Why, you may ask, would a beer festival in New Orleans present imbibe-happy New Orleanians and visitors with a two-ounce souvenir mug at their front gates? To soothe your worries, let it be known that the New Orleans International Beer Festival is not just giving you a mere sampling—they’re opening up the doors to more than 150 different craft beers for you to fill that little mug up with at your leisure and to your heart’s content.
Breweries from all over the world are coming together to celebrate the wonders of hops and barley at Champions Square in the heart of New Orleans. Local brew fare is represented by Abita, NOLA Brewing Co., Dixie, Covington Brewhouse, Bayou Teche and Tin Roof. National and international participants include Guinness, Sierra Nevada, Stone, Newcastle, Magic Hat, Lazy Magnolia, Krombacher and dozens more. You’ll be able to flit from tent to tent and table to table sampling all of these different brews the entire afternoon for an early evening buzz you won’t soon forget.
But there’s more than just beer, beer and more beer (though, who needs more than that?). Cost of admission includes live entertainment, games (one can only imagine), and demonstrations like Cooking with Beer, Beer and Food Pairing and Brewing 101 at the World of Sam Adams Tent. And if you’re lucky enough to have scored VIP tickets, you get complimentary food, an hour earlier admission, exclusive access to booze the lowly GA attendees aren’t privy to and entrance to the VIP tent.
Did your mother ever tell you not to mix your booze? Well at this year’s second annual New Orleans International Beer Festival, it’s not only encouraged—it’s a necessity.
New Orleans International Beer Festival
Saturday, March 9th, 2pm-6pm
Champions Square
http://www.neworleansinternationalbeerfest.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NewOrleansInternationalBeerFestival
