Two beer festivals will take place in Ottawa early next year and both coincide with the city-wide Winterlude festival. The Gatineau Winter Beerfest (Festibière de Gatineau in French) is set to take place at the spectacular Canadian Museum of History from 29 – 30 January, and its sister festival, Winter Brewfest, will be held at the historic Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park from 12 – 13 February.

During Winterlude (29 January - 15 February), Canada's capital region will be transformed into a festival of all things snowy and frozen. 600,000 Canadians and holidaymakers are expected to descend on Ottawa for a carnival of ice skating, ice-carving competitions, fireworks and live music on an epic scale. The Gatineau Winter Beerfest and Winter Brewfest will be the perfect complement to Winterlude for those with a love for quality craft ales.

The Gatineau Winter Beerfest will be held in the Canadian Museum of History's spectacular Grand Hall. More than 10,000 revellers are expected to attend the lively two-day event, during which time more than 30 breweries will be on site offering over 100 different types of beer to thirsty members of the public. A record number of Ontario microbreweries have been invited to join the celebrations alongside their Quebec counterparts. Talented brewers from both provinces will be on hand to showcase the capital region's finest selection of flavours and aromas from the world of craft beer. The event, which even features an outdoor section with a bonfire, will open each day from 5pm to 2am and tickets will cost from just $15 (£7.50). Entry includes a souvenir glass, access to beer workshops and live music until the early hours. What's more, to celebrate the museum's current Vikings exhibition, Chef Martin De Board will be preparing delicious Nordic-themed appetisers while experts will be on hand to offer advice on beer and food pairing.

Two weeks later, Winter Brewfest will be held at the historic Horticulture Building. It is the second edition of the festival and is back by popular demand after the success of last February's event. Winter Brewfest will feature a stunning array of ales from microbreweries across Ontario and Quebec, irresistible beer-inspired food prepared by renowned chefs, and all-day entertainment performed by local bands and artists. The festival is open from 2pm to 1am each day and is adjacent to the Rideau Canal Skateway (the world's largest outdoor skating rink, stretching 7.8km through downtown Ottawa) and only a short ride away from other main Winterlude festival sites.

Canada's craft beer industry has long been regarded as one of quality and excellence and has in recent years seen something of revolution. In the last decade, there has been an explosion in the number of microbreweries opening throughout the country and sales of specialist ales have soared. In Ottawa, there were three local craft breweries in 2006; today, they number over two dozen! There's even a company named BrewDonkey that offers brewery day tours and walking tours. Add in the lively and dynamic pub scene, and Ottawa is the ideal destination for anyone interested in great food and drink.

For more information about the Gatineau Winter Beerfest please visit http://festibiere.ca 

For more information about Winter Brewfest please visit www.brewfest.ca 

For more information about Ottawa visit: www.ottawatourism.ca