Beer festivals popping up again

Announcements of spring, summer, and fall beer festivals are starting to pop up like May flowers. With Governor Jim Justice loosening the COVID pandemic restrictions on outdoor gatherings due to the population’s progress in getting vaccinated, festival organizers feel confident in announcing dates for their events.

Along with the two big late summer festivals in Huntington and Wheeling are some earlier smaller events. First up was last Saturday’s 4th Annual WV Cupcake and Beer Festival in Morgantown. The event, which benefits Operation Welcome Home for military veterans, paired cupcakes from The Cupcakerie with beer from Parkersburg Brewing. Big Timber, Greenbrier Valley Brewing, Screech Owl Brewing, and Berkeley Springs Brewing.

Brewgrass Festival

If you are a fan of music festivals, you’ll want to checkout the 3rd Annual Brewgrass Festival in Huntington, which comes up Saturday, May 29 from 11:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. at Heritage Station. Expect 50 or more craft beers and ciders from around the world along with artisan vendors, food and more. The event features a wide range of music by singer-songwriters, rock bands, and bluegrass performers. Ticket Link

Summer Brew Bash WV

Taking place on Saturday, June 12, at the Pipestem Event Center, this promises to be a party time for southern West Virginia beer and music lovers. The Pipestem folks always put on a good show. Music by six groups and plenty of beer from local Sophisticated Hound Brewing and others. Ticket Link

Rails & Ales Craft Beer Festival

After a COVID year off, WV’s largest beer festival will return to downtown Huntington, WV on Saturday, August 14. In addition to sampling hundreds of craft beers and ciders, you’ll find live music, food trucks and an artisan market at a beautiful setting in Harris Riverfront Park. Expect beer at the festival to be better than ever, if the organizers can take advantage of the new law allowing small out-of-state breweries to obtain one-day temporary WV licenses allowing them to offer their beers at festivals. This means beers from some great breweries that have never before been available in the state. Let’s hope this works out. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, May 14. Ticket Link

Mountaineer Brew Fest

The premier beer event in northern WV returns to Wheeling’s Heritage Port on Saturday, August 21. Scores of local WV breweries and regional breweries will be represented and helping this event excel as a fundraiser for local charitable organizations. Great beer, great food, and a gorgeous riverfront setting combine to make this a don’t-miss event. Ticket Link

OktoberWest

Probably Charleston’s largest beer festival by attendance, OktoberWest sets out to be a German-themed festival with beer, food, fun activities/contests, and music. It will take place this year on the evening of Saturday, September 25 in Charleston’s Elk City district.

Foam at the Dome

Event sponsor Charleston Main Streets is combining the Foam at the Dome Festival with its Hops & Heat festival and holding it in the traditional Hops & Heat fall time slot. Now set for Saturday, October 9 in Charleston’s East End neighborhood. The festival usually provides a good mix of West Virginia and regional breweries, plenty of restaurant vendors, artists/crafts people, and local bands round out the offerings. Profits support Charleston urban redevelopment programs. 

Bookmark Brilliant Stream’s 2021 Beer Festival List page to keep up to date with WV’s best beer festivals – updated with details as they are announced.