By Robin GOLDSWORTHY

An estimated 900 people came to Honolulu Avenue in Montrose on Sunday afternoon to sample the friendliness of the town – and some craft beer.

The occasion was the annual Montrose Craft Beer Fest, hosted by the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce.

“We had great energy going into the event,” said chamber executive director Victoria Malone. “Our presale tickets were up three-fold from last year.”

The early sales eased concerns about the success of the event and, after the Craft Beer Fest came to a close, the planning committee was able to celebrate a successful event that showcased the talent of local small brewers and the diverse food offerings in Montrose.

“It was great seeing so many people enjoying themselves,” said Malone.

Among those on the avenue were Glendale City Councilwoman Paula Devine who rubbed elbows – and raised a glass – with locals including Chris Waldheim of J’s Maids & Maintenance. Several of the breweries had taken part in previous Craft Brew Fests, including Frogtown Brewery in Los Angeles, and some were new to the event. In addition to offering a taste of one or two of their premium beers, several of the breweries extended invitations to their tasting rooms. One of these was Kevin Hoard of Trustworthy Brewing Co. in nearby Burbank.

In addition to offering a dozen or more beers to be sampled at its taproom, Trustworthy Brewing has a menu that includes a variety of pizza, burgers and fries.

Adjustments to the Craft Beer Fest were few but important. The committee, for example, arranged for all check-ins to be done electronically, creating a more fluid experience for ticketholders. Also, signs on tables in the fest area identified the restaurants that were participating in the event.

Funds raised from the Craft Beer Fest are dedicated to charitable outreach efforts the chamber supports, including bingo sponsorships, Easter in the Park that Dilbeck Real Estate is sponsoring and the Glendale Police Officers Association.

“We want to offer a really big thank you to the community for supporting this. People from several different areas came to the town and we look forward to seeing them again,” said Malone. “We support each other in the Crescenta Valley and it shows. People who were visiting for the first time recognize that about our community.”

  robin goldsworthy