If it’s rare beer you’re after, the local watering hole will only get you so far. For the ultimate beer-tasting experience, you’ll need to hit one of the country’s many beer festivals, where attendees have the chance to taste rare beers from heavy hitters and hyped breweries. These one-stop-shops let craft beer nerds and casual drinkers try exclusive brews while chatting with the brewers who made them.
Of course, not all beer festivals are created equal. So what makes a festival worth attending? The rarity of the beers being poured, the quality of the breweries attending (invitationals tend to be more selective) and the ticket price. Still don’t know where to start? We’ve done the hard research and put together the following list of the best beer fests in America.
Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival
Location: Paso Robles, CA
Dates: June 1
Notable Breweries: Garage Project, Jester King Brewery, The Bruery, Side Project Brewing, Burial Beer Co.
Ticket Prices: $90+
Widely regarded as the top beer festival in America, Firestone Walker Invitational brings together more than 50 of the world’s most hyped and in-demand brewers, who all bring their A-games (read: best beers) to this annual fest in California. Beyond the beer, food trucks abound and grub comes with the price of a ticket — assuming you can grab one before they sell out after going on sale every February.
