TIJUANA The region's largest beer festival is this weekend and it's expected to draw up to 15,000 people from both sides of the border to sample some of the world's best brews.
The seventh annual TJ Beer Fest on avenida Revolución features one hundred craft beers, 15 of them from the United States, said the event's coordinator, Horacio Navarro.
The recently published "Guide to Beer in Mexico," by Tijuana's Culinary Arts School, rated the 152 brands sold in that country. The guide's top dozen artisan beers will be featured at the festival.
Among them are Cucapá Barley Wine Ale and Cucapá Chupacabras, from Cervecería de Baja California, headquartered in Mexicali; Tijuana Bufadora and Tijuana Güera from Consorcio Cervecero de Baja California, in Tijuana;
Calavera Mexican Imperial Stout, from Microcervecería Gourmet de Naucalpan, and Tempus Reserva Especial de Andreu Primus S.A., from Tlanepantla, both from the State of Mexico; and Minerva Stout Imperial de Zapopan, from Jalisco.
The beer festival includes top regional entertainment from 12 bands and performances by Mexican rock pioneer Javier Batiz on Friday and the Nortec Collective on Saturday.
Food will be available from ten restaurants that specialize in seafood, carne asada and pizza. And an association of chefs will have cooking demonstrations with beer and offer pairings of beer and special dishes.
Last year, about 15,000 turned out to the festival. Organizers said that about 80 per cent were from Baja California and the rest from Southern California.
The city will provide enhanced security at the event, complete with aid stations staffed by paramedics.
Omar.millan@sandiegored.com
[sidebar]TJ Beer Fest
The seventh annual TJ Beer Festival is Friday and Saturday, July 15-16, from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m., between Sixth and Eight streets on avenida Revolución.
Festival features 100 beer brands, variety of food and top regional entertainment.
Admission is $9 per day (100 pesos) and includes a commemorative glass, three beer tastings and access to the concerts. Must be 18 and older for beer tastings.
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