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Best brew fests

Quaff to your heart's content at these tasting parties.

At last, Americans are realizing that life is too short to drink cheap beer.

The tasteless factory lagers of our youth look awfully pathetic next to the beers now being turned out by craft brewers: sweet cream stouts, lip-smacking India pale ales, chocolatey porters, Belgian wheats flavored by coriander and orange.

In fact, it's getting hard to keep up with all the new brews, some of them wildly creative. That's where brew festivals come in.

"You'd be amazed at how many people have been introduced to good-tasting beer at these festivals,'' said Bonita Rowland of Rowland's Brewing Co. in Chilton, Wis., which has been hosting the Wisconsin Micro-Brewers Fest for more than 20 years.

Tickets for the May festival go on sale in early March and sell out. Most festivals sell out, sometimes almost immediately.

The largest festival, Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison, is in August, and tickets sell out as soon as they go on sale, the first Sunday of May.

Two brewery festivals also sell out: Schell's Bock Fest, the Saturday before the beginning of Lent; and Capital's Bockfest, the last Saturday in February.

So if you want to go to a beer festival, plan ahead. 

If you want to really wallow in beer, keep your calendar open for May. That's when Beer Weeks are held in Milwaukee, Madison (May 4-13) and Chicago. 

The "mother of all beer weeks'' is the American Craft Beer Week, May 14-20 in 2012. Minnesota Craft Beer Week is in June.

For a beer-lover's tour of Milwaukee, see Mad about brew. For a beer-lover's tour of southern Wisconsin, see True brew.

Here are some of the best beer festivals in 2012.

Nearly all offer food and music in addition to beer. Designated drivers get in for reduced rate, sometimes as little as $5.

Jan. 21, Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest in Madison. Wisconsin's best beer and cheese makers supply the treats for an afternoon at Alliant Energy Center, $40.

Jan. 21, Craft Beer Expo in St. Cloud, Minn. Sample beer from 60 breweries, attend talks and workshops and listen to live music at River's Edge Convention Center. Tickets are $30.

Jan. 28, The Beer Dabbler in St. Paul, part of Winter Carnival. This outdoor fest in Mears Park includes beers from more than 70 breweries, live music, fireworks and a costume contest. Tickets are $40, $30 in advance.

Feb. 3,  Minnesota Craft Brewer's Guild Winterfest in St. Paul at the Minnesota History Center. Tickets go on sale at noon Dec. 1. The 700 tickets sell very quickly.

Feb. 4, Brewfest in Fond du Lac, Wis. Try more than 100 Wisconsin microbrews at the County Fairgrounds Expo Center. Tickets are $30-$50.

Feb. 11, Winter Microbrew & Music Festival in Traverse City, Mich. Samples the wares from more than 40 breweries in heated tents on the lawn of Grand Traverse Commons. There will be fire dancers, a silent disco and bonfires in addition to music from nearly a dozen bands. Tickets are $25-$35.

Feb. 18, Manitowoc Jaycees Beer Lover's Brewfest in Manitowoc, Wis. Craft beers from more than 25 Wisconsin breweries at Manitowoc County Expo. Tickets are $30 and go on sale in December.

Feb. 18, Food & Froth Fest in Milwaukee. Try more than 200 beers from the Midwest and beyond at this event at the Milwaukee Public Museum, which includes appetizers from local restaurants and music from local bands.

Feb. 18, Dubuque on Ice Brewfest in Dubuque, Iowa. This festival at Mystique Ice Center features pairings of beer and wine with cheese, sausage and chocolate. There's music, too. Tickets are $35.

Feb. 25, Michigan Winter Brew Festival in Grand Rapids, Mich. This Michigan Brewers Guild event is held outdoors at Comstock Park. Tickets go on sale Dec. 1.

March 3, Hops & Props in Oshkosh, Wis. This fundraiser at the EAA Airventure Museum includes more than 250 brews, music and food from local restaurants. Tickets are $60.

March 31, Roar on the Shore Brewfest in Kewaunee, Wis. Try regional beers and wines at historic Hamechek Hall in this town on Lake Michigan. Tickets are $30-$35.

April 28, Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine and Cheese Festival in La Crosse. Beers from 20 to 25 breweries; look for newcomer Furthermore from Spring Green, Wis. Tickets go on sale in March. 

It's 2-6 p.m. at the Oktoberfest grounds.

April, Taste of Great Brewers in Milwaukee. This event at the Harley-Davidson Museum is part of Milwaukee Beer Week and includes more than 200 beers from more than 50 breweries. Tickets are $40-$45.

May, Micro Brew Fest in Oregon, Wis. The event in this small town just south of Madison is part of Madison Beer Week. Tickets are $20-$25.

May 20, Wisconsin Micro-Brewers Beer Fest in Chilton, Wis., on the east side of Lake Winnebago. More than 120 beers from 30 Wisconsin craft brewers, plus Chilton's own Rowland's Brewery beers, which include Bitter Bitch Belgium Ale and Fat Man's Nut Brown Ale.

Tickets are $35 and go on sale in March. It's 1-6 p.m. at the Calumet County Fairgrounds.

May 25-27, Kohler Festival of Beer in Kohler, Wis. The upscale American Club and the Inn on Woodlake in this town just west of Sheboygan host tasting parties, a home brewers contest and a Sunday blues, brews and barbecue party.

June 2, Beer Barons' World of Beer Festival in Menomonee Falls, Wis. Only 600 tickets are sold to this event at Schwabenhof Pavilion, which includes special tappings, talks and more than 200 U.S. and international beers, meads and ciders. Tickets are $40-$65 and go on sale March 1.

June 9, Great Northern Beer Festival in Eagle River, Wis. Beer from more than 20 breweries at the Hi-Pines Campground north of town. Tickets are $20-$25.

June, Wisconsin Summer Solstice Beer Lovers Festival in Glendale, Wis. The event in this Milwaukee suburb, home of Sprecher Brewery, features beer from 28 Wisconsin breweries and food pairings from local chefs. Cost is $50, $90 for two.

June 23, Lazy River Beer & Wine Festival in McGregor, Iowa. This hybrid festival is as much about wine and music as beer, but you can't beat its location on the shores of the Mississippi River.

July 14, Brewfest in Des Moines. In Principal Park, sample hundreds of beers from state, regional and national breweries.

July 21, Milwaukee Firkin Craft Beer Festival in Milwaukee. This festival in Cathedral Square Park celebrates Milwaukee's beer heritage and includes 14 local breweries and brewpubs.

There's a cask-tasting tent, music and food, and guests get to vote on the best Milwaukee beer. Tickets are $40 and go on sale March 1.

July 21, Northbound Summer Brew Fest in Duluth. This new festival in Bayfront Park, hosted by the Minnesota Craft Brewer's Guild, will have more than 100 beers to sample. Tickets are $30-$50 and go on sale March 1.

July 28, Milwaukee Brewfest in Milwaukee. This fest at Old Coast Guard Pavilion Park on the lakefront features beer from more than 55 regional and national breweries, plus music, food, games and arts. Tickets are $45, $40 in advance.

July 28, Brewfest in Minocqua, Wis., in Torpy Park. A benefit featuring craft brews from Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota breweries. Tickets are $25.

Aug. 4, Wheaton Ale Fest in Wheaton, Ill. The downtown festival in this west Chicago suburb features more than 100 craft beers plus food and music. Tickets go on sale April 1.

Aug. 11, Great Taste of the Midwest in Madison. This is the largest festival in Wisconsin and the second-longest running craft beer festival in North America.

Tickets are $50 and sell out quickly; you'll need to send in a mail order for tickets postmarked May 2 or show up in person at noon May 1 at one of various vendors in Madison.

It's 1-6 p.m. in Olin-Turville Park, and brewmasters from more than 100 Midwest breweries serve samples of 500 beers.

Aug. 24, Summer Microbrew & Music Festival in Traverse City, Mich. Sample Midwest craft brews, with an emphasis on Michigan beer, on the lawn of the Village at Grand Traverse Commons.

Aug. 25, Potosi BrewFest in Potosi, Wis. The festival in this picturesque complex at the far southwest corner of the state features wine and cheese as well as beer. Tickets cost $35 and include admission to the National Brewery Museum.

Sept. 2, Festival of Iowa Beers in Amana, Iowa. Sample craft beers at Millstream Brewing Co., Iowa's oldest microbrewery. Tickets go on sale in July.

Sept. 7-8, Hopps of Fun Beer & Wine Festival in Mackinaw City, Mich. There's more than 50 Michigan microbrews and more than 40 Michigan wines, plus food and entertainment.

Sept. 8, Thirsty Troll Brew Fest in Mount Horeb, Wis. Try craft beers from 25 breweries in the Upper Midwest. It's held in Grundahl Park.

Sept., Clearwater Beer Festival in Altoona, Wis. This festival near Eau Claire, held at Hobbs Sports Center, features regional and national craft brews plus food and live Irish music. Tickets go on sale June 1.

Sept. 14-15, Great Lakes Brewfest in Racine, Wis. More than 150 craft beers from 75 breweries across the nation. In Festival Park on Lake Michigan. Tickets go on sale June 1.

Sept. 15, Autumn Brew Review in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild sponsors this festival at the old Grain Belt Brewery in northeast Minneapolis. Tickets go on sale July 15 and sell out quickly.

Sept. 15, Brew Ha Ha in Davenport, Iowa. This fest in LeClaire Park, on the banks of the Mississippi River, benefits the local PBS station and includes cheese-tasting, music, improv comedy and goofy games. Tickets go on sale a month in advance.

October, Quivey's Grove Beer Fest in Madison, Wis. The restaurant at this historic estate on the south edge of town hosts a festival with music, food and beer from 35 regional breweries. TIckets go on sale at the end of June.

Oct. 13, Wisconsin Dells on Tap in the Wisconsin Dells. It's part of Autumn Harvest Fest, with beer from more than 20 craft brewers served from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $30 and go on sale June 2.

October, Nordeast Big River Brew Fest in Minneapolis. This benefit at the Historic Grain Belt Bottling House in northeast Minneapolis features more than 140 beers. Tickets are $25-$30.

November, Fall Fest of Ale in Janesville, Wis. Sample more than 130 beers from more than 30 brewers, plus food and music. Tickets are $45, $50 at the door.

November, Wisconsin Beer Expo in Madison. Sample more than 70 beers from 43 breweries at the Alliant Energy Center. There are two sessions, 1-5 p.m. and 6-10 p.m., both $35.

Last updated on February 7, 2012