Brewmasters Fest returns to Galveston with beer and chocolates

Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival will be Labor Day weekend at Moody Gardens in Galveston. Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival will be Labor Day weekend at Moody Gardens in Galveston. Photo: Courtesty Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival Photo: Courtesty Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Brewmasters Fest returns to Galveston with beer and chocolates 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Celebrate Labor Day this year with beer and chocolate.

Or just beer.

But beer and chocolate sounds pretty good.

The Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival returns to Galveston's Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center for the ninth year, Aug. 31-Sept. 2. It kicks off with a tequila tasting Friday night and wraps up that Sunday with a beer and barbecue event. The big day, again, is Saturday when an ordinary convention hall is transformed into a top-notch beer tasting featuring pours from more than 60 breweries and cider makers.

There is a strong local emphasis, which might motivate you to get out and visit some of the great local breweries all year long.

On tap this year are a number of "taste it first" selections, including:

Blueberry Haterade , from 8th Wonder Brewery

, from 8th Wonder Brewery Crazy Pilz , 11 Below Brewing

, 11 Below Brewing Addi's Faith* , Back Pew Brewing

, Back Pew Brewing Green Ogre IPA , Brigadoon

, Brigadoon Chicken Dance , Franconia

, Franconia Cherry Jane , Lagunitas

, Lagunitas Apricot Blonde , Real Ale Brewing

, Real Ale Brewing 420 G-13 Strain , SweetWater

, SweetWater Pearsecco, Woodchuck Cider

* Addi's Faith, a kölsch-style beer from Back Pew Brewing in Porter, Texas, supports Kingwood-based Addi's Faith Foundation to help in the battle against childhood cancer.

Brewmasters 2018 will feature not just top beers but also seminars led by experts in properly serving beer, creating a beer cellar for brews suitable for aging and, yes, pairing beers with chocolate.

Tony Najjar, owner and founder of Xocolla Chocolate Crafters in Sugar Land, will be in the VIP area at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1, to lead a tasting of his chocolates with beers from Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Combinations include a mocha chocolate with the dark-roast Santo and a strawberry chocolate with Raspberry AF. Personally, the Sambirano dark chocolate paired with Orange Show sounds really good.

"Why do beer and chocolate go so well together?" the organizers ask in a promotion. "One reason is that they share two fundamental flavors -- bitter and sweet. But the great pairing goes much deeper than that."

If you're more into the bitter than the sweet, you might find these seminars on the main tasting floor more appealing:

3:15 p.m. A "tasting tour" of "uncommon and unusual beer styles" led by "What's On Tap Radio" hosts James Simpson and Chad Pilbeam.

A "tasting tour" of "uncommon and unusual beer styles" led by "What's On Tap Radio" hosts James Simpson and Chad Pilbeam. 3:45 p.m. A panel discussion of the growing impact of women in craft beer, led by Houston pub owner and longtime "Drink of Ages" radio host Jon Denman. (Jon also will be interviewing "brew brains" throughout the event at the Brewer's Corner.)

A panel discussion of the growing impact of women in craft beer, led by Houston pub owner and longtime "Drink of Ages" radio host Jon Denman. (Jon also will be interviewing "brew brains" throughout the event at the Brewer's Corner.) 4:30 p.m. A guide to serving beers in proper glassware led by Hilda Stevens of Merchant du Vin.

A guide to serving beers in proper glassware led by Hilda Stevens of Merchant du Vin. 5:15 p.m. Rassul Zarinfar, founder of Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co., will discuss aging beers and the proper way to build a beer cellar.

I've attended Brewmasters each year since it began in 2010, and have always enjoyed it. I was pleased at the crowd size last year, when the festival was rescheduled to the weekend after Thanksgiving due to Hurricane Harvey.

I'm also pleased that Clifton and Constance McDerby of Food & Vine Time Productions are being recognized for their event and their ongoing support of craft beer in the Houston area. Last year, for example, Brewmasters ranked No. 3 on a USA Today list of the nation's best beer festivals.

Tickets are on sale now.

What: Ninth annual Brewmasters Craft Beer Festival

When: Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

Highlight: The Brew Ha-Ha grand tasting on Saturday, Sept. 1.

Where: Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center in Galveston

Tickets/more information: brewmastersbeerfest.com