These days, almost every city across America has their own local microbrewery or winery. This wasn’t the case ten or fifteen years ago but now, locally brewed beers and locally sourced wines can be found in pretty much every state of the union. This is indicative of the growing national trend to improve what we eat and drink. For too long Americans have been drinking generic mass-produced beer and wine and finally, we’re starting to expect more from what we eat and drink. We’re starting to keep it high quality and local and it’s incredibly exciting to see how this is changing the face of American cuisine.

As we all know, nothing says summer more than enjoying a delicious, ice cold beer or glass of wine on a clear, sunny day. This is especially enjoyable when you can be around other beer and wine enthusiasts, listen to some music and enjoy great food. So, we’ve put together an, admittedly incomplete, list of summer beer and wine events that are happening across the country for all lovers of things delicious and local.

Look for one in your area, get out there and support your local winery or microbrewery! Lets continue this trend of higher quality, locally-sourced booze for years to come. We deserve it!

If you know of a great beer, wine or cider event happening in your area that you don’t see on the list, please leave a comment and let us know about it.

July

Saturday, July 9 Summer Cider Day Port Townsend, WA Discover the delicious diversity of Pacific Northwest craft hard ciders at the first annual Summer Cider Day in Port Townsend. Located at beautiful Fort Worden State Park, Summer Cider Day features 30 plus varieties of regional ciders from 10 plus regional cider-makers, plus a tent of imported ciders.

Saturday, July 9 2011 Rails To Ales Brewfest South Cle Elum, WA Make tracks and bring your thirst for Pacific Northwest microbrews and great live music into the station at the 4th Annual Rails-To-Ales Brewfest! Rails to Ales will feature nineteen regional breweries and hard cider producers pouring samples of their finest brews in the unique setting of Ironhorse State Park’s Milwaukee Road Depot and Railyard.

Saturday, July 9 2nd Shift and Friends 201st Annual Beer Festival New Haven, MO 201 years ago Jacques Delassas de St. Vrain built the first commercial brewery in MIssouri. People in the area have been happier ever since. Come to 2nd Shift Brewing to see what’s developed since 1810. Sample beer from Augusta Brewing, Ferguson Brewing, 6 Row Brewing, Schlafly, Morgan Street, Prison Brews, Tin Mill, Buffalo Brewing, Kirkwood Highlands, Cathedral Square, and more!

Saturday, July 16 7th Annual Good Food, Good Beer, and the Rest is History Philadelphia, PA This annual outdoor event will include a whole Pig Roast with plenty to eat including vegetarian selections and a beer festival. The pigs are being locally sourced from Countrytime Farms, and being prepared by Feast Your Eyes Catering and Healthy Bites and joined by our friends from local breweries including Philadelphia Brewing Company, Earth Bread & Brewery, Victory, and Stoudt’s.

Saturday, July 23 Bremerton Summer BrewFest Bremerton, WA The Washington Beer Commission is proud to present the Inaugural Bremerton Summer BrewFest taking place in downtown Bremerton on Pacific Avenue between Burwell and 6th St. Entry includes a tasting cup and five tokens good for 5.5oz tastes each

Saturday, July 23 Southern NH Brewers Festival Hosted by White Birch Brewing Hooksett, NH In 2009, White Birch Brewing opened its doors as a nano brewery, making beer 15-20 gallons at a time against all recommendations from the industry experts. In 2011 as a seven barrel brewery, White Birch is going to host their own beer festival and do things their way against all expert recommendations, again. The 2011 Southern NH Brewers Festival will be a limited, one session evening event. It will be held at White Birch Brewing in Hooksett, New Hampshire come rain or shine.

Wednesday, July 27 The Winemaker Olympics & Festival of Washington Woodinville, WA The third annual, Winemaker Olympics & Festival of WA will feature over 40 local winemakers and brewmasters, restaurants & gourmet food trucks, music, and as the featured event, the Winemaker Olympics! Teams of winemakers will be put to the ultimate challenge for all to watch; with matchups in the Barrel Roll (winemaker inside), the Cork Toss, and many more!

Thursday, July 28 Indianapolis Big Tent Wine Event Indianapolis, IN Raise funds for a good cause by tasting wine! Hundreds of wines featured from every major wine-producing region, sampled in a fair-like atmosphere.

Saturday, July 30 Craft Beer Comes to Boothbay Boothbay, ME Join Maine brewers in Boothbay for an afternoon of craft beer sponsored by the Maine Brewers’ Guild with special guest Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Come experience Maine craft beers at an intimate, outdoor beer tasting event featuring traditional BBQ and some of the best award-winning craft beer that Maine has to offer. Founders, owners, and brew masters will be in attendance, creating a more unique experience than a traditional beer festival. Rare, special and single batch beers will be featured among the brews being poured at this event in scenic coastal Boothbay, including a special brew being created just for this event.

August

Saturday, August 6 Urban Wine Xperince UWX6 Oakland, CA The East Bay Vintner’s Alliance 6th Annual Urban Wine Xperience will return to Jack London Pavilion Saturday August 6th.. Featuring over 20 local wineries, pouring a variety of white, rosés, reds & stickies, there won’t be a shortage to sample. Each winery teams up with a local restaurant or food purveyor to create delightful morsels paired beautifully with their wine portfolio. Enjoy the sunshine and dance to live music on the sun drenched deck.

Saturday, August 6 “Brew Haven” Craft Beer Festival New Haven, IN Northeast Indiana Regional Summer Craft Beer Festival featuring craft beers from Sierra Nevada, Moylan’s, Widmer Brothers, Sun King, Sam Adams, Flat 12 Bierwerks, Granite City, Upland, New Belgium, Goose Island and more. Hosted by the Trion Tavern in New Haven.

Saturday, August 6 Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Wine & Music Festival Dickerson, MD Join Sugarloaf Moutain Vineyard for summer evenings of wine and music. This year, they have expanded their Wine & Music Festival into a summer concert series. August 6 installment will feature the “phat blues” of The Kelly Bell Band. Spend the evening listening to the live music while sipping your favorite SMV wine or fresh Sangria in your souvenir glass. Food vendors will also be available for your dining delight.

Saturday, August 13 4-Corners BrewFest Shoreline, WA 4-Corners BrewFest is taking place at the Innis Arden Clubhouse in Shoreline. Attendees will get 10 five oz. tastes of outstanding local brews, great food, and live music from Bellingham’s blues/funk Takes All Kinds. Participating Brewers include: 192 Brewing Company, American Brewing Company, Big E Ales, Diamond Knot Brewing, Elysian Brewing, Emerald City Beer Co., Fremont Brewing, Georgetown Brewing, Hales Ales and more.

Saturday, August 13 2011 Yorkville Highlands Wine Festival Yorkville, CA Every year, on a Saturday in August, the Yorkville Highlands Growers and Vintners Association hosts the Yorkville Highlands Wine Festival in the scenic hills of southern Mendocino County. This year’s festival celebrates the appellation’s 12th anniversary. Highlights include tasting Yorkville wines made and grown within the region, delicious regional cuisine, Music, a tempting silent auction, grape stomp, and other wild and wacky games.

Saturday, August 13 BrewFest Encinitas Encinitas, CA BrewFest Encinitas is the gathering of the best local craft brewers. Come spend a fun evening with friends under the trees’ canopy of the Mira Costa College – San Elijo Campus in Encinitas. BrewFest will feature some of San Diego’s finest breweries (like Stone Brewery, Karl Strauss, Ballast Point, Pizza Port, Lightening Brewery and many more), gourmet food trucks and live music making this a unique Encinitas evening.

Saturday, August 20 Kitsap Wine Festival Bremerton, WA The third annual Kitsap Wine Festival at Harborside Fountain Park is a celebration of food and wine on Bremerton’s scenic waterfront. Guests can sample the wines and then purchase them to take home. This years event will feature more variety in the menu and will welcome new vendors. An addition guests will love is the Summer Sipper Bar, where guests will be able to sample rieslings, rosés and sparkling wines side-by-side from many of the participating wineries. Additionally, Silverdale’s Silver City Brewery and Bremerton’s Der Blokken Brewery offer a selection of their favorite brews to festival attendees.

Saturday, August 20 4th Annual Oak Park Microbrew Review Oak Park, IL The 4th Annual Oak Park Microbrew Review features tastings of over 90 craft beers from more than 30 microbreweries across the Midwest. Along with celebrating the microbrews of the most skilled craft brew masters in the region, attendees can also celebrate sustainable living while sampling select food tastings that incorporate organic food from local farmers. This is also the only craft beer event featuring the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild “Replicale” Project. This exciting annual project features a different beer style each year brewed by 15 or more Illinois brewers to showcase the nuances in brewing technique and system design. This year’s style is American Belgo Pale Ale.

Friday, August 26 2011 3rd Annual Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival Traverse City, MI This year, the Traverse City Microbrew & Music Festival will kick off with a “Pint Night”-themed evening featuring a headlining performance by Martin Sexton on the historic front lawn at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. In addition to Sexton’s concert, attendees will enjoy performances from Euforquestra, Grand Traverse Pipes and Drums and Jam Rek drummers, as well as $3 pint specials from over 50 renowned craft breweries, a cider, mead and wine court, the silent disco tent, and food and merchandise vending areas.

Image courtesy of the Waitrose/Classic FM website