Cincy Winter Beerfest

Hannah McCartney
CityBeat

The saddest realities we must face right now about the Cincy Winter Beerfest include two facets: 1) It cannot last forever, and 2) Even Andre the Giant wouldn’t be able to handle samples of all 365 craft beers available for tasting. The sooner you accept this, the sooner you can start executing a detailed game plan to make what might be highlight of Cincinnati Beer Week also the highlight of several weeks to come.

A wristband earns you 24 samples in a souvenir 5 oz. acrylic mug; you could start local with Blank Slate Brewing’s Shroominous brew, meander across the Midwest and into California with a taste of 21st Amendment’s Die IPA, pass through Ireland with some Wm. Magner’s cider and, if you feel like it, end right back home in Cincinnati with a Mt. Carmel brew or a chug of a classic Moerlein original. Of course, that’s one of literally thousands of possibilities. Regular, VIP, Designated Driver and Connoisseur ticket packages available; $15-$95. Friday, Feb. 15 and Saturday, Feb. 16 (lines open up at 3 p.m.; doors open 7:30-11 p.m.). Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. Check out the full beer list at cincybeerfest.com .