UK; expanded Foreign Beers Bar; more than 50 draft ciders and perries, all made in Herefordshire; food, including a pig roast; live music and other entertainment; Champion Beer of the Festival competition; Family Fun Day on Sunday.
July 3-5: Viersen Bierboerse
Location: Innenstadt, Viersen-Dulken, Germany
Highlights: Biergarten atmosphere; more than 1,000 beers from over 75 countries, including hard-to-find German microbrewery products; food and live entertainment; breweriana; artisan stands. Website is in German only.
July 4: Riverside Festival
Location: Stamford Meadows, Stamford, England
Organized By: Riverside Association of Music & Arts and the Bourne Round Table
Highlights: : Forty Real Ales, most from local breweries and including a special festival ale; 20 Real Ciders; the beer festival is part of the Riverside Festival, with more than 30 bands and artists performing on three stages.
July 8-11: Ealing Beer Festival
Location: Walpole Park, central Ealing, England
Organized By: West Middlesex Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year’s festival featured more than 150 Real Ales plus other beverages, food, and entertainment, in a historic park with a nature center and children’s playground. More details about this year’s festival will be posted on the branch’s website.
July 10-12: Woodcote Festival of Ale
Location: Rally Field, Woodcote, England
Organized By:: Local branches of the Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 35 Real Ales, plus traditionally-brewed lagers, Real Ciders, and soft drinks; event is part of the annual Woodcote Rally, a traditional country fair atmosphere, with steam engines, vintage vehicles, food stalls, and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings.
July 11-13: Tynedale Beer Festival
Location: Tynedale Rugby Club, Tynedale Park, Corbridge, England
Organized By: Tynedale Lions Club and Tynedale RFC
Highlights: Last year’s festival, featured more than 100 beers and ciders, live music, and food; event benefits local hospices. More details about this year’s event will be posted on the festival website.
July 17-19: Mainz Bierboerse
Location: Rheinufer am Rathaus, Mainz, Germany
Highlights: Biergarten atmosphere; more than 1,000 beers from over 75 countries, including hard-to-find German microbrewery products; food and live entertainment; breweriana; artisan stands. Website is in German only.
July 24-26: Bonn Bierboerse
Location: Freizeitpark Rheinaue, Bonn, Germany
Highlights: Biergarten atmosphere; more than 1,000 beers from over 75 countries, including hard-to-find German microbrewery products; food and live entertainment; breweriana; artisan stands. Website is in German only.
July 31-August 2: Benrath Bierboerse
Location: Fussgangerzone, Dusseldorf-Benrath, Germany
Highlights: Biergarten atmosphere; more than 1,000 beers from over 75 countries, including hard-to-find German microbrewery products; food and live entertainment; breweriana; artisan stands. Website is in German only.
July TBA: Empire State Brewing & Music Festival
Location: Clinton Square, Syracuse, NY
Benefit By: New York State Brewers Association (which sanctions this festival) and Project Children
Highlights: Three hundred beers; tents devoted to cask-conditioned and Belgian-style beer; more than 75 national and international brewery representatives on hand; five bands performing on two stages; retailers related to the brewing industry; food from area restaurants; event is party of Syracuse’s “Micro-Brews and Blues Week.”
