19th Annual Monterey Beer Festival
Save the Date and Cheers to Beer! Locals and visitors can take a fun “beer-cation” and celebrate the 19th Annual Monterey Beer Festival that will be held at the beautiful Monterey County Fair & Event Center on Saturday, July 11, 2020.
Bring your friends, spouse, significant other, uncles, cousins or just come and make some new friends at this friendly fun festival! 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).
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 live entertainment and a DJ, special VIP ticket holder benefits, all in a totally fun, relaxed party atmosphere at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.
The Monterey County Fair & Event Center is located at 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940 (enter Gate 5), Phone: 831-372-5863, email: heritage@montereycountyfair.
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 surprises. More details will be 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. Back by popular demand will be Donut Pairing featuring four flavors of delicious donuts from the legendary Red’s Donuts in Monterey and Seaside, plus other great benefits to be announced.
Great Live Entertainment
The entertainment on the Main Stage will feature the popular Daze on the Green for fun dancing plus Festival Emcee Fredo on the Radio.
Tickets – General Admission and VIP
All ticket holders will receive a Monterey Beer Festival souvenir beer pilsner glass.
Getting thirsty? Buy your tickets soon and the on-sale date will be announced shortly.
General Admission Presale Price (through July 10, 2020) is $50 or $55 at the gate.
Tickets will be available in the online store at www.montereybeerfestival.
VIP ticket holders enjoy an 11:30am early admission Presale Price (through July 10, 2020) which is $70 or tickets are $80 at the gate.
VIP Ticket holders will also have VIP Area In and Out privileges and private restrooms.
New this year! VIP ticket holders will enjoy the Monterey Beer Festival VIP Outdoor Lounge with delicious finger foods to be enjoyed on picnic benches. There will be a special Goody Bag and more VIP surprises! Also returning will be the Red’s Donut Beer Pairing!
New this year! There is a new VIP Designated Driver option for $35 which allows designated drivers into the VIP area.
Designated drivers bring someone to the Festival for the fun but not the alcohol to get you home safely. The Monterey Beer Festival encourages all patrons to drink responsibly.
Parking is available on Fairground Road.
Designated Driver General Admission tickets are $20
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).
New this year! The Coolest Beer Festival Necklace Contest!
Use your imagination! Festival-goers are invited to wear their coolest Beer Festival necklace to the Monterey Beer Festival as part of a new contest judged on site at the Festival. There will be 3 winners who will receive tickets to the 2021 Monterey Beer Festival.
Sponsorships are 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 between 21-40 years old. They’ll gain outstanding visibility and very unique benefits through their 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 brickman@
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/
Craft Brewing is still going strong! Here’s some background information and stats:
The Brewers Association (BA)—the trade association representing small and independent1 American craft brewers—released annual growth figures for the U.S. craft brewing industry in April 2019. In 2018, small and independent brewers collectively produced 25.9 million barrels and realized 4 percent total growth3, increasing craft’s overall beer market share by volume to 13.2 percent.
Retail dollar value was estimated at $27.6 billion, representing 24.1 percent market share and 7 percent growth over 2017. Growth for small and independent brewers occurred in an overall down beer market, which dropped 1 percent by volume in 2018. The 50 fastest growing breweries delivered 10 percent of craft brewer growth. Craft brewers provided more than 150,000 jobs, an increase of 11 percent over 2017.
“Craft maintained a fairly stable growth rate in 2018 and continued to gain share in the beer market,” said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. “Small and independent brewers continue to serve as job creators, strong economic contributors, and community beacons.”
There were 7,346 craft breweries operating in 2018, including 4,521 microbreweries, 2,594 brewpubs, and 231 regional craft breweries. Throughout the year, there were 1,049 new brewery openings and 219 closings—a closing rate of 3 percent.
“The beer landscape is facing new realities with category competition, societal shifts, and other variables in play. There are still pockets of opportunity both in terms of geography and business model, but brewers need to be vigilant about quality, differentiation, and customer service,” added Watson.