It’s always a great time for delicious craft beer. But the next few months bring an array of awesome beer festivals for you to officially celebrate the beer riches of our current moment in style.
Beer weeks and festivals celebrate the culture and community of craft beer and give fans options to enjoy new and special brews — and there are a lot of these special events coming up in places all across the country. Here are the nine best ones.
San Marcos
Stone 21st Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival, August 19, 2017
Hailed as one of the Godfathers of craft beer, this is not your average beer festival. It’s not just the largest craft beer festival in Southern California. The quality of beers is carefully selected to include some of the finest and rarest beers around.
Seattle
Washington Beer Collaboration Festival, August 19, 2017
Washington celebrates collaboration and creativity this summer by featuring 25 unique collaboration beers from 50 different Washington breweries. Stay tuned for the collaboration pairings. The second annual two-day outdoor event is presented by the Washington Beer Commission.
Philadelphia
Labor Day Volkfest, September 2-4, 2017
Willkommen bei freunden! Every Labor Day Weekend, the Cannstatter Volkfest Verein hosts a lively three-day-long Volksfest and Oktoberfest party. Celebrating German heritage since 1873, this is the oldest Volkfest in the United States.
Sacramento
Ca Craft Beer Summit & Summit Beer Festival, September 7-9, 2017
Experience two full days of beer education, networking, and trade shows for brewers, retailers, distributors, and craft beer lovers at the convention center on September 7 and 8. On Saturday, September 9, enjoy a plethora of California craft beers at the largest beer festival on the West Coast, with more than 160 California craft breweries.
Charleston
Charleston Beer Week, September 9-16, 2017
The 5th annual Charleston Beer Week celebrates the city’s craft beer community, from brewer to bartender and keg to glass. The city now boasts 19 production brewers, four brewpubs, and numerous craft beer-focused pubs and restaurants. Keep a look out on their website for a list of 48 sudsy events across the city.
Big Bear
Big Bear Oktoberfest, September-October 2017
Nestled among pine trees, mountains and Big Bear Lake, this is one of the longest-running Oktoberfests in the country. Guests are treated to authentic German entertainment, brats and knockwursts, and German beers in a beautiful alpine setting.
Denver
Great American Beer Festival, October 5-7, 2017
The Great American Beer Festival is the premier U.S. beer festival and competition. In its 30th year, the 2016 GABF competition awarded 286 medals to some of the best commercial breweries in the U.S. Want another reason to visit? With access to more than 3,500 different beers from over 700 of the nation’s finest breweries, it’s listed as one of the top 1,000 places in the U.S. to visit before you die.
San Diego
San Diego Beer Week, November 3-12, 2017
From “Bikes, Brews and Brats with Green Flash” and “Beer Train Trolley Tour” to “Hops on the Harbor with Flagship Cruises and Belching Beaver Brewery,” and a “Rare Beer Breakfast,” this is a 10-day craft beer celebration like no other.
Greater Palm Springs
Coachella Valley Beer Week, November 10-19, 2017
Established in 2015, CVBW is a craft beer celebration featuring festivals, dinners, tours, tastings, and meet-the-brewer nights in and around Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indio, and La Quinta.
