The 2026 Iowa Craft Brew Festival was held June 6, 2026. 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. !
Want a burping contest at Iowa Craft Brew Festival? Burp Fest brings its Loudest and Longest Burp championships to beer festivals across America. Sign up and we'll let you know if we're coming to Des Moines.
Bring the thunder! Our decibel meter doesn't lie. Let out your most earth-shaking belch and see if you can claim the crown.
It's not about power — it's about endurance. How long can you keep it going? The clock is ticking.
Take home the Burp Fest trophy and eternal bragging rights.
Your legendary performance featured across all Burp Fest socials.
Exclusive festival merchandise only winners receive.
A Burp Fest contest at Iowa Craft Brew Festival isn't confirmed yet. Sign up to be the first to know.
The Iowa Craft Brew Festival is the premier craft beer event in Iowa, organized by the Iowa Brewers Guild and held annually at the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in Des Moines. The 2026 edition marks the 16th annual festival, placing its founding around 2011. The event celebrates Iowa's growing craft beverage scene, featuring unlimited samples from the state's breweries, cideries, distillers, wineries, and more.
General Admission tickets grant entry from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM and include unlimited samples along with a commemorative tasting glass. VIP ticket holders enjoy early entry starting at noon, providing an extra hour of sampling with smaller crowds and better access to brewers. Designated Driver tickets are also available at a reduced price for those who want to enjoy the atmosphere without drinking. The festival grounds feature food trucks, yard games, and Iowa-based vendors, making it a full afternoon experience.
The Iowa Craft Brew Festival serves as both a celebration of the state's craft beverage industry and a fundraising vehicle for the Iowa Brewers Guild, which advocates for independent craft breweries across the state. The festival also partners with Travel Iowa's "Craft Passport" program, encouraging attendees to continue exploring Iowa breweries beyond the festival. With its accessible pricing and relaxed park setting, the event draws craft beer fans from across the Midwest.
The Iowa Craft Brew Festival traces its roots to the Iowa Brewers Guild, an organization that spent years as an informal gathering of passionate brewers meeting in bars and around picnic tables before formally organizing in 2007. The Guild's mission was clear: showcase Iowa beer, foster communication among the state's brewers, and lobby for laws that would let the industry grow. That advocacy paid off in 2010 when Governor Chet Culver signed S.F. 2088, lifting Iowa's outdated cap on beer strength to 12% ABW and restructuring distribution rules in favor of local breweries. The legislative victory uncorked a boom. By the time the first Iowa Craft Brew Festival launched in 2011, the state's craft brewing industry was entering a period of rapid expansion that would see it double in size over the next several years.
The festival itself has grown in step with Iowa's brewery count, which now tops 115 across 76 communities. Held each June at the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park in Des Moines, the event has become the state's premier craft beverage showcase, featuring breweries, cideries, meaderies, distillers, and wineries — all from Iowa. The 2025 edition marked the 15th annual festival and featured more Iowa brands than any previous year. With an economic impact from Iowa craft breweries exceeding $1.25 billion annually, the festival serves as both a public celebration and a fundraising engine for the Guild's continued advocacy work. Its partnership with Travel Iowa's Craft Passport program extends the experience beyond the festival grounds, encouraging attendees to visit taprooms statewide long after the last pour.
Founded
2011
Organizer
Iowa Brewers Guild
Breweries
Not available
Beers
Not available
Tier
Major
2027 dates not yet announced
The last edition was held June 6, 2026. when 2027 dates are announced.
1 day
Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park
2201 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines, IA 50321
📍
Des Moines, Iowa
Not available breweries
Not available beers to try
Want the Loudest Burp and Longest Burp championships at Iowa Craft Brew Festival? Sign up and we'll tell you when Burp Fest is coming.
Iowa Craft Brew Festival 2027 dates have not been announced yet. Check back for updates!
Iowa Craft Brew Festival is held at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park, 2201 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines, IA 50321.
Ticket pricing for Iowa Craft Brew Festival 2027 has not been announced yet. Check the official website for updates.
Burp Fest is planning to bring its burping contest to Iowa Craft Brew Festival. Sign up to get notified when details are confirmed.
Burp Fest is the world's premier competitive burping organization. We bring our burping contests to beer festivals across America, giving attendees the chance to compete for glory, trophies, and social media fame.
Sign up on our website and we'll let you know as soon as a Burp Fest contest is confirmed at Iowa Craft Brew Festival.
Previous editions of Iowa Craft Brew Festival.
Festival info last updated
We're always looking for new beer festivals to bring the burping contest to. Get in touch!
Contact Us