First time at a CA Beer Festival. Decided to go because it is CRAFT beer. No Corona, no heineken,…read moreno bud lights, yuck. Unlimited US breweries serving their signature beers by design. Again, UNLIMITED. There were over 30 canopies where most breweries served at least 2 types. Many of them had won Gold in numerous competitions, which makes me very curious what made them so special. Stand in line.
There were not only beers but a wine tent, Mike's Hard Lemonade and Cayman Jacks margarita (would've never tried this but it was SO REFRESHING I would get this for a party). OH, not to mention a ton of free cigar samples we got, from Swishers. Blueberry is my fave.
The one time to promote their beers, the perfect plan to take a step ahead of the growing competition of the best craft. Come for the experience.
Get a souvenir cup of 4 oz, with a mark at the 3oz line allowing for foam to dissipate. ALL tents filled the cup to the 3oz or more, some spilled, multiply that by about 12 cups tried, we had 33 oz+ of beer (=1L the size of a German stein) Difference is, these were ALL different. Amber, IPA, Lagers, ESB, Belgium......
Got tipsy? you bet. Craft beer is usually strong, one even had a 10% ABV!
THE FACTS:
-5 of us got alcohol rights plus one designated driver!
-Long lines but moved fast.
-Drink start pouring from 1pm-5pm nonstop
-Live music throughout
-Hint giving free bottles of cold water
-6 food trucks (I got the German currywurst+german roll, not like the authentic but good still); friends got Indian, southern BBQ, wraps...
-XIOS energy drinks for free, sunglasses, bags, stickers, all sorts of promotional stuff
- Check in on YELP, got more stuff
-Other food tents
-Getting tipsy/drunk guaranteed
-Finally finding out what that beer you always saw at the alcohol aisle tasted like! at least for me it did
- Unmistakable California vibe, love it!
NOTABLE:
- Karl Strauss Brewery from San Diego, CA (Red Trolley Amber and Pintail Pale Ale)
- Firestone Walker Brewing Co
- Cayman Jacks Margarita
- Angel City Brewery
- Grand Teton Brewery
- Goose Island
- Winner of the Competition announced at the end, Dale Bros.
- Honestly can't remember most of the names
We mixed wine, beer, whatever is in Cayman jacks and Mike's Hard Lemonade and topped it off with cigars. Got hungover by 6pm.
A fun experience, but i might've set my expectations too high having been to Munich last October. Kudos to American brewery. We then went on to jump into a friends pool, clothes, sunglasses and all. That's how far the alcohol went.