It's nearly fall, and the beer scene is furiously fermenting. We'll cover regional Oktoberfest action next week, but there's plenty happening in September, especially if you don't mind traveling a bit.

The Mad Mex in Robinson is holding a seasonal beer tasting starting at 7 tonight. You can sip various Oktoberfest beers plus various beers from Lakewood, N.Y.'s Southern Tier Brewery and Reading's Legacy Brewery, and chomp on assorted appetizers, for $25 (412-494-5656).

There's also sampling from 5 to 9 p.m. tonight as part of the open house at Vecenie Distributing Co. in Millvale during its Millvale Days celebration (412-821-4618).

During "growler hours" from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight and 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, East End Brewing Co. in Homewood will sell beer with fresh hops in it as a preview of its Big Hop Harvest Ale (www.eastendbrewing.com or call 412-537-BEER.). Read more about this unusual brew in this space next week.

On Saturday, meanwhile, the first Slippery Rock Beer and Wine Festival will be part of the annual VillageFest in Slippery Rock, Butler County. Host is the village's North Country Brewing. Other regional brewers on hand will be Erie, Four Sons, John Harvard's, Johnstown, Hereford & Hops and Sprague Farm & Brew Works. Area wineries are to include Rustic Acres, Volant Mill and Wilhelm. Admission for each of two sampling sessions (11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.) is $10, and proceeds benefit Slippery Rock Development Inc., which member and North Country co-owner Bob McCafferty says is ready to embark on phase two of the town's renaissance (www.northcountrybrewing.com or 724-794-BEER).

From 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Amel's restaurant in Baldwin Township holds its Autumn Beer Fest. Vecenie's Tony Knipling will present five Oktoberfest beers paired with food out on the patio. Cost is $22 per person. To reserve, call 412-563-3466.

From noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, the fabulous North Market is the site of the Columbus Microbrew Festival in the Ohio capital. Admission is $12 (or $10 with discount coupons from local microbrewers) and includes a commemorative pint glass and six tasting tickets (extras are 50 cents). Visit www.northmarket.com.

Farther south in Ohio, Saturday through Sunday, is Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, during which Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnston is to lead the world's largest chicken dance (free, www.oktoberfest-zinzinnati.com).

Also, from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday will be the Buffalo Brew Fest, held at that New York city's Central Terminal ($25, www.buffalobrewfest.com).

In Cooperstown on Saturday, the Ommegang Brewery hosts "Omme-Fest: Celebrating the Harvest, Beer, and Medieval Arts (www.ommegang.com).

Here's something different: On Oct. 9, Cleveland's Great Lakes Brewing pairs with Jim Beam Distilling Co. for its Bourbon Barrel Beer Tasting.

Guests will get to sample two 5-ounce beers that have been aged in Jim Beam barrels (such as Bourbon Barrel Blackout Stout and Rackhouse Ale, an American strong ale). They also get five half-ounce samples from the Jim Beam Smallbatch Bourbon Collection (such as Knob Creek, Booker's, Bakers and Jim Beam Black).

Guest speaker is Beam's grandson, Freddy Now. Tickets for each of two sessions (5:30-7:30 p.m. and 8-10 p.m.) are $15, and only a limited number will be sold tomorrow through Oct. 6 (1-216-771-4404, ext. 222).