WEEKEND GETAWAYS | FOOD + WINE FESTIVALS
11 great beer festivals of the West
Great beer festivals of the West
2008 California food festivals
10 best road-trip cars & where to take them
Hot weather inevitably means it's time to fire up the grill and relax with a cold one in the backyard. But when the major labels found at the local market can feel a little overplayed, a day at a local beer festival can get your creative juices flowing again.
To get a taste of the best beer festivals of the West for the summer and fall 2008 season, we've picked the brains of Maryanne Nasiatka and Paul Ruschmann. The husband-and-wife team, who authored the "Michigan Breweries" guidebook to their home state's hop houses, are also the proprietors of Beerfestivals.org. Tasked with the job of gathering information and visiting beer festivals from around the world, they've cultivated the following list of the 11 best celebrations -- because 10 just isn't enough -- of the frothy alcohol.
North American Organic Brewers Festival
June 27-29, Portland, Ore. NAOBF.org
"A celebration of organically brewed beer, with more than 50 beers from breweries in the Cascadia region (the world's organic brewing capital) as well as organic pioneers from other industries. The festival is powered by biodiesel, composts food waste and uses biodegradable tasting cups."
Colorado Brewers' Festival
June 28-29, Fort Collins, Colo. DowntownFortCollins.com
"Beer from more than 40 Colorado breweries served in a historic downtown setting, with food and live entertainment. Proceeds benefit other events in Fort Collins."
Seattle International Beerfest
July 4-6, Seattle SeattleBeerFest.com
"A hundred beers from more than 15 countries served in an outdoor Grande Beer Garden."
Oregon Brewers Festival
July 24-27 Portland, Ore. OregonBrewfest.com
"North America's largest gathering of independent brewers, with beer from 73 invited breweries. It's a beer lover's paradise in a beautiful waterfront setting."
Monterey Beer Festival
Aug. 2, Monterey NightThatNeverEnds.com
"Beer from more than 50 breweries and a variety of food, with the providers including the Culinary Center of Monterey (which will receive a portion of the proceeds)." said Nasiatka and Ruschmann. The night before the festival, the Culinary Center of Monterey on Cannery Row hosts "An International Beer Experience" beer dinner.
Great Canadian Beer Festival
Sept. 5-6, Victoria, British Columbia GCBF.com
"This year will be the 15th annual event , sporting beer from more than 40 craft breweries from across Canada and the American Northwest."
Telluride Blues & Brews Festival
Sept. 12-14, Telluride, Colo. TellurideBlues.com
"Beer from 50 breweries and music from nationally renown blues artists with mountain peaks for a backdrop, the festival continues in late-night juke joints and after-hours jams." This year's music line up includes Etta James & The Roots Band as well as G. Love & Special Sauce.
Fremont Oktoberfest
Sept. 19-21, Seattle FremontOktoberfest.com
"More than 70 beers from 35 breweries are served in three beer gardens along the Fremont Ship Canal. There will be a variety of activities, including [live music,] a chainsaw pumpkin carving competition, 5K run and walk, and a 'street scramble' scavenger hunt."
All of the musicians are required to play one German song, which usually ends up being "99 Luftballons," said festival promoter Phil Megenhardt.
San Diego Festival of Beer
Sept. 19, San Diego SDBeerfest.org
Single page |
1
2
>>
 Should we take offense, order a drink, or what? That depends, of course, on where you think these words turned up. |
 The National World War II Museum in New Orleans dedicates its latest building. |
Coeur d'Alene to the North Pole: An Idaho resort goes all out for Christmas
When not in Vegas, 1.5-million lights can only mean someone's putting on one heck of a holi...
Read more »
Users' Favorites
Taking restless Southern California on vacation
Los Angeles Times e-mail newsletter, delivered every Thursday
wherever it appears.