The county’s only IPA beer festival will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 in the park at 16826 Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo.
Tickets to the over-21 event are $40 for one person, $70 for two and $10 for a designated driver ticket. Purchase at the event or in advance at ranchobeernardofestival.com.
The festival is organized by the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club and Urge Gastropub.
Sunrise Rotarian Bill Chaffin said the festival has grown annually — last year it drew more than 750 attendees — because “it’s the craze. Craft beers are a big industry in San Diego and we’re doing a better job in publicizing it.”
Through online ticket sales, Chaffin said organizers can see from where attendees come and that is how they know the festival is drawing not just those from the area, but people from as far away as New Mexico. He said the club has advertised the festival in some regional magazines in order to draw those from out of the area.
According to Chaffin, beers from all the major San Diego breweries, including Urge’s new ales from its Mason Brewery in San Marcos, will be featured. For those not into IPA craft beers there will be some other beers available plus regional wine selections. Gourmet food will be available for purchase.
Attendees will get to vote on the People’s Choice Award for best IPA and receive a complimentary tasting glass.
This is the Sunrise Rotarians’ biggest fundraiser of the year and Chaffin said they are hoping to net more than $100,000 through the event to support a variety of charitable projects locally, domestically and abroad.
These include Project Mercy, a home building endeavor in Tijuana, Mexico; the Ed Brown Center for Active Adults in Rancho Bernardo; Poway Valley Therapeutic Riding Center (PoVa), which offers therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with special needs; Team Red, White and Blue, which helps military veterans; Rides & Smiles, which provides transportation to seniors; and various programs at Abraxas High School in Poway.
There will also be live music and games, like corn hole, to entertain the expected 1,000-plus attendees, Chaffin said.
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This story was originally published in Pomerado News, October 19, 2017.