In honor of my up-and-coming involvement in both the Great Lakes Brew Fest and The Great American Beer Festival over the next week, I decided it would be appropriate to post a few tips on how to survive a beer festival. Most of my suggestions go without saying — but the most obvious tips are also the most important!

MINI-BREW FEST SURVIVAL GUIDE
by The Beer Wench

Naturally, a festival that involves copious amounts of beer consumption has the potential of being either really fun or really disastrous. Here are a few tips to ensure that your brew fest experience is really awesome (and not disastrous).

1. HYDRATE. With water, not just beer. You should try to match every ounce of beer you consume with an ounce of water. The more, the better.

2. DRESS COMFORTABLY. And most importantly — wear comfortable and appropriate shoes. High-heels may seem like a cute idea, but not after hours of standing and walking.

3. PROTECT YOURSELF from the elements. Wear sunscreen, bring a hat or sunglasses and bring a poncho if there is a chance of rain.

4. PACK LIGHT. Big bulky purses or bags can be cumbersome and intrusive on others drinking hand in close quarters. Leave valuables at home for they may be easily lost, stolen or broken.

5. BE RESPECTFUL of your servers. At a festival there is often a mix of professionals and volunteers pouring. Feel free to ask them questions about the beers, but do not be offended if they cannot respond. Also keep in mind that the person pouring your beer may also be the brewer — honesty is encouraged but refrain from making any harsh negative comments.

6. MONITOR alcohol intake. Those little sample pours can add up really fast if you are not careful. Pay attention to the ABV% on all the beers you are tasting. Often times, seemingly light bodied and easy to drink beers can be very high in alcohol.

7. SKIP THE PERFUME. Just for one day. Overbearing perfumes or colognes can over power the aromatics of the beer and may negatively impact the experience for serious beer drinkers.

8. EAT. Alcohol on an empty stomach is never a smart idea. Luckily, brew festivals tend to have lots of great local foods available for purchase.

CHEERS!!!