“At least it’s a dry heat,” says a voice behind me in the empty line for Cascade Brewing’s SoCal debut. “Why is there no line for this?” We both shrug, feeling special. I start with Blueberry from Cascade; a tart and jammy berry beer that finishes with a tickling funk. The Vine is a whole other matter. Smelling like concord grapes, oak and bready malts; this beer I am going to enjoy several back to back pours while I ponder the map.
The OC Brew Ha Ha is notably different this year. Unlimited 2oz pours make for a relaxing day. If I don’t absolutely love a beer, the guilt of wasting a ticket for a lawn-pour is now a thing of the past. Previous years, a 4oz sample would get choked down regardless. Overall, the quality of beer brought to this festival is on a very high level. In Southern California, we are spoiled. This festival is a testament to that fact.
Across the misted green lawn, I look for the longest line and hop on the tail. Amazingly, Anaheim’s Bottle Logic and Noble Ale Works are running thirty deep. “How does it feel to have a line longer than Cascade?” I ask Brandon Buckner of Bottle Logic. He shrugs, sprays me down with a hand-mister and grabs me a sample of something black. I ignore everything he says about the beer and slurp it down like a double shot espresso during finals. The super-smooth creamy bourbon barrel stout slides down my throat effortlessly, leaving trails of caramel, vanilla, some spice and a little gum-numbing booze to clean up the taste. Drinking a BBA Stout in 95 degree heat isn’t something I would normally recommend, but Dr. Strangematter gave me a prescription. Turns out Bottle Logic’s beer is called Darkstar November and is a 12% stout aged 6 months in Buffalo Trace barrels with rye and molasses added, and it’s crazy delicious. Reminds me somewhat of Remy with a little less dark fruit.
At Noble’s line, I feel like a moist sponge… absorbing craft beer while simultaneously sweating it out. “Of all the days to skip deodorant!” I say to head brewer Evan Price while he pinches my nipple mid-hug. “Here’s the last pour of Cinnamon Roast Crunch,” he offers, smiling. Surprisingly peppery on the nose, the flavor explodes into super fresh and spicy cinnamon on top Naughty Sauce’s Portola coffee backbone. The line behind me moans when they hear the keg blow.
Besides drinking, this festival has it all. Beer education happens by way of Dr. Bill Sysak blowing minds with chocolate and beer pairings. Later, a sour beer discussion with Patrick Rue of the Bruery and Preston Weesner of Cascade happens as the crowd enjoys samples. I witness people playing games like ping pong, some sort of human foosball and cornhole. I watched someone get a haircut. I heard the Sweet and Tender Hooligans sound exactly like Morrissey. I drank some whalez at Beer Geek Island. I puffed on a cigar in the Grey Cloud Cigar Lounge. I enjoyed countless fills of fresh ice-cold water provided everywhere. I ate a BBQ Chicken pizza from TJ’s Wood Fired Pizza. I even got a cleanse from Drink Bar Juicery, which was totally hot.
The festival collaboration beer: Dr. StrangeMatterThe only real drawback of the location is the lack of cell phone service. I heard from a few that leaving was difficult as they couldn’t uber or call a cab. Perhaps add some portable cell repeaters or host a wifi zone. The single road out made for a long line to get out as well, but my beerfest strategy of ‘leave with ten minutes left’ paid off big time.
Overall, I firmly believe Cameron Collins and the OC Brew Ha Ha/Ho Ho/Hee Hee staff have done so many events they can do it blindfolded. They’re craft beer passionate, a trait that not every beer event organizer possesses. They’re part of the beer community and work to grow craft beer in Orange County, something I’m also deeply passionate about. If you pick one or two festivals to attend each year, this is it. See you at the next one!
PS. Matt Becker couldn’t make it, so I’m pretty sure four out of four four brewers prefer the OC Brew Ha Ha for their beer festival needs. John and Jason had a great time too! I bounced around too fast at the beerfest and didn’t get a lot of 4B shirt rubbing action with the gang.
View the rest of the photos on our Flickr page, okay?
– Greg Nagel is the founder and sole writer at OCBeerBlog and is one of the Four Brewers. Follow him at @OCBeerBlog on twitter/insta/facebook.