Carnivale Brettanomyces
Amsterdam, June 15–18
Oh, the stories we’ve heard. It’s anything but your run-of-the-mill industry conclave, with a focus on the quirky, creative, experimental, and experiential. As funky beer steps back from the commercial limelight, it’s an important spark for the creative fire. wildegist.nl
Homebrew Con Club Night
San Diego, June 23
Club night returns to Southern California, where homebrew clubs have been the proving grounds for dozens if not hundreds of the professional breweries we love. Enjoy beer for beer’s sake and the biggest collection of homebrew anywhere in the United States. homebrewcon.org
Annafest
Forchheim, Germany, July 21–31
Explore the kellers at this Franconian classic on Forchheim’s famous wooded Kellerwald. Rustic beer gardens sit atop cool sandstone tunnels once used for lagering; today, the chestnut forest provides a picturesque canopy for 24 kellers, many of which open only for this event. annafest.bayern
Barrel & Flow Fest
Pittsburgh, August 12
The nation’s most inclusive beer festival is philosophically driven in its focus on Black brewers and artists. It’s also one hell of a party. Good vibes abound as artists paint live, musicians perform on stage, and Black-owned and Black-operated breweries share their creations. barrelandflow.com
FemAle Brew Fest
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, September 9
A celebration of women brewers and beer experts, this South Florida fest brings together in-state and out-of-state brewers for a welcoming party and a warm vibe. femalebrewfest.com
Great American Beer Festival
Denver, Sept. 21–23
If you haven’t experienced the AHA member session on Saturday afternoon, there’s nothing like it—brewers with medals around their necks, festival-goers clamoring for last pours of soon-to-kick winning beer—and we look forward to it every year. greatamericanbeerfestival.com
Zwanze Day
Various, September (TBA)
We love the idea of a distributed festival, and Cantillon and friends package the vibes in a way that also highlights great pubs, taprooms, and beer bars. Incredible beer, in a wide variety of great places, all over the world. cantillon.be
Fresh Hop Festival
Yakima, Washington, Oct. 7
What better place to taste the widest assortment of fresh-hop beers ever assembled than in the valley that grows a huge percentage of those hops? Few festivals offer such focus and zeal combined with such scale, but this festival is as much a community celebration of the season’s harvest as it is a beer fest. freshhopalefestival.com
Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers
Chicago, November (TBA)
The preeminent fest focused on wood-aged beers is a great excuse for Chicago brewers and enthusiasts to party with friends from far and wide. fobab.com