Bites & Brews Attendees Choose Fave Brewers & Boardwalk Food

SANTA CRUZ, CA – Bites & Brews, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s inaugural event for beer fans, won rave reviews from attendees last weekend.

The Sept. 29 event featured live music, local brewers, and such option of Boardwalk food as mini corn dogs, lobster tacos, samosas, deep-fried Oreos and chocolate-covered bacon paired with a wide selection of local craft beer,

Brewers were each assigned two Boardwalk menu items to pair with their beer, and the tasting public voted for their favorite pairing.

This year’s favorites were:

1. Shanty Shack Brewing: Tropical Passion Kettle Sour & Thai Chicken Wrap
2. Uncommon Brewers: Double Pale Ale & Homestyle Breaded Shrimp
3. Barebottle Brewing Co: Nitro Imperial Stout & Deep-Fried Oreos

Also on tap was live music with local bands, including Coffee Zombie Collective, GrandSam, Man in Black, Harry and the Hitmen and Pacific Roots, performing at two different stages throughout the day.

“Our first Bites & Brews was a lot of fun and a big success,” said Boardwalk event director Karley Pope. “Visitors were surprised to discover so many great local beers and such a wide selection of Boardwalk food. We’re already making plans for next year!”

This year’s participating breweries included Barebottle Brewing, Brewery Twenty-Five, Discretion Brewing, East Cliff Brewing Company, Elkhorn Slough Brewing Company, Loma Brewing Co., New Bohemia Brewery, Santa Clara Valley Brewing, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Shanty Shack Brewing, Steel Bonnet, Strike Brewing Company, Uncommon Brewers, Peter B’s Brewpub, Santa Cruz Cider Company, Soquel Cider, and Santa Clara Valley Brewing.

AND COMING UP NEARBY THIS WEEKEND:

• Pumpkin Junction, Train & Carousel 2018: Casa de Fruta, Hollister
• Oktoberfest with German American Club: Santa Cruz
• Actors’ Theatre Presents RED: Santa Cruz
• Farm Fest
• Voyage To Vietnam Opens: Children’s Discovery Museum, San Jose

--Image via Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk