Dear Central Coast Beer Guild members,

The California Festival of Beers in San Luis Obispo isn't an ordinary beer festival. First, it's one of the oldest beer festivals in the country, and the oldest in state, happening every year since 1986. As we all know, “fundraiser” normally means a charity, with great intentions that needs help from the beer industry to make their event successful.  Unfortunately, most of those events funnel only a small portion of the proceeds to the actual charity.  100% of this event funds Hospice of SLO County. They have provided free, in home respite, grief counseling and community response to thousands of local people for almost 40 years.

In its early days, the festival was famous for presenting beers from every brewery then open in California. Attendees came from everywhere in California to sample beers that often were otherwise only available at the brewery. Brewers, distributors, and retailers came to meet, sample, and network. But in recent years that concept shifted as the number of breweries in California grew into the industry we now called craft beer.

That shift doesn't mean the California Festival of Beers can't be true to its roots. As craft beer has evolved, so has the CFOB. This year we will feature the breweries of Central California, from Monterey and Fresno to Westlake Village and Bakersfield. Festival attendees will enjoy the diversity of beers brewed here while gaining some appreciation of our area's rich craft brewing history. More than ever, this festival is a reminder of how important “local” is to craft beer.  

We welcome all the member breweries, and future member breweries, to a special evening at Central Coast Brewing.  On Friday evening, May 26, 2017 we will be hosting a brewer/industry only event, with a unique blend of craft beer, artisan food and comradery.

Besides getting to sample their neighbors' beers, brewers who attend will also have a prime networking opportunity. In fact, this will be a kickoff for an entire weekend for brewers, distributors, retailers, and other industry professionals to meet, greet, and network. We invite you to join us both Friday and Saturday as a participant in the 31st Annual California Festival of Beers.

http://www.californiafestivalofbeers.com/brewer-entry-form

Cheers,

George Peterson
President
Central Coast Brewing