As a card-carrying member of the American Homebrewers Association and an avid homebrewer, I believe that life is way too short to drink ordinary beer. Why wallow in complacency with your pale, tasteless beer when you have so many choices?

Porter, stout, Trappist ale, pale ale, hefeweizen, bock, marzen; it’s enough to give you a beer boner. And with a growing number of small, independent breweries entering the market every day, your reasons for exploring this genre of the drink even further have just expanded.

Immerse yourself in the world of small craft brews in one of the country’s greatest cities at the 2009 American Craft Beer Fest. Home to one of the most innovative craft brewers on the scene today (think American patriot and brewer, Samuel Adams) Boston is playing host to the 2009 Fest and you can check it out June 19th & 20th at the Seaport World Trade Center.

With over 75 craft brewers flaunting 300 different craft brews at this year’s event, your liver will give out before your choices do as you wander the halls looking for the country’s next breakout brewmaster. You might even be lucky enough to get your mits on a barleywine sample. When your taste buds need a break, you can also scope out a viewing of Beer Wars, a documentary film exposing all you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask, about the US beer industry. Combine some brutal bloodletting competition with a dash of highly guarded trade secrets and you get the picture.

So, if you’re ready to expand your hop horizons and dive headfirst into the world of the malt manipulators, head over to the 2009 Great American Beer Fest. Included with your $40 admission is your very own 2oz sample cup. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but do the math – 2oz and 300 beers – if there was ever a strong case for a DD this might be it.

For more info and to purchase your tickets head over to www.beeradvocate.com. Prost!