There are still tickets left for the 15th Annual Mountain Brewers’ Beer Fest at the Sandy Downs Racetrack this Saturday.

Yes, I know Idaho Falls is a long haul from Boise (280 miles — about four hours or so, depending how you drive).

But if you can swing it, it’s a chance to sample the beers of over 80 brewers from all over the U.S. for $20 ($25 at the gate). There is none of that ticket nonsense going on here, either. For $20, you get unlimited 3 ounce samples of whatever you want to try.

The 15th Annual Mountain Brewers’ Beer Fest has evolved into one of the biggest in the country and into a pretty decent preview for the Great American Beer Festival in the fall.

As I write this, over 60 certified beer judges from across the U.S. are in Idaho Falls tasting over 1,200 brews so they can give gold, silver, and bronze medals in 27 different style categories on Friday night.

Many of those award winning beers will find their way to the tasting booths on Saturday, so if you can find a place to stay in Idaho Falls on Saturday night or find a designated driver willing to bring you back to Boise, go for it.

Just an FYI — tickets for the Great American Beer Festival have gone on sale already. Most of the closest hotel rooms to the convention center have been booked up, so if you are planning on going to Denver this fall, it would be a good idea to secure your travel arrangements now. I’m just sayin’.

In another side note, I realize posts to the Beer Nut have been few and far between this spring. I apologize. My main job, the public safety reporter for the Statesman, has been ultra busy. But I promise to get more beer news out on a more consistent basis this summer.