California Beer Festival

It’s Craft Beer Heaven at the
California Beer Festival

It’s all about the beer at the California Beer
Festival, Marin County. With more than 70 different craft brews on tap and
local participation from breweries such as Hopmonk Tavern and Lagunitas
Brewery, ale lovers won’t want to miss this foaming event on Saturday, June 29
from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at Stafford Lake in Novato.

Breweries will be coming from across the state so
beer lovers can sample their ales. Some of them include: Speakeasy Ales &
Lagers, Sierra Nevada, Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Anchor Brewing, Hoppy
Brewing Company, as well as Hangar 24 Craft Brewery and Ninkasi Brewing Company
with huge followings in the craft beer market.

This is the second year the event has been scheduled
in the Bay Area. Its festivals in Ventura, Santa Cruz and Claremont/San Dimas
sell out every year. “We are excited to be bringing some of the best brews in
the country to the North Bay,” said founder Vincenzo Giammanco. “The picturesque
lakeside setting nestled between Marin and Sonoma counties is a perfect
location for a day of beer sampling, enjoying music, and barbecue. We are
looking forward to the same success here as at our other popular festivals through
out the state.”

Admission is $40, which includes one craft beer heaven
ticket, a souvenir cup and beer sampling. Beer tasting begins at 1 and ends at
4:30 p.m. The event is for adults 21 and over, but children under 12 can
accompany their parents for free.

The festival is looking for barbecue teams to
participate in its first cook-off. Teams of four, including friends, family,
co-workers, are invited to compete for more than $1,000 in prizes. Teams will be
judged in four different categories: chicken, beef brisket, pork and beer based
on appearance, taste, texture and overall. Guests get to sample the different
styles of barbecue (while supplies last).

Music lovers will enjoy the sounds of three party
bands including Petty Theft, Monophonics and Metal Shop. Petty Theft, who hails
from Petaluma, is the ultimate Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They
have gained a following all over the Bay Area singing songs from American Girl to Free Falling. The Bohemian
has selected them the best band in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Metal Shop brings back all the greatest hits from the
Hair generation. We are talking arena rock with hits from Guns ‘n’ Roses, Billy
Idol, Joan Jett, Led Zeppelin, Metallica and Journey. With authentic costumes,
choreography and memorable sing-a-longs, relive the spirit of your first rock
concert at this salute to the bands that made hard rock and heavy metal
legendary.

Monophonics is San Francisco’s psychedelic soul band
that is just returning from an international tour. Psychedelic Soul, sometimes called “black rock”, is a sub-genre of soul music, which
mixes the characteristics of soul with psychedelic rock. It came to prominence
in the late 1960s and 1970s, playing a major role in the development of soul
and funk music.

Proceeds from the
California Beer Festival benefit the Gen Giammanco Foundation, a non-profit
organization that provides financial support to student athletes in their
pursuit of scholastic and athletic support. A shuttle service will be provided
for $3. Tickets and additional info are available at www.californiabeerfestival.com.