USA TODAY 10Best
Best Beer Festival? Check out Suwanee Beer Fest
Best Beer Festival (2022)
Beer festivals not only offer attendees the chance to sample numerous brews – sometimes even rare and one-off pours — these events also allow beer fans to get to know their favorite brewmasters, sample paired foods, and learn all about beer and brewing.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Beer Festival are as follows:
- Strong Beer Festival - Atlanta, Georgia
- All Star Craft Beer, Wine, and Cocktail Festival - Multiple Cities
- Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer - Chicago, Illinois
- Brownie Bash - Sandy Springs, Georgia
- Bridge Blast - Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Great American Beer Festival - Denver, Colorado
- Brewgaloo - Raleigh, North Carolina
- Barrel & Flow Fest - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Great Taste of the Midwest - Madison, Wisconsin
- Suwanee Beer Fest - Suwanee, Georgia
Photo courtesy of Mary Fiorello
No. 10:
Wrecking Bar Strong Beer Festival started in 2013 and is an annual festival dedicated to introducing attendees to more than a hundred of Georgia’s best and strongest (at least 8% ABV) beers. The price of admission allows festival goers to enjoy all the beer they can safely consume.
Photo courtesy of Hannah Snyder
No. 9:
The All Star Craft Beer, Wine, and Cocktail Festival takes over ballparks in cities across the nation, with upcoming events in Arlington, Houston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Tampa. Festival tickets include unlimited samples, with more than 200 beer, wine and cocktail options (with a heavy focus on local offerings), live music, a keepsake sampling class, yard games and free or discounted tickets to an upcoming ballgame.
Photo courtesy of Illinois Craft Brewers Guild
No. 8:
The Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer is among the world’s largest and most prestigious barrel-aged beer festivals. Hosted in Chicago since 2003, the event welcomes 200 craft breweries from across the United States to showcase more than 400 of their rarest, most innovative wood and barrel-aged brews, competing for best-in-show honors and a coveted FoBAB medal.
Photo courtesy of Ali Shiraef
No. 7:
Inspired by Pontoon Brewing’s barrel-aged pastry stout series - Brownie Batter, Brownie Bash is an annual event in Sandy Springs, Georgia, that features close to 100 breweries. In addition to the many noteworthy beers available, the brownie baking competition sets this festival apart from other nominees. Each year, there is a People’s Choice and Judge’s Choice award, with the baker of the Judge’s Choice being invited to collaborate with Pontoon Brewing on the following year’s Brownie Batter release.
Photo courtesy of ozgurcoskun // Getty Images
No. 6:
Bridge Blast, presented by City Built Brewing, is an annual beer festival that takes over Grand Rapids’ Sixth Street Bridge for a fun-filled day of live music, food trucks, and great beer. The event is also known to support and benefit local non-profits.
Photo courtesy of Brewers Association
No. 5:
Denver becomes ground zero for beer fans each fall, when the Brewers Association presents the largest collection of American beers in one spot at this premier beer festival. Hundreds of breweries participate, and beers are served by their brewers, giving enthusiasts the opportunity to speak with them personally. An educational component features talks by top brewers and innovators, beer-making demos, beer pairing sessions and even a pavilion dedicated to sustainability. The festival is also a competition, with medals being awarded in more than 90 beer style categories.
Photo courtesy of Shop Local Raleigh/Greater Raleigh Merchants Association
No. 4:
During Brewgaloo, festival goers enjoy beers from more than 110 North Carolina breweries paired with bites from 50 food trucks and vendors, all to the sounds of live music. The Raleigh festival is the largest of its kind in the state.
Photo courtesy of Fresh Fest Beer Fest
No. 3:
During Pittsburgh's Barrel & Flow Fest, formerly known as Fresh Fest, some 3,000 craft beer industry professionals and enthusiasts come together for a weekend celebrating Black-owned breweries with collaborations with Black artists and entrepreneurs from throughout Pennsylvania and the country.
Photo courtesy of Scott Mauer
No. 2:
One of the longest-running beer events in North America, this craft beer festival brings more than 190 of the Midwest’s finest craft brewers to Madison each year. Attendees can taste more than 1,400 beers, attend beer-centric seminars, sample foods from local vendors and enjoy acoustic music, all while strolling through a beautiful park overlooking Lake Monona.
Photo courtesy of Suwanee Magazine
No. 1:
This Georgia St. Patrick’s Day Party doubles as one of the state’s biggest and best craft beer festivals. The event at Town Center Park features more than 350 craft beers (unlimited tastings), live music, games, local food vendors, and a homebrew contest.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning festivals!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a... Read More
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, speaker and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include USAToday, Thrillist.com, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Theinfatuation.com, ButterATL.com, James Beard Foundation, Atlanta Magazine, and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television, beer fests, conferences, and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD, Good Beer Hunting, and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. In a collaboration going on six years with brewing giant New Belgium, Ale has produced a beer he conceptualized called Piano Keys—a chocolate vanilla imperial stout—geared to support diversity and racial equality. This project with New Belgium also spawned his initiative, BrewGether, which raises funds to support nonprofits embracing the same mission as Piano Keys. Ale proudly owns AllWays Open Creative Solutions, an agency specializing in creative direction, logo design, branding, web design, video production, photography, consulting, and social media. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on his captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, speaker and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include USAToday, Thrillist.com, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Theinfatuation.com, ButterATL.com, James Beard Foundation, Atlanta Magazine, and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television, beer fests, conferences, and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD, Good Beer Hunting, and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. In a collaboration going on six years with brewing giant New Belgium, Ale has produced a beer he conceptualized called Piano Keys—a chocolate vanilla imperial stout—geared to support diversity and racial equality. This project with New Belgium also spawned his initiative, BrewGether, which raises funds to support nonprofits embracing the same mission as Piano Keys. Ale proudly owns AllWays Open Creative Solutions, an agency specializing in creative direction, logo design, branding, web design, video production, photography, consulting, and social media. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on his captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Gary Monterosso
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who... Read More
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who has written for national and regional publications. He is a regular guest on “You Oughta Know,” on WHYY-TV, a PBS station based in Philadelphia. Gary also hosts one-minute beverage updates on several southern NJ radio stations. From 2010-2017, he was seen on the History Channel show called “The Epic History of Everyday Things.” He is the author of the book, “Artisan Beers.” After a 41-year career as a NJ- based educator, Gary now teaches beer appreciation classes at Wilmington University. Gary has appeared on many television programs discussing craft beers and has guested on BBC radio offering an American perspective on the beverage. In late 2014, he lent his expertise to CBS News New York, by offering fall beer recommendations. One of the highlights of his career was a three-year stint on the Sirius Satellite Radio network, talking about the latest happenings in the beer world. In 2014, Gary was selected by Chilled Magazine to be a member of the “Chilled 100,” signifying him as one of the top 100 beverage personalities in the United States. He continues to be a fixture at regional beer events by hosting dinners and tasting seminars. He has qualified as a Certified Beer Server, a part of the Cicerone Certification Program, recognizing his knowledge of beer styles, culture, the brewing process and ingredients.
Gary Monterosso
Gary Monterosso is an award-winning critic, who has written for national and regional publications. He is a regular guest on “You Oughta Know,” on WHYY-TV, a PBS station based in Philadelphia. Gary also hosts one-minute beverage updates on several southern NJ radio stations. From 2010-2017, he was seen on the History Channel show called “The Epic History of Everyday Things.” He is the author of the book, “Artisan Beers.” After a 41-year career as a NJ- based educator, Gary now teaches beer appreciation classes at Wilmington University. Gary has appeared on many television programs discussing craft beers and has guested on BBC radio offering an American perspective on the beverage. In late 2014, he lent his expertise to CBS News New York, by offering fall beer recommendations. One of the highlights of his career was a three-year stint on the Sirius Satellite Radio network, talking about the latest happenings in the beer world. In 2014, Gary was selected by Chilled Magazine to be a member of the “Chilled 100,” signifying him as one of the top 100 beverage personalities in the United States. He continues to be a fixture at regional beer events by hosting dinners and tasting seminars. He has qualified as a Certified Beer Server, a part of the Cicerone Certification Program, recognizing his knowledge of beer styles, culture, the brewing process and ingredients.
Latiesha Cook
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO... Read More
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Beer Kulture, a St. Petersburg, Florida based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Born in the Bronx, New York, Latiesha is a wife, mother of four, Cicerone certified beer server, published author and entrepreneur. In her leadership role at Beer Kulture, she has guided the team in launching an array of initiatives designed to diversify craft beer, including Cicerone scholarships, internships, a job board, and kollaboration beers with breweries around the world, as well as community projects to help local neighborhoods and causes throughout the country.
Latiesha Cook
Latiesha Cook is the Co-Founder, President and CEO of Beer Kulture, a St. Petersburg, Florida based nonprofit focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the craft beer industry. Born in the Bronx, New York, Latiesha is a wife, mother of four, Cicerone certified beer server, published author and entrepreneur. In her leadership role at Beer Kulture, she has guided the team in launching an array of initiatives designed to diversify craft beer, including Cicerone scholarships, internships, a job board, and kollaboration beers with breweries around the world, as well as community projects to help local neighborhoods and causes throughout the country.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
