Beer - Festiwals

A Beer Festival is an organised event during which a variety of beers (and often other alcoholic drinks) are available for tasting and purchase. Beer festivals are held in a number of countries. A Beer Exhibition is usually synonymous with a Beer Festival but, whilst a beer festival may involve a limited range of beer styles or manufacturers, with an emphasis on entertainment, use of the term "beer exhibition" places emphasis on sampling or tasting a wide range of beers, usually craft-brewed in a variety of different styles by various brewers.

German beer festivals:

The largest beer festival in the world is the known to every1 oktoberfest in germany. Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held each year in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to early October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and the world's largest fair, with some six million people attending every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the Munich event. Several other smaller beer festivals are held all over Germany all over the year. The 2nd largest beer festival in Germany and probably in Europe, is the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart.

The second largest genuine Bavarian festival is the Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing. The festival is similar like Oktoberfest but it has an own history and it is not a copy of the Oktoberfest, as is the Barthelmarkt by Manching, which even dates back to Roman times. The third largest beer festival in Bavaria is the Bergkirchweih in Erlangen, with the largest open-air beer garden in Europe.

oktoberfest by night

British beer festivals:

Festivals are often organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), by local pubs and occasionally by other groups. CAMRA festivals are run by volunteers under direction of the local CAMRA branch. There is an admission fee which is reduced or waived for CAMRA members. Pub festivals use professional bar staff, and there are usually no entry fees. Beer festivals organised by student real ale societies - some CAMRA-affiliated and some not - have existed for many years, but are currently enjoying something of a boom. These festivals are typically held in students' union premises, and entry is hence sometimes restricted to students and staff, though exceptions may be made for card-carrying CAMRA members.

Notable British beer festivals:

The Great British Beer Festival held annually in August in London is the largest and most famous beer festival in the UK, and is organised by CAMRA. The "GBBF", as it is known, was founded in 1977 and was attended by over 66,000 people in 2006, and 350,000 pints of ale were consumed over the five days of the festival.

The CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival; held at New Century Hall, Manchester, is designed to showcase beer styles which may not be readily available during the summer festival. Taking place every January, it has also been celebrated in Glasgow and Burton-on-Trent.

The Luton Beer Festival, organised by South Beds CAMRA, is one of the first major beer festivals of the UK calendar year. With over 100 beers, ciders and perries usually available. Takes place 18–20 February 2010 and is currently in its 27th year.

The Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival held in three giant marquees on the Embankment, Peterborough, PE1 1EF has been running since 1978 and is the largest outside of London with 350+ draught real ales, 100+ ciders and perries. Takes place on the Tuesday to Saturday in the week before August Bank Holiday.

The Nottingham Robin Hood Beer Festival in Nottingham, has been held annually in October since 1977 (before 2008 styled Nottingham Beer Festival). It is held in the grounds of Nottingham Castle in the city having moved there from the Victoria Leisure Centre. It has grown to 15,000 people attending in 2008 with 57,500 pints of real ale consumed.

Festivals in other countries:

In Belgrade, Serbia, Belgrade Beer Fest takes place every August at Ušće park.

In Braşov, Romania, a large Beer festival is held every year in October.

In Bruges, Belgium, BAB-bierfestival, held every year in November

In Copenhagen, Denmark, the big Copenhagen Beer Festival takes place every year in May.

In Karlovac, Croatia, Dani piva, held every year, 10 days starting on last Friday in August

In Kragujevac, Serbia, Šumadija Beer Open, held every year in June.

In Plzeň, Czech Republic, the biggest Czech beer festival (Pilsner Fest) is held every year in October.

In Tallinn, Estonia, festival Ollesummer is held every year in July.

In Trondheim, Norway, an Oktoberfest is held every second year during the student festival UKA.

In Stockholm, Sweden, Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival is held every year in September.

In London, England the largest event is the Alexandra Palace German Beer Festival which coincides with the venues annual firework display (7 November 2009)

Have you ever attended to a festival like this ? If so, tell us how was it !

Do these kind of events intrest you ? Would you like to participate in oktoberfest if you never had ?