Its that time of year again, for AmeriCAN!!!

The sun is staying up longer, the days are getting warmer (ok, hotter), the shelves are being vacated of heavy, dark winters beers, and being replaced with lighter, crisp summer ales. What does this mean? Its beer festival season here in Arizona, and when I think beer festivals in Arizona, one comes to my mind immediately. No, not Strong Beer Festival (that is my second favorite), no, I am talking about the 4th Annual AmeriCAN Canned Beer Festival! Coming May 17th!

Why is this my favorite festival? Well, I think this festival combines everything that I love about beer, and beer festivals. Its fun, there is a lot of great beer to be had, beer we can't get here in Arizona, great location, entertainment, food, you name it. This festival lacks the sort of 'frat boy" good time drunk fest that plagues a lot of festivals, but also lacks the sort of "pinky up, they only made 1 gallon of this, lets spend 45 minutes arguing about what style this is" sort of over serious, beer geekiness that tends to drag down some other festivals (in my humble opinion). This festival is a perfect combo of all that is right with beer. There is some great beer to be had, but you can also dance to live music. You can chat with brewers you've only seen pictures of, yet you still might catch a glimpse of a borderline inappropriately displayed set of cleavage squeezed into a low cut tank top. Sure you may see some folks stumbling around that have had a few too many (I've never been to a beer festival that I didn't see that), but you can also meet and chat with other like minded beer fans that you normally wouldn't get a chance to meet.

Good look at the venue...

Plus, the venue (held outside on the grounds of the Scottsdale Civic Center)  for this festival is just about perfect, lots of sun, and lots of shade, easy to navigate, plenty of room and doesn't ever really feel crowded, no matter how crowded it is.


 Ok, those are just a few of my thoughts on why this is not just a great beer event, but just a great event period. If that isn't enough to get your ass to this festival, how about a look at the brewers that will be in attendances.....check this out.


Breweries new to the festival this year....
Alaskan Brewing
Angry Orchard
Armadillo Ale Works
Australian
Avery
Ballast Point
Barrio
Bell’s
Black Market
Black Tooth
Cedar Creek
Deep Ellum
Destihl
Dog Tag
Epic
Founders
Griffin Claw
Guinness
Hangar 24
Hops & Grains
Johnny Appleseed Cider
Mike Hess
Nebraska
Redstone Meadery
Rogue
Twisted Tea
Uncharted Cider
Upslope
Utah Brewers Cooperative
Wild Cider

Plus more than a dozen imports featured in the International Beer Garden!

Here are the returning brewers that you enjoyed last year, and get to enjoy again this year!




21st Amendment    
Abita
Anderson Valley    
Austin Beerworks
Big Sky
Blue Moon
Bohemian
Boulder Beer
Breckenridge





 

DC Brau                 Four Peaks              Fort George            GoodLife

Goose Island           Grand Canyon        Joseph James          Kona
Leinenkugel            Lumberyard            Marble                     Maui
Mudshark                New Belgium        NOLA                     Oskar Blues
Prescott                    Redhook               Sam Adams             Santa Fe
SanTan                    Shock Top             Sierra Nevada          Ska
Snake River             Sun King               TailGate Beer          Tallgrass
Two Brothers          Uinta                      Widmer                   Woodchuck


If you get hungry, there will also be 6 food trucks there......

Grilled Cheese Truck
Brat Haus
Carte Blanche Tacos
The Traveling Monk
Arizona BBQ Club
Honey Bear’s BBQ 

SanTan Brewing Company will cater the VIP zone.

If that isn't enough to get you there, then I am sorry, there is nothing more I can do for you!

James Swann and I saying hello at last years festival....

Festival info...

Date. Saturday May 17th
Time: 1pm to 6 pm (VIP entry opens at 12pm)
Location:
Scottsdale Civic Center
3939 North Drinkwater Boulevard
Scottsdale, AZ 85251








Tickets are $35 presale, that includes a souvenir can and 20 four-ounce pours!

VIP tickets are $100, and include admission one hour early, a souvenir can, 20 four-ounce pours, catered food, a private VIP zone with private restrooms and exclusive specialty beer sampling!

Get presale tickets here.....

This is a 21 and over event, no exceptions, so leave the rug rats at home.

For more on this festival, check out the official release with more info here....

Check out the official website here for hotel and cab info, and other helpful stuff....

I will be there, and I really hope to see you there as well! If you go, by all means, look for me, and say hello, and introduce yourself if we've never met, I would love to meet you!


Until next time
Bottoms up my friends!

The Beer Czar