By Charly SHELTON

It’s that time of year – time for good beer, good food and a party in the Montrose Shopping Park. No, not Oktoberfest; it’s time for Montrose Brew Fest!

The beer and food tasting street fair is on Sunday, April 3 and features sample size pours of craft and local beers for anyone 21 and over. This is an opportunity to get a sampling of what each brewery in attendance has to offer before plunking down $11 on a six-pack at the supermarket.

“We’re trying to bring different things that guests might not have had before,” said Melinda Clarke, executive director of the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce and organizer of the event. “We will have a lot of big-name breweries but we will have a lot of smaller, local breweries too like Dr. Jekyll’s from right here in Altadena. For Frogtown Brewery, which is just opening up in the top part of L.A., this is going to be the first event they’re pouring at. We have a brewery, Pacific Plate from Monrovia, pouring a horchata stout. We’re trying to get people to pour seasonal beers and different beers. Stella Artois will be here and will be pouring their Cidre, She Beverage Company is pouring a hard lemonade but it’s not vodka induced, it’s a malt beverage, so it’s more like a beer. There’s another brewery that’s pouring their seasonal summer beer, a jalapeno pineapple beer. So there’s going to be a lot of great things to taste.”

There are a total of 22 breweries and 12 restaurants supplying sample size drinks and bites to ticketholders. The breweries are Gordon Biersch, Real Soda, Frogtown Brewery, McLeod Ale Brewing Company, Wiens Brewing Company, Pacific Plate Brewing Company, Kona Brewing Company, Karl Strauss Brewing Company, She Beverage Company, Dr. Jekyll’s, 10 Barrel Brewing Company, Angel City Brewery, Golden Road Brewing, Elysian Brewing, Goose Island Beer Company, The Original Fireman’s Brew, Brew Yard Beer Company, Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, Absolution Brewing Company, Wolf Creek Brewery, Stella Artois and Shock Top.

Tickets for general admission from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. are $35 and include unlimited access (until supplies run out) to the drink stations and the food. For an extra $10, the VIP ticket gives guests an hour early admission, starting at noon. For the designated driver, a food only ticket is $25. Everyone at the Brew Fest, including designated drivers, must be 21 or over with valid ID. A portion of the profits will benefit charitites including the Glendale Police Foundation and the Glendale Fire Fighters

“We’re excited about promoting this town,” Clarke said. “That’s the reason we’re doing this.”

For more information, visit montrosebrewfest.com.

  Charly Shelton