2019 West Virginia Beer Festivals List
West Virginia craft beer festivals have matured into a solid group of hoppy fun activities. Here’s our list of the best ones for 2019. Listed in chronological order. Details will be added as they are announced.
Cabin Fever Craft Beer Fest
Saturday, February 9, 2019
12:00 Noon – 6:00 P.M.
$45 for General Admission
$60 VIP
Tickets sales over
Ruby Community Center
Mylan Park
500 Mylan Park Lane
Morgantown, West Virginia
Cabin Fever Fest is North Central WV’s annual indoor winter craft beer festival featuring brews from around the Mountain State. It also offers food and merchant vendors with a distinct focus on Appalachian culture. Expect around 15 West Virginia brewers and over 60 different beers.
A ticket gets you five to six hours of sampling, a souvenir tasting glass, and 4 oz. pours. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate if event does not sell out in advance. 21 years and over only. Non-beer tasting tickets are also available. See our review of Cabin Fever 2017 and 2018.
Cabin Fever Fest offers a special ticket price discount to Enthusiast Members of the WV Craft Brewers Guild.
Cabin Fever Craft Beer Fest website
Winter Warmer
Saturday, February 23, 2019
3:00 – 7:00 PM
The Bluefield Arts Center
500 Bland Street
Bluefield, WV
$25 Gen. Ad. Advance Purchase
$30 at the door
Ticket Sales Over
Warm up with Bluefield’s coziest festival. Enjoy craft beer, fine food, music from regional favorites Space Monkey, and friends. Ticket price includes unlimited samples of beer and cider and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
BrewFest CharlieWest
Saturday, April 13, 2019
2:05 PM game time.
Festival beer served during the game. BrewFest with band continues after the game
WV Power baseball game
Appalachian Power Park
Charleston, WV
$30 beer festival ticket
WV Power ticket link
BrewFest CharlieWest returns for the 4th consecutive year! Just like last year, fans can purchase a $30.00 package that includes a Party Deck ticket and five craft beer vouchers for use at the different beer vendors, Party Deck package also includes all the food you can eat. Alternatively, you can just buy a regular game ticket (starting at $6) and purchase your craft beers individually. A group of West Virginia breweries will be represented and other craft beers from around the region will be served during and after the game.
After the game ends, the live music show begins. The band Heavy Hitters will be performing two 45-minute sets into the everning.
West Virginia Craft Brew Festival
Saturday, April 27, 2019
3:00 – 9:00 p.m.
WV State Fairgrounds
Fairlea, WV
$28.30 – General admission – advance
$47.17 – VIP
Tickets sale over
The State Fair of West Virginia and Lewisburg Rotary are conducting their 3rd annual beer festival on the WV State Fairgrounds. Featuring 13 or more West Virginia and Virginia breweries, food trucks, and all-day music, this event will also have a beer competition for participating breweries.
General admission gets you eight beer sample tickets and a commemorative mug. VIP admission also includes two extra beer sample tickets, VIP parking, and early admission.
Profits will be split between the State Fair of WV Endowment Fund and the Lewisburg Rotary Endowment Fund to support scholarships in the Greenbrier Valley area and across the state.
WV Craft Beer Festival website
Foam at the Dome
Saturday, May 11, 2019
4:00 pm – 7:00 PM
State Capitol (in street along river)
1900 Kanawha Blvd. E.
Charleston, WV
$40 General Admission;
$50 early entry (one-hour early admission)
Tickets sale over
The fourth year of Charleston’s premier craft beer festival heads back to the State Capitol along the Kanawha River. Expect around 150 beers from 60+ breweries. Plenty of restaurant vendors, artists/crafts people, and local bands round out the offerings. Foam at the Dome will likely have around 20 of West Virginia’s licensed breweries, plus a selection of the very best beers available in WV from regional, national, and foreign craft brewers. Expect another nice group of Belgians to be offered. Sponsored by and profits support Charleston Main Streets and its East End and West Side urban development program.
See our coverage of the 2018 Foam at the Dome here.
Rails & Ales Festival
Saturday, August 10, 2019
5:00 to 9:00 PM
Harris Riverfront Park
Huntington, WV
$40 General Admission
$60 VIP (90 min. early admission)
Ticket sale over
Still West Virginia’s largest and best craft beer event, the 7th annual Rails & Ales Festival will bring together a score of the state’s best breweries and mix them in with a super selection of regional, national, and international craft beers. All this takes place on a gorgeous riverfront park along the Ohio River in downtown Huntington. Only one session this year. Lots of food vendors, and some very good bands. See Brilliant Stream’s 2017 Rails & Ales festival coverage.
Rails & Ales Festival website
Mountaineer BrewFest
Saturday. August 17, 2019
4:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wheeling Heritage Port
1201 Water Street
Wheeling, WV
$35 general admission;
$75 VIP (3:00 pm admission)
Tickets sale over
Mountaineer Brewfest is held at a super venue in downtown Wheeling along the Ohio River. It offers a good mix of West Virginia and out-of-state brews. Lots of food options. Musical entertainment all evening. Makes a large contribution to their selected local charity each year. See our review of the 2018 Mountaineer Brewfest. This year’s fest should be similar.
Mountaineer Brewfest website link
Happy Retreat Craft Beer Festival
Saturday, September 7, 2019
11:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Happy Retreat
600 Mordington Av.
Charles Town, WV
$35 General Admission advance purchase
Ticket sale over
The festival will include more than 50 local, state, regional and national craft beers. Staff will be on hand to discuss everything beer. Souvenir glass and limited beer sampling included with admission. Additional samples sold at the festival.
Live music throughout the day. The festival takes place on the grounds of the historic property of Charles Washington, brother of George Washington and founder of Charles Town. Festival proceeds support the upkeep of the property.
Facebook event page link
The Great Beckley Beer Festival
Saturday, September 21, 2019
12:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Beckley Intermodal Gateway
501 Neville St.
Beckley, WV
$30 General Admission advance purchase
$50 V.I.P.
Tickets on sale
The festival will include more than 50 local, state, regional and national craft beers. Live music all day.
Festival Web page
Hops on the Mon
September 28, 2019
3:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Courthouse Square, High Street Morgantown, WV
$35 General Admission
Tickets on sale here
Now in its 4th year in Morgantown, the festival promises a super line up of carefully curated craft beer by the folks from the Apothecary Ale House. Expect over 150 offerings of the very best beer available in WV (and plenty of Belgians). This year the festival is taking place outdoors on High Street in the middle of downtown at Courthouse Square. Live music by funk-rock foursome Optimus Riff. In this year’s food feature, local restaurants compete to see who has The Perfect Pierogi.
Ticket purchase includes souvenir beer cup & beer sampling. Age 21 and over only. Partnered with Main Street Morgantown.
Festival Facebook page
Morgantown Brewing Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 28, 2019
11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
1291 University Ave.
Morgantown, WV
No admisssion charge
For a day each September, Morgantown Brewing Company celebrates Oktoberfest at its downtown brewpub. The staff dresses in traditional Bavarian festival clothing and the kitchen serves up a great menu of fest food. The outdoor Biergarden behind the brewery becomes the happiest place in town. Beer and food specials all day long. Enjoy Morgantown’s delicious Oktoberfest beer.
OktoberWest
September 28, 2019
4:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Washington St. W. at Bigley Av.
Charleston, WV
$35 General Admission
Ticket sale over
The 12th year of this annual outdoor street festival celebrates craft brews with a focus on West Virginia breweries You will find 100 different beers, including several limited Octoberfest and German varieties. This has grown into Charleston’s largest beer fest. Food vendors from around the city set up food carts, trucks, and kiosks to sell their delicious goods. Ticket includes six 12 oz beer tickets. Nondrinker and children’s tickets also available.
Stein holding and best traditional dress contests will be held. Also look for the inaugural Beer Belly Contest, a Sausage Toss contest, and Keg Rolling contest. A solid line up of bands will provide the musical entertainment. . Music begins at 4:30 PM and the jamming continues until 9 PM. The festival raises funds for revitalizing Charleston’s West Side business district.
Festival event page link
Oktoberfest in the Park
September 28, 2019
3:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
Lotito City Park
1780 Stadium Drive
Bluefield, WV/VA
$25 General Admission
Ticket sale link when available
The City of Bluefield again presents its Oktoberfest at the Park. German foods, beer and bands will bring a festive atmosphere to what the city promises will be a laid-back-type of festival similar to the Bramwell Oktoberfest of old.
The beer list should include a number of breweries not available in WV. Admission gets you a cup and unlimited sampling.
The festival is sponsored by The Bluefield Beautification Commission.
Festival Facebook page
Oktoberfest Pipestem
October 5, 2019
1:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.
Pipestem Spa & Event Center
41 Pipestem Spa Way
Pipestem, WV
Four advance ticket options
On sale now
“Rocktoberfest” is this year’s theme. All West Virginia craft beer, bourbon, live rock music, weddings, German food, and local food trucks highlight this Oktoberfest celebration. If you stay at Pipestem Resort State Park, you get a free shuttle back and forth to the festival.
Oktoberfest Pipestem Facebook page
Hops & Heat
Saturday, October 12, 2019
2:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
East End Bazaar
1428 Washington St.
Charleston, WV
$35 General Admission for Beer Drinkers
$20 for Non-Drinkers
Tickets on sale
One of Brilliant Stream’s favorite fall beer events, Hops & Heat will once again highlight West Virginia and Appalachian breweries. Expect over 20 breweries and 80+ beers. The Heat in the festival name comes from The Best Chili Beer Competition, which will return to coincide with the Hops & Heat Chili Cookoff.
Beer Drinker tickets include beer samples, three 12 oz. craft beer tickets, unlimited chili samples, and access to live music and East End Bazaar artisans. Non-Drinker tickets include everything except the beer. Only 500 tickets will be sold. See highlights of the 2017 event.
Proceeds benefit Charleston’s East End improvement projects. More information at charlestoneastend.org or the Facebook event page.
Putnam County Craft Beer Festival
Saturday, October 19, 2019
12:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club
3780 Sleepy Hollow Drive.
Hurricane, WV
$30 General Admission advance purchase
$42 V.I.P.
Tickets on sale
The festival will offer local, state, and regional craft beers. GA ticket includes first-come-first-serve parking, 12 tasting tickets and commemorative tasting mug. VIP adds 4 extra tasting tickets and a T-shirt. Live bands, food trucks, arts & crafts vendors
Festival Web page
Wagging Tails & Nitro Ales
Saturday, November 9, 2019
11:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Living Memorial Park
20th St. & 2nd Av.
Nitro, WV
$25 Tasting ticket package
$1 per chili sample ticket
This annual beerfest and chili cookoff will offer over 40 local, state, regional, and national craft beers. Includes a beer education program by New Belgium Brewing. Admission is free, but must purchase beer tasting tickets to sample the brews. Live music, food vendors, arts & crafts vendors. All proceeds support Dog Bless, a dog rescue group.
Festival Web page
Other festivals may be added to this list as their dates and details are announced and confirmed.