Summer isn't quite Summer without a beer festival. Of course the same could be said of every other season too. Which is why I had already gone to 4 other beer festivals this year before checking out the Davis Bike and Brew Fest with a fellow beer nerd friend. Being a brewfest veteran, there were quite a few things I noticed that the organizers of this brewfest got right. 1st of all, there was value. Ticket prices were reasonable for 4 1/2 hours of open beer tasting with a good selection of beer vendors to choose from. Additionally, lines for beer were short enough that it was possible to get beer faster than you could drink it. Outside fluids were not allowed in, but there was plenty of free, ice cold water for everyone. Davis' Central Park was a great place to hold the event. As good as it all was, there were a couple snags. There weren't enough porta-potties & the line to take a leak got to be pretty long at times. For food, some food truck/ food stand options were available but it would've been nice to have a couple more. 2013 was the 1st year for this event & hopefully not the last. Beer is big in Davis with UCD having 1 of the very few brewing schools in the entire World. For a town like this, the Davis Bike and Brew Fest is a natural fit. read more

Brew festivals are becoming an odd beast. First, you have major brew fests like California Beer Festival that charge a lot to get in, the crowds are equally large, and most of us never get our money's worth. Then there are small, local festivals that are cheaper but the selection of breweries and vendors is poor. Davis Bike and Brew Fest fits into neither of these categories or perhaps it is best said that it's a combination of both. The ticket price in presale is reasonable $25 and, since it takes place in early August as the highlight of the Davis Beer Week, the school is not in session and the crowds in 3 years that we attended have never been huge. The downside is, of course, the infamous Valley heat that doesn't spare anyone. Like previous two editions, this year was in triple digits again and damn, it was HOT. But the organizers did things right to make the best under the circumstances: - There was plenty of water - The time was 5PM-8PM. A lot of brew fests I've been to start early which is a bad idea - Enough port-a-potties. Might use a couple more but the wait wasn't too bad, if there was one. - There was a lot of seating and several food trucks and tents - The pours were appropriately sized for the heat and most of the breweries brought their lower alcohol beers, more suitable for the heat. - The crowds were civilized, I didn't see more than just few people wasted As for the selection of beers, Sacramento area was the best represented as expected. But surprisingly, plenty of San Diego was in the house as well. Unlimited pours of Alpine Hoppy Birthday (even if it's Green Flash brewed)? Hell yea! If there was an award for hidden gem, it goes to Boneshaker Brewery from Rocklin for their Blood Red Sky. At only 2.5% ABV and nice tartness, this blood orange Berliner Weisse style beer was delightful and a total surprise. And their brewer is a super-nice guy who took the time to answer all our questions with patience. Finally, if Chris White from White Labs is in attendance, this gives legitimacy to any brew festival. And Davis Bike and Brew fest was just the right balance between small and community and more commercial. There was something for everyone and at moments you could totally forget about the heat. Needless to say, we will be back. Even if the weather is the same again.... read more

Boy, was the line long to get in! It wrapped around half of the park, but it was worth the wait. There were many beer vendors, a few different food trucks/stands, great weather, and lots of fun people. The event should go later or start earlier next year! Pros: Samples were a full 3 ounces Great selection of beer Good amount of shaded areas Different food options (hotdogs/corndogs, pizza, burgers) Cons: Very few tables No seats (unless you had a VIP ticket) Water station was not monitored, leaving some containers empty (possibly from some people using the H2O station to wash hands!) Placement of cornhole games made it hard to avoid walking through them DD tickets were $10, yet there were VERY few non-alcholoic beverages (fruity soda samples and water) Overall, it was a fun event that is getting bigger every year. I'll be back again next year. read more