2008 September Beer Festivals -- Beer Info

Terrapin Beer Company

Berea Labor Day Oktoberfest - Berea, OH - August 29-September 1
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.

La Fete Bieres et Saveurs - Chambly, Quebec - August 29-September 1
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.

Festival of Iowa Beers - Amana, IA - August 29-September 1
Beer from 10 craft breweries, with brewers in attendance, and seven homebrew clubs; cooking with beer demonstration; live music and local food.

Beer Summit Samuel Adams Oktoberfest - Boston, MA - September 5-6
VIP session, with guest speaker Jim Koch, Friday evening; Oktoberfest on Saturday; at least 15 different styles of Samuel Adams beer; food, including German sausage and pretzels; music provided by three bands.

Brew at the Zoo and Wine, Too, Denver - Denver, CO - September 5
Beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres from more than 50 Colorado breweries and restaurants, music and dancing at the zoo after dusk; event is a fund-raiser for the zoo's Red Apple Fund for life-long learning.

Bruegala - Bloomington, IL - September 5-6
"A festival of international beer" with more than 200 beers, including home-brewed beers from the Abnormal Brewers; six live bands; single-elimination bag tournament.

Connecticut River Brewers Fest - Holyoke, MA - September 5-7
Last year's festival featured ore than 100 beers from 30 regional microbreweries, poured in a scenic festival venue; continuous live music; and food provided by Burnt Offerings BBQ.

Emerald Coast Beer Fest - Pensacola, FL - September 5
Beer from 20 Southeastern microbreweries and brewpubs; bottled specialty beers and a selection of homebrewed beers for sampling; food and music by the McGuire's Irish Pub Pipe Band.

Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine Festival - Mackinaw City, MI - September 5-6
Waterfront venue; more than 50 Michigan microbrewed beers, along with over 40 wines from Michigan’s four internationally recognized wine regions; brewmasters and winemakers in attendance; area entertainers, sponsored by the Odawa Casino; a variety of food.

MainStrasse Oktoberfest - Covington, KY - September 5-7
Thirtieth annual event; Oktoberfest-style celebration in a restored German village, featuring German beer and food, a variety of entertainment, works by artisans and crafters, and a Kinderplatz.

Snowshoe Mountain Oktoberfest - Snowshoe, WV - September 5-6
Oktoberfest celebration with traditional German food and German-style beer, live music, and dancing in the evening; village entertainment, including scarecrow building and pumpkin carving contests, in the afternoon.

Brews in the Village - Bakersfield, CA - September 6
Expanded festival venue this year; more than 100 beers from 60 North American breweries; wine from more than 20 Central Coast region wineries; live entertainment presented on four stages; food provided by 30 Bakersfield restaurants.

Ithaca Brew Fest - Ithaca, NY - September 6
Beer from 30 craft breweries, most from New York State; music by three live bands; part of the proceeds will go toward to revitalization of the park.

Sacramento Summerfest '08 - Sacramento, CA - September 6
Beer and wine tasting; live music; silent auction of works by local artists; barbecue; vendors; event supports the Alzheimer’s Association's Sacramento Memory Walk.

Bierfest 2008 - Pittsburgh, PA - September 8-9
Beer sampling, including Spezial Rauchbier, EKU Hacker Pschorr, and Weltenburg; Lustige Almdudler German Band; Alpen Schuhplattler dancers; food available in the Rathskeller.

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest - Mt. Angel, OR - September 11-14
Traditional Biergarten, Weingarten and Alpinegarten; continuous live music (more than 30 groups) on four stages; free Kindergarten with rides and shows; Friday and Saturday night street dancing; more than 50 Alpine food chalets serving ethnic foods; arts and crafts show; "Cruz-n Car" show; RV and tent camping.

Madison County Hop Fest - Oneida, NY - September 12-14
Events include a Friday evening brew dinner (at the Ye Olde Landmark Tavern in Bouckville); Saturday sampling of beer from 20 area craft breweries, an expanded food and brew pairing session, presentations on hop culture, and prize raffles; and a Sunday Hop Heritage and Cuisine Tour; this year's festival marks the 200th anniversary of the introduction of commercial hop growing in New York State.

Minneapolis Oktoberfest - Minneapolis, MN - September 12-13
"Munich in Minneapolis," with traditional German music, polka dancing and food and beer; free admission and music; games, including a beer barrel roll and the Hammerschlagen (nail driving); most of the events will held under tents.

New York Brewfest - New York, NY - September 12
More than 300 craft-brewed beers, most of them from New York State breweries, with brewmasters and brewery representatives on hand; music by four bands throughout the evening; most of the festival venue is covered; proceeds benefit the New York State Brewers Association.

Telluride Blues & Brews - Telluride, CO - September 12-14
Outdoor music venue with mountain peaks for a backdrop; beer from 50 breweries during Saturday's Grand Tasting; nationally-renown blues artists ; a variety of food and crafts vendors; festival continues in late-night juke joints and after-hours jams. Tickets go on sale March 3.

Washington Beer Commission Oktoberfest - Seattle, WA - September 12-13
"Over 30 breweries under one big tent", including WABL Beer, an exclusive beer brewed specially for the festival by Lazy Boy Brewing Company; live entertainment.

Beer in the Plaza - Healdsburg, CA - September 13
Beer from more than 30 breweries; sausages and other food; live music by the Shannon Ryder Band; silent auction; proceeds fund Soroptomist Club projects.

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest - Big Bear Lake, CA - September 13-25
Oktoberfest-style celebration, featuring America's highest-elevation biergarten; authentic German Food; bands and dance groups every weekend; activities, including log-sawing and stein-holding contests; new Midway Fun Zone for children and families.

Brass City Brew Fest - Waterbury, CT - September 13
More than 250 beers from 50 domestic and 50 international breweries; special-entry Belgian tent; music provided by three bands; food available; classic car cruise (free admission) before the festival.

Brews on the Bay - San Francisco, CA - September 13-14
Fifth annual event, featuring more than 50 beers from all seven of San Francisco’s artisan breweries; food and live music; festival venue is a historic World War II Liberty Ship.

Capital City Invitational Beer Festival - Harrisburg, PA - September 13
Beer from more than 20 breweries from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New York; three tasting sessions; food buffet and live entertainment.

Great Lakes Beer Fest - Racine, WI - September 13
Lakeshore venue; last year's festival featured more than 250 craft beers from over 100 breweries, a complimentary pint to first 1,000 paid admissions, live music on two stages, a homebrew championship, and special VIP packages. More details of this year's event will be posted on the festival website.

Hop in the City - St. Louis, MO - September 13
More than 40 styles of Schlafly beer; barbecue food and local live music; local vendors, with product samples and demonstrations.

Lehigh Valley Brewfest - Easton, PA - September 13
New venue this year; beer from area microbrewries (list TBA on the festival website); live entertainment.

Smyrna Hops & Barley Beer Tasting - Smyrna, GA - September 13
Hundreds of local and international beers; live music by the Parrotheads; DJ Lethal Rhythms; food from area restaurants.

Steel City Big Pour - Pittsburgh, PA - September 13
"Three Hours of Beer, Live Art, and Music"; last year's festival featured beer from 20 breweries, live music, food, "kegerator art," and a "not so silent auction." More details about this year's festival will be posted on the Construction Junction website.

Taste of Wisconsin - Beaver Dam, WI - September 13
More than 50 beers and dozens of cheeses, all made in Wisconsin.

Thirsty Troll Beer Festival - Mt. Horeb, WI - September 13
Intimate beer sampling, featuring more than 100 craft-brewed beers by over 35 brewers; live music; food served by area restaurants; get your picture taken with Ivan the Thirsty Troll.

Treasure Coast Beer Festival - Fort Pierce, FL - September 13
Inaugural event, and Treasure Coast's first-ever beer tasting event, with more than 50 beers.

Jenkintown Jazz and Beerfest - Jenkintown, PA - September 14
"Red hot jazz and ice cold beers"; outdoor festival featuring premium hand-crafted beer along with foreign bottled beers, live jazz and blues music, food vendors, and a root beer garden for the kids.

Berghoff Oktoberfest - Chicago, IL - September 17-19
Outdoor festival; beer and food; live music, including oom-pah music and a variety of other performers; prize raffle to benefit the Breast Cancer Network of Strength.

Frankenmuth Oktoberfest - Frankenmuth, MI - September 18-21
Plenty of cold beer; traditional Bavarian entertainment, including Schuhplatter; German food; wiener dog races; Sunday German worship service; children's activities.

Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest - Chippewa Falls, WI - September 19-21
Traditional Oktoberfest celebration, begun with the ceremonial keg tapping; a variety of musical performers and other entertainers; children's activities; all-German car show; scavenger hunts.

Fremont Oktoberfest - Seattle, WA - September 19-21
More than 70 beers from 35 breweries, served in three beer gardens; a variety of live entertainers; food and craft vendors; kid's area; activities, including a chainsaw pumpkin carving competition, 5-K run/walk, and "street scramble" scavenger hunt.

Independence Brew-B-Q - Independence, IA- September 19-20
Saturday beer tasting in the beer garden, with regional, national, and imported beers; Brew-B-Q & Bike Ride; barbecue contest, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society; live entertainment; free admission to festival site.

Manhattan Cask Ale Festival - New York, NY - September 19-21
At least 40 cask ales, including some rarely found; six beers from Chelsea Brewing, the others from guest brewers; free admission; all beers served on a first-come, first-served basis.

Midwest Brewfest - Wichita, KS - September 19-20
Beerfest dinners Friday evening (details TBA on the festival website); grand tasting Saturday with more 400 beers, beer-friendly food, DJ Ronnie Choy, and silent auction for the benefit of Starkey, Inc. The event is a fund-raiser for the AIWF Culinary Scholarship Fund.

Oktoberfest on Larimer Square - Denver, CO - September 19-21
Event is modeled after Munich's Oktoberfest; German attractions, music from national touring groups, performances by international dancers, children’s activities, heritage booths selling German good; traditional German food; children’s activities.

San Diego Festival of Beer - San Diego, CA - September 19
Outdoor downtown venue; more than 150 beers from over 60 area microbreweries; wine also available; food; music provided by Len Rainey and the Midnight Players and Night Shift.

Septembeerfest - Oak Creek, WI - September 19
More than 200 malted beverages to sample; grand prize raffle; food available; entertainment tent, featuring music by Mt. Olive.

Ballpark Beer Festival - Charleston, SC - September 19
More than 100 American specialty brews, plus a wide variety of malt beverages, wine, and liquor; food and live entertainment.

California Brewers Festival - Sacramento, CA - September 20
More than 155 microbrews by over 65 brewers from all over the West; live bands, performing in a tree-shaded park; a variety of traditional, Mexican, and southern foods, and a cigar vendor; professionally-judged beer competition, with awards in 13 categories; event benefits local children's charities.

Cruisin' Calistoga Beer & Wine Festival - Calistoga, CA - September 20
Beer and wine tasting; car show; food events; and items for sale.

Big Lake Brewfest - Superior, WI - September 20
Beer from 25 area breweries; outdoor beer garden; games and contests.

Great Smokies Craft Brewers Brewgrass Festival - Asheville, NC- September 20
Beautiful mountain setting; more than 100 beers from 30 American breweries; national and regional bluegrass performers, featuring award-winner Jim Lauderdale; a variety of food vendors; event benefits Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Western North Carolina.more?

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati - Cincinnati, OH - September 20-21
America's largest Oktoberfest; German beer, music and food; famed for the world's largest Chicken Dance and world's largest kazoo band; free admission.

Rocky Mountain Oktoberfest - Woodland Park - September 20-21
German food, wine, and beer; entertainment, including musical performers and folk dancers; children's activities; arts and crafts and business booths.

Steamboat Brewers' Festival - Steamboat Springs, CO - September 20
Beer from 15 or more Colorado breweries; "Brewer's Choice" and "People's Choice" awards; live music, food vendors, and root beer for kids.

Suds on the Green - Sacramento, CA - September 20
Beer from local breweries, as well as brands supplied by Marktein Beverage Company, an event sponsor; food and live music; festival-goers will be able to watch the Sacramento Eagles professional golf team.

Addison Oktoberfest - Addison, TX - September 21
A four-day authentic German-style celebration, and one of the largest outside Munich; beer, food, and music; a variety of entertainment, including dachshund races, a German cuisine tour and spelling bee, and a "German Idol" yodeling competition.

Greeley's Oktoberfest l - Greeley, CO - September 26-27
Friday evening: beer, free live music, life size beer pong, and food, and beer. Saturday: beer garden, a variety of musical entertainment, food, craft and novelty vendors, "Kid’s World," and contests.

Oktoberfest, USA l - La Crosse, WI - September 26 - October 4
Tapping of the "Golden Keg," German food and entertainment; a variety of activities including a lederhosen luncheon, the honorary royal family, a torchlight parade, and games and contests.

Autumn Brew Review l - Minneapolis, MN - September 27
Historic brewery venue; beer from area breweries, most of them based in Minnesota (brewery and beer list TBA on festival website); food and live music.

Central Florida Beer Festival - Orlando, FL - September 27
Indoor, air-conditioned venue; more than 200 varieties of beer, distributed at over 80 booths; food sampling; live music and other entertainment; brewing seminars; prizes; and safe rides after the festival.

Charlotte Oktoberfest - Charlotte, NC - September 27
Tenth annual event, held this year in a new venue; more than 300 craft-brewed beers from Southeast and around the world; live musical entertainment throughout the day; food provided by local Charlotte vendors; fun and games at the Creative Loafing Beerlympic Village.

Clayton Oktoberfest - Clayton, CA - September 27-28
Fifth annual event, held under Mt. Diablo; traditional biergarten with German food and beer and California wines; continuous live music; other entertainment, including street performers, marionette shows, and carnival rides; large arts and crafts show.

Das Best Oktoberfest - Oxon Hill, MD - September 27
Oktoberfest celebration, with 150 different beers, German food, and music on two stages. More details will be posted on the festival website.

Fair Oaks'toberfest - Fair Oaks, CA - September 27
"More of a brew fest than an Oktoberfest," with beer from more than 25 California and West Coast breweries; food and live music; event benefits the Fair Oaks Recreation Foundation.

Fall Fest at Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown, PA - September 27
A German-themed community celebration, with food and live music; children's activities; brewery tours; and music by The Lukens German Band, Steve Liberace Trio, Zing Kings and the Kiwi Band.

Heart of the Valley Beer Festival - Corvallis, OR - September 27
Event, formerly known as the Oregon Homebrew and Microbrew Festival, features Oregon and Northwest microbrewed beer.

Hunter Mountain Microbrew and Wine Festival - Hunter, NY - September 27-28
Beer from more than 15 breweries, most from New York State; wine tasting; specialty foods and delicacies, arts and crafts vendors, farmers' market, and live entertainment.

Great Tucson Beer Festival - Tucson, AZ - September 27
Beer from more than 50 breweries from all over the Southwest; live entertainment, silent auction; VIP early admission and sampling tickets are available.

Lakes Region Brew Fest - Point Sebago, ME -September 27
Fifth annual event; beer from more than 20 Maine microbreweries, local wines, food and live music; festival is held on conjuction with the Point Sebago Artisan’s Craft Show.

Leaf Peepers Oktoberfest - Davis, WV - September 27
Festival brews from Blackwater Brewing Company, Mountain State Brewery, and Bluegrass Brewing Company, with brewmasters in attendance; festival events surrounding the Oktoberfest include 5K and mountain bike races, carnival rides, canoe rentals, and craft fairs.

Maryland Beer & Food Fest - Aberdeen, MD - September 27-28
Maryland's largest beer festival, with hundreds of domestic and international beers; a selection of wines; live music, ranging from rock to New Orleans funk; food, including gourmet items, fresh produce, and dishes from local restaurants; food and beer pairing hosted by local chefs; unusual outdoor activities, including sumo wrestling and obstacle course competitions.

Maryland Microbrewery Festival - Westminster, MD - September 27
Historic venue; beer from Maryland microbreweries; food and continuous live music and entertainment; crafts and merchandise vendors; beer seminars; free parking.

Northern Virginia Fall Beerfest - Centreville, VA - September 27-28
Beer from more of 40 of the world’s best breweries pouring their beers; food; entertainment provided by local and regional bands.

Oaktoberfest IV - Paso Robles, CA - September 27
An "oak-inspired" variation of Oktoberfest, with Firestone Walker and German beer tents; local wine; festivities, including the tapping of a special barrel of beer, live polka music, and a "Beer Olympics"; traditional Oktoberfest-style food; proceeds benefit the Hospice of San Luis Obispo County.

Quivey's Grove Beer Fest - Madison, WI - September 27
Last year's fest featured more than 70 beers from 30 breweries, and live music.

Ski Sundown Brewers Fest - New Hartford, CT - September 27
Beer from microbreweries and brewpubs in Connecticut and beyond; music provided by River City Slim & the Zydeco Hogs; food available.

Sippin' By the River - Philadelphia, PA - September 27
Beer and food tasting inside the Philadelphia Brewing Company pavilion; wine tasting, with experts in attendance; cooking demonstrations; live music provided by DAME, and the Sounds of Sinatra from singer Carlo Morelli; special VIP tickets available.