Beer and barbecue a championship combo
Apr. 18—Hot on the heels of a wine festival earlier this month, now beer will be he celebratory drink of choice at the Lodi Grape Festival next weekend.
The 2024 Lodi Beer Fest and State BBQ Championship returns to Ole Mettler Grape Pavilion on Saturday, April 27, from 1-5 p.m. featuring more than 40 local and national breweries offering up their signature craft beers.
"The beer fest is a lot like the wine fest in a way," Grape Festival director Mark Armstrong said. "Of course the beers change, but this year we're also featuring alcohol-based seltzers. They're very popular these days, and we'll have a special section for that."
Seltzers to be featured next week include Nutrl, Beatbox and Rod & Hammer's, among others.
For beer lovers, West Coast breweries featured at this year's event include Deschutes Brewery of Oregon, Firestone Walker of San Diego, Lost Coast of Humboldt County, and of course Sierra Nevada of Chico.
International companies include Red Stripe, Dos Equis, Pacifico and Fosters, among others.
A total of 43 beverage companies will be on-hand for the event.
This will be the sixth year the festival hosts the State BBQ Championship, which is sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Society. Contestants cook chicken, pork ribs, a pork shoulder or beef brisket using their choice of wood, pellets or charcoal for heat, and entries are judged blindly on appearance, tenderness and taste.
If more than 15 teams enter the contest, the winner will will move on to "World Series of BBQ," also known as the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, Tenn. next October. In addition, the winner at this year's Beer Fest will also qualify for the American Royal Invitational in Kansas City, Mo. Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.
Armstrong said 40 teams will be competing in the championship, with about seven selling food during the festival. In addition to beer and barbecue, guests can play a game of cornhole, ping pong, beer pong or Jenga, while new food trucks serving up macaroni and cheese or homemade pretzels will also be on-hand.
Music will be performed by Maya, a cover band playing Santana tunes and a variety of covers; as well as The Sweet Taunts, a Lodi group specializing in folk, rock and country blues.
About 3,000 people attend the beer fest each year.
"We're looking forward to (the event)." Armstrong said. "The weather looks like it's going to be great, and we're close to selling out our VIP tickets, so anyone who wants those should get them as soon as possible."
The VIP tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door, and include entry at 1 p.m. with a commemorative glass and backpack. General admission tickets are $35 in advance, $5 at the door, and includes entry at 2 p.m. with beer tasting and a commemorative glass.
Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Lodi Grape Festival office, as well as Stogies Lounge, Five Window Beer Company, River Rock Brewery in Galt, and Dry Creek Liquor in Woodbridge.
Designated-driver tickets are available online and at the door, but must be purchased with someone that has a valid Lodi Beer Fest ticket.
Tickets are not refundable, and those purchased online are subject to a processing and handling fee.
Attendees must be 21 or older to enter, meaning no infants, toddlers or children will be allowed.
You will be required to show identification to enter the festival. Pets will be not be allowed. And like many other events held at the Grape Festival Grounds, there will be a limited amount of RV parking available for people attending the event.
Trailers or RV of any size are accepted for a fee of $30, which includes water and electric hook-ups, Tickets to the event must be purchased separately. RV parking does not include event admission.
For more information call (209) 369-2771, e-mail brandy@grapefestival.com, or visit www.grapefestival.com
