The Festival
Portland, Maine
You know you're dealing with a serious event when they don't even bother to give you a clue of what it's about in the name. But for those lucky enough to visit The Festival, no extra description is necessary. This insane beer festival — held June 21 and 22 — is dedicated to showcasing small brewers and cideries from all over the world, with many you've likely never heard of, many making batches specifically for the event, and all of them represented by the folks that actually do the brewing. Attendance is limited to just 1,200 people per session, and Maine law limits consumption to just 48 oz. per attendee, more or less ensuring that noone gets too out of hand while they're there.
