Spring Beer Festival
Not unlike the Bock Beer Festival that is held in Amsterdam each October, the Meibock Festival celebrates spring brews from near and far. In addition to traditional maibocks you’ll also be able to taste more contemporary brews from IPAs and fruit beers to French-style saisons. The event will be held on April 17 from 13:00 - 19:00 at the Posthoornkerk (Haarlemmerstraat 124 - 126). A full festival package costs €20 and includes admission and seven beer tokens. Standard admission is €7 and this also includes a beer tasting glass. Individual beer tasting tokens can be bought for €2 each. For more information visit www.pint.nl/noord-holland/activiteiten/festivals/meibockfestival.

Craft Beer Festival
If you’ve grown tired of sipping mass produced lagers and pilsners from green bottles, perhaps it’s time to embrace a local craft brew that will put the big brands to shame. For a proper tasting you might consider attending this annual brew festival at BRET (Orlyplein 76, Sloterdijk, www.bret.bar), a beer garden and club right in the middle of an open square a short walk from the Sloterdijk train station and only one stop from Amsterdam Centraal. Last year the event was attended by 5,000 beer lovers who were entertained by 15 Dutch breweries and 20 DJs. This year’s festival promises to be even bigger and it will be held from June 10 - 12. For more information visit www.facebook.com/Amsterdam.Craft.Beer. Photos courtesy of BRET