Beer festivals had a long run of relative stability. Many festivals could rely on the same venue to come through year after year, at relatively predictable prices. Core volunteers would be in place each year and many of the same sponsors and breweries could be expected to attend each season. Critically, attendance at these festivals was almost a guarantee. The pandemic blew that all up. Beer festivals are still plenty popular, but now organizers have to contend with a far wider range of potential changes from year to year. It has been a more ruthless and unforgiving world for beer festival pla ..read more

Craft beer has always been a staple of local communities, serving as a gathering point for people to share stories over a pint. The sense of belonging and support from local patrons fueled the growth of craft beer during its peak years. However, there’s a significant opportunity yet to be fully realized—the untapped potential of Black consumers and brewers in the craft beer industry. According to the National Black Brewers Association website: Brewing in the U.S. is an industry that requires considerable access to capital whereas African Americans as a whole have limited financial means given ..read more

Among all of the innumerable reasons why the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival sits firmly atop the pantheon of the nation’s best beer festivals, it would be irresponsible to ignore the most obvious element… the beer. Throughout the years, brewmaster, Matt Brynildson and the Firestone Walker team have spared no expense in ensuring the best festival-going experience, not just for attendees, but more importantly for the world’s best brewers. Going the extra mile has included touches like hosting brewers welcome parties at a nearby water park, providing the on-site camping accommodation ..read more

Bean to Barstool host David Nilsen’s new book Pairing Beer & Chocolate: A Guide to Bringing the Flavors of Craft Beer and Craft Chocolate Together is out now. In honor of the release, David talks in this latest episode of Bean to Barstool about how to host a beer and chocolate pairing at home. How do you plan it, how do you guide the event itself, and how do you give your friends a memorable evening with beer and chocolate? We’ve got you covered. You can find recommendations for specific pairings to incorporate here. The music for Bean to Barstool is by indie folk musician Anna ps. You can ..read more

Craft beer grew at an impressive rate in the decade preceding the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from 1,813 U.S. breweries in 2010 to 9,092 in 2020, according to the Brewers Association. As it grew, it pulled a number of supporting industries up with it, perhaps most notably small-scale ingredient growers and suppliers. The number of small hop farms in the U.S. increased from 68 in 2007 to 817 in 2017 (according to figures published by Penn State University), and member count of the Craft Maltsters Guild grew from eight companies when the guild was founded in 2013 to 67 by 2022. But if you’ve ..read more

The Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival has perennially proven why it endures as one of the country’s premier craft beer festivals. Elements that have distinguished it above the thousands of other festivals that take place each year range from the festival’s carefully curated list of participating breweries along with brewers/founders who make the trip to interact with attendees, its stellar lineup of food purveyors, dishing out all-you-can-taste high-level culinary bites ranging from charcuterie to lobster rolls, mac and cheese to artisan ice creams, its inherent advantages of showcas ..read more

With huge support from its many friends in the brewing community, Denver’s Strange Craft celebrates its 14th anniversary this coming weekend. Festivities kick off on Friday, May 17 with collaboration beers created with Strange Craft’s brewing friends, as well as one brewed by the brewery staff. Strange will host food trucks, live music and dancing in the biergarden on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to a revelry-filled weekend, it’s also a great time to reflect on Strange Craft’s impact on craft brewing. Fourteen years is a long time in the craft beer world, and over that time founder Tim Mye ..read more

Since opening in 2016, South Jersey staple Ludlam Island Brewing has been a consistent stop for travelers heading to the Jersey Shore. Now, only four minutes from its previous tasting room in Ocean View, Ludlam Island has renovated a former bowling alley, The Mouse Trap, into a rarity for New Jersey—a brewpub. “We are so excited for everyone to see the new place,” says Ludlam Island Brewery owner William Topley in a press release. “We poured our hearts and souls into creating this space for Woodbine and the surrounding communities.” In With the New When you walk into the new-and-improved Ludla ..read more

How does one decide where and when to open a brewery? For Founder and Brewer Mel Wilcox of Other Lands, the destination was clear but the pathway was unexpected and arduous at times. However, with a mantra of “evolve or die,” he set out to turn his vision of uniquely blended beers paired with an antithetical designed community-centric taproom into a reality. Mel Wilcox, Other Lands Founder/Head Brewer. Photo Credit: Other Lands When Mel graduated from Furman University, he had already begun honing the skill and passion for creating beer by brewing on a home brew kit. This knack and passion set ..read more

Welcome to the Colorado Beer Beat, a bi-weekly roundup of all of the new can releases around the state. From Denver to Grand Junction and everywhere in between, we have you covered. Be sure to check back on Thursdays (usually!) to find out what’s new in the Colorado craft beer scene. The Colorado Brewers Rendezvous returns to the banks of the Arkansas River this July. Tickets are available now, so make sure to grab one for this awesome beer fest. With hundreds of craft beer offerings from more than 65 Colorado craft breweries, not to mention the views, you’d be crazy to pass it up. Pick up you ..read more