Oktoberfest—Munich’s 200 year-old beer drinking celebration—begins in late September and ends the first week of October. But in the U.S., it seems there is an Oktoberfest on any given weekend through the entire month of October. In fact, there are more beer festivals in the U.S. in October than in any month according to www.beerfestivals.org.
Afraid of feeling tapped out by November? Not a chance—as the holiday season approaches, November is rife with beer books perfect for gifting.
For guides to your favorite breweries, check out these:
The Great American Ale Trail: The Craft Beer Lover’s Guide to the Best Watering Holes in the Nation (Running Press) by Christian DeBenedetti, a freelance writer living in Oregon.
Brewed Awakening: Behind the Beers and Brewers Leading the World’s Craft Brewing Revolution (Sterling Epicure) by Joshua M. Bernstein, a contributing writer for Time Out New York who lives in Brooklyn.
Artisan Beer: A Complete Guide to Savoring the World’s Finest Beers (Burford Books) by Gary Monterosso a freelance writer and sometime beer radio commentator Sirius who lives in New Jersey.
And when simple tours aren’t enough and you want to brew your own beer—in your garage, basement, or on your city fire escape:
The Brooklyn Brew Shop’s Beer Making Book: 52 Seasonal Recipes for Small Batches (Clarkson Potter) by Erica Shea and Stephan Valand (owners of Brooklyn Beer Shop) with Jennifer Fiedler, an editor at Wine Spectator.
The Craft of Stone Brewing Company: Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance (Ten Speed) by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner (owners of Stone Brewing in San Diego).
