Best Beer Festivals In The US
Here are five of the best beer festivals in the US:
Across the Country
May 11-17, 2015
The Brewers association hosts an annual festival across the nation where craft beer fans have an increased opportunity to enjoy their favorite beverages and share them with others. In addition to offering craft beer enthusiasts an opportunity to honor their favorite beverages, American Craft Beer Week offers breweries and other beer-related businesses the opportunity to connect with their fans.
Asheville, NC
September 19, 2015
Grab your favorite banjo and head on out to the Brewgrass Festival in Asheville, North Carolina. This festival combines everyone's two favorite things about this Appalachian region: bluegrass and craft beer. For more than 17 years, this festival has featured musicians such as Yonder Mountain String Band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Infamous String Duster. These bands, as well as several others, join forces with local and national breweries to put on the best brew festival in the country.
This year's headliners for the Brewgrass Festival include Big Daddy Love, Packway Handle Band and Jeff Austin band. Plus, more than 50 breweries are expected to offer a diverse collection of craft brew samples.
Chattanooga, TN
August 22-23, 2015
You will find all of the nation's most popular and most unique craft breweries at the Southern Brewer's Festival held annually in Chattanooga. Breweries from both the east and west coasts gather together at this festival offering brew fans opportunity to sample some of the nation's finest craft beers. Participating breweries have included Asheville's French Broad Brewing Co. and Nashville's Jackalope Brewing Co. The Southern Brewer's Festival takes place at Ross's Landing in downtown Chattanooga.
Related: Top Breweries Across the Nation
Galveston, TX
September 4-6, 2015
The BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival offers more than just the opportunity to enjoy, sample and share amazing craft beer. This festival also features educational seminars for those looking to fine tune their brew skills from experts in the beer industry. This festival features the largest and most comprehensive beer celebration in the area and includes more than 400 craft brews for attendees to sample. The BrewMaster's Craft Beer Festival is hosted at Galveston's Moody Gardens.
Denver, CO
September 24-26, 2015
For more than 30 years, the Great American Beer Festival has been offering Colorado residents and visitors the opportunity to try everything from barley wines to barrel-aged sours. This festival offers the largest selection of beer brewed in America all in one single location. This festival is so big, you might need a map to find your way to your favorite brewery. Other things you can expect during the festival include American-made cheeses, a food paring section, a Homebrew Marketplace and a hop-friendly bookstore.
The Great American Beer Festival is hosted at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
Related: Best Breweries in Los Angeles
The next time you are looking to sample some amazing craft beer creations, consider making plans to attend some of the country's finest beer festivals. Then, while you are there, check out some of the local breweries and make an entire beer-themed vacation out of it.
Heather Landon is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience. She has combined two of her passions - writing and travel - to share her experiences with others. You can read more of her articles at Examiner.com.