Is it too soon to be thinking about beer festivals? Of course not, and there's a marvelous festival next weekend, just a short drive away.

        The Dayton AleFest is one of my favorite tasting events. The beer list has such great variety that I always find some new treats, yet the festival is small enough that you don't feel packed into a mob. There's room to stroll around and compare notes with other visitors while enjoying great live music.

IF YOU GO

What; Dayton AleFest.   When: 2-6 p.m., Saturday.   Where: Fifth Third Field Plaza, downtown Dayton. (From I-75, take the First Street or Main Street North exit. Turn right at First Street.)   Cost: $25 at gate. Advance tickets $20 at retailers such as Fairfield Wine and Jungle Jim's Market, also in Fairfield. Admission tickets entitle you to 20 beer samples. Additional sampling tickets will be available.   Information: (937) 298-4545.

        This year, there will be more than 100 ales and lagers, representing 26 traditional beer styles from many of the world's finest breweries.

        Since this is the first significant tasting event of the season, it's a good opportunity for my annual recommendations on how to enjoy a beer festival. With so much to choose from, you'll want to avoid palate fatigue and get the most out of the experience.

        My first tip is to check the beer list when you enter, and make your first selection an unusual beer you've heard about and always wanted to try. Sampling while your taste buds are fresh gives you the truest impression, and you may find it even better than you expected.

        Don't be fooled by a beer's color, which has nothing to do with its strength or flavor. Color can be an indication of how much malt flavor a beer has, but tells you nothing about bitterness or hop flavor.

        One good rule of thumb: The more interesting beers with subtler complexities are almost always ales. That means you can leave the lagers you're interested in until later in the session. Of course, some of my friends like to try the lagers first, so they can spend more time with the ales. It's up to you.

        Some like to try the beers randomly, or simply go from one table to the next. I think you'll have a better time if you take a few minutes to read the list of participants, then make a plan for tasting the beers that interest you.

        Take your time, enjoy the music, talk to the brewers and sip water or a soft drink between samples. That enables you to get as much from your last sample as your first. My personal rule is to drink at least as much water as beer, mainly to avoid any dehydrating effects of the alcohol and warm weather.

        Sometimes I start with lighter styles and work my way up to the “bigger” beers, to avoid overwhelming my taste buds too soon. But other times I'll start with a big beer if it's something I know is particularly rewarding and I want to enjoy all its nuances.

        If you're not sure which is which, ask. Many booths have professional brewers serving their beers, and the volunteers often are chosen for their beer knowledge. They'll be happy to answer questions.

        For example, you might ask which beer at a particular table is the hoppiest, or the maltiest, or the best seller. If you show you're interested, you'll probably get some suggestions that will help you enjoy the festival more.

        Contact Ed Westemeier by e-mail: hopfen@malz.com.