Rivers and beer festivals

We West Virginians do love our rivers. For recreation purposes, we love hanging out on them and around them. Case in point: On three different days this summer, literally thousands of Mountain State folks will spend a day by the river attending a craft beer festival.

Top 3 riverside beer fests

Our three best summer craft beer festivals all take place on riverbanks. This festival parade begins on Saturday, June 8th, with Charleston’s Foam at the Dome, a fest that takes place along the Kanawha River next to our beautiful State Capitol Building. Then later in the summer, we get Rails & Ales (August 10) in Huntington and Mountaineer Brewfest (August 17) in Wheeling — both held in lovely parks on the banks of the belle Ohio.

Tickets are on sale now for all three festivals.

As a guy who has been to these festivals multiple times, I can’t say that any one of them is better than the others. They all have their strong suits. They all have their fans. They all get good participation from WV brewers. They are all outstanding events.

Around the country, as attendance at traditional outdoor beer fests is down, we can be proud that our three riverside beer festivals continue to draw big crowds. Sure, they each have good beer, and they’re all well-managed, but I don’t think that’s their only secret sauce.

My vote for the key ingredient is their choice of location. You simply cannot find a more scenic and peaceful place during a West Virginia summer than the bank of a major river. And all three fests have plenty of that ingredient.

Support your summer beer fests

Let’s keep our beer festivals strong by attending one or more of them this year. Yes, tickets can be a bit pricey. And yes, I bitch a bit that they don’t offer great value for people like me who only drink in total a few pints of beers while attending one of them. But I still go. Why? Let me tell you.

For me, being immersed in a pleasant crowd of craft beer-loving folks is one of the best places I can ever find myself. Sharing the experience of enjoying good West Virginia-made beverages with other like-minded people is a thing of beauty.

As soon as I enter the festival gate, I forget all those grumbles about the ticket price. My excitement swells in anticipation of the sensory pleasures lying before me.

I’m quickly immersed in friendly, informative conversations with other festival goers and brewers, seeing the smiles on faces, savoring the taste experiences, basking in sunlight shimmering off the water: All these things attract me as well as energize me.

I love being able to sample and compare, side-by-side, beers from brewers across the state — many of which we don’t normally see in Charleston.

As I mingle among fellow craft beer lovers, I find myself in a rare state of peace and fulfillment. I take a deep breath. I take my time. I take it all in.

I’ve never walked away from one of these three WV summer beer festivals feeling anything but rewarded. What’s the value of spending a day with my people? Priceless.

I look forward to seeing many of you at a local beer festival this summer. Cheers!

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Foam at the Dome Festival

Saturday, June 8, 2024
Time: 3:00 – 7:00 P.M.

1900 Kanawha Boulevard 
In front of State Capitol Building
Charleston, WV

$45 General Admission
$55 One-hour early admission, special beers
(Above listed ticket prices do not include the Fees)
Tickets sales 

Foam at the Dome moves to an early June date this year at the lovely State Capitol Building location along the Kanawha River. Over 200 beers and other beverages are expected. A good mix of West Virginia and regional craft breweries. Eight restaurant vendors, plus 20 artists/craftspeople, and three local bands round out the offerings. Old Colony Realty is this year’s prime sponsor.

Foam at the Dome is a fundraiser for Charleston Urban Works. Profits support its East End and West Side urban development programs. Over the years, Foam at the Dome raised well over $200,000 for East End and West Side revitalization.

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Rails & Ales Craft Beer Festival

Saturday, August 10, 2024
Time: 3:30 – 9:00 pm

Harris Riverfront Park
Huntington, WV

$55 General Admission – advance purchase
$70 VIP (90 min. early admission)
(Above ticket prices do not include the Taxes and Fees)
Ticket sales – Buy now

Still West Virginia’s largest craft beer event, the Rails & Ales Festival will bring together many of the state’s best breweries and mix them in with a super selection of regional, national, and international craft beers. Tickets get you sampling at all beer tents in your commemorative glass. Also features a Beer Garden for pint sales. The fest takes place on a gorgeous riverfront park along the Ohio River in downtown Huntington. Eight food vendors, six craft vendors, and an excellent line-up of live music.

Rails & Ales website

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Mountaineer BrewFest

Returns for 2024
Saturday. August 17, 2024
4:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Wheeling Heritage Port
Downtown Wheeling, WV

$ 25 general admission (4:00 PM Entry)
$ 60 VIP (3:00 PM Entry)
$70 VIP (Includes Thursday’s Craft Beer and Food Pairing event)
(Ticket prices listed above do not include taxes and fees)
Ticket Link – on sale now

Mountaineer Brewfest holds its 10 Anniversary event this year at its spectacular venue in downtown Wheeling along the beautiful Ohio River. It offers a good mix of West Virginia craft and out-of-state brews. Lots of food options. Musical entertainment all evening. General admission includes 10 samples, a commemorative mug, and live musical entertainment. The festival makes a large contribution to their selected local charity each year. Has raised over $200,000 for local charities. This year’s charity is Helping Heroes (Veteran Resources Center).
Mountaineer Brewfest website link