Too late I found out that the first annual Denver Beer Fest started today (9-18). The ten day celebration of all things yeasty and sudsy is the largest gathering of American beers in history and the three day Great American Beer Festival (September 24-26) will feature some 1900 tap beers on offer and 400 bottled beers.
I say that I found out too late because the press release I received today also informed me that all 46,000 tickets to the GABF have been sold out for weeks. Evidently, Denver Tourism publicists hope that myself and to whomever else they are disseminating this information will be moron or loser enough to drop whatever we're doing and fly or drive to the Mile High City so that we can stand outside the gates and watch 46,000 people sample all the beers to which we are barred by lack of a ticket. Good Times!!!
Still, it got me thinking about other upcoming beer fests for which my ticketless status at the moment will not result in my nose being rubbed in the sawdust. October is two weeks away—still plenty of time to book a ticket and a room somewhere on the globe where the good times are about to roll.
In fact, according to beerfestivals.org, there are roughly 106 between now and November. We should be able to score a pass to one of them, right?
Here are a few from beerfestivals.org's site that looked intriguing. For a full listing go to www.beerfestivals.org
September 19 to October 4: Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
Yes, this is the largest and oldest (and probably loudest) beer festival in the world. You have to go once, for no other reason to be humiliated by little Bavarian grandmothers who will drink you under the table. You will also be able to wear leather shorts without any psychosexual conotations (that I'm aware of). While the event is free, space in the tents is limited. If you do not have a seat in one of the tents, you will not be served any beer. Go to www.oktoberfest.de and click on the'tent' link to see about reserving seats, or the best strategies to getting in the tents. Grusse Gott!
October 2-4 Fredericksburg Oktoberfest, Fredericksburg, Texas
My Tejas friends tell me this three day festival gets better every year. To my mind, it's in the most beautiful part of the state (the rolling hills country) and I love the fact that you've got lederhosen and wranglers, sauerbraten and chicken enchiladas side by side. There are some great Texas microbrews, and I hear that most of the 30 bands that play day and night are great. Giddyup, Fritz!
October 3 Hood River Hop Fest, Hood River Oregon
As everyone knows, the entire country owes a huge debt of gratitude to the state of Oregon for popularizing (and some say, perfecting) the microbrew. I used to spend part of my summers in Portland and got to the point where I could not conceive of witnessing a sunset without a Bridgeport or Full Sail in hand. And, as many others may know, Hood River is a particularly beautiful spot in a particularly beautiful state. And they make great beer. Ok, how can you go wrong?
October 7-10 Bedford Beer and Cider Festival
This event is put on at the Corn Exchange by the North Bedfordshire Branch of the Campain for Real Ale. I have no idea what they're talking about. I asked my brother in law who went to school in Bedford and he made some snide comment about Yorkies. And I have no idea what those funny little dogs have to do with ale, so I give up. Go, and come back and give me a report.
October 17-18 Brassigaume, Marbehan, Belgium
This festival boasts beer from 80 small breweries, which seems like alot until you consider that Belgium has 80 small breweries per square kilometer. Ok, I made that up. But this country has amazing beer from cherry flavored to those kick ass Trappist Ales. Maybe this isn't the top dog of Belgian beer fests, but in a country that makes such great beer, prepares mussels a dozen ways and perfected french fries, your time and money will not be wasted.
That's all for now. It's five o'clock. Somewhere. And I am feeling strangely thirsty.
Photo ©iStockphoto.com/Zatsepin_Alex
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