Dust Bowl’s new taproom, latest from Bear Republic and summer festivals
NEW TAPROOM >> Turlock’s Dust Bowl Brewing just opened its newest satellite location, the Dust Bowl Tap Depot, in Monterey. The new spot at 290 Figueroa St. is just a few steps from Fisherman’s Wharf in the former Wharf Marketplace building, which served as Monterey’s train depot until the early 1970s. The Tap Depot has indoor and outdoor seating, picnic tables, fire pits and 22 taps of Dust Bowl beer.
NEW SIPS >> The newest entry in Bear Republic Brewing’s Challenge Series, oneoff beers inspired by competitive racing, is #70 Purple Lightning IPA. Brewed with wheat and oats, as well as barley, it also contains Huell Melon and Hallertau Blanc hops and HBC 431, an experimental variety. The beer is juicy, with bright melon, tropical and citrus notes, and very low bitterness. Limited quantities of the 16-ounce cans will be available for roughly six weeks — so start looking for it now.
BEERVENTURES >> Pleasant Hill’s annual two-day Blue & Brews Festival opens at Pleasant Hill Park at 6 p.m. July 19 with two bands providing live music, and beer
and food available for purchase. The July 20 festivities, which run from 3 to 9 p.m., include family-friendly attractions, blues bands and a craft beer tasting tent. Find details at bluesandbrewsfestival.com.
The 10-day Silicon Valley Beer Week launches July 19, as well, with scores of events across the South Bay. The schedule is still filling up, but you can get a sneak peek at the tap takeovers, Battle of the Brews and the Brew at the Zoo opener at svbeerweek.com.
And on July 27, Alameda’s Faction Brewing will host its sixth annual Ales for ALS from 1 to 5 p.m. The celebration includes multiple breweries, which have created special beers that all use the same mixture of hops. This year, the lineup includes Mosaic, Simcoe, Sabro, Loral and HBC 630, 344, 692 and 56 hops, provided by Yakima Chief Hops and Loftus Ranches. Tickets are $20-$60. Find details at factionbrewing.com/alesforals.
BLUESAPALOOZA AND BREWS >> If you like spectacular scenery with your brews and blues, head for the eastern side of the Sierra range for the Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza. The festival is held in an idyllic grove of trees in Mammoth Lakes, where it’s easy to forget the world outside as you drink beer and listen to great music. The beer festival takes place Aug. 3 and 4; the music festival runs Aug. 1-4. Ticket prices start at $25, with single-day, two-day beer tasting and four-day music options available. Find more details at mammothbluesbrewsfest.com.