Photos by Brian Addison.
American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) started in 2006 with 124 breweries across the country hosting events that catered to the growing craft brew culture. That growth was proved come last year, when 1,269 events celebrated ACBW across all 50 states in the country—and this year is proving no exception to that growth, even here in Long Beach, where multiple locations are hosting events beginning today.
Presented by the Brewers Association, ACBW is the king of all craft beer celebrations and The Factory in Bixby Knolls, the Belmont Brewing Company (BBC) in the Shore, and Rock Bottom in downtown will be partaking in toasting all things hoppy.
The Factory proudly proclaims we should all stand “brewnited” as they take all seven days of ACBW to honor brews. Tonight, the restaurant will honor the third anniversary of the Bixby Beer Association with its tapping of Utah-based Epic’s 2012 Big Bad Baptist (which has an astounding 96 rating on Beer Advocate). Tuesday will mark the restaurant’s most inventive and manly event: tapping Rogue’s Beard Beer (where yeast was harvested from one of their brewer’s beard), 5% of your bill will be deducted for every inch of beard sitting at the table.
Other Factory events include: three new tappings on Wednesday (New Belgium’s La Folie Sour Brown and Cismontane’s Marea Roja Sour); Thursday’s Night of a 1,000 IBUs, featuring four epic IPAs (Bootleggers Knuckle Sandwich IIPA, Sierra Nevada’s Hoptimum IIPA, Port Brewing’s 10th Anniversary, and Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA); Friday will welcome the 2013 Figueroa Mountain Petit Sarah Barrel-Aged Porter; Saturday will host Karl Strauss’s 25th Anniversary Barrel-Aged Imperial Oktoberfest; and Sunday will bring Goose Island’s Bourbon County Imperial Stout.
BBC will continue its annual beer dinner, hosting Vista-based Iron Fist Brewing Company on May 19. The $55 dinner will feature five beers paired with five courses, one of which will be a tray pass to welcome guests before four formal courses are served. On the menu: Iron Fist’s Spice of Life Pale Ale (Bière de Garde) with appetizers; the Kölsch-style Renegade Blonde served with an arugula and crispy pancetta salad; the Beligian-stule Dubbel Fisted paired with grilled shrimp and habañero sauce; their Imperial Oatmeal Stout, Velvet Glove, will be served with filet mignon and smoked beans; and the EPA Nelson the ImpALEr will be served with a papaya cheesecake.
Reservations are currently being taken and seating is limited. Call BBC at 562-433-3891 to make your reservation.
Lastly but not watered down, Rock Bottom in Downtown Long Beach will offer its array of sudsy brews while celebrating all seven days: Monday welcomes brat lovers with a plate of baby brats and a Rock Bottom beer of their choice for $10; Tuesday will host a brewery tour with samples; Wednesday will have a $5 burger during happy hour with the purchase of a beer; Thursday has $5 apps during happy hour; Friday offers Growlers at refill prices all day; Saturday will have a $5.50 beer sampler; and Sunday will have $4 Rock Bottom beers all day.
We salute you brewers, we tip our hat to you drinkers, and we extend our love to beer-lovin’ Long Beach. Go have a brew while singing the Star-Spangled Banner.
Read more: