Beer festival
Encyclopedia
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
s (and often other alcoholic drink
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
s) 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. There may be a theme; for instance beers from a particular area, or a particular brewing style such as winter ales. Beerex is a commonly used portmanteau word coined in 1977 as an abbreviated form of Beer Exhibition.
German beer festivals
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The...
in Germany. 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
Cannstatter Volksfest
The Cannstatter Volksfest is an annual three-week festival in Stuttgart, Germany. It is sometimes also referred to by foreign visitors as the Stuttgart Beer Festival although it is actually more of an autumnal fair...
in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. Its popularity increases and more and more people come from around the world to visit the festival every year. Many other places have beer festivals styled as "Oktoberfests", but taken on its own the name is generally taken to mean for the Munich event.
The second largest genuine Bavarian festival is the Gäubodenvolksfest
Gäubodenvolksfest
The Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing is the second largest genuine folk festival in Bavaria, Germany, after the Munich Oktoberfest.- History :...
in Straubing
Straubing
Straubing is an independent city in Lower Bavaria, southern Germany. It is seat of the district of Straubing-Bogen. Annually in August the Gäubodenvolksfest, the second largest fair in Bavaria, is held....
. 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
Barthelmarkt
The Barthelmarkt is an annual fair and beer festival in Manching near Ingolstadt, Germany. It is held every year on the last weekend of August....
by Manching
Manching
Manching is a municipality in the district of Pfaffenhofen, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Paar, 7 km southeast of Ingolstadt...
, which even dates back to Roman times. The third largest beer festival in Bavaria is the Bergkirchweih
Bergkirchweih
The Bergkirchweih is an annual fair and beer festival in Erlangen, Germany.Locals nickname it Berch, which is the Franconian pronunciation of the German word Berg, meaning mountain or hill....
in Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
, with the largest open-air beer garden in Europe.
Not called "Oktoberfest", but very similar in character, is the Cannstatter Wasen
Cannstatter Wasen
The Cannstatter Wasen is a 35 hectare festival area on the banks of the Neckar river in the part of Stuttgart known as Bad Cannstatt.The Cannstatter Wasen form part of the Neckar Park Fairground....
in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
which starts one week later and is the second largest fair in the world. Smaller beer festivals similar to the Oktoberfest are common in Germany and take place throughout the year in most bigger German cities. Some of them go on later into the night than the Oktoberfest.
Other beer festivals include the Hanover Schützenfest, the Freimarkt
Freimarkt
Freimarkt in Bremen, Germany, first held in 1035, is the oldest fair in Germany. With more than four million visitors each year, it is also considered to be the biggest festival in Northern Germany....
in Bremen, and the Hamburger Dom
Hamburger DOM
The Hamburger Dom is a large funfair held in Hamburg, at Heiligengeistfeld fair ground, in Northern Germany. With three fairs per year it is the biggest and the longest fair throughout Germany. It attracts approximately ten million visitors annually. This Volksfest is a funfair...
. Like the Oktoberfest and the Cannstatter Wasen, most German beer festivals are also funfair
Funfair
A funfair or simply "fair" is a small to medium sized travelling show primarily composed of stalls and other amusements. Larger fairs such as the permanent fairs of cities and seaside resorts might be called a fairground, although technically this should refer to the land where a fair is...
s. They are called "Volksfest" (festival for the people).
British beer festivals
Festivals are organised by the Campaign for Real AleCampaign for Real Ale
The Campaign for Real Ale is an independent voluntary consumer organisation based in St Albans, England, whose main aims are promoting real ale, real cider and the traditional British pub...
(CAMRA) and by pubs. CAMRA festivals are run by volunteers under the direction of local branches and the admission fee is reduced or waived for CAMRA members. Pub festivals use professional bar staff and there is usually no entry fee.
At British beer festivals casks of ale from different brewers are placed on stillage
Stillage
A stillage is like a pallet or skid but with a cage or sides or some form of support specifically tailored to the material it is intended to carry. Some are designed to be stackable....
behind rows of trestle tables. Staff serve beer directly from the cask and take payment in the form of cash or tokens purchased at the entrance. Cooling is achieved using wet sacking or blankets for evaporative cooling or though refrigerated cooling saddles and coils. Glasses are distributed at the entrance to the venue, usually for a small deposit although often included in the entrance fee, often bearing a design specific to the festival. A beer list is usually available, often indicating where in the venue the different casks will be situated. Food is usually available, and entertainments and games such as live music
Live Music
Live Music is a reggaeton company owned by DJ Giann.-Artists:* Jowell & Randy* Tony Lenta* Watussi* De La Ghetto* Guelo Star* Galante "El Emperador"-Producers:*DJ Blass*Dexter*Mr. Greenz*DJ Giann*Los Hitmen*Dirty Joe*ALX...
, pub quiz
Pub quiz
A pub quiz is a quiz held in a public house. These events are also called Quiz Nights or Trivia Nights and may be held in other settings. Pub quizzes are still extremely popular and may attract people to a pub who are not found there on other days. The pub quiz is a modern example of a pub game...
zes or tombola
Tombola
Tombola may refer to:* A type of raffle popular in Britain, Croatia, Italy, Turkey and Austria* Tómbola, an entertainment news TV show on TeleFutura* Operation Tombola, a WWII Allied operation in ItalySee also...
s are often organised.
In all British festivals the beer is sold in quantities of half or full pint
Pint glass
A pint glass is a drinking vessel made to hold either a British pint of 20 imperial fluid ounces or an American pint of...
s. From 2006 the GBBF additionally served beer in "nips
Alcohol measurements
Alcohol measurements are Units of measurement for determining amounts of alcohol.-Beer measures:* snorkel - 2 fluid ounces* nip - 1/3 pint...
" (one-third of a pint), for the benefit of those who wish to sample many beers wthout consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.
Notable British beer festivals
Beer festivals are held across the United Kingdom. Notable ones include:- The Great British Beer FestivalGreat British Beer FestivalThe Great British Beer Festival is a yearly beer festival organised by the Campaign for Real Ale . It presents a selection of cask ales and other alcoholic drinks from the UK and beyond. The festival is also home to the Champion Beer of Britain awards...
held annually in August in London is the largest beer festival in the UK organised by the Campaign for Real AleCampaign for Real AleThe Campaign for Real Ale is an independent voluntary consumer organisation based in St Albans, England, whose main aims are promoting real ale, real cider and the traditional British pub...
. The "GBBF",founded in 1977, was attended by over 66,000 people in 2006 when 350,000 pints of ale were consumed over the five days. - The CAMRA National Winter Ales FestivalNational Winter Ales FestivalThe National Winter Ales Festival is a yearly event organised by the Campaign for Real Ale . The purpose of the event is to showcase the best winter ales in the UK...
; held at New Century Hall, ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, 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 GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Burton-on-Trent. - The Farnham Beer ExhibitionFarnham Beer ExhibitionFarnham Beer Exhibition, usually but informally known as Farnham Beerex , is the longest established beer festival in the United Kingdom to be held annually on the same premises...
in SurreySurreySurrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, having been held every year since 1977 at the Farnham MaltingsFarnham maltingsFarnham Maltings is a creative arts centre in the heart of the market town of Farnham, Surrey, England that was saved by the community in 1969. Its buildings comprise a range of large rehearsal spaces, Great Hall, 15 artists studios, pottery, cafe and cellar bar...
, is the longest-running beer festival to be held annually on a single site in the United Kingdom, and every year sells over 29,000 pints of real ale during its 3 day opening. - The Cambridge Beer FestivalCambridge Beer FestivalThe summer Cambridge Beer Festival is the longest running CAMRA beer festival in the United Kingdom having started in 1974. It is held at the end of May just before the Whitsuntide Bank Holiday. The Winter Beer Festival, held in January, began in 1997, and the Octoberfest in 2007...
, held since 1974, is the longest running beer festival, although it has changed venue three times. Currently, it is held for a week each May in a large marquee erected on Jesus Green in Cambridge. It is the second largest festival outside of London and had 32,000 people attending in 2007.
In addition, many small festivals are organised by local CAMRA branches, pubs, clubs and charities.
Belgian beer festivals
Belgium has a number of beer festivalBeer festival
A Beer Festival is an organised event during which a variety of beers are available for tasting and purchase. Beer festivals are held in a number of countries...
s, including:
- The BAB-bierfestival, held every year in November in BrugesBrugesBruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
- The festival held every spring in LeuvenLeuvenLeuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
(previously in Sint Niklaas and Antwerp) organized by the consumer group Zythos. - The Belgian Beer Weekend held in Grand PlaceGrand PlaceThe Grand Place or Grote Markt is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by guildhalls, the city's Town Hall, and the Breadhouse . The square is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels, along with the Atomium and Manneken Pis...
, BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, organized by the Brewer's association. - Karakterbieren Festival in PoperingePoperingePoperinge is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to mediaeval times. The municipality comprises the town of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.-The town:Poperinge is situated...
, Belgium's hop-growing capital. - The Beer Passion weekend held each July in Antwerp, organized by Beer passion magazine,
- The Christmas beer festival EssenEssen, BelgiumEssen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Essen Centrum, Heikant, Horendonk, Wildert, Statie en Hoek. On January 1, 2007 Essen had a total population of 17,143. The total area is 47.48 km² which gives a population density of 358...
US beer festivals
- The Great American Beer FestivalGreat American Beer FestivalThe Great American Beer Festival is a three-day annual event hosted by the Brewers Association, held in Denver, Colorado, in mid to late September or early October. This year, 2011, the festival runs from 29 September through 1 October. The GABF brings visitors from around the world to sample more...
held in Denver, Colorado, started in 1982 and in 2008 had more than 46,000 people attend, with judges selecting medal winners from 2,961 beers entered by 477 breweries. - Another large event in the US is Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
; over 500,000 people attend this annual festival each year. - The pseudo-Bavarian village of Leavenworth, WashingtonLeavenworth, WashingtonLeavenworth is a city in Chelan County, Washington, United States. It is part of the Wenatchee–East Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,965 at the 2010 census. The entire town center is modelled on a Bavarian village.-History:...
in the US holds Oktoberfest during the first two weeks in October yearly. - The largest and longest running beer festival in New York City is Brewtopia: The Great World Beer FestivalGreat World Beer FestivalThe Great World Beer Fest , originally known as “Brewtopia” was established in 2002 and is the longest running, largest beer festival in New York City. Billed as the "United Nations of Beer,” GWBF features brewers from around the world in a fun, competitive, and most importantly, prominent...
. - The Oregon Brewers FestivalOregon Brewers FestivalOregon Brewers Festival is a four-day craft beer festival held annually since 1988 at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, Oregon. In addition to beer, OBF features food vendors, live music, as well as exhibits from hop growers, home brewers, breweriana collectors, and others.Each...
attracts more than 60,000 each July to PortlandPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. - Philly Beer Week is a 10-day series of beer events starting on the first weekend in June in Philadelphia as a celebration of America's Best Beer-Drinking City. The Hammer of glory was used to tap the ceremonial first keg at Opening Tap on March 6, 2009.
- The Great International Beer Festival is held in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
twice annually. - The World Beer Festival has four locations through the southeastern U.S. Durham, North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia. The festival features 250+ beers, educational seminars, local cuisine, music, and entertainment. Partial proceeds from the festival go to locally selected charities. The World Beer Festival is put on by All About Beer Magazine.
- The KC Beerfest, located in Kansas City, Missouri, provides one of the Midwest's newest opportunities to try the wares of hundreds of different craft brewers from all over the world.
- The Cincinnati Beer Fest takes place every September on Fountain Square; Cincinnati's premiere public space in the heart of downtown.
- The NY Brewfest takes place annually in June on the waterfront in ManhattanManhattanManhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. In 2010, their 4th year, the festival moved to Governors IslandGovernors IslandGovernors Island is a island in Upper New York Bay, approximately one-half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan Island and separated from Brooklyn by Buttermilk Channel. It is legally part of the borough of Manhattan in New York City...
, with over 100 breweries in attendance. - The Seattle International Beer Festival is a beer festival held annually in Seattle, Washington during the month of July. The festival offers visitors a selection of 100-150 beers from some twenty countries around the world.
Canadian beer festivals
Beer festivals in Canada include the Great Canadian Beer Festival, which since 1993 (with help from the VictoriaVictoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
chapter of the Campaign for Real Ale
Campaign for Real Ale
The Campaign for Real Ale is an independent voluntary consumer organisation based in St Albans, England, whose main aims are promoting real ale, real cider and the traditional British pub...
(CAMRA)) has focused on cask ales from the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. Since 2005 the festival has been held at Royal Athletic Park
Royal Athletic Park
Royal Athletic Park is a multi-purpose, fully lit stadium in Victoria, British Columbia. It is primarily used for baseball, soccer, softball and football, but also hosts special events, such as the annual Great Canadian Beer Festival.-History:...
on the first weekend after Labour Day
Labour Day
Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for...
. The festival attracts over 40 craft breweries from across Canada and the Pacific North-western USA and more than 7000 visitors.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is an annual nine-day festival in the twin cities of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Based on the original German Oktoberfest, it is billed as Canada's Greatest Bavarian Festival...
is a nine-day event in Kitchener
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
-Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, which started in 1969 influenced by the original German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The...
.
It is held every October, starting on the Friday before Canadian Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
and running until the Saturday after. Toronto's Festival of Beer was first held in 1995 at Fort York
Fort York
Fort York is a historic site of military fortifications and related buildings on the west side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The fort was built by the British Army and Canadian militia troops in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, to defend the settlement and the new capital of the...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, though has been held at Exhibition Place
Exhibition Place
Exhibition Place is a mixed-use district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, by the shoreline of Lake Ontario, just west of downtown. The 197–acre area includes expo, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, monuments, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial,...
since 2009.
There is also the Lauder Beer Festival which is a much smaller and more exclusive festival held in the North end of Toronto. In 2010, the Ontario Craft Brewers
Ontario Craft Brewers
The Ontario Craft Brewers is a trade association representing 27 small, independent breweries in the Canadian province of Ontario.- Origins :...
started Ontario Craft Beer Week, a week-long craft beer celebration across the province.
The Mondial de la Bière was founded in 1994 in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and attracts around 80,000 people.
The Golden Tap Awards
Golden Tap Awards
The Golden Tap Awards is an annual beer awards event held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The awards are sponsored and presented by , a website and forum dedicated to the discussion and promotion of Toronto's craft and microbrew beer scene....
is an annual beer awards event held in Toronto. The awards are sponsored and presented by The Bar Towel, a website and forum dedicated to the discussion and promotion of Toronto's craft and microbrew beer scene.
Czech beer festivals
- Český Pivní FestivalCzech Beer FestivalCzech Beer Festival is the biggest beer festival in the Czech Republic, held for 17 days every year in May in Prague. The festival features around 120 different beers,...
(Czech Beer Festival) is the biggest Czech beer festival, is 17 days long and held every year in May in PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. - Pilsner Fest is the big festival held every year in August in Plzeň.
- The Olomoucký pivní festival is held in OlomoucOlomoucOlomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
. - The beer festival Slavnosti piva v Českých Budějovicích is held in České BudějoviceCeské BudejoviceČeské Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences...
. - Nepomucké pivní slavnosti is festival held in Nepomuk city in Plzeň RegionPlzen RegionPlzeň Region is an administrative unit in the western part of Bohemia in the Czech Republic. It is named after its capital Plzeň .- Communes :...
. - Velký pivní festival v Padochově is held in Padochov city in South Moravian RegionSouth Moravian RegionSouth Moravian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia, with exception of Jobova Lhota, that belongs to Bohemia. Its capital is Brno the 2nd largest city of the Czech Republic. The region is famous for its wine...
.
Other european countries
- In BelgradeBelgradeBelgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Serbia, Belgrade Beer FestBelgrade Beer FestBelgrade Beer Fest is an annual festival of beer in Belgrade, Serbia. Started in 2003, the festival is held annually over 4 to 5 days as a showcase event for various beer producers. In addition to domestic and foreign brews, the festival features live music performances each evening...
takes place every August at Ušće parkUšce (Belgrade)Ušće is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Novi Beograd. Ušće is located on the mouth of the Sava river into the Danube, thus the name...
. - In BraşovBrasovBrașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
, Romania, a large Beer festival is held every year in October. - In CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark, the big Copenhagen Beer Festival takes place every year in May. - FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
festivals are held in SchiltigheimSchiltigheimSchiltigheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The inhabitants are called Schilikois in French and Scheligemer in Alsatian....
(August) and FelletinFelletinFelletin is a commune in the Creuse department in the Limousin region in central France.-Geography:An area of lakes and streams, forestry and farming comprising a small town and several villages and hamlets situated by the banks of the Creuse River just south of Aubusson at the junction of the...
(July). - In KarlovacKarlovacKarlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County...
, Croatia, Dani piva, held every year, 10 days starting on last Friday in August - In KragujevacKragujevacKragujevac is the fourth largest city in Serbia, the main city of the Šumadija region and the administrative centre of Šumadija District. It is situated on the banks of the Lepenica River...
, Serbia, Šumadija Beer Open, held every year in June. - In PrilepPrilepPrilep is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 citizens. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.-Name:...
, Republic of MacedoniaRepublic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, Фестивал на пивото (Festival na pivoto) or Пивофест (Pivofest), held every year in July. - In TallinnTallinnTallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Estonia, festival Õllesummer is held every year in July. - In TrondheimTrondheimTrondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, Norway, an Oktoberfest is held every second year during the student festival UKAUKAUKA is the largest cultural festival in Norway and is arrangedevery other year entirely by volunteer students from Trondheim. In 2007, 1394 students did volunteer work, while 78,000 event tickets were sold....
. - In StockholmStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden, Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival is held every year in September. - In Ta' Qali, MaltaMaltaMalta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, the Farsons Great Beer Festival is held every year in the last week of July.
Asia
- Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
has celebrated the 3-week Oktoberfest since 1991 and it is organized by the Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel. Many other clubs, hotels and restaurants have an Oktoberfest celebration evening or weekend. - Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
, Vietnam has celebrated Oktoberfest every October since 1992. The event is organized by the German Business Association of Vietnam and the Windsor Plaza Hotel. The 2008 event attracted more than 10,000 guests. In 2009, the Windsor Plaza Hotel also organized Beerfest Saigon, the first beer exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City - In the Philippines, the Oktoberfest is celebrated all throughout the archipelago. The Philippine Oktoberfest starts every first of October and ends thirty days later. The event is marked by concerts and parties usually sponsored by San Miguel CorporationSan Miguel CorporationEstablished in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....
and Asia BreweryAsia BreweryAsia Brewery is a brewery founded in 1982 in Makati City, the Philippines. It is one of only two breweries in the Philippines, and is the smaller of the two, with only 10% market share...
, the top two beer companies in the Philippines. - In China, the city of Qingdao holds an annual beer festival for 14 days starting in the last week of August. The festival features the local Tsingtao beer as well as other better known international beers such as St. Pauli Girl and Heineken.
Australia and New Zealand
- HobartHobartHobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, The Tasmanian Beerfest is held on the 12th and 13th of November 2010. Showcasing over 100 boutique and imported beers at Princes Wharf. It started in 2006. In 2009 over 10,000 people tasted over 100 different beers from around the world. - BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
has many small celebrations of Oktoberfest. Mainly supported across the local university populations, it has spilled over into local restaurants and pubs, looking to join in the festival. - SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
celebrates Oktoberfest at the German-Austrian Club in the suburb of Cabramatta as of 2010. This is the first year in 40 years that the Oktoberfest has not been celebrated at the Fairfield Showground. - CanberraCanberraCanberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
celebrates Oktoberfest at the Thoroughbred Park, Lyneham. - AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
celebrates Schuetzenfest in January at Bonython Park just outside the CBD. - There previously was an annual Oktoberfest Beer Festival at the Royal Melbourne ShowgroundsRoyal Melbourne ShowgroundsThe Melbourne Showgrounds is located in the inner north-western suburb of Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia, next door to Flemington Racecourse. Is the home of the annual Royal Melbourne Show, as well as major exhibitions, trade shows, and music concerts....
in Flemington, VictoriaFlemington, VictoriaFlemington is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, situated between the Maribyrnong River and Moonee Ponds Creek 4 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. It was named by settler James Watson after Flemington estate in Scotland. Its Local Government Areas are the...
, after a break of two years another Oktoberfest was celebrated in 2007 at the Dandenong Showground.
The New Zealand Beer Festival has been run in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
since 2007. BrewNZ - Beervana is organized and run by the Brewers Guild of New Zealand.
South and central America
- A huge Oktoberfest is held in the Brazilian city of BlumenauBlumenauBlumenau is a city in Vale do Itajaí, state of Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil. It was founded on September 2, 1850 by Dr. Hermann Bruno Otto Blumenau along with 17 German immigrants. A few years later Fritz Müller migrated to Blumenau as well....
(more than 600,000 visitors in 2004), and many other Brazilian cities founded by Germans have their own Oktoberfest, such as Santa Cruz do SulSanta Cruz do SulSanta Cruz do Sul is a city in central Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The city has approximately 130,000 inhabitants and sits about 150 km from the capital city of the state, Porto Alegre...
(more than 500,000 visitors in 2004), IgrejinhaIgrejinhaIgrejinha is a town located in the Serra Gaúcha of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The city has approximately 31,000 inhabitants and sits about 82 km from the capital city of the state, Porto Alegre.-Oktoberfest:...
(more than 200,000 visitors in 2006), RolândiaRolândiaRolândia is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
, São José do CedroSão José do CedroSão José do Cedro is a town and municipality in the state of Santa Catarina in the South region of Brazil.-References:...
, SearaSearaSeara is a town and municipality in the state of Santa Catarina in the South region of Brazil.-References:...
and ItapirangaItapirangaItapiranga is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Its population was 8,625 and its area is 4,231 km²....
. They Also have the Brazilian Beer Festival Brazilian Beer FestivalBrazilian Beer FestivalThe Brazilian Beer Festival is the better beer festival that happens in Brazil.The festival is focosed in show to consumer the biggest amount of beers comercialized in Brazil, including all beers that got Awards in Brazilian Beer Awards, promoted by ABRADEG....
. - In Argentina, a town called Villa General BelgranoVilla General BelgranoVilla General Belgrano, a small mountain village of 6,260 inhabitants is named after the creator of the Argentine flag Manuel Belgrano and located in a lush green valley of Calamuchita in the hills in the Province of Córdoba in central Argentina.-History:...
in the Córdoba Province has an Oktoberfest that is well-known and the biggest in the country. - In Valdivia, ChileValdivia, ChileValdivia is a city and commune in southern Chile administered by the Municipality of Valdivia. The city is named after its founder Pedro de Valdivia and is located at the confluence of the Calle-Calle, Valdivia and Cau-Cau Rivers, approximately east of the coastal towns of Corral and Niebla...
host each summer a so-called Bierfest that organized and sponsored by KunstmannKunstmannKunstmann is a Chilean beer produced in Torobayo, Valdivia. The production begun when the German-Chilean family Kunstmann started to brew for personal use in the 1960s, after Valdivia's main brewery Anwandter was destroyed by the 1960 Valdivia earthquake...
Bier, a local high-quality beer company. - LlanquihueLlanquihue, ChileLlanquihue is a Chilean commune and city in Llanquihue Province, Los Lagos Region. The city lies on the western shore of Lake Llanquihue, where the Maullín River starts. It is located north of Puerto Varas and south of Frutillar and is connected to both cities by Chile Highway 5.- History :On 19...
also in Chile hosts a once a year a Bierfest during summer. The main sponsor is Cerveza Cristal, Chiles largest beer brand. - In Mexico, in the cities of PueblaPueblaPuebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, MazatlánMazatlánMazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
and TapachulaTapachulaTapachula is a town and with a hot, humid climate in the Mexican state of Chiapas. It is located in southern part of the state on the Soconusco coastal plain, near the border with Guatemala, at 14.91° N 92.27° W...
Oktoberfest is celebrated by the descendants of German immigrants in these cities. The largest ones are held in PueblaPueblaPuebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
and Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
where the German community is very important and one can hear German music and be delighted by German food and folk dresses. - In Costa Rica, every year festivities called Fiestas de Palmares are held in Palmares to raise funds. Even though the drinking of beer is not one of the main events, and despite campaigns to reduce it, the consumption of it reaches levels that are comparable to those from international beer festivals like Oktoberfest and Spring-Break.