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Q. What is the Top of the Hops Beer Festival?

The 2nd Annual Top of the Hops – North Shore Beer Festival will showcase the growing popularity of craft beers from around the country and the world in a relaxed and friendly outdoor environment. Patrons will receive a commemorative sampling mug and have access to unlimited, two-ounce sampling of over 150 craft beers in the Gordon Biersch Beer Garden, Covington Brewhouse Beer Garden, Tin Roof Brewing Company Beer Garden, and Saint Arnold Brewing Company Beer Garden. The festival will also feature the Samuel Adams Brew University Education Area where patrons will enjoy beer seminars such as Cooking with Beer, Food Pairings, How to Brew Beer and other beer education sessions. Come enjoy the beautiful outdoor atmosphere with live music by The Scorseses and Rufus Jagneaux on the Stage, as well as fun games like cornhole.

Q. Where is the 2nd Annual Top of the Hops - North Shore Beer Festival located?

  1. The festival is located at the Fontainebleau State Park (67825 Highway 190 - Mandeville, Louisiana 70448). For a map and directions, Click HERE.

Q. How much does it cost to get into the event?

  • General Admission tickets are $35 in advance
  • ZEA VIP tickets are $60 in advance
  • Designated Driver tickets are $15 in advance
  • ZEA VIP Designated Driver tickets are $25 in advance
  • For more ticketing information, Click HERE

Q. What does a Top of the Hops - North Shore General Admission ticket include?

$35 – Advance
$40 – Day of Festival
*General Admission tickets include the following:

  • Souvenir, 2-Ounce Sampling Mug
  • Full Color Festival Guide
  • Unlimited Sampling of 150+ Craft Beers
  • Live Entertainment
  • Free Parking
  • Games
  • Access to the Samuel Adams Brew University Tent with Seminars such as Cooking with Beer, Brewing 101, Pairing Beer with Food and More!

Q. What is included in the ZEA VIP tickets?

$60 Advance and Day of Festival
*ZEA VIP tickets include the following:

  • Entrance into the Festival 1 Hour Early to Take Advantage of Exclusive Beer Tasting Experience
  • Advanced VIP Ticket Holders Have Access to Premium, Up-Close Parking
  • Access to the VIP Lounge
  • Private Beer Tasting Selections Not Available to the General Admission Ticket Holders
  • Complimentary Food from 2pm - 5pm
  • Private Restrooms
  • Souvenir, 2-Ounce Sampling Mug
  • Full Color Festival Guide
  • Unlimited Sampling of 150+ Craft Beers
  • Live Entertainment
  • Games
  • Access to the Samuel Adams Brew University Tent with Seminars such as Cooking with Beer, Brewing 101, Pairing Beer with Food and More!

Q. What is included in the Designated Driver tickets?

A.
$15 – Advance
$15 – Day of Festival
*Designated Driver tickets Include the Following:

  • Designated Drivers Will Not be Allowed to Sample Any Beer
  • Full Color Festival Guide
  • Live Entertainment
  • Free Parking
  • Games
  • Access to the Samuel Adams Brew University Tent with Seminars Such as Cooking with Beer, Brewing 101, Pairing Beer with Food and More!

Q. What is included in the ZEA VIP Designated Driver tickets?

A.
$25 – Advance
$25 – Day of Festival
* ZEA VIP Designated Drive Tickets Include the Following:

  • Entrance into the Festival 1 Hour Early
  • Access to the VIP Lounge
  • Complimentary Food from 2pm - 5pm
  • Full Color Festival Guide
  • Live Entertainment
  • Games
  • Access to the Brew University Tent with Seminars such as Cooking with Beer, Brewing 101, Pairing Beer with Food and More!

Q. Will taxi cabs be available during and after the event?

  1. YES. The Mandeville Cab Company (985.705.4222) is the preferred cab company of the Top of the Hops – North Shore Beer Fest. Their phone number will be listed in the festival guide, and any brew crew volunteer/staff member or security personnel can call you a cab if necessary.

  2. WE BELIEVE IN RESPONSIBLE DRINKING, AND ALTHOUGH WE WANT YOU TO HAVE A GREAT TIME, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS GET HOME SAFELY AFTER THE FESTIVAL. PLEASE INTEND ON USING A CAB OR A DESIGNATED DRIVER, IF NEEDED.

Q. Will there be tickets for sale at the gate the day of the festival?

  1. If tickets are sold out in advance, then tickets will not be available at the gate. If the festival has not sold out by Saturday morning then yes, tickets will be available at the gate.

Q. How can I get involved in the event?

  • Interested in volunteering as a group or as an individual? Click HERE
  • Interested in including your brewery? Click HERE
  • Interested in being a vendor? Click HERE
  • Interested in becoming a sponsor? Click HERE

Q. Can I bring my own food or beverages into the festival?

  1. No outside food or beverages allowed, except pretzel necklaces!

Q. Will food and non-alcoholic drinks be available for purchase?

  1. Yes.

Q. Will there be an ATM on-site?

  1. Yes.

Q. Can I purchase additional beer at the festival?

  1. No beer will be for sale at the festival. 2-ounce beer samples are the only alcoholic beverages available.

Q. Who will be allowed into the festival?

  1. Anyone 21 and older, with a valid I.D. Everyone’s I.D. will be checked.

Q. Where should I park?

  1. Parking is included in the ticket price and is available adjacent to the festival site at Fontainebleau State Park.

Q. Can I bring a folding chair/lawn chair with me?

  1. No, you cannot bring chairs. Seating will be available for you to eat, drink and relax if you wish.

Q. What if it rains?

  1. The event is rain or shine.

Q. Can I leave the festival site and return later?

  1. There is no re-entry once you have entered the site.

Q. What if I bought tickets, but will not be able to attend the festival?

Sorry, as stated when purchased, tickets are non-refundable.

Q. Do you accept credit cards or checks at the door?

No, we don't. In cash we trust. But fret not, there's an ATM in front of the venue and another just around the corner.

Q. Will there be a will call?

Yes. Will call will be located at the front entrance.

Q. Do I need to buy beer tokens for tastings?

No. All beer tastings are included with your ticket.

Q. When is the last beer poured?

The last beer will be poured at 5:45pm.

Q. How can I find a brewery or beer?

You will be given a Beer Fest guide upon entering. It will provide you with a map and descriptions of each brewery and beer.

Q. Will any of the beer run out?

Possibly. All beers are subject to availability and popularity, so we cannot guarantee that a beer will be available the entire session.

Q. Can I bring my kid?

No one under 21 will be allowed into the festival.

Q. Can I bring my pet?

No.



What you can bring.

  • + Personal cameras
  • + Your taste buds!

What you can’t bring.

  • + Weapons of any kind
  • + Illegal substances
  • + Framed or large backpacks
  • + No food or beverage of any kind
  • + Alcohol
  • + Glass containers of any kind
  • + Skateboards, scooters or personal motorized vehicles (except people with mobility limitations)
  • + Bicycles inside festival grounds *There will be bike parking outside the festival entrance
  • + Fireworks and explosives
  • + Instruments and laser pointers
  • + Picnic baskets
  • + Lawn furniture
  • + Tents
  • + Pets (except service dogs)
  • + Professional camera or video equipment
  • + No illegal vending is permitted - no unauthorized/unlicensed vendors allowed
  • + Coolers of any kind

The Fontainebleau Camping Grounds.

  • The camping grounds at the park will be open. For more information Click HERE.

ADA Accommodations.

  • The festival will take place outdoors at the Fontainebleau State Park ground, which is wheelchair accessible.
  • Disability parking spaces will be available on a first-come first serve basis. The spaces are reserved for vehicles displaying state-issued (any state) disability placards or license plates. Accessible restrooms will be available. Service animals trained to assist disabled persons will be allowed into the festival.

Medical.

  • EMTs will be on-site to help with any emergencies. If you need assistance look for a police officer, festival volunteer, security or staff member to direct you to the medical area.

Lost & Found.

  • Lost & found will be located at the main entrance.

Security/Safety.

  • Our primary goal is to create a safe and secure environment for all festival attendees. To ensure this, there will be on-site security provided by local police and private security companies. If you're experiencing any problems whatsoever, locate a festival staff member, security guard, or police officer.

Responsible Drinking.

  • With an emphasis on beer appreciation, the Top of the Hops – North Shore Beer Festival is a place to learn about craft beers. We do not promote over-consumption so please pace yourself. Anyone found to be excessively intoxicated will be removed from the premises. Remember: Quality, not Quantity!

A little bit about the Fontainebleau State Park.

  • The crumbling brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829 by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville, founder of the nearby town of Mandeville, suggest an interesting history for this site and indeed there is. The wealthy Marigny developed this area across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans as a sugar plantation until 1852. The plantation income helped support his lavish lifestyle. He named his large land holding Fontainebleau after the beautiful forest near Paris, a favorite recreation area of the French kings.

  • The 2,800-acre park is located on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. On a clear day, visitors can see the lake dotted with multi-colored sailboats of all sizes and types. The sandy beach also is a delight for sunbathers. An old railroad track that runs through the park has been converted into the Tammany Trace as a part of the Rails to Trails program. It is a wonderful route for cycling, hiking and in-line skating.

  • The park's nature trail is a favorite of nature lovers. Interpretive signs along the trail will help you identify many of the common trees and shrubs. Always be on the lookout for birds and other animals. Over 400 different species live in and around Fontainebleau. The Fontainebleau Birding Guide is a good resource for enthusiasts to identify the numerous species of birds found in the area. Bordered on three sides by water--Lake Pontchartrain, Bayou Cane and Bayou Castine--and characterized by a convergence of diverse ecosystems, it has a multitude of habitats for birds.

  • Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. All park sites close at 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

  • For additional park information Click HERE.