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Austin skyline at dusk seen across the lawn of Auditorium Shores
AdrienWikipedia, CC BY-SA

Beer

Beer festivals and brewery tours that justify the trip, with dates checked against official sources and advice on tents, tickets and timing.

Most of the beer festivals in this guide fall in late summer and early autumn. Kulmbacher Bierwoche in Upper Franconia opens at the end of July, Oktoberfest fills Munich’s Theresienwiese in late September and early October, and the Great American Beer Festival brings brewers to Denver in October. Munich has a second season in late winter, when the Starkbierzeit at the Nockherberg pours strong beer in February and March. The big festivals take table reservations or sell tickets by session, and some sessions sell out before the weekend, so read the booking rules on each listing before fixing your travel dates. Brewery tours in Bruges and Dublin are easier to fit in: they last about an hour and suit a free afternoon on a city break.

Beer festivals by month

Copper brewing kettles behind the round bar at Paulaner am Nockherberg in MunichUser:Mateus2019, CC BYBeerFeb 26 to Mar 21

Starkbierzeit at the Nockherberg

Munich’s strong beer festival at Paulaner am Nockherberg, 26 February to 21 March 2027: Salvator beer, tickets, tables for ten and practical tips.MunichView
Visitors strolling the Frühlingsfest grounds with St Paul's church under a blue sky, MunichUsien, CC BY-SABeerUsually Apr, May

Munich Frühlingsfest

Munich’s spring beer festival on the Theresienwiese: Augustiner and Spaten tents, a wheat beer garden, free entry. 2027 dates not yet published.MunichView
Fairground stalls and crowds under big trees at the Erlanger BergkirchweihJanericloebe, Public domainBeerMay 13 to 24

Erlanger Bergkirchweih

Erlangen’s twelve-day beer festival in the Keller of the Burgberg, 13 to 24 May 2027: Festmärzenbier, Rauchbier, table bookings and rules.ErlangenView
Aerial view of Kulmbach and Plassenburg castleReinhold Möller Ermell, CC BY-SABeerJul 31 to Aug 8

Kulmbacher Bierwoche

Kulmbach’s nine-day beer festival in Upper Franconia, from 31 July to 8 August 2027: free entry to the grounds and the Stadl, a walk from the station.KulmbachView
Visitors walking between fairground stalls at the Gäubodenvolksfest in StraubingDALIBRI, CC BY-SABeerAug 13 to 23

Gäubodenvolksfest

Straubing’s Volksfest, 13 to 23 August 2027: seven beer tents, five local breweries, free entry, table rules and getting there.StraubingView
Inside the Hacker-Festzelt beer tent at the Oktoberfest, under its painted sky ceilingkallerna, CC BY-SABeerSep 18 to Oct 3

Oktoberfest

Munich’s beer festival on the Theresienwiese, 18 September to 3 October 2027 (announced): beer, tents, reservations, quiet times.MunichView
Aerial view of the Cannstatter Volksfest fairground at dusk with rides and beer tentsZavijava2, CC BY-SABeerSep 24 to Oct 10

Cannstatter Volksfest

Stuttgart’s folk festival on the Cannstatter Wasen, 24 September to 10 October 2027: eight beer tents, Göckele and Swabian dishes, free entry.StuttgartView
White festival tents on the Cincinnati riverfront with the downtown skyline behindIagoQnsi, CC BYBeerUsually Sep

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest on the Ohio riverfront, free to enter: brats, metts, cheese coneys and a festival lager. 2027 dates not yet published.CincinnatiView
Downtown Denver skyline with the Rocky Mountains behindQuintin Soloviev, CC BYBeerUsually Oct

Great American Beer Festival

Denver’s beer festival and competition, held outdoors at the Levitt Pavilion on 10 and 11 October 2026, 66.53 dollars a session with fees. 2027 dates not yet published.DenverView
Austin skyline at dusk seen across the lawn of Auditorium ShoresAdrienWikipedia, CC BY-SAWineNov 6 to 8

Austin Food & Wine Festival

Austin’s food, wine, beer and spirits festival at Auditorium Shores, 6 to 8 November 2026: tickets from 185 dollars, for guests aged 21 and over.AustinView

Beer experiences

Bruges red roofs and church spires seen from the De Halve Maan breweryMichiel Dumon, CC BY-SAProducer visit45 to 75 minutes

Brewery tours in Bruges

Two brewery tours in the old centre of Bruges, De Halve Maan and Bourgogne des Flandres: 16 euros for an adult, with a beer at De Halve Maan and a tasting at Bourgogne des Flandres, 45 minutes to 1 hour 15.BrugesView
View over Dublin rooftops and church spires from the Gravity Bar of the Guinness Storehousepsyberartist, CC BYProducer visit45 to 90 minutes

Guinness Storehouse and whiskey tours in Dublin

Three drink visits in Dublin compared: the Guinness Storehouse from 24 euros on its booking page (26 for an adult in its FAQ), Teeling Whiskey Distillery at 22 euros and the Irish Whiskey Museum at 23 euros.DublinView

Top destinations for beer

The Neues Rathaus and Marienplatz seen from Peterskirche over the red roofs of MunichDiliff, CC BY-SA4 listings

Munich

Munich FrühlingsfestOktoberfestStarkbierzeit at the Nockherberg
Austin skyline above the Colorado River on a clear dayQuintin Soloviev, CC BY1 listing

Austin

Austin Food & Wine Festival
Canal, medieval houses and the Belfry tower in BrugesAnk Kumar, CC BY-SA1 listing

Bruges

Brewery tours in Bruges
Roebling Suspension Bridge and the Cincinnati skyline under blue skyw_lemay, CC BY-SA1 listing

Cincinnati

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati
Denver skyline with Rocky Mountains behind City ParkDavid Herrera from Albuquerque, NM, Bernalillo, CC BY1 listing

Denver

Great American Beer Festival
The Ha'penny Bridge over the River Liffey with Dublin quays on a sunny dayChris Rycroft, CC BY1 listing

Dublin

Guinness Storehouse and whiskey tours in Dublin