by Felix Muzquiz

Event photos (online & print) by JA Photography

If you’re a beer lover, the Tower District Brewfest is your chance to sample over 60 different craft beers from across California. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to see all the great changes that have been taking place in Fresno’s #1 destination for dining and entertainment – The Tower District – where you can park your car once and spend an entire day or evening visiting dozens of locally owned restaurants, bars, galleries, unique retailers and much more without ever having to get back in your car!

The Tower District Brewfest takes place on Sunday, September 18 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Tower Theatre. Five canopied pavilions will be set up throughout the parking lot to accommodate the vast number of brews represented and food and vendor booths will line the area in between. Sample lagers, ports, ales, IPAs, stouts, ciders and many other specialty brews – some that aren’t even available in our area. Each $35 ticket includes a free sampling glass to accommodate the unlimited samples offered and a meal ticket for one of four meals prepared by Tower District restaurants.

With the huge surge in popularity of craft beers, and with so many of those beers represented at the dozens of Tower District restaurants and bars, the Tower District Marketing Committee decided that hosting a Brew Festival was a perfect fit. The event is in its 7th year and attendance has grown to nearly 1,000 attendees. It’s a fun-filled, relaxing day of tasty sampling!

Fresno’s home-brew club the Worthogs, have played an integral role in the event from the beginning and again this year, several home brewers will be offering samplings of their personal craft beers. Event attendees will be able to vote for their favorite home brew and the winner will be presented with a trophy and bragging rights of being the first ever, most popular home brew at the Tower District Brewfest.

In addition to the brews, Bobby Salazar’s Taqueria, Zen Wok Fusion, Sequoia Brewing Company and Me-N-Ed’s Pizza will be serving up food to the crowds. Each ticket holder will receive a meal voucher for one of these offerings and additional food may be purchased as well.

 In keeping with a proper Brewfest, traditional polka and oompah music will be featured by Ed Hull’s Polkateers with Eva Scow and The Experience wrapping up the afternoon with an array of styles, ranging from R&B, to contemporary Jazz, Funk, and Pop. It will be an afternoon of tasty brews, fantastic food, great music, and lots of fun.

Tickets for the Tower District Brewfest are only $35.00 and are available at Sequoia Brewing Company, Livingstone’s, the Tower Theatre box office, Grandmarie’s Chicken Pie Shop, Irene’s Cafe, Tioga-Sequoia tasting room, or online at www.brownpapertickets.org or www.towerdistrict.org. Every ticket holder will receive a complimentary tasting glass, free tastings at every booth, and a meal ticket. $10.00 designated driver tickets will be available at the door.

The Tower District Brewfest is sponsored by Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company, Bencomo’s Home Brew Supply and the Tower District Marketing Committee. Proceeds from the event benefit Tower District projects. For more information contact the Tower District Marketing Committee at (559) 497-8362 or visit www.towerdistrict.org.