It’s a beer geeks dream come true: The Festival 2019, one of the world’s most iconic beer festivals hosted annually by Shelton Brothers Importers, is coming to the Queen City. No, that is not a misprint – the same world-renowned festival that has anchored in such major markets as Denver, Los Angeles and Louisville in recent years has set its sights on Buffalo this fall, Friday and Saturday, October 4-5. A location has yet to be finalized.

The list of participating breweries is pending, but keep checking back for more information as it becomes available, but expect the very best local, domestic, and international producers of the craft. The Festival regularly features the best of the best the brewing world has to offer, including world famous breweries like Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen, Cantillon, Cloudwater, Brouwerij Brasserie De Ranke, Freigeist/Monarchy, Haandbryggeriet and Brasserie Dieu du Ciel, as well as notable stateside purveyors such as The Veil, DeGarde, Hill Farmstead, J. Wakefield, Jester King, Monkish and Other Half.

“The world’s greatest and smallest artisanal beer, cider, and mead makers will join us to meet festival attendees and share their stories and knowledge,” a press release for The Festival reads. “You’d have to spend months and countless dollars for a chance to meet this many world-class brewers. We’ve saved you the trouble and the expense — they’ll all be on hand personally to talk about their work and to pour for you. And many will be creating special brews specifically for the event — you won’t be able to find them anywhere else!”

Admission to the festival typically includes a special-edition festival sampling glass, plus the opportunity to meet the best beer and cider makers in the world, most of which will be on hand to talk about their creations.

For more information on The Festival, visit https://www.sheltonbrothers.com.

Brian Campbell is a co-founder/Brand Manager of the BNBA’s enthusiast arm, Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at buffalobeerleague@aol.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague) and www.buffalobeerleague.com.