A real surprise in the City of Light to compete with all the wine events –  there is now the first ever Paris Beer Festival, running from  24 May to 1 June, and the star of the show are artisan craft beers, including a host of new breweries in the French capital and surrounding suburbs.

La Baleine is a small microbrewery situated in the 20th arrondissement, while up in the multi-ethnic La Goutte d’Or near Montmartre, they are inspired to brew exotic beers with chillies, dates and hibiscus

Craft beers are really big news in the North of Italy, particularly around the town of Treviso – normally more known for as the home of Benetton, and there will be several events to taste the latest brews of the avant garde Birra 32

One event not to miss has to be at the specialist beer bar, La Moustache, whose logo is  a lot better than Guinness