3 years in a row. 4 consecutive festival days. 250 beers from 20 countries. All from $3 a pop.

These are just some numbers to tease you with but the one that’s had us at hello is the opportunity to sample more than 250 beers in a single seating. In a repeat of the past 2 years, Beerfest Asia 2011 makes a re-appearance at the Marina Promenade behind the Singapore Flyer from 16 to 19 June 2011.

Beers and ciders from Armenia to Sweden to the Czech Republic will be available for sale on the festival grounds. If you love your India Pale Ale(IPA), check out the booth by Beerstyle Distribution who will be carrying brews from American favourites like Rogue and Stone. Commercial brewers like Carlsberg will also be showcasing their portfolio of brands with the inclusion of the Russian Baltika and crowd favourite Somersby Cider. And Singapore’s newest mircobrewer AdstraGold will also be quenching thirsts at the festival.

The U2 Show - Achtung Baby

Beerfest Asia 2011 will also see the debut of the All Star Showstoppers along with three tribute experiences of The Beatles, The Blues Brothers and The Rolling Stones. Tribute bands “The Killer Queen” and “The U2 Show – Achtung Baby” who performed last year are back by popular demand to belt out classic hits.

Asia Beer Awards will be staged again this year and for the first time, the Asia Brewers’ Conference will be held on the trade day (16 June 2011) of Beerfest Asia 2011.

Tickets are on sale at www.sistic.com.sg from $15 onwards including two free beers for selected tiers. For more information on Beerfest Asia 2011, visit the official website at www.beerfestasia.com.

While I still follow football, we’ve learnt to appreciate different cultures in a more fluid but educational method – beer. None of us at www.175proof.com have been to Russia but we’ve drunk their vodka and eaten their caviar. And we never thought of beer and Russia, it’s always vodka. Until our favourite beer travelogue, Three Sheets, visited Moscow and drank Baltika beer, we were finally convinced that every country has it’s own brew.

So when we were given a bottle of Baltika, we couldn’t wait to drink it. Baltika beer comes straight from St. Petersburg and is one of the most popular beers in Russia. There are a few varities available including a light and porter version. But the one we tried was Baltika No. 3, which is a 4.8% lager, also known as Klassicheskoe (Classic). It’s a simple beer, clear and golden yellow with good, white head. Easy to drink with a bitter finish. If you’re looking for an alternate classic tasting but new beer to try, this would be it.

You’ll be able to sample this at Beer Fest Asia 2010.