SeeCalifornia.com

March 17 is One Big Beer Festival when St. Patrick’s Day arrives this year on a Saturday. However, there are  beer and brew festivals throughout the entire month and you’ll probably not find any place more enthusiastic about the craft than California!

I recently mentioned my Irish-Indian grandfather who loved Scotch whiskey. My other grandpa, Freidrich (Freddy), was ALL German and made his own beer. His very large family (had 10 kids!) were familiar with the popping sound coming from the basement when beer bottles under pressure blew open and hit the ceiling.

So, craft beer has been around for a very long time, but California’s Craft Brewers Association says the Golden State is the birthplace of the American craft brewing movement.

California Craft Brew Statistics

• 900+ craft breweries are in operation across the state, more than any other state in the nation
• Craft breweries contribute more than $7 billion to the state’s economy annually
• 91.4% of California residents live within 10 miles of a brewery
• Over 49,000 full time jobs in the industry
• 3.3 million barrels of beer produced in a year
• $1.49 billion state and local taxes paid
• San Diego declared itself Destination Beer Capital when the Tourism Authority released their own brew, 72 and Hoppy

March Beer and Brew Festivals

• LOS ANGELES: LA IPA Mar.3-4, 2018
• SACRAMENTO: Capitol Beer Fest Mar.3
• INDIO: Rhythm, Wine & Brews  Mar.3
• EL CAJON: EC Craft Beer Invitational Mar.4
• ANAHEIM: OC Beer Festival Mar.10
• SAN DIEGO: Rock Star Beer Festival Mar.10
• SAN DIEGO: Best Coast Beer Festival Mar.10
• OAKLAND: Oakland Bacon & Beer Festival Mar.10
• SAN JOSE: Hop ‘N Vine Festival & Market Mar.10
• SAN MARCOS: Hops in the Hills Mar.10

See more brew fests…>