A Traveler's Guide to the Top 10 Beer Festivals in the US

1. The Great American Beer Festival
http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/
Location: Denver, Colorado
When: 4 days in September
Highlights: over 2,000 brews
Cost: $55 entrance fee; designated drivers $20

2. Vermont Brewers Festival
http://www.vermontbrewers.com/overview.html
Location: Burlington, Vermont
When: 2 days in May
Highlights: outdoor scene with views of Lake Champlain, 37 craft brewers from New England
Cost: $25 entrance fee; $5 for designated driver

3. Oregon Brewer Fest
http://www.oregonbrewfest.com/
Location: Portland Oregon
When: 4 days in late July
Highlights: riverside with views of Mt. Hood, 80 different craft beers
Cost: Entrance fee: $0. Taster packages available at $10, $20 and $50 includes the mug and program.

4. Great Alaska Beer & Barley Wine Festival
http://www.auroraproductions.net/beer-barley.html
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
When: 2 days in January
Highlights: special winter brews
Cost: $30 or $40 includes souvenir mug, program and 30 samples

5. Belgian Beer Fest
http://beeradvocate.com/fests/bbf
Location: Boston, Mass.
When: 2 days in October
Highlights: food, 100+ carefully selected brews, guest speakers and educational presentations
Cost: Day 1: $52.50 includes meal. Day 2: $45 per session

6. Empire State Brewing & Music Festival
http://www.empirebrewfest.com/
Location: Syracuse, New York
When: 1 evening in July
Highlights: music, over 200 brews, belgian beer tent
Cost: Music lovers (no sampling): $20; early bird tickets: $35; in advance: $40; at the gate: $50

7. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
http://www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com/okt.aspx
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
When: 2 days in September
Highlights: German games, the Chicken Dance, largest Oktoberfest in North America with over 500,000 participants
Costs: Admission is free.

8. The Philly Craft Beer Festival
http://www.phillycraftbeerfest.com/
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When: 1 day in March
Highlights: beer cooking demos, samples from craft brewers from around the country
Costs: online admission tickets: $45; at gate (if avail.): $60; designated driver: $10

9. Yakima's Fresh Hop Ale Festival
http://www.freshhopalefestival.com/
Location: Yakima, Washington
When: 1 day in October
Highlights: dancing, new local beverages (Yakima produces 77% of the US hop crops), cigar tent, local foods and wines also for sale
Costs: $30 in advance; $35 at the gate

10. San Francisco International Beer Festival
http://www.sfbeerfest.com/
Location: San Francisco, California
When: 1 day in April
Highlights: 300 beers offered
Costs: $60 unlimited tastings