San Diego is hosting the 2008 “World Beer Cup” competition as the fifth annual Craft Brewer’s conference runs from April 16 through 19.
The conference is an industry event for brewing professionals from all over the country, and will feature four days of seminars, classes on new brewing techniques and beer marketing, competitions and beer. Lots and lots of beer.
“It’s the one time a year you’ll be in a group of your peers that large,” said Matt Walsh, head brewer at Karl Strauss Brewing Company.
Walsh said both local and national breweries participate, and more than 2,500 people are expected over the course of the conference.
This will be the second time the Craft Brewers Conference has been held in San Diego. It was held in San Diego in 2004, according to Walsh. It has also been held in Austin, Texas, and Seattle, Washington.
“We are a national epicenter of beer,” said Melody Daversa, marketing events manager for Karl Strauss.
The Craft Brewers Conference starts with a welcome reception at Stone Brewery and culminates in two main events, the “San Diego Beer Community Convergence,” a private industry party to be held at the Karl Strauss Pacific Beach Brewery that will feature a special beer brewed for the conference by the San Diego Brewer’s Guild, and a World Beer Cup gala awards dinner on April 19.
The World Beer Cup is an international competition held every two years that awards a gold, silver, and bronze medal for the top brews in 91 beer style categories.
The Brewers Conference is organized by the Brewer’s Association (www.beertown.org), a national association formed to promote craft brewing and bring together brewing enthusiasts.
The conference will also feature a BeerExpo of exhibitors showcasing the latest and greatest brewing products, and offer opportunities for beer education and networking.
Though none of the Craft Brewers Conference events are open to the public, Karl Strauss Brewing Company does welcome all beer enthusiasts to its other upcoming events. One is the popular “Beach to Brewery” festival taking place Saturday, May 10, 2 to 7 p.m. at the Pacific Beach Brewery, 5985 Santa Fe Street.
The fifth annual beer and music fest benefits the Surfrider foundation. Last year, according to Daversa, Karl Strauss donated $15,000 to Surfrider, and this year is taking the message of conservation and environmental protection even further by emphasizing recycling and helping organize a large “Creek to Bay Clean-up Day” in the Mission Beach area on Saturday, April 24.
The day of Beach to Brewery, free shuttles will run from the Pacific Beach library and Dusty Rhodes Park in Ocean Beach. Local musical guests The Shys, Hotel St. George, Stranger, and a yet-to-be-announced headliner will entertain guests.
Pre-sale tickets online are $15, $20 at the door. Last year the event sold out, so advance purchasing is encouraged. The event is for those 21 years and up and includes five beer tasters and the concert. For more information on tickets and the beach clean-up, visit www.karlstrauss.com.
Visitors to the La Jolla Karl Strauss location on Wall Street will also have the opportunity to taste the debut of the 2007 Karlfest Homebrew Competition winning recipe. As part of winning the inaugural competition at last year’s Oktoberfest celebration, homebrewer Matt Morrison’s Rauchbier will be featured at the restaurant while supplies last.