Monterey Beer Festival

Save the date and raise your beer mug high during the celebration of the Summer of Love! Don’t miss the 16th Annual Monterey Beer Festival, returning to the beautiful Monterey County Fair & Event Center on Saturday, July 8th. Bring your friends, spouse, significant other, cousins or just make some new friends at this friendly fun festival! And if you want, grab a headband, put a flower in your hair, wear your tye-dye and join the party! A not-to-be-missed event for anyone 21 and over, the Monterey Beer Festival benefits the Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation (a 501c3 non-profit organization – Tax ID #77-0402426).

Celebrating its 16th year on the Monterey Peninsula, the Monterey Beer Festival will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940 (enter Gate 5), (831) 372-5863 email: [email protected]m website: www.montereybeerfestival.com. (12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. for General Admission with 11:30 a.m. early entry for VIP Ticket Holders).

The Monterey Beer Festival attracted 5,000 attendees last year who enjoyed tasting an array of outstanding beer and food.  In addition to many new beers to delight the senses and please your palate this year, the Monterey Beer Festival will feature music from several live bands, special VIP ticket holder benefits, all in a totally fun, relaxed party atmosphere at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.  

Suds and Food Sampling! 

Taste the very best beer from around the globe from your very own souvenir Monterey Beer Festival tasting pilsner included in with admission.  The festival will provide hundreds of beers to sample plus a variety of delicious food available to pair with your beer of choice. Find some new favorite beers! There will be lots of new local craft beer choices, too plus special festival suprises. More details coming soon!

Fabulous VIP Area

Take advantage of the VIP entry that will allow early access. VIP ticket holders will have their very own private area to beat the lines in the general festival area. They’ll also have access to private restroom facilities adjacent to the Monterey Room.

Great Live Entertainment

The entertainment schedule on the Main Stage will feature two great tribute rock bands, including the 60’s Summer of Love Band performing all of your Summer of Love favorite tunes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6WHjKo7Qrg) and KCDU 101.7 The Beach’s DJ Fredo as MC.

Tickets – General Admission and VIP

All ticket holders will receive a Monterey Beer Festival souvenir beer pilsner glass. 

Getting thirsty? Buy your tickets soon!

General Admission Presale Price (through July 7, 2017) is $45 or $50 at the gate. Tickets are available in the online store at www.montereybeerfestival.com.

VIP with 11:30am early admission Presale Price (through July 7, 2017) is $70 or $80 at the gate.

VIP Ticket holders will have VIP Area In and Out privileges and private restrooms.

Designated Driver Admission Price is $20 brings someone there for the fun but not the alcohol to get you home safely.  The Monterey Beer Festival encourages all patrons to drink responsibly.

Parking is $10 on site or nearby on Fairground Road.

All Ticket holders must be 21 and over and show a current ID. Buy your tickets early and enjoy a great discount!  Donations are tax deductible, (Tax ID # 77-0402426). 

Limited Number of Sponsorships still available

Take advantage of great community sponsorship opportunities! Sponsors will build the loyalty of new customers by supporting this upcoming non-profit event which attracts thousands of attendees with the average age 21-40. They’ll gain outstanding visibility and very unique benefits through your valued sponsorships and support of an important resource in Monterey County!  Sponsors will also reach thousands of people!  A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available with many great unique benefits. Please call Wendy Brickman at (831) 594-1500 or email [email protected]  for more information. 

Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation

The Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation supports the functions of the Monterey County Fair & Event Center and its mission. Primarily, the Heritage foundation funds capital improvements at the Monterey County Fairgrounds and youth scholarships. The community is urged to join the Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation and receive great VIP benefits at the upcoming Monterey County Fair and all of the Heritage Foundation events throughout the year. Become a member of the Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation and receive discounted ticket prices as well as other member benefits. To become a member log on to www.montereycountyfair.com/heritage-foundation.

Craft Brewing is still going strong! Interesting facts to consider…

Craft brewers are still growing, according to the recent 2016 mid-year data released by the Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers. American craft beer production volume increased eight percent during the first half of the 2016.

Brewery Count: Five thousand strong and growing, there are now 5,005 breweries in the U.S. compared to 10,000 wineries. Almost all (99%) are small and independent craft brewers.

Craft brewers currently employ an estimated 121,843 full-time and part-time workers in a variety of roles including many manufacturing jobs, all of which contribute significantly to the U.S. economy.

Continued Growth for the Segment: By mid-year 2016, small and independent breweries grew by eight percent, reflecting dynamism and a bright spot for the domestic beer market.

Never Go Out of Styles: IPAs continue to hop up, now accounting for roughly one-quarter of craft volume. More sessionable styles, including golden ales, pilseners and pale lagers, are up 33 percent, totaling nearly five percent of craft.

Freedom of Choice: As the world’s two largest brewers merged into a multinational conglomerate two and a half times the size of the U.S. beer market, the Brewers Association was at the center of the discussion, advocating for fair competition for the nation’s small and independent craft brewers and access to market ensuring beer enthusiasts get to continue to choose from a vast variety of options. Approximately 65 percent of craft beer lovers said they are drinking more craft specifically because it offers more variety.

American Craft Beer Abounds Abroad: Craft beer export volume increased by 16.3 percent, totaling 446,151 barrels and worth $116 million. More than 100 small and independent craft brewers export their beer internationally, spreading the culture and community of craft beer and a growing recognition and respect for American brewers.

Bipartisan Beer Support: With a craft brewery in nearly every congressional district in the country, more than half of the U.S. Congress now supports the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act. The BA has been a key player in moving forward this bipartisan legislation that seeks to recalibrate the current federal excise tax structure for the nation’s brewers and reform burdensome laws regulating America’s brewing industry.

History Has Its Eyes on Beer: With support from the Brewers Association, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History announced that it will launch a three-year initiative to collect, document and preserve the history of brewing, craft brewers and the beer industry in America. The job posting for a Historian to study brewing history was one of the most viral beer stories of the year, an indicator of how much people care about this vital industry.

Perfect Pair: Beer and food continue to find harmony on plates and palates. Seventy-three percent of craft beer purchasers gave “complements my meal” as a very or somewhat important selection criteria in their beer choice when dining out. Sixty-three percent select beer based on the food item or meal they are planning to enjoy.

Craft beer brewing has been incredibly popular in recent years but the art of brewing is as old as civilization. Between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago, some humans discontinued their nomadic hunting and gathering and settled down to farm. Grain was the first domesticated crop that started that farming process. And, it’s come a long way!

“The opening rate compared to closing rate for breweries remains incredibly strong, with a historic number of breweries operating in the U.S.,” explains Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “As long as there is growing consumer demand, beer lovers’ thirst will continue to advance the category of craft brewed beer from small and independent producers.”

Note: The data set includes the small and independent breweries that the Brewers Association anticipates being included in the 2016 data set.

What is a Craft Brewer? An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional.

Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to the rules of alternating proprietorships.

Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member that is not itself a craft brewer.

Traditional: A brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavor derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation.

Flavored malt beverages (FMBs) are not considered beers.