After a Friday night that lasted until Saturday morning, I was running low on both sleep and fluids. Going to a beer festival was certainly not at the top of my list, but two Advil and a liter of water later, I made my way to the Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center for the inaugural Winter Beer Carnival.

A policeman examined my I.D. and I was soon welcomed into the outdoor area by a woman who handed me a small glass for tastings.

Each carnivalgoer had his or her own mini-glass to taste more than 60 varieties of beers and ciders that were offered at several stations around the venue.

The outdoor and indoor mingling areas were large and crowded, but I managed to push my way through to a few stations and fill my glass with everything from Abita Jockimo I.P.A. to Samuel Smith Organic Cider to Hoegaarden’s White Ale.

Though I’m not usually a cider fan, I couldn’t have just one glass of Pear Cider from Woodchuck. It was sweet and bubbly, much like champagne, and provided a sharp contrast to the Chocolate Stout by Harpoon I had tried earlier.

However, the Amber Cider from Woodchuck tasted too much like apple juice, and sent me running for something with more body and a richer flavor, like the Dogfish Head Midas Touch.

There was certainly no lack of variety at the carnival, as attendees could find everything from Peak’s Espresso Amber Ale and Left Hand’s Milk Stout to Georgia staples such as Sweetwater and Terrapin.

Representatives from the beer companies were eager to talk on the finer points of barley and hops, but most festival attendees seemed more interested in the hands-on experience.

Their $30 entry fee bought them as much alcohol as they could reasonably drink and most were eager to get their money’s worth.

Outdoor DJs played music from Bon Jovi to Buckcherry and even though it was 4 p.m., more than 1,000 extremely merry people were clinking glasses and yelling “Dance party!” only one hour into the carnival.

Carnival games such as “guess how many beer caps are in the jar” and the ring toss were mixed with more beer-inspired games such as beer pong.

Carnivalgoers were given tickets to play the games which were well-watched by the dozens waiting in line for fewer than 10 restrooms.

Snacks such as grilled hot dogs and boiled peanuts were on sale by Ormsby’s, a new tavern-style restaurant located on Howell Mill Road that features an extensive craft beer selection, a pub menu and games including backgammon, bocce, darts and billiards.

Ormsby’s was one of five sponsors of the event with Creative Loafing, Hop City, Buzz Entertainment Magazine and the Beer Connoisseur Magazine.

Before long, I had a beer in one hand and boiled peanuts in the other, and had forgotten all about the sleep I needed. Judging from the sold-out success of the Beer Carnival, I was not alone in enjoying the afternoon. The carnival attracted a diverse group of people ranging from fraternity boys to gray-haired women who bonded over a shared love of the world’s oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverage.

Police guarded the exit to ensure that no alcohol was removed from the premise, as the organizers took steps to prevent drunk driving incidents.

Free breathalyzer tests were offered through SafeRide America, a driver-for-hire service that offered safe rides home for a $10 pickup fee plus $2 per mile.

By the end of the five-hour carnival, I had made a few friends, received several souvenirs — including a koozie and stress-release football — and tasted more than 20 different beers brewed everywhere from Atlanta to Munich.

The Winter Beer Carnival served up a good time and great beers, and my calendar is already marked for next year.

— Contact Kate Borger.