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California is home to some of the finest craft breweries in the world. Whether it be pioneering, entrenched Top 50 breweries or upstart establishments peddling unique sours or fruity radlers, California has it all.
By extension, beer festivals in California tend to be well attended by connoisseurs and revelers in equal measure, making any occasion featuring oodles of craft beer thoroughly enjoyable and illuminatingly boozy.
One such event is the Long Beach Craft Beer Festival, our Fall Issue 2016 Editor’s Choice.
The bulk of the festival will be held at California State University’s Jack Rose Track Stadium, meaning there will be plenty of space for vendors of all stripes to proffer their wares to willing imbibers.
The festival begins on October 14, with preview events taking place at two locations. The first is a brewer’s reception and “hoppy hour” at Nugget Brew & Pub from 5 to 9 p.m. Here, attendees will be able to “rub elbows with brewers and craft beer industry insiders in a relaxed happy hour environment,” according to the Long Beach Fest’s website. This particular event is invitation-only, though it is open to attendees of the next event on October 14, the Chartroom Craft Beer Pairing.
The Pairing is billed on Long Beach Fest’s website as an “extraordinary culinary experience featuring specialty craft beers paired with plates created by local celebrity chefs from favorite Southern California eateries.” This event starts at 6 p.m. and lasts until 8 p.m. at the Chartroom Restaurant.
While these two events might serve as delightful appetizers, the main course is the lavish feast of ravishing craft brews that occurs the next day at the Long Beach Craft Beer Fest proper. Starting at 2 p.m., or an hour before for VIPs, and lasting until 5 p.m., the festival promises to offer all the beery delights you can guzzle.
Numerous favorites will be on tap including Modern Times, Coronado, Beachwood Brewing, Barley Forge, Refuge Brewery, Belching Beaver, AleSmith, Pizza Port, Blackmarket Brewing, Ballast Point, Smog City, Innovation Aleworks, Angel City, Karl Strauss Brewing, La Quinta Brewing, Bear Republic, The Dudes’ Brewing Company and many more! Regional favorites such as Ska Brewing, New Belgium, Dogfish Head, Mother Earth and Maui Brewing.
Tasty cuisine will also be available at the event, with local food trucks and restaurants on hand to provide delectable eats to help soak up all that craft beer, including Naples Rib Company, Legends Sports Bar, Ragin Cajun Café, Billy Bombs Truck and Grilled Cheese Truck.
Tickets for all of the festivities during the weekend are still available (starting at $49), so head on over to http://www.lbbeerfest.com/tickets to grab yours today. With lovely suds flowing all day, this California beer event is sure to be a treat for any and all who attend.