May Beer Festivals
April 30-May 3: New England Real Ale Exhibition (NERAX)
Location: George Dilboy VFW Post, Somerville, MA
Organized By: Cask-Conditioned Ale Support Campaign (CASC)
Highlights: About 80 cask-conditioned ales, equally divided between the British Isles and New England; six tasting sessions, with all-session passes available; musical entertainment and barbecue from Redbones.
April 30-May 3: Paisley Real Ale Festival
Location: Paisley Town Hall, Paisley, Scotland
Organized By: Renfrewshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: The biggest beer festival in Scotland; last year's event featured more than 130 cask-conditioned beers, and voting for "Champion Beer of the Paisley Beer Festival."
May 1-4: Reading Beer and Cider Festival
Location: King's Meadow, Reading, England
Organized By: Reading the Mid-Berkshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 430 Real Ales, plus over 140 foreign beers, over 140 ciders and perries, and over 30 wines; entertainment program; food and merchandise stalls. More details about this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.
May 2-3: Hop Scotch
Location: Fremont Studios, Seattle, WA
Benefit For: Northwest Folklife
Highlights: A tasting experience highlighting more than 50 beers, including many seasonal beers; and a Scotch tasting garden hosted by Master of Scotch Ari Sharpio.
May 3: Atlantis Craft & Import Beer Festival
Location: Atlantis Marine World Aquarium, Riverhead, NY
Benefit For: Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research
Highlights: Inaugural event, held inside the aquarium; more than 150 domestic and imported beers from over 40 breweries, brewpubs, and importers; "endless buffet," food from area restaurants, and food and beer pairings; interactive tasting seminars; live music; VIP tickets available, with a pre-festival reception, reserved seating, and personal beer tutoring.
May 3: Beer on the Pier
Location: Festival Hall A, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
Highlights: In/door venue; two tasting sessions; last year's festival featured more than 150 beers (this year's beer list TBA on the festival website) and live entertainment.
May 3-5: Isle of Wight Steam Railway May Bank Holiday Beer Festival
Location: Havenstreet Station, near Ryde (Isle of Wight), England
Presented By: Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Highlights: More than 24 ales, including ales brewed on the Isle of Wight and the west and southwest of England; food, including barbecue on Saturday and Sunday; special evening trains during the festival.
May 3: Larkin's Carolina Festival
Location: Larkin's on the River, Greenville SC
Highlights: A tasting of wine and beer from all over the Carolinas. Call 864.467.9777 for more information.
May 3: Milwaukee Beer Festival
Location: Old Heidelberg Park (Bavarian Inn), Glendale, WI
Benefit For: United German Societies--Milwaukee
Highlights: Twentieth annual event, in a new venue with new sponsorship; festival features "The Blessing of the Bock," bock and specialty beer tastings, with brewery representatives in attendance; breweriana on sale; admission includes buffet lunch. This event has been cancelled.
May 3: Seend Beer Festival
Location: Seend Social Club, Seend, England
Highlights: A wide variety of ales (complete list to be posted on the festival website); ciders and other beverages; food, including a pig roast; musical entertainment.
May 5-6: Japan Craft Beer Festival–Tokyo
Location: Garden Hall, Ebisu Garden Place, Tokyo, Japan
Organized By: Japan Craft Beer Association and Beer Taster Non Profit Organization
Highlights: More than 120 craft beers available for sampling; announcement of the winners of the Japan Asia Beer Cup 2008.
May 5: Reading Phillies Beer Tasting Festival
Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Reading, PA
Sponsored By: The Reading Eagle
Highlights: Pre-game sampling of imported and domestic beer provided by All-Star Distributing; all-you-can-eat buffet featuring barbecue chicken and hot dogs; access to the heated pool.
May 8-10: Banbury Beer Festival
Location: TA Centre, Banbury, England
Organized By: North Oxfordshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Eighty beers (this year's theme is "Beers From the North West"), plus a selection of ciders and perries; "Beer of the Festival" competition.
May 8-10: Macclesfield Charity Beer Festival
Location: The Big Marquee, Macclesfield Rugby Club, Macclesfield England
Organized By: Macclesfield & East Cheshire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Fifteenth annual event; more than 100 Real Ales plus ciders, bottled beers, wine, and soft drinks; food, including Mega Bread and Cheese Butties inside and a burger van outside; two live bands each evening; proceeds will be donated to the Park Lane School.
May 8-10: St. Louis Brewers Heritage Beer Festival
Location: Lindell Pavilion, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO
Presented By: Here's to Beer!
Highlights: General tasting sessions on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and evening, plus special VIP and businessman's sessions; an expanded lineup of breweries and beers, featuring the return of St. Louis Dark Lager as well as a special festival beer; food from local restaurants, live entertainment, and exhibits detailing beer's place in the history of St. Louis. Festival proceeds benefit Lift for Life Gym.
May 8: Spring Beer Tasting
Location: Downriver Italian American Club, Wyandotte, MI
Highlights: An assortment of beers from around the world, with snacks and appetizers available. Tickets are on sale at Discount Drinks, 2811 Fort Street in Wyandotte; telephone 734.282.3800.
May 9-10: Clarets Trust Beer Festival
Location: 1882 Lounge, Burney Football Club, Burnley, England
Organized By: Clarets Trust, in association with The Burnley Express, Burnley F.C., and East Lancashire Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Burnley's only beer festival, in a new venue this year; more than 20 Real Ales from area breweries, including glocal breweries Prospect, Brewhouse, and Bradfield; live music on Saturday; official opening by Burnley F.C. legend Paul Fletcher.
May 9-10: Ilkeston Beer Festival
Location: King Edward IV Suite, Regency Rooms, Ilkeston, England
Organized By: Erewash Valley Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 60 Real Ales, ciders, perries, and fruit wines; live music Saturday evening; free admission to CAMRA members.
May 9-10: Mayfest 2008 (Halifax Beer Festival)
Location: Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, Halifax, England
Organized By: Halifax & Calderdale Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Last year's event featured more than 70 Real Ales plus ciders and perries, food, and a specialist bookstand. Details of this year's festival will be posted on the branch's website.
May 9-11: Rail Ale Beer Festival
Location: Welsh Highlands Railway, Dinas Goods Shed, near Caernarfon, Wales
Organized By: WHR Society/Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri
Highlights: Event will be opened by Welsh television personality Arfon Haines Davies; more than 40 Real Ales, including beer from four local breweries within walking distance of the railway's stations; live music, featuring a community orchestra, jazz, and Welsh music; stalls operated by local groups; regular shuttle train service between Caernarfon and Dinas.
May 10: Brew-Ha-Ha
Location: Veterans Park, Canon City, CO
Benefit For: Fremont Center for the Arts
Highlights: Beer from more than 20 Colorado microbreweries, and a lineup of top-notch comedians; live music after the tasting.
May 10: Of Ale and History
Location: Belle Grove Plantation, Middletown, VA
Highlights: Festival venue is a mansion with German and English heritage; 35 microbrewed beers, and musical entertainment provided by The Reflex and Junkfood.
May 10: Oregon, Wisconsin, Micro Brew Fest
Location: Oregon Center Drive, Oregon, WI
Presented By: Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce
Highlights: More than 100 beers, with "Favorite Beer Award" voting; music by Queenie & the Blue Cats and Aaron Williams & the Hoodoo; a portion of the proceeds benefit downtown road construction.
May 10: The Legendary Boonville Beer Festival
Location: Mendocino County Fairgrounds, Boonville, CA
Presented By: Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Highlights: Open-air setting in the scenic Anderson Valley; more than 100 beers from over 50 breweries, most of them from California and the West; music and dancing; food and merchandise offered by vendors; on-site camping available; all proceeds are donated to area non-profit organizations.
May 10-11: Pegasus Farm Brew Ha Ha
Location: Pegasus Farm Campground, Elkins, WV
Highlights: An event centered around, but not limited to, West Virginia microbrewed and homebrewed beer; brewing demonstrations, tastings, and awards; camping, food, music, and a bonfire.
May 14-17: Rugby Beer Festival
Location: Thornfield Bowling Club, Rugby, England
Organized By: Rugby Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Twenty-fifth annual event; last year's festival featured about 60 different beers, along with five different ciders; food at all sessions. Additional details will be posted on the branch's website.
May 15-17: Chester Charity Beer Festival
Location: Chester Rugby Club, Chester, England
Organized By: Chester & South Clywd Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Twentieth annual event; more than 70 Real Ales and Ciders; live music all three evenings; food; yards of ale; pub games.
May 16-17: Beacon Hill Beer Festival
Location: Royal British Legion, Hindhead, England
Highlights: Independent beer festival, featuring "an eclectic selection of English ales and cideers with a geographical twist." More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.
May 16-17: Fete de la Biere
Location: Lausanne-Ouchy, Switzerland
Organized By: Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: Lakeshore venue, with a view of the Swiss Alps; more than 170 beers; concerts every evening. Website is in French only.
May 16-17: Philadelphia Blues & Beer Festival
Location: George IV, Sheffield, England
Highlights: Last year's festival offered live blues music and a selection of cask-conditioned ales, including special festival ales. More details about this year's event will be posted on the festival website.
May 16-17: Rail Ale Festival
Location: Barrow Hill Roundhouse, near Chesterfield, England
Highlights: More than 120 ales plus ciders, fruit wines, and continental bottled beers; live entertainment Friday and Saturday evenings; hot food and sandwiches served throughout the festival; admission includes train rides.
May 16-17: SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience
Location: Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Washington, DC
Presented By: The Brewers Association
Highlights: Inaugural event, featuring beer provided by 48 independent craft breweries from eight regions of the United States; chosen by the brewers to pair with the beers; educational salons with live presentations by brewers, journalists, and chefs; event celebrates American Craft Brew Week.
May 16: Springfest and Chili Cook-Off
Location: Ocean Beach Park Pavilion, New London, CT
Presented By: New London Rotary Foundation
Highlights: Seashore venue; more than 100 beers from over 30 breweries and providers; chili competition and tasting; live music; proceeds benefit the foundation's charity projects.
May 16-17: Stratford-upon-Avon Beer & Cider Festival
Location: Chris Rookes Bar/Paddock Suite, Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Organized By: Shakespeare Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 50 Real Ales, ciders, and perries; "Champion Beer of the Festival" competition; food available.
May 16-18: Yapton Beerex
Location: Yapton Village Hall, Yapton, England
Organized By: Western Sussex Branch, Campaign for Real Ale
Highlights: More than 65 beers from small, independent breweries (including plenty of golden, hoppy beers); four ciders and perries; and a range of British and imported bottled beers.
May 16-17: World Expo of Beer
Location: Heritage Park, Frankenmuth, MI
Benefit For: Frankenmuth Jaycees
Highlights: Beer from Michigan and around the world; beer judging and "people's choice" awards; brewing demonstrations; food, live music, and souvenirs.
May 16-18: Beer & Cocktail Show
Location: Downsview Park, Toronto, ON, Canada
Highlights: Canada's largest beer and cocktail show, in a new venue with a wider beverage selection this year; tips and recipes for cooking with beer; entertainment, including live music, a fashion/bikini contest, and interactive shows.
May 16-17: Brewer's Memorial Ale-Fest
Location: Rogue Brewery, Newport, OR
Benefit For: Oregon Humane Society and other canine charities
Highlights: Festival honoring "Brewer," the brewery's beloved mascot; beer from more than 50 microbreweries; local cuisine, live music, and events for dogs.
