There are beer fests and then there are beer festivals and my regular readers know that I attend quite a few beer festivals of various sizes and styles. Around the Los Angeles area we primarily see beer fests that concentrate on American craft beers with an emphasis on the burgeoning local craft beer scene; and why not, there are some amazing beers being brewed in Southern California lately. Back in July The Alpine Village in Torrance held their first ever Euro Bierfest 2014, featuring more than 50 beers from France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Iceland, England, Czech Republic and Sweden. It was one of those events that any true craft beer lover should not miss; but we have a new [to Los Angeles] beer festival that will be held November 8 and 9 that looks to be a festival for the ages; The Festival 2014: Los Angeles Edition.

Presented by Shelton Brothers and Sharefest in collaboration with Brouwerij West at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, The Festival 2014 will be bringing you craft beer from all four corners of the globe with almost 100 breweries being represented. Not only are there more than 90 breweries in attendance, you will have the opportunity to meet more than 70 of the best beer, cider, and mead makers in the world!

If you think this is an exaggeration, take a look at the breweries scheduled to attend. International breweries include 8 Wired (New Zealand), Amager Bryghus (Denmark), Au Baron (France), Baird (Japan), Be.Er Brewery (Belgium), Birra Toccalmatto (Italy), Blaugies (Belgium), Brasserie Dunham (Quebec, Canada), Brekeriet (Sweden), Brew By Numbers (England), Brewfist (Italy), Burning Sky (England), Nøgne Ø (Norway), Oersoep (Netherlands), Oliver’s Cider and Perry (United Kingdom), Partizan (England), Pays Flamand (France), Peckham’s Cider (New Zealand), Rappi Bier Factory (Switzerland), Ribela (Spain). Ritterguts (Germany), Rooie Dop (The Netherlands), Shiga Kogen (Japan) and many more.

Just so you do not think that the American breweries have been left out, you will also find such breweries as AEppelTreow Winery (Wisconsin), Arizona Wilderness (Arizona), Cambridge Brewing Company (Massachusetts), Celestial Meads (MA), Crooked Stave (Colorado), Hair of the Dog (Oregon) Jolly Pumpkin (Michigan), Mystic Brewery (Massachusetts), Oxbow Brewing (Maine), Prairie Artisan Ales (Oklahoma), Pretty Things (Massachusetts) and Saint Somewhere (Florida) will also be pouring. California craft breweries Bagby Beer, Beachwood BBQ, Bottle Logic, Brouwerij West, Cellarmaker, Faction, Firestone Walker, Monkish, Rare Barrel, San Pedro Brewing Company, Tahoe Mountain, Telegraph and The Bruery will also be among those in attendance.

While putting together an event of such proportions would be an astronomical fete for most, Shelton Brothers has been doing this for at least two years back in Portland, Maine. In fact, over the weekend I was talking with a friend that told me he flew back to one of the events in Portland and it was amazing. If you look at the posted tap list you might come to the conclusion that that was an understatement.

As one might guess, with all that beer, cider and mead together in one place it would be difficult to even scratch the surface in one four-hour session; so The Festival 2014 will take place over the course of four four-hour sessions spread across two days. The first two sessions will be held Saturday, November 8 from 12:00-4:00 and 5:00-9:00 PM; with the second two sessions running Sunday, November 9 from 12:00-4:00 and 5:00-9:00 PM.

An event of this magnitude is expensive to put on, no matter how many connections you might have, so the pricing structure is a little different than what you might be accustomed. Admission to the event gets you in the door and a special-edition sample glass; you will have to buy drink tickets to get your pour. Admission is $45 for both of the Saturday sessions and the first Sunday session; the last Sunday session is $40. There is an All-Day Saturday Pass for $85, an All-Day Sunday Pass for $80 and an All-Weekend Pass for $160. Drink tickets are five for $5.00, 10 for $10.00, 15 for $15.00 and 25 for $20.00.

Since you read this far, it is only fair that you get something for your efforts. Craft Beer Guy has arranged a PROMO CODE for you that will discount your pre-sale admission tickets by 10%. Please visit http://thefestival2014.eventbrite.com/ and enter the Promotional Code: craftbeerguy then hit Apply; this will discount all admission tickets by 10%; this works whether buying a pass for one session or all four.

As Brouwerij West’s Dave Holop put it, “We just think it’s so great that all these great breweries and brewers from all over [the world] will be coming to LA and pouring some really special and rare beers. This should be a unique beer fest for the LA beer scene. The tap list is amazing; and it is very cool to have Westvleteren XII available.”

I know some people like to plan out the beers they want to try at the big beer festivals; if you are one of those be sure to check out http://www.sheltonbrothers.com/the-festival-tap-list/ as you will have your work cut out for you. I hope to see you there. Cheers!