The 13th-annual Cincy Winter Beerfest returns to the Duke Energy Convention Center on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7.
Beerfest is one of the biggest beer extravaganzas of the year in Cincinnati, featuring more than 400 different craft beers from more than 130 breweries, including 110 from Cincinnati-area breweries alone. The beer list is huge and has just been release (see below or on the Cincy Beerfest website here). Some hard-to-find and rare beers will be available at the event, but attendees won’t know about Beerfest’s secret stash until they get there.
If you don’t want to drink on an empty stomach — or need to lay down a base layer — look for concessions from local food trucks. Live music will set the mood both nights. Proceeds from Beerfest will benefit the Big Joe Duskin Music Education Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing music education to underfunded elementary and junior high schools.
Beerfest expects to pour more than 15,000 gallons of beer over the weekend; event tickets include unlimited beer samples and a souvenir mug. Attendees can buy tickets to one of three sessions (or all three): 7:30-11 p.m. Friday, March 6 and noon-4:30 p.m. or 7:30-11 p.m. Saturday, March 7.
Regular admission is on sale for $45 until Feb. 28, when the price will change to $50. If you still haven’t gotten a ticket by the day of the event, tickets cost $55 day-of/at the door. Other ticket options include early admission (which gets you into the event an hour early and costs $10 more) or the Connoisseurs Reception ticket ($90-$95), which includes a reception area, private restrooms, a coat check, catered appetizers, premium and large-format beers and a special snifter to take home.
Not drinking but still want to join the festivities? Beerfest has designated driver tickets for $20 or $25 on the day of the event.
Beerfest takes place March 6 and 7. Regular admission tickets start at $45. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown, cincybeerfest.com.
This article appears in Feb 19-28, 2020.