This post was originally published on the Around the World in KT Days blog by Katie McGrain
The Mountain States have a reputation for being hotspots in the winter. As some of the best skiing destinations in the U.S., their wintertime popularity makes sense. But that doesn’t mean you should disregard the Mountain States in the summer. The shoulder seasons might be chilly and fraught with unpredictable weather, but the Mountain States are worth a visit in the summer.
For me, summer in the mountains means camping, hiking, horseback riding, and beer drinking. Summer isn’t summer without a good, old-fashioned beer festival. There’s something about the warm weather and days filled with outdoor activities and sunshine that just make me want to celebrate with some good beer. These five beer festivals are worth adding to your summer plans. Enjoy them to the fullest by reserving a room at a nearby hotel and staying the night.
Photo by Always Wanderlust via Trover.com
Brews, Jazz and Funk Fest in Stateline
In Squaw Valley, just across the border from Stateline, the brews, jazz, and funk fest is a weekend dedicated to all things beer and music. Forty different breweries from around the region share their best brews, while a fantastic lineup of musical acts take the stage. Drinking beer and listening to music with Lake Tahoe as your backdrop? I’ll take it! Look into the Tahoe Summit Village to rest your head after all the festivities, though any hotel in Stateline will do!
Boise Craft Beer Fest
Twenty breweries and forty beers on tap, plus food trucks, music, and prizes make up the Boise Craft Beer Fest. Held at the Boise Hawks Stadium, just $20 gets you access to all the fun of the beer festival plus eight samples of beer. There are plenty of cheap hotels in Boise near the stadium where you can base yourself for the weekend.
Canfest in Reno
There’s been a revolution in canned beer! It’s no longer just low-quality beer. Instead, some of the best craft beers now come in cans. Heady Topper, anyone? Canfest is annual festival in Reno dedicated to all things canned beer. Ten percent of the 1,954 canned craft beers in the U.S. will be at this year’s event. The festival takes place at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, an excellenthotel in Reno where you can book a room for the night.
Big Dog’s Summer Beer Fest Near Henderson
This Nevada beer festival happens each year in Las Vegas, just a quick drive from Henderson. You could stay in Vegas, but the hotels in Henderson are more affordable and tucked away from all the action. This is a unique beer festival. It’s pay as you go, so no need to zoom through tons of beer tickets if you don’t want them. Enjoy over 40 beers from around the Las Vegas region while listening to live music in the summer sun.
Das Beer Fest in Laughlin
Technically this festival is not in the summer, but Laughlin still has summer weather in October. As the name suggests, this festival is an Oktoberfest celebration of sorts. Sip on beer from all over the country and around the world while eating bratwurst and listening to oompah bands. The whole event goes down at the Edgewater Hotel & Casino, a well reviewed hotel in Laughlin where you can book a room for the night.
