Beer brewing and tasting have long been enjoyed all over the world, and with craft beer festivals gaining popularity, there are so many options to choose from. So, if you’re a beer lover with a taste for adventure, why not travel for the beer this year? In honour of International Beer Day, we’re sampling a few great beer festivals around the globe!
Prefer wine? Check out Wine Touring Through the Okanagan and Top Attractions in the Napa Valley You Will Love!
Mikkeller Beer Celebration
Copenhagen, Denmark
May 10-11
This year, Mikkeller Beer Celebration toasted its 8th edition. Since its humble beginnings in 2012, the event has grown out of its first venue and expanded like crazy.
At Mikkeller, they love to explore beer, which is why they invite the best breweries in the world to come and serve a minimum of 8 of their rarest beers. And what better excuse to visit beautiful Copenhagen than a beerfest? If you didn’t make it out this year, there’s always next!
Qingdao International Beer Festival
Qingdao, China
Late July – end of August
Also referred to as Asia’s Oktoberfest, the Qingdao International Beer Festival celebrates the “nectar of the gods” with beer from all over the world, including Germany, Japan, Denmark, Mexico, the US and of course, China.
It features over 200 varieties of beer brewed by Chinese brewmasters and international brewers. During the festival, there are events for all, including parades, bikini contests (if that’s your thing) and a carnival!
Oktoberfest
Munich, Germany
September 21-October 6
We can’t write a post about beer fests without mentioning the legendary Oktoberfest, can we? Celebrated in Munich since 1910, Oktoberfest sees over 6 million people flocking to Germany yearly to down almost 6.9 million litres of beer.
But don’t just come to Oktoberfest for the beer! Come for the delicious German food, the parades, the carnival rides and of course, the lederhosen and dirndls.
Oktoberfest is family-friendly too! While Tuesday is family day and offers discounted carousel rides and food, at the Familienplatzl, every day has family-friendly options. You’ll find kid-friendly food and even a microwave to heat up your own food.
There’s also a baby stroller parking garage and changeroom for those with little ones.
Borefts Beer Festival
Bodegraven, Nederlands
September 27-28
Held in Bodegraven, Nederlands at the de Molen Brewery (complete with a windmill at the end of the street), the Borefts Beer Festival offers a plethora of experimental one-off beers and a great atmosphere.
2019 will mark the 11th edition of their annual enjoy-good-beer-with-good-friends-party. Borefts selects a diverse array of large and small, known and unknown breweries from all over, for the ultimate beer tasting adventure. Be the first to discover the next great beer at this event.
Need a place to stay while in town? Here’s a list of accommodations nearby the craft beer festival.
The Great American Beer Festival
Denver, Colorado
October 3-5
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Although it’s held in October, tickets for The Great American Beer Festival go on sale July 30-31. This festival is massive, boasting over 2,000 varieties of beer from 450 breweries in the US. And during the 3-day event, 100 judges critique over 3,000 kinds of beer. In fact, it’s the largest venue in the world for draft beer, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. So if you’re looking for a superlative beer experience, this festival is a must-visit.
Remember: Travellers should always drink responsibly and understand why alcohol and travel insurance don’t mix.
Which beer festivals are on your travel bucket list this year? Share with us in the comments below!
Cheers,
Sarah
