2nd Annual Newport Beach Beerfest With Metro Station and Scott Russo (of Unwritten Law) April 25th from 6pm - 10pm Tickets on Sale Now. Event will SELL OUT Use code "newport" to save $7 per ticket until 3/21 Voted one of the top 14 Beerfest in the Nation by beerfests.com. The Newport Beach Beerfest will feature unlimited samples of over 100 craft beers and live music from Metro Station with massive hits "Shake It," "Control," and "Love and War." As well as special acoustic set from Scott Russo, lead singer of Unwritten Law. Other features include: Over 10 of Southern California's greatest Food trucks, a rock n roll bikini show, a DJ Lounge, cocktail experiment stations, ciders, and much more. Best part, the event takes place right on the Newport Dunes private beach. Get tickets now. Event Sold Out last year. Anyone go to this last year? I used to listen to Unwritten Law a lot back in the day so that alone will be reason enough to grab a couple of tickets. Last year's list wasn't very impressive but at least they'll have beer.
I didn't realize that they had one there last year - actually, the first Newport Beach Beer Fest was in the mid-90's at the Dunes. It was a two day event, which turned into mayhem when the NBPD raided it and shut it down about half-way through day one (which sucked for the people that bought the 2 day passes!). The highlight, beerwise, was Blind Pig (Vinnie's pre-Russian River brewery) and unlimited pours of their double IPA (which I think was pretty much the first double IPA, or among the first along with Pizza Port's). Getting shut down by the cops was a pretty common occurance for So Cal beer fests in the '90's (Long Beach, Newport, etc.). Either cops are now more "accepting" or patrons are just better behaved.
Looking at last year's breweries and beer line up it appears this is mostly geared towards the new to craft/there for the music crowd.
I went last year and poured out half the beer I sampled. In my opinion it's not a good event to go to if you have distinguished beer taste. Now if you just want to have a good time, tick a bunch of beers, get some food and listen to music on the sand near the ocean, it's probably worth it.
