What beer fests do you miss?

Aside from all of the BA fests (which are at the top of my most-missed fests list), I was really bummed to miss out on Cambridge Brewing Company's Great Pumpkin Fest for the first time in 9 years

 

I miss the obvious one, GABF. I had attended the past 12 years, but I still got excited when the bagpipers would march through the hall to signify the beginning of the fest. And then it was on! I always started out with a sensible plan to try beers but it always ended up in OH! This booth has THIS! And the next booth has THIS! and so on. Multiple sessions became a must (never Saturday night, though. I have standards). I was able to many of the beers I had only read about on BA and discovered some hidden gems.
GABF became so much more than just the fest, with the East Meets West IPA event at Falling Rock one of the highlights, though I would wake up Thursday morning wondering how I was going to make it through three more days of beer. Falling Rock was the main game in town when I started going to GABF but place like Freshcraft and Euclid Hall started putting on big events. Then more and more choices like First Draft, Hops and Pie Finn's Manor, Star Bar...it became so you had to map out the highest priority events, as well as finding time to hit Mr. B's, Argonaut, Molly's, etc. for all the beer drops.
I won't miss the $1,000+ bill for the hotel in Denver during GABF, but I'm hopeful to get back there next year.

 

I really miss Mondial de la Biere in Montreal. Been going for years and years and was sad this year was lost. Covers the Quebec scene very well, always has several high quality American brewers both established and new, gets in some lesser known quality brewers from more off the radar countries like Italy and Brazil and has a very congenial and relaxed vibe. A great festival in a great city.

 

Firestone Walker Invitational, Zwanze Day and Fobab are yearly events for me. Hopefully one or two make a comeback in 2021.

 

Copenhagen Beer Celebration

 

Living in Chicagoland FOBAB has become an annual tradition that was sorely missed this year. Was hoping to finally get to Great Taste this year too, alas another year!

 

Pizza Port Strong Ale Festival and Real Ale Festival. The Strong Ale Festival was like Woodstock to Hippies, you weren't there if you can remember being there

 

Yeah this should have been my.....7th FoBAB? And I was supposed to head to Tulsa for the Hop Jam which I thought was a very well run event last year.

 

Dark Lord Day is the granddaddy of them all (at least regarding craft and release-centric stateside) and still can't be beat. Really bummed we weren't able to party out in Munster this year.

Tampa Bay Beer Week is my second favorite due to its weeklong shenanigans. So many different releases and mini-festivals leading up to the always fun Hunahpu's Day.

 

Fresh Hop Festival in Yakima
Washington Brewer's Festival
Washington Hop Mob's kickoff was a TIPA festival until the most recent year
Hard Liver Fest (barleywine festival)
Zwanze Day

Now I am filled with sadness

 

Another vote for Firestone Walker Invitational. Such a great event, with added bonuses that I get to see friends that live in the area and grab fresh Pivo.

 

GABF
FOBAB
Big North (Half Acre specific - tough patooties if you don't like it).

 

Zwanze Day.

 

Besides BA fests #NotAnAd.....

WeldWerks Invitational
Zwanze Day
GABF
Denver Rare Beer Tasting

 

This. I missed it this year. My neighbor and I had our own, but it's just not the same.