Spring is when craft beer festivals blossom in the Southeast along with the flowers.
A craft beer fest differs from a traditional fall Oktoberfest in that it usually is a tasting event where many different brews are sampled rather than downed in huge quantities from massive beer steins.
Tasting festivals are relatively new, most having been around for only a few years. In some cases they came about as a result of changes in local laws allowing for craft beers with higher alcohol content to be sold and distributed. These festivals celebrate the art of the brewing process and, most importantly, its end result.
March 25-26, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Valor Park in the Market Common, a master-planned, urban-style village in Myrtle Beach, is home to this festival. The live-work-play community is a popular shopping, dining and entertainment spot for tourists and locals. The festival is free to attend, but you must purchase a tasting glass to sample the nearly 100 beers available. Live music and plenty of food vendors round out the event. www.myrtlebeachbeerfest.com
March 11-20, Charlotte
In just its second year, Charlotte Craft Beer Week actually stretches beyond a week and occurs at different venues. Local and regional microbreweries are spotlighted with tastings of rare and exotic beers at various taverns and restaurants around town. Food and beer pairings are another highlight. Ticket prices vary for different tastings and events and will be available at the host locations. www.charlottecraft beerweek.org March 26, Memphis
This festival takes place at Handy Park on Memphis’ Beale Street, a legendary blues destination, so you can bet there will be plenty of live music to go along with the suds. The River City fest is divided into two four-hour sessions, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Separate tickets are required for each session. More than 75 craft beers will be available for tasting. Ticket proceeds benefit the Autism Society of Mid-South Tennessee. www.rivercitybrewersfestival.com
March 26, Baton Rouge, La.
The Louisiana-based potato chip company known for its Cajun-infused flavors sponsors this festival. Along with a large assortment of international beers, the Zapp’s fest also will include an array of home brew selections to sample. Lots of jambalaya will be served, as well live zydeco music from the Bayou Boys. Louisiana State University’s expansive open-air Rural Life Museum is both the site and benefactor of the festival. www.zappsbeerfest.com
April 10, Athens
As beer festivals in the South go, this one is a granddaddy, having been around since 1995, pioneer days for America’s craft brewing renaissance. The grounds and historic buildings of the Foundry Park Inn, steps away from downtown, will be the setting for this year’s fest. The location also includes the popular Melting Point music hall. Purchase your tickets early, because only 750 are being sold. It also might be a good idea to book a room at the inn so you won’t have to worry about transportation when the festival is over. www.classiccitybrew.com
May 7, Charlotte
Small-batch bourbon and pit-smoked barbecue will be available for tasting along with the beer at this festival, making it a quintessentially Southern event. Plus there’s the Best Beer Belly Contest, where the contestant with the best bulging midsection is crowned the winner. Rock, blues and bluegrass music will be featured on the main stage, and master distillers, brewers and pit bosses will share their secrets during seminars in the Tasting Theater. www.beerandbourbon.com/north-carolina/show-info
May 7, Pembroke, Va.
Virginia-based microbreweries such as Blacksburg Brewing, Jefferson Street Brewery and Williamsburg Ale Werks are spotlighted at the BrewRidge Music Festival, which places just as much focus on the music of the region. The Appalachian mountain lakeside location at an altitude of 4,000 feet might make this the highest beer festival in the Southeast. Mother’s Day is the next day and a special package is being offered by the Mountain Lake Hotel (where the movie “Dirty Dancing” was filmed) that includes admission to the festival and a Mother’s Day brunch. www.mtnlakeconservancy.org
May 7, Middletown, Va.
The Belle Grove Plantation, a National Historic Landmark sitting on more than 200 acres in the Shenandoah Valley, is the site for the 16th edition of this afternoon festival focusing on ales from the new and old worlds. The antebellum manor and estate will be open for tours and a rugby tournament will take place on the front meadow. The plantation has English and German heritage, so beers from those countries will be featured prominently. www.bellegrove.org
May 20, Jacksonville
The third annual Jacksonville Craft and Import Beer Festival happens on a Friday evening at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, near downtown and the St. Johns River. More than 200 beers from 35 different breweries will be available. Some favorite smaller breweries represented will include Dogfish Head, Stone Brewing Co. and Georgia’s own Terrapin Beer Co. Unlimited food sampling from area restaurants is included in the ticket price. www.beerfestjax.com
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