August Beer Festivals
July 25-August 3: The Farsons Great Beer Festival
Location: Ta'Qali Park, Malta
Highlights: Outdoor festival held annually since 1981; large selection of produced by Simonds Farsons; a variety of food; more than 50 live performances on two stages; children's fantasyland; free admission and parking.
July 26-August 14: Annafest
Location: Kellerwald, Forchheim, Germany
Highlights: Festival of St. Anne, first held in Forchheim in 1446; celebrated in a beer garden with room for 30,000; fairground attractions; food from 24 restaurants plus numerous stalls selling German food; live bands.
August 1-2: Belgium Comes to Cooperstown
Location: Brewery Ommegang, near Cooperstown, NY
Organized By: Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Annual celebration of Belgian culture with tours of the brewery; a five-course beer dinner with hard-to-find Belgian beers, live music, and a late-night bonfire on Friday; a tasting of more than 150 Belgian and Belgian-style beers, with live music and food for sale including Belgian waffles, a pig roast, seafood kebabs, sandwiches, and Belgian stew, many made with Ommegang beers; camping available. Tickets must be purchased in advance online.
August 1-3: Benrath Bierboerse
Location: Pedestrian Zone, Benrath (near Duesseldorf), 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.
August 1-3: International Berlin Beer Festival
Location: Karl-Marx-Allee, Berlin, Germany
Highlights: A "beer mile" (actually, more than 2.2 kilometers) in Berlin's historic downtown, featuring more than 1,750 different beers from 240 breweries representing 80 countries; cultural and culinary specialties from 20 German "beer regions"; live music on a variety of stages; free admission.
August 1-2: Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza
Location: Sam's Wood Site, Mammoth Lakes, CA
Presented By: Mammoth Brewing Company
Highlights: Beer from more than 50 microbreweries and the and the best blues performers in the country (beer and entertainment lineup TBA).
August 2: Beer and Bluegrass Festival
Location: River Run Village, Keystone Resort, Keystone, CO
Highlights: Beer from more than 30 Colorado microbreweries, served in a beer garden; down-home cooking; acoustic bluegrass music on two stages; inflatables and children's activities at "Energy Alley"; free parking and admission.
August 2: Brew at the Zoo–Columbia
Location: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia, SC
Highlights: Specialty, import, and domestic beers; rhythm and blues music by Elliott and the Untouchables; dinner buffet (tickets sold separately); festiival admission includes free entry to the zoo.
August 2: CityView Brewfest
Location: Downtown Des Moines, IA
Sponsored By: Iowa Wine and Beer Commission
Highlights: Festival was rescheduled due to flooding in Des Moines; more than 250 beers from over 125 brewers, including Iowa-brewed beer; food and live entertainment.
August 2: Monterey Beer Festival
Location: Monterey Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA
Presented By: The Night That Never Ends
Highlights: Beer from more than 50 breweries; live music provided by four bands; a variety of food, with the providers including the Culinary Center of Monterey (which will receive a portion of the proceeds). This festival is expected to sell out.
August 2: North Aurora Days Beer Fest
Location: Fox Valley Country Club, North Aurora, IL
Benefit For: North Aurora Veterans Memorial Fund
Highlights: More than 20 beers, featuring those brewed in the Fox Valley and throughout Chicagoland; food, including bratwurst and pulled pork sandwiches from the "Wurst Kitchen"; live music.
August 2: WaZoo
Location: Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL
Benefit For: Animals at the Lowry Park Zoo
Highlights: Sampling of beers from around the world, plus a wine garden; food from several Tampa Bay-area restaurants; a variety of live entertainment throughout the evening.
August 5-9: Great British Beer Festival
Location: Earls Court, London, England
Organized By: Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year's festival featured more than 700 Real Ales, ciders and perries, and foreign beers; tutored tastings; food and a variety of entertainment; bar games and pub quizzes; a family room; and the "Champion Beer of Britain" competition.
August 7-10: Toronto's Festival of Beer
Location: Fort York, Toronto, ON, Canada
Sponsored By: The Beer Store
Highlights: Canada's leading beer festival, with more than 200 beers; Southern-style barbecue, live entertainment, and grilling demonstrations by TV personalities; historic setting; also, satellite events throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
August 8-11: Leverkusen Bierboerse
Location: An der Schusterinsel, Leverkusen-Opladen, 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.
August 9: Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival
Location: Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Regency Park, Cary, NC
Presented By: Moorea Marketing
Highlights: More than 60 beers; over 40 bourbons, with "Bourbon College," hosted by master distillers; live music; a variety of barbecue tastes; cigar tent; a limited number of VIP tickets are available.
August 9: Blues and Brews
Location: Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron, OH
Highlights: Beer and wine tasting; food for sale; live blues music; cooking demonstrations, with recipes available for take home; special VIP "Brewers Circle" tickets, featuring lunch, specialty brewed beers, and a VIP band, are also available.
August 9: Brew at the Zoo
Location: Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse, NY
Highlights: Last year's festival featured beer from 14 breweries and providers, animals on exhibit, a silent auction, and food and live music. More details of this year's festival will be posted on the zoo's website.
August 9: Bronze Blues & Brews Festival
Location: City Park, Joseph, OR
Highlights: Blues music by regional and national performers; beer from Western microbreweries (list TBA); food and souvenir vendors; camping available; festival site is within walking distance of downtown; free shuttle service to and from Wallowa Lake, Joseph, and Enterprise.
August 9: Great Taste of the Midwest
Location: Olin-Turville Park, Madison, WI
Organized By: Madison Homebrewers and Tasters Guild
Highlights: Last year's festival featured 500 beers from more than 100 breweries and brewpubs from the Midwest; a lakeside festival venue; a celebrity brewer dunk tank; food, live entertainment, and plenty of space to spread out.
August 9: Craft Lager Festival
Location: Soda Springs Park, Manitou Springs, CO
Presented By: Craft Beer Festival, Inc.
Highlights: Bottom-fermented beer "from Hawaii to Boston"; presentation of awards for exceptional lagers; music by Grass it Up and Big Paddy; proceeds to go Pikes Peak region open spaces.
August 9: Microfestivus
Location: Elmwood Park, downtown Roanoke, VA
Presented By: The Square Society
Highlights: An expanded lineup of more than 50 beers from over 20 craft breweries from the Mid-Atlantic region; better layout and more facilities for this year's event.
August 9: Millvale Brew Festival
Location: Millvale Riverfront, Millvale, PA
Hosted By: Borough of Millvale, Millvale MainStreet, and the Millvale Borough Development Corporation
Highlights: Scenic location with great views; two tasting sessions, featuring craft-brewed and specialty import beers from about 35 breweries; local food, including vegan and vegetarian options; live entertainment; proceeds will help in the recovery of Millvale, which was devastated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
August 9: North Fork Craft Beer, BBQ and Wine Festival
Location: Martha Clara Vineyards, Jamesport, NY
Benefit For: Peconic Bay Medical Center, New York State Brewers Association, Harry Chapman Food Bank
Highlights: VIP and general admission tasting sessions; more than 120 beers from over 50 breweries and providers, including many from New York State; wines from Martha Clare Vineyards; food, featuring gourmet barbecue; special vendors and cooking demonstrations; live music; talks given by brew masters and industry leaders.
August 9: Royal Wine and BrewHAHAl
Location: American Royal, Kansas City, MO
Highlights: Inaugural event; a tasting of locally-distributed beers and wines.
August 9: Taste of Grand County
Location: Winter Park Ski Resort, Winter Park, CO
Benefit For: National Sports Center for the Disabled
Highlights: Beer and wine sampling, food tasting, silent auction, and live entertainment.
August 14-16: Worcester Beer, Cider and Perry Festival
Location: Worcester Racecourse, Worcester, England
Organized By: Worcester Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 200 beers (list TBA on the festival website) plus ciders and perries; food and live entertainment; beer festival is held in conjunction with the Worcester Festival.
August 15: Beer & Baseball: Beer 101
Location: McCormick Field (home of the Asheville Tourists), Asheville, NC
Highlights: Beer sampling plus an opportunity to learn about beer styles, how beer is brewed, and how to choose proper glassware; admission includes hors d'oeuvres and admission to the ballgame.
August 15-16: Bend Brewfest
Location: Les Schwab Amphitheater, Bend, OR
Benefit For: Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Oregon
Highlights: Fifth annual event; more than 60 beers from over 30 area breweries; food, wine, and spirits, a variety of local bands; free admission, families welcome.
August 15-16: Brews, Brats and Bands 2008
Location: Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, WI
Benefit For: American Red Cross and Meals on Wheels of Stevens Point
Highlights: Two-day event featuring live music, Johnsonville Brats, and Stevens Point Brewery products. Brews; family events, including a children's carnival; silent auction; free admission.
August 15: Flour City Brewers' Fest
Location: Frontier Field, Rochester, NY
Presented By: Rohrbach Brewing Company
Highlights: Beer from more than 20 local and national craft brewers and distributors; food and live bands; festival is sanctioned by the New York State Brewers Association.
August 16: BrewExpo
Location: Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA
Presented By: BrewNation
Highlights: Two tasting sessions, plus special connoisseur session (new this year); more than 150 beers from 60 microbreweries; gourmet international buffet; People's Choice competition, Brewzeum exhibits and BrewForum interactive tasting seminars; special guests, including John Hansell "The Malt Advocate," Michael Goldfine, and "The Beer Geeks" Mark Dellinger and Jeff Metzler.
August 16: Fleet Lions Beer Festival
Location: Ancells Community Hall, Fleet, England
Benefit For: Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust and local charities
Highlights: "A taste of the South," with beers from breweries in the south of England; two tasting sessions; barbecue available throughout the day. Event is organized by the Fleet Lions Club, in conjunction with The Crondall Brewery Company. More details of this year's event will be posted on the festival website.
August 16: Russian River Beer Revival and BBQ Cookoff
Location: Stumptown Brewery Beach, Guerneville, CA
Benefit For: Guerneville Seniors Center
Highlights: Festival is held on the banks of the Russian River; beer from more than 25 breweries, plus ciders; barbecue from 25 teams; shuttle bus available from Santa Rosa.
August 16: The Steinley Cup Microbrew Festival and Competition
Location: Veterans Island Park, Saratoga, WY
Highlights: Event is Wyoming's official microbrewery competition, with the Steinley Cup awarded to the winner; family-friendly event, with food and live music; "Taste of the West," featuring the area's best chili cooks, and the Saratoga Bullfest, a bull riders-only event, are held on the same weekend.
August 19: 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.
August 19-23: Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival
Location: The Embankment, Peterborough, England
Organized By: Peterborough & District Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Recent years' festivals featured more than 350 Real Ales, plus ciders, perries, and bottled beers; food vendors; live music; "Champion Beer of the Festival" competition; and free admission to daytime sessions.
August 16: Stone 12th Anniversary Celebration and International Beer Festival
Location: California State University, San Marcos, CA
Benefit for: Local charities (last year's event raised more than $100,000)
Highlights: New venue this year, with park-like campus setting; two tasting sessions, with more than 30 hand-picked guest breweries (and more TBA to be announced on the festival website); food vendors; hair-dying fund-raiser.
August 20-24: Belgrade Beer Fest
Location: Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro
Highlights: Last year's festival featured more than 30 beers, food stalls, and live music, and attracted more than half a million visitors. Free admission. Details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.
August 20-23: Clacton Beer Festival
Location: St. James' Hall, Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, England
Organized By: Tendring Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 55 Real Ales, ciders, perries, and bottled continental beers; live music Thursday evening and jazz Saturday afternoon; hot and cold food available Thursday to Saturday; festival is held at the same time as the Clacton Air Show.
August 21-24: Bewdley Beer Festival
Location: St George's Hall, Load Street Carpark, Bewdley, England
Highlights: More than 40 Real Ales (list TBA on the festival website), plus ciders; live music Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings; family room available.
August 22: Brew at the Zoo, Columbus
Location: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell (suburb of Columbus), OH
Benefit For: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Highlights: After-hours event at the zoo, with beer and food provided by the Winking Lizard beer bar; live music and prizes. More details about this year's event will be posted on the zoo's website.
August 23: Brew at the Zoo, Louisville
Location: Louisville Zoo, Louisville, KY
Produced By: Friends of the Zoo (proceeds benefit the zoo)
Highlights: Fifth annual event; beer from 20 local and regional breweries, with non-alcoholic choices available; food provided by more than 30 local restaurants and vendors; live entertainment; "Parrot Dice Casino" and fantasy raffle packages; festival ticket includes admission to the zoo.
August 23: Buffalo Brewfest
Location: HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
Benefit For: Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center
Highlights: New venue this year; more than 100 beers; a selection of food from several local restaurants. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.
August 23: German Bierfest, Atlanta
Location: Woodruff Park, Atlanta, GA
Highlights: More than 30 German beers; authentic German food, along with food provided by local vendors; live music and DJ; kid's zone; prize raffle; free admission to children and designated drivers.< /p>
August 23: Great Eastern Invitational Microbrewery Festival
Location: Brewery Hall, Stoudts Brewery, Adamstown, PA
Highlights: Two tasting sessions, with more than 50 microbrewed beers from around the country; Ed Stoudt's "Best of the Wurst" German-style buffet; live entertainment; complimentary shuttle service from local motels.
August 23: Hops in Humboldt
Location: Rohner Park, Fortuna, CA
Benefit For: Hops in Humboldt Foundation
Highlights: Beer from about 30 area breweries (more to be confirmed; see festival websie for update); an ecclectic music line-up, arts and crafts, and food.
August 23: Sierra Brewfest
Location: Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, CA
Hosted By: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Highlights: Outdoor venue, underneath tall Ponderosa pine trees; more than 100 beers from over 35 area microbreweries; wine and non-alcoholic beverages; live music by the Cold Shot Band; food, including sausages, barbecue, and Mexican food.
August 23: Southern Brewers Festival
Location: On the Riverfront, Chattanooga, TN
Presented By: Big River Grille & Brewing Works
Highlights: Beer from Southern breweries, food from local restaurants, live music; event benefits Chattanooga Kids on the Block.
August 23: Summertime Brews Festival
Location: Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion, Greensboro, NC
Benefit For: American Red Cross
Highlights: Expanded lineup of more than 160 beers from all over the world. This festival is expected to sell out at the door.
August 23: Tribury Beer Festival
Location: Settler's Park, Southbury, CT
Presented By: Tribury Chamber of Commerce and Cork & Keg International
Highlights: Beer from New England microbreweries; food and live music; proceeds benefit local fuel banks. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at info (at) triburychamber (dot) org for more information.
August 23-28: Wilmington Cricket Club Mini Beer Festival
Location: Wilmington Cricket Club, Wilmington, England
Highlights: Beer from 20 breweries; cricket matches throughout the festival; event will be opened by the mayor of Dartford.
August 25: AleFest Dayton
Location: Carillon Historical Park, Dayton, OH
Benefit For: Diabetes Association of the Dayton Area
Highlights: More than 250 beers from over 100 breweries, with a special Ohio craft brewery section; food and live music; breweriana and beer wearables on sale; silent auction and raffle; Dogfish Head's "Randall The Enamel Animal."
August 28-30: Durham Beer Festival
Location: Dunelm House (Durham Students' Union), Durham City, England
Organized By: Durham Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year's festival featured 80 Real Ales plus ciders and perries. More details about this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.
August 29-30 (provisional dates): Harbury Beer Festival
Location: Village Hall, Harbury, England
Organized By: Heart of Warwickshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year's festival featured more than 50 beers, including locally-brewed products; ciders, perries, and bottled beers; food; entertainment Saturday night; "Beer of the Festival" competition. Details of this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.
August 29-September 1: Berea Labor Day Oktoberfest
Location: Berea Fairgrounds, Berea, OH
Presented By: Kiwanis Club of Berea
Highlights: Four days of authentic German beer and food; local and regional musicans and German dance groups; a variety of events, including wiener dog races, a celebrity keg tapping, sand sculptures, marionettes, and a 5K run.
August 29-31: Karlsruhe Bierboerse
Location: Schlossplatz, Downtown Karlsruhe, 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.
August 29-31: Mystery Beer Weekend
Location: Memphis Taproom, Philadelphia, PA
Highlights: Thirty-three "mystery beers," three examples each of 11 different styles, will be tapped; the festival-goer who correctly identifies the most beers will win a beer-filled prize package.
August 29-September 1: La Fete Bieres et Saveurs
Location: Fort Chambly, Chambly (near Montreal), QC, Canada
Presented By: Desjardins
Highlights: Venue is a national historic site on the banks of the Richelieu River; festival features microbrewed beers as well as wine, cider, cheese, and other Quebec products; entertainment, including acrobats, musicians, magicians, and jugglers.
August 30: Hayward Rib & Brew Fest
Location: Northern Lakes Co-Op, Hayward, WI
Presented By: Whitetail Country Meats
Highlights: More than 40 microbrewed beers, plus local, domestic and international wines; beer festival is held in conjunction with a rib competition and festival featuring a raffle, door prizes, live entertainment, and children's games.
August 30: Microbrew Festival & Concert
Location: Pacific Pavilion, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA
Highlights: More than 50 beers from over 20 breweries; live thoroughbred racing; post-race concert by retro new wave group Devo; free entry with racetrack admission.
August 31-September 1: Festival of Iowa Beers
Location: Millstream Brewing Company, Amana, IA
Highlights: Beer from 10 craft breweries, with brewers in attendance, and seven homebrew clubs; cooking with beer demonstration; live music and local food.
Location: Mount Snow Ski Resort, West Dover, VT
Highlights: An annual Labor Day weekend event, featuring beer from many of New England's best microbreweries; live music both days; the first pint is free.
