Santa Ynez Valley, California— The saying goes that it “takes a lot of beer to make good wine.” Perhaps that is why craft beer has become so popular in the Santa Ynez Valley wine country located in Santa Barbara County, California. Residents and visitors revel in the growth of the craft beer industry throughout the towns of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang.
After a successful week-long celebration in 2012, Visit the Santa Ynez Valley will be extending the craft beer festivities to a full month. Santa Ynez Valley Craft Beer Month will be held during the entire month of May 2013 as an extension of American Craft Beer Week (www.craftbeer.com). Craft Beer lovers can learn, taste and dine with a truly incredible offering of events such as special tastings, a beer festival, classes, dinners and more.
SYV Craft Beer Month month features Buellton Brew Fest on Saturday, May 11th from noon to 4pm in Buellton’s Riverview Park featuring 25 breweries with lunch included (www.buelltonbrewfest.com). The Brew Fest is also hosting a beer dinner the night before the festival at the Mendenhall Museum where Americana meets Craft Beer.
Beer dinners abound including Solvang Brewing Company’s brewmaster dinner on May 15th, Firestone Walker Brewing Co.’s dinner at the Ballard Inn & Restaurant on Sunday, May 19th and a Beer Vs. Wine dinner at the Los Olivos Café and Wine Merchant on May 30th. Food and beer pairings can also be enjoyed this May at Wandering Dog Wine Bar and The Good Life with meats, cheeses and even dessert pairings.
For those thirsty to learn all about craft beer, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, Valley Brewers, Wandering Dog Wine Bar and Bin 2860 will be hosting beer-themed classes with topics ranging from ales vs. lagers to sour beers to yeast classes and brewing demos.
Special deals can be found at Solvang Brewing Company anytime during Craft Beer Month and Firestone Walker Brewing Co. will be releasing a Library Anniversary Ale every Friday. Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company offers special “pint nights” and progressive brew tastings throughout the month.
Major sponsors of SYV Craft Beer Month bring craft beer to life this May: Santa Ynez Valley Hotel Association, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Figueroa Mountain Farmhouse, Buellton Brew Fest and Graphic Systems.
Visitors can plan their own Craft Beer trip throughout the Santa Ynez Valley anytime with the newly updated SYV Craft Beer Trail Map. Grab a printed version at any valley brewery or find a printable map by visiting www.syvbeer.com. Enter to win a SYV Beer Country Prize Package if you complete 6 stops on the SYV Craft Beer Trail. Passports can be downloaded online or found at any of the trail stops. A complete list of classes, events and deals for SYV Craft Beer Month and information about the Santa Ynez Valley can be found at www.visitthesantaynezvalley.com.
PUBLIC INFO: 805-686-0053 or www.VisitTheSantaYnezValley.com
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