As craft beer continues to be on the rise, so do the events that surround them. And more and more it feels as if beer festivals are popping up weekly. With so many options, it can be hard to decide which tickets to purchase. Which is why we are here to help!

While also enjoying craft beer, we are veterans of the craft beer festival scene as well. So here are our tips on what to look for when deciding on a beer fest.

Which Breweries Will Be In Attendance?

Much like other industries, a rise in popularity also attracts those that are looking to take advantage of the hype. As a result you will find beer festivals run by organizations who are just looking to turn a profit and not showcase the local beer scene. The easiest way for them to do this is to bring in beer brands through distributors. It’s easier this way since one distributor can offer multiple brands. This allows the organizer to deal with less people and turn a quicker profit.

However, most local craft breweries do not work with distribution companies. (There’s many reasons why, but that’s not the point here). Subsequently you may not see your favorite local brewery at a beer fest because of the lack of a distributor.

The first thing you want to look for is how many locals will be there. If the beer fest is full of national/ out of state brands you are less likely to see your local favorites. While all beer fests may seem the same, they are not. The website should have a “participating breweries” section. Make sure to view this page before you buy. Not all beer fests are the same, and you may be missing out on your local favorites because that bigger beer fest has a larger marketing budget to persuade you to buy.

What Is Included With The Tickets?

Again, more times than not when a large corporation hosts a beer fest the goal is to drive profit as much as possible. In those cases your ticket may not got you very much. The more they have to offer you, the less profit they return.

So take the time to visit their website and read up on what is offered with your ticket. What size pours are they offering? While most offer standard sizes, some will limit the pour size. Also, is food offered?

What Does The Variety Look Like?

While we absolutely love craft beer, we know people enjoy more variety. So again you should be looking at their website ahead of time to see what else is being offered. Do they have cideries on site? Or how about meaderies? Some festivals will even sell things such as cigars and other enjoyable merchandise that craft beer lovers appreciate.

Drinking craft beer can be a lot of fun. But make sure that your ticket allows you to try a variety of many different things so you are getting the most bang for your buck.

Is There A Charitable Component?

Because of the way laws in Pennsylvania are written (more on that at a later date) many craft beer festivals donate a portion of their funds back to charities. And most of these festivals will publish that information.

We believe that if an organization is going to give money back to a good cause, they should be supported. Make sure to do your research ahead of time to understand where the money is going so you can be a part of the good they do.

How Many Tickets Are Being Sold?

Craft beer is a booming industry. Some organizations can tap into the industry to take advantage of the boom. How many tickets are being sold is important. Would you really enjoy an event that requires you to stand shoulder to shoulder with other attendees with no chance at the beer you are searching for?

Make sure to read past reviews of the festival. 5,000 tickets may sound like a lot. But if the festival is held in a wide open area, it may be more spacious than you think. Whereas 500 tickets could be too many if it is held in a small fire hall. Research is important.