If you’re already dreading the traffic and crowds that will undeniably come with the Papal visit, a quick getaway is all too necessary. So an Atlantic City-based beer festival during that weekend truly seems like divine intervention to us.

The 5th Annual Golden Nugget Beer Festival rolls into Atlantic City on September 25, bringing with it three days of craft beer, plenty of food pairings, and extra events to help round out a stress-free weekend getaway.

The weekend starts at noon on Friday with a pay-as-you-go craft beer blowout on Golden Nugget’s Bayview Room deck. Sip your way into the evening with craft beers and food pairings from Golden Nugget’s chefs.

Be sure to pace yourself on Friday, as the big event starts Saturday at 8 PM. The craft beer tasting brings in 99 varieties of seasonal brews from over 30 breweries across the country. Beers come with appetizers created by the casino’s kitchen to pair perfectly with what’s being poured, and live music from local band Don’t Call Me Francis rounds out the night. A VIP ticket also gets you access to an extra hour of sipping, starting at 7 PM.

Wrap up the weekend with a beer and sushi pairing at Lillie’s Asian Cuisine. For $25 you get five beers paired with five sushi rolls created just for the occasion.

It’s a beer lover’s dream weekend, and best of all? You’ll be more than 60 miles away from the Pope and the madness he’s sure to bring with him. We’ll drink to that.

Image via Golden Nugget AC

Event Date: 09/25,09/26,09/27
Event Time: 12 PM
Location: Golden Nugget Atlantic City
Price: $59
Type: Beer,Festival,Food
Website: http://www.goldennugget.com/atlanticcity/pdf/festivals/GNAC_Beer_Fest.pdf