When it comes to beautiful and unique vacation destinations, Concord and the San Francisco Metro Area are at the top of the list. Concord has a rich history that dates back to the first American settlers who made their way west after the Gold Rush of the 1840’s. It wasn't until the 1870’s that the town of Concord began to take shape, with the establishment of a town square, school, church and multiple small businesses. Growth continued into the 20th century with the railroad coming to town and the soil becoming fertile enough to support many ranches, farms and dairies. Currently, Concord is a friendly and warm city of roughly 125,000 that has something to offer everyone who comes to visit or live.
With warm temperatures and sunshine year round, you're in for a treat whenever you visit Concord. There is an abundance of things to do and activities to try thanks to these incredible conditions . You’ll find a multitude of golf courses that present golfers with various levels of difficulty and different views of the lush local environment. The city features a network of scenic and well maintained parks and public areas that are begging to be used and explored. The culture here is vibrant and diverse, and you’ll encounter many museums, art galleries and live entertainment venues. Additionally, Concord is a city that loves to gather and celebrate. You’ll find great events like the Spring Brews Fest, where you can meet new people and have a great California experience.
Now entering its seventh year, The Spring Brews Fest has established itself as one of the best spring festivals in California. Hosted by The Brewing Network, one of the top multimedia resources for beer that you’ll find anywhere, the event is a beer enthusiast’s dream. They will have over 50 breweries featuring their tastiest crafts, and don't forget that you can enjoy unlimited tasting. In addition you’ll find great live music, a selection of food vendors, and thousands of people with the same goal of sampling some great craft beers. Grab your friends and find a babysitter because the Bay Area's top spring event is waiting for you. We got the opportunity to interview Justin Crossley, Founder of The Brewing Network, to talk about the Spring Brews Fest.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
JC: This will be our seventh year hosting the event in the San Francisco Bay Area. We have grown steadily over the years and now expect to have over 3,000 craft beer lovers in attendance this year. As far as demographics go, this is a 21 and over event due to state law, so it's not very family-friendly. We do, however, focus on local craft beer and music, and this makes for a very unique and exciting adult experience for people looking to taste the local flare.
RAL: What sets this event apart from others?
JC: Our event is particularly unique because of the rare beer that we are able to provide our attendees, as well as the beautiful outdoor park setting in which we hold the festival. Many events of this size are held indoors and feature beers that are readily available elsewhere. Because of our long standing in the Bay Area craft beer community, brewers send us unique and rare beers to feature at the event. Also, the brewers themselves attend, so they can pour and talk about the beer because they love the festival as much as the attendees. It's a real learning experience for anyone interested in artisan beer.
RAL: Take me through what attendees will find during a typical day at the event.
JC: As you can tell, our event revolves around great beer and the people who make it. You get unlimited tasting and a chance to talk to the brewers who hand craft each batch. All of this happens while attendees enjoy the great music on our sound stage.
Brewers, brewers, brewers! It's not every fest that you get to meet the people who make the beverage you hold in your hand. Our fest is different, with the brewers on hand to tell you everything you’d want or need to know about the beer making process. We also get a “Who's Who” of city officials, including the mayor, who loves this festival.
There will be four gourmet food trucks on hand serving artisan food to attendees. There is also an award winning local BBQ tent that serves the best smoked BBQ that the East Bay has to offer.
As far as the overall environment goes, think serene park setting meets lively community activity. The park is one square block of lush grass and trees, with a stage on one corner for music, and brewery tents speckled throughout. Attendees are relaxed and come to really sample what local brewers have to offer. You won't find the rowdy crowd here, but the music is great and the vibe is cool. Even the city officials let their hair down with us and enjoy the scene.
RAL: What can attendees expect to find for unique local lodging?
JC: Concord is not known for its mom and pop boutique hotels. But we are just two blocks from BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), and a short ride from Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco, where you can find world class boutique hotels. We do not partner with any local hotels for lodging specials, but local prices are fair, and again, many stay elsewhere due to BART's convenience.
RAL: What does the festival mean to the community?
JC: The business community thrives each year during our event, often breaking sales records year after year, as people flock from around the bay to attend the event. The park itself is surrounded by restaurants, craft beer bars and even a brew pub!
The entire event is a fundraiser for the TSBA Arts Foundation, which supports local youth music programs and the free summer concert series in Todos Santos Park, the same park the event is held in.
RAL: Why should people come?
JC: If you're looking for a unique local experience that features artisans from around the entire Bay Area, and beyond, this event is for you. This is craft beer at its finest and you won't find a better, or larger selection in one place, anywhere around the bay. We pride ourselves on showcasing the best brewers, and providing an easy going, and uncrowded space for festival goers to enjoy themselves.
For more information about the Spring Brews Fest and The Brewing Network, please visit their website.