What's better than sipping locally-brewed beer inside an air-conditioned venue on a hot summer day? Absolutely nothing. 

From July 13-14, Drink Craft Beer held Summerfest: A celebration of Farmhouse Ale at the Somerville Armory. The venue - complete with a purple ceiling - provided the perfect two-story space for such an event. The Armory was comfortably bustling with craft beer enthusiasts and local brewers at the Friday evening session - the three-session, two-day event was sold out at a cap of 395 imbibers. Despite the crowd, there was no shortage of good beer for the three and a half hour gathering. 

The event showcased New England-made farmhouse ales and saisons, with over 70 samples of summer beers from 25 of New England's best craft brewers. Many of the event's beers were even made specifically for the Summerfest celebration. To complement the brews, several local food vendors were also in attendance, including Taza Chocolate, Quinn Popcorn and b.good. 

Some of my personal favorite brews from the festival included Slumbrew's Flower Envy Saison (6% abv.); Portico Brewing Company's Fuzzy Logic: Weiss Kolsch (5.4%); Enlightenment Ales' Biere de Champagne (11%); and Night Shift Brewing's Viva Habanera: Habanero Rye Ale (6%). For less than $50, it was lovely to sample such delightful beers while getting to meet and chat with the local, passionate brewers who made them.  

Next time you're looking for an ice cold brew to enjoy on a humid afternoon, I highly suggest scouring the shelves for one of these local brewers. Every beer at the Summerfest was impressive, and obviously carefully crafted - and the folks behind the beer are clearly working hard to make their brews taste great. Please visit the brewers' websites to see where you can buy their products, or where their beers can be enjoyed on tap around New England.