Winter Beer Festivals (2015-2016)

Subscribing to the “When is it not a good time to drink beer?” school of thought, beer festivals fill the calendar year-round, and during the winter season these events are all about highlighting bolder flavors, daring spices and strong, boozier creations. Here are some save the dates to add to your calendar.

Attack of the Big Beers
Charlotte, NC | Nov. 7, 2015
Charlotte’s high-gravity beer festival delivers exactly what it promises with “Belgians, big beers and bodacious brews” from North Carolina craft brewers and beyond.

San Francisco Craft Beer Festival Holiday Edition
San Francisco, CA | Nov. 14, 2015
Aiming to highlight “Top Shelf Craft Brewing,” the holiday edition of the San Francisco Craft Beer Festival will feature 75 breweries from across the country each pouring two of their beers, ciders or meads, with an emphasis on limited release or seasonal offerings.

Portland Holiday Ale Festival (pictured)
Portland, OR | Dec. 2-6, 2015
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Portland’s Holiday Ale Festival will feature more than 50 winter brews—many of which are being released specifically for the event—and nearly a week’s worth of festivities, including rare bottles poured at the brewer’s brunch the final day.

Valley Forge Beer and Cider Festival
Philadelphia, PA | Dec. 5, 2015
Philadelphia’s Valley Forge Beer and Cider Festival will unite the shared beauty of both beer and cider for a fest featuring more than 75 brewers and cider makers pouring 150-plus samples. Beer geeks and cider snobs unite!

Beer Fest Beat Down
Chicago, IL | Dec. 16, 2015
Chicago’s Beer Fest Beat Down will feature more than 20 breweries from across the country pouring seasonal offerings, plus Lucha Libre Mexican wrestlers, a cascading Beering-ham fountain and the Santa’s Little Hoppers workshop.

Winter Brew Fest
Denver, CO | Jan. 22-23, 2016
Beer festivals abound year-round in Colorado. But on an icy Denver evening, a boozy winter ale is particularly welcome. The Winter Brew Fest will celebrate the crafts beers of Colorado along with offerings from across the country with proceeds to benefit the Swallow Hill Music Association.

Atlanta Winter Beer Fest
Atlanta, GA | Jan. 30, 2016
Aiming to be all things to all drinkers, the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest at The Masquerade will be pouring not only 150-plus beers and ciders but wines as well. Sorry, spirits enthusiasts.

Winter Beer Festival
Grand Rapids, MI | Feb. 26-27, 2016
Proclaiming themselves “The Great Beer State,” the Michigan Brewer’s Guild makes a convincing argument on sheer numbers alone, with last year’s 10th anniversary of the Winter Beer Festival in Grand Rapids featuring more than 100 Michigan breweries pouring more than 1,000 different beers. We’ll see if they can top themselves this year.