BeerAdvocate has organized and hosted hundreds of social gatherings, tastings, dinners, and fundraisers since its inception in 1996. This includes over 70 ticketed beer fests since 2003, ranging from 1,200 to 15,000 attendees from around the globe. Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, we got tired of attending beer fests that didn't respect brewers or their beers. So, we decided to start hosting our own using our "Respect Beer" motto as the foundation and the following core rules: We'll pay for all of the beer served at our fests. We won't charge brewers booth or registration fees. Brewers can't buy their way into our fests. Brewers are required to attend to help ensure the highest level of brand representation and education possible. Listen to feedback and always strive to do better. The result? Here's a look at our Extreme Beer Fest from 2014:
BeerAdvocate Fest Timeline Unfortunately, our fests are on a break for the foreseeable future, however, I hope to bring them back one day. ^ 2023 [CANCELED] August 26 & 27, 2022 Extreme Beer Fest: Bay Area Craneway Pavilion, Richmond, CA ^ 2022 August 20 & 21, 2021 Lager Fest in Cyberspace Online April 30 & May 1, 2021 IPA Fest in Cyberspace Online February 5 & 6, 2021 Extreme Beer Fest in Cyberspace Online ^ 2021 January 31 & February 1, 2020 Extreme Beer Fest: Boston The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2020 September 14, 2019 IPA Fest Brooklyn EXPO Center, Brooklyn, NY June 14 & 15, 2019 FUNK Boston The Cyclorama, Boston, MA February 1 & 2, 2019 Extreme Beer Fest: Boston Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA ^ 2019 December 15, 2018 IPA Fest Flynn Cruiseport Boston, MA June 23, 2018 Belgian Beer Fest: Day of Inspired Ales The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 22, 2018 Belgian Beer Fest: Night of the Funk The Cyclorama, Boston, MA February 2 & 3, 2018 Extreme Beer Fest: Boston Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA ^ 2018 December 9, 2017 Extreme Beer Fest: Los Angeles California Market Center, Los Angeles, CA September 23, 2017 Beer Meets Wood The Portland Company, Portland, MA June 2 & 3, 2017 BeerAdvocate Microbrew Invitational Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA February 3 & 4, 2017 Extreme Beer Fest: Boston Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA ^ 2017 September 17, 2016 Return of the Belgian Beer Fest The Portland Company, Portland, ME June 3 & 4, 2016 BeerAdvocate Microbrew Invitational Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA February 5 & 6, 2016 Extreme Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA ^ 2016 May 29 & 30, 2015 American Craft Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA March 20 & 21, 2015 Extreme Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA ^ 2015 September 13, 2014 Beer for Beasts The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY May 30 & 31, 2014 American Craft Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA March 21 & 22, 2014 Extreme Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA ^ 2014 September 14, 2013 Belgian Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA September 13, 2013 Night of the Funk The Cyclorama, Boston, MA May 31 & June 1, 2013 American Craft Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA April 6, 2013 Beer for Beasts The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY March 16, 2013 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA March 15, 2013 Night of the Barrels The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2013 September 8, 2012 Belgian Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA September 7, 2012 Night of the Funk The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 1 & 2, 2012 American Craft Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA March 31, 2012 Beer for Beasts The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY February 4, 2012 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA February 3, 2012 Night of the Barrels The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2012 September 10, 2011 Belgian Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA September 9, 2011 Night of the Funk The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 3 & 4, 2011 American Craft Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA March 26, 2011 Beer for Beasts The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY March 12, 2011 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA March 11, 2011 Night of the Barrels The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2011 November 6, 2010 Belgian Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA November 5, 2010 Night of the Funk The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 18 & 19, 2010 American Craft Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA February 20, 2010 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA February 19, 2010 Night of the Barrels The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2010 October 17, 2009 Return of the Belgian Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA October 16, 2009 Night of the Funk The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 19 & 20, 2009 American Craft Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA February 21, 2009 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA February 20, 2009 Night of the Barrels The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2009 September 27, 2008 Return of the Belgian Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA September 26, 2008 Night of the Funk The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 20 & 21, 2008 American Craft Beer Fest Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA February 16, 2008 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA February 15, 2008 Night of the Barrels The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2008 October 27, 2007 Return of the Belgian Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA October 26, 2007 Night of the Funk The Cyclorama, Boston, MA September 22, 2007 German Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 16, 2007 American Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 15, 2007 Night of the Lagers The Cyclorama, Boston, MA February 10, 2007 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA February 9, 2007 Night of the Barrels The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2007 October 27 & 28, 2006 Return of the Belgian Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 16 & 17, 2006 American Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA February 11, 2006 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2006 October 29, 2005 New England Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA June 17, 2005 American Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA January 29, 2005 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2005 November 6, 2004 Belgian Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA May 8, 2004 Art of Beer Fest (AOBF) The Cyclorama, Boston, MA January 17, 2004 Extreme Beer Fest The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2004 September 23, 2003 Stammtisch (AOBF) The Cyclorama, Boston, MA May 24, 2003 Art of Beer Festival (AOBF) The Cyclorama, Boston, MA ^ 2003