Save Water. Drink a Beer.
When the summer arrives, there’s no better way to welcome it than kicking back with an ice-cold beer. But we’re not talking about cracking open a Budweiser at a picnic. There’s a whole world of beer out there for you to explore, and there’s no better place to start than one of the many festivals taking place across the state. Consider making a mini-vacation out of your beer fest experience and hire a Cincinnati car service to get you there. With a trusty Chauffeur at your service, you won’t have to worry about looking up directions, then getting lost, then arriving at the festival frazzled and unhappy. Check out one of these fun beer fests and see what jumps out at you:
June 14-15: Jungle Jim’s International Beer Fest
Cincinnati
Touting itself as an “international exbeerience,” Jungle Jim’s Beer Fest features 350 beers from more than 100 breweries. Brew masters will be on hand to talk about the different options available, so this event is great not just for casual beer tasters but also dedicated ones who want to learn more about the world of beer. Picnic meals will be available, and cigars will also be sold if you want to relax with a stogie as you drink your special brew. The event will take place in the Oscar Center, which is located right above the market the festival gets its name from.
June 21-29: Ohio Brew Week Festival
Athens
This eight-day festival will feature beer writer Bill Metzger as the keynote speaker. But his appearances throughout the week are accompanied by plenty of events, including a kick-off picnic, a sampling of food from Athens’ best restaurants, a ladies’ night, and even ghost tours of the surrounding areas. Plenty of live music and dancing are also scheduled, so no matter what you like to do for fun, there’s bound to be something to keep you occupied.
July 26-27: Burning River Fest
Cincinnati
The beer takes a secondary role at this eco-friendly festival, but the premise is so cool, we couldn’t help but include it. This event commemorates a fire that took place on the Cuyahoga River in 1969 and honors the dedication to eco-friendliness sprouted as a result. In addition to educational exhibits from local sustainability groups, there will also be a boat show featuring boats made from recyclable material. The foods will be organic and fresh, and the beer will be provided all weekend by the green beermaker Great Lakes Brewing Company.
July 27: Blues and Brews
Akron
If you purchase a Brewer’s Circle ticket for this craft beer event, you’ll get to enjoy a lunch meal provided by Winking Lizard Tavern, bourbon beer barrels, and a special commemorative 3 oz. glass. Guests can pick from around 200 beers coming from 75 breweries. If that doesn’t sound like a day of fun, we don’t know what does.
August 9-11: Rivers, Trails, and Ales
Marietta
This event pairs the invigorating taste of the outdoors with the invigorating taste of beer. Activities include paddling, mountain biking, and road biking. When you’re done sweating, head on over to the surrounding bars and restaurants to enjoy refreshing drinks from local microbreweries. Events with live music will also take place at these eateries throughout the weekend, and the fest will start with a party at the Marrietta Brewing Company.
Make your summer a memorable one with one (or more) of these great beer festivals. Let loose, enjoy some of the state’s best brews, and feel confident knowing that you’ll have a reliable car service to get you to the festival on time.
Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net/naypong