Lexington South Carolina Real Estate

Columbia South Carolina World Beer Festival

If you go

World Beer Festival

WHEN: Noon-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St.

MUSIC: Nikki Lee and The H Bomb, Brian Conner and His Amazing Friends, Danielle Howle and Brent McDonald

TICKETS: $40 per session in advance; $50 at the door; VIP tickets are sold out.

Tips to drink by

Sandra Strick, director of graduate studies in USC's School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management and the director of wine education, also is a beer fan.

"It's great that (the festival) is here," she said. "It's sort of underlining this new attention to beer."

More than 100 brewers will be represented at the festival.

Do you like hoppy beer? Dark or bitter beer? Are you a fan of high gravity?

"Most great beer comes in higher (alcohol) concentration, and alcohol is a fantastic carrier of flavor," Johnson said, explaining the difference between "high gravity" beers and more popular brands.

"You can get more creative matching beer choice to what you're eating."

If you find some beers, or types of beer, you like at the festival, it won't cost a lot to follow up later. Local retailers such as Morganelli's Party Store, World Market and Total Wine allow customers to purchase single beers.

"You don't have to buy a whole six-pack to try something new," "You might buy one for three dollars and you think that's expensive, but to try something new it's not."

So what should you look for while tasting? Flavor? Complexity? Quality?

Here are five consumption tips so you don't overload your palate.

1. PACE YOURSELF

Each session lasts four hours. Don't be afraid to snack - or drink water.

"If you rush things, you're not going to get the most out of the festival,". "It's an opportunity to walk around and explore beer."

2. PLAN AHEAD

The festival will provide five organized lists called beer flights. It's a way to approach the tasting with structure. Flights include "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" for dark beer drinkers; "Beers of the South" for beer brewed in the South; and "Hop Heads" for people who like bitter flavors.

3. TAKE A RISK

Again, you have four hours to taste, so you can afford to dislike beers that you pick.

"I really hope people push themselves enough so they can be in a territory where they don't care for (a beer),"  "That means you're really exploring."

 "There's no dishonor in tasting a beer and pouring it out. Just don't do it in front of the brewer."

4. GET A TUTOR

A writer from All About Beer will host an hourly tasting and discuss interesting aspects of a particular beer.

"Stop by and rest your feet,"

About the tutors. Tell them what you drink regularly - like, say, vodka and soda with two limes - and they will recommend something to try, like dry Irish stouts.

5. BRING A PENCIL OR PEN

You will be tasting a number of beers and you cannot remember each one. Scribble some notes.

"You've discovered the beer of your dreams,"  "You don't want to lose that moment."

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