Brian Blum
August 21, 2019

The Hebrew for “capital city” is ir habira. But this phrase also can be translated as “beer city.” Which is what will happen to Israel’s capital on August 28 and 29 when the Jerusalem Beer Festival returns for its 15th year in the city’s Independence Park. Last year’s festival hosted some 20,000 revelers.

More than 120 types and styles of beer will be available for tasting and purchase. Tickets – which range from ₪45 for early-bird buyers to ₪70 on the day of the festival – will entitle beer lovers to four tastings of 60 ml each.

To cut down on paper, the beer vendors at the festival will scan the QR code directly from your phone for each tasting – no printing required.

Don’t like beer? No worries. There’s also plenty of food for sale, plus a stage with Israeli rock and roll. Among the featured artists: Liron Amram and the Panthers, Arutz HaKibud, Tuna, Tal Friedman and the Fat Cats, Adi Ulmansky and HaTikva 6.

The Jerusalem Beer Festival is “a unique celebration of flavor, music from Israel’s top performers, and beer lovers from all over Israel – all marinated in a one-of-a-kind ambiance under a clear Jerusalem night sky,” says Amos Weiskopf, one of the producers of the festival.

Doors open at 8pm with the beer flowing until 11. The festival management says, “We are working on extending it until midnight,” although in Jerusalem’s tight quarters, with hotels and apartments closely bordering the park, good neighbors tend to get decidedly less friendly after the agreed-upon cutoff time.

Maybe they should get free entrance? There’s nothing a little beer can’t help with.

For more information, click here.