Florida beer festival scene continues its hot streak

As the weather continues to heat up in our inevitable march to a blistering summer, so does the Florida beer festival scene.

Hot!

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in the Sunshine State through the rest of the spring and into the early summer.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Hogtown Craft Beer Festival, 2 to 6 p.m., Gainesville.  The festival will take place at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and will include beer samples from local, regional and national breweries, educational beer seminars and homebrewing demonstrations. A portion of ticket sales will go directly to nonprofit partners Alachua Conservation Trust and Saint Johns Riverkeepers.  General admission is $35; VIP $75. More information.

Craft Beer Fest, 3 to 7 p.m., Pensacola.  Festival at Bamboo Willie’s Beachside Bar will feature a firkin of Pensacola Bay Brewery Sawgrass Wheat. Cost is $15 for 15 tasting tickets. More information.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Old School Beer Fest, 4 to 8 p.m., Delray Beach. Live music, more than 50 beers to sample, and gourmet food trucks.  Proceeds benefit the Free Friday Concerts at The Pavilion. General admission is $30; VIP $75. More information.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Cajun Cafe on the Bayou’s Spring Craft Beer Festival, 2 to 6 p.m., Pinellas Park. About 200 different beers to taste, including home brews, imported European beers, and great American craft beers. Admission includes a heaping plate of Cajun cuisine, and a raffle of beer and beer-related items benefits Dunedin Doggie Rescue. Tickets are $45 in advance online; $55 at the door. More information.

Downtown Sarasota Beer & Food Truck Festival, 3 to 7 p.m., Sarasota. Craft beer and food samples, live music. Tickets are $30 at local venues and online; $10 ticket available for three food truck samples only. More information.

New Times third annual Brew at the Zoo, 7 to 11 p.m., Miami. Sample beer and spirits at Zoo Miami while enjoying the live music of Alien Ant Farm with opening acts The Spazmatics and King Louie and The Bushmen. General admission is $30 advance, $40 at the door and $70 for VIP. More information.

Inaugural Brew on the Bay, 1 to 5 p.m., Key Largo. More than 50 local, regional and national beers to sample at Rowell’s  Marina in Key Largo (Mile Marker 104.5). Live music from local musicians, and food for purchase. Tickets are $30 online in advance, $40 at the gate and $60 VIP. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Key Largo. More information.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Second annual Brews with Attitude, 6 to 10 p.m. Tampa. The event, sponsored by Pepin Distributing at its T. Pepin Hospitality Center, will  feature samples of more 80 craft beers, a live art competition, and a home-brewing competition and home-brewing demonstrations, and live music . General admission is $40; VIP $70. More information.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Fourth annual Jacksonville Craft and Import Beer Festival, 7 to 10 p.m., Jacksonville. More than 35 breweries pouring more than 200 beers to sample and food sample. Live music, DJs, and a silent auction and giveaways to benefit the Southside Businessmen’s Club Charities, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, the Jacksonville USO and other nonprofits TBA. General admission is $30; VIP $45. More information.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Florida International Beer Festival, 4 to 8 p.m., Orlando. Admission includes unlimited beer samples, free food samples from area restaurants, free soft drinks and bottled water, and live entertainment. Cost is $25 in advance at local venues, $30 in advance online and $35 at the gate. Instant-in tickets are $40 online, and VIP admission is $50 online. More information.

American Craft Beer Week Festival, downtown St. Petersburg. Details TBA.

Berliner Bash on the Bay, Noon till beer blows, Gulfport. At Peg’s Cantina and Brew Pub, the fest will feature Berliners brewed by Pegs Cantina, Cigar City Brewing, 7th Sun Brewing, Wakefield Brewing, Funky Buddha, and Gravity Brew Bar all making Berliners for this event. Per-pour tickets will be available; price TBD. More information.

Saturday, June 2, 2012.

Fourth annual IPA Festival, 7 to 11 p.m., Dunedin. More than 26 IPAs, Double IPAs, Black IPAs and Experimental IPAs on draft, an assortment of Cask-Conditioned IPAs, and the official release of Dunedin Brewery’s collaboration with Fort George Brewery: Vortex on the Bay IPA. The festival will be in conjunction with the Homebrewers IPA Throwdown 2, and music will be by Saltwater Grass. Expect beers from Dunedin Brewery, Terrapin, Stone, Bells, Seventh Sun, Cigar City, Florida Beer Co., Tampa Bay Brewing Co., Swamphead, Rapp and more, in addition to a full spread of IPAs from the local homebrewers guilds. More information.

Did I miss any? Let us know in the comments below or submit the event to our interactive statewide craft beer events calendar.

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