Beer Events

While visiting breweries and brewpubs can be fun, taking a beer class or going to a beer festival can be a day-long or evening-long event. The chance to sample so many styles all at once definitely makes these types of events well worth the entry fee!

• On November 14, 1996, I took the Wisconsin Union Mini-Course called "The World of Beer," led by Capital Brewery brewmaster Kirby Nelson. The Union offers this class a couple of times a year.
• On June 22, 1997, I went to the Essen Haus Bierfest in Madison with my friends Eric and Stephanie. I got a sunburn, and I won a t-shirt.
• On June 13, 1998, I made it to the Boston Brewers Festival at Suffolk Downs. I was quite hammered, and I was drenched when Boston got more than seven inches of rain that day!
• On August 14, 1998, my friend Eric and I went to the Yebisu Garden Place in Tokyo to see the Beer Museum Yebisu, which is run by beer giant Sapporo. There was, of course, a sampler platter at the end.
• On Ocotber 3, 1998, I went to the Quivey's Grove Beer Festival in Madison with my friend Jason. Blues, beer, brats, and beef. A really cool time.
• On June 23, 2001, I made a return trip to the Essen Haus Bierfest, this time with friends Jason and Kim. I brought the sunscreen, and managed to stay from about 11:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening.
• On June 22, 2002, it was time for the ninth annual Essen Haus Bierfest. For $25, I was able to drink as much as I wanted, though because of very high temperatures, I drank almost as much water as I did beer. Kim, Jason, and I were there from about 1:00 to 9:00--a great summer day of enjoying brew!
• On September 28, 2002, it was time for the Quivey's Grove Beer Festival. With Kim and Jason, I was able to sample a large variety of seasonal beers from a number of nearby breweries.