What is the beer festival? It is an annual event which originated in Germany as a way for new breweries to promote their wares. Over the years it has developed into a large multi-faceted international festival. It now covers much of the world with an area encompassing 60 countries. If you are planning a trip to the West Coast, California, or anywhere else for that matter, you may want to consider attending one of these fantastic festivals.
The most common reason to attend is to taste and appreciate the unique beers, wines and beers from around the world. In some cases, beer gardens are also referred to as beer gardens. Craft beer is becoming more popular each year. A wide variety of beer gardens exist, depending on your budget and preferences. Some of them offer both sampling of local food and entertainment while at the same time allowing you to taste and sample the different types of brews from different countries and regions around the world.
In San Francisco, for example, there is a beer garden called Port Brewing Co. located on the waterfront at Haight and Folsom streets. Here you will find live music, demonstrations by local beer distributors, educational booths and, of course, several tastings of delicious beer and other beverages. Sample the German model or the English Harrow. Some other local breweries include Alpine Beer Co. in Pacific Grove, Golden Gate Breweries in San Francisco’s Excelsior neighborhood, and 10 Barrel Brewing Co. in Emeryville. Both breweries offer many different types of samples, including Red’s White, a wheat beer brewed with wheat flour and oats, and Double B Brewing Co., which offer an English-style bitter. Other breweries that are worth checking out include Crooked Hall in San Francisco, Dogmouth Beer Co. in Livermore, and The Harpoon beer museum in Boston, Massachusetts.
If you’re traveling west, you may wish to stop by the California Pizza Kitchen for some samples of their award winning brews, or check out the new California Pizza Gardens in San Jose. This outdoor grove of trees, filled with different kinds of vegetables and fruits, offers coolers, grills, picnic tables, fire pits and, of course, samples of tasty beer. Several food trucks, as well as some balloon trucks, will offer samples of food from around the world.
As far as beer festivals go, Great Place is located in Santa Barbara at the foot of Mount Laguna. This small brewery is perfect for an afternoon of tastings, including some of their year-round offerings, which feature such favorites as the Citrus Mosaic stout. At the tail end of the day, visitors can walk over to the Santa Barbara Beer Garden for a concert by The Warlocks, featuring local and international artists, as well as free-live beer tastings.
One of the most interesting festivals, if you’re a lover of microbrews, is the California Craft Beer Festival, which is held during the month of April in San Francisco. This two-day event is a celebration of all things craft beer and includes dozens of local and regional breweries pouring several kinds of brews. The wide range of beers and ciders on tap ranges from the traditional to the experimental, with many local and regional brews coming to the event. The state of California is especially proud of their craft beer culture, and the annual event helps promote the growth of the craft beer industry in the state.
If you’re headed to the West Coast, there’s also the California Pizza Kitchen beer festival. In San Francisco, the fest features live music, tastings and restaurant samplings, along with special food trucks. The Napa Valley Beer Fest in California is another fun-filled way to experience the art of beer and get a peek at the microbreweries of the area.
For those who are more locally inclined, head to the small town of Napa to partake in the annual Great Pumpkin Fest. This four-day festival celebrates Wicca, garlic and beer in a relaxed atmosphere, allowing attendees to try many different types of brews and foods. This is also a great place to try some of California’s best wines, including the wonderful Red Rock Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon. No matter where you’re going, there’s a festival near you.