A local homebrew event like no other

Over the past decade-and-a-half, I have homebrewed solo and with friends, and had the privilege of collaborating on beers brewed for charity (and fun) with career fermentationists. As a journalist, I’ve covered and even judged numerous homebrewing competitions, including the American Homebrewers Association’s annual Homebrew Con. And as the head of San Diego Beer News, I developed a program called Homebrew Summer, which connects the county’s vast professional and recreational brewing communities through pro-am brews and recipe-sharing. Homebrewing has played a vital part in making San Diego’s craft-beer culture all that it is, and I’m here for it. Even so, I was largely unaware of a rather incredible event for amateur brewers that’s been going on for a whopping 35 years. In an effort to keep you from being so woefully uninformed, I’d like to tell you about the Southern California Homebrewers Festival (SCHF).

Taking place at the Vail Lake KOA Resort in Temecula on May 1-2, this event typically brings in around 1,000 homebrewers and beer enthusiasts. Many of those attendees camp at the venue to take in the full experience, which includes a pro night featuring beers from commercial breweries on Friday, followed by a full day of more than 40 California homebrew clubs pouring their members’ liquid creations. The latter session will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. this year, and unlike a standard beer fest wherein most of the beers are of the more mainstream (read: easier-to-sell) varieties, such as IPAs and pale-colored lagers, the field at the SCHF will include just about every style under the sun. After all, part of the reason amateurs brew their own beers is because the ales and lagers they want to drink aren’t readily available on store shelves.

The SCHF is presented by the California Homebrewers Association, which works with homebrew clubs throughout the state, each of which is responsible for setting up and staffing their individual booths, and providing all the necessary equipment and manpower during the Saturday session. Those clubs also set up their own independent vetting processes for determining which of their members’ beers will be poured at the event. Typically, those ales and lagers are of the award-winning variety, having medaled at local, state or even national homebrewing competitions. And because homebrewers are so fond of competing, the SCHF also features its own “bragging rights only” contest, in which each club submits a single beer. The winning is then announced at the start of the Saturday session and anointed with a flag to make it easier for festival-goers to locate and sample.

The inaugural SCHF was held in 1991 at Cilurzo Winery, the Temecula business where famed Russian River Brewing got its start. That event was put on with the assistance of the latter’s founder and Brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo. After the winery closed, the SCHF transitioned to Lake Skinner and Lake Casitas, before finding a permanent home at Vail Lake in 2015.

Adding to the allure of the SCHF is live music from a trio of bands, a raffle, and a pair of formal presentations that will be delivered award-winning homebrewer Drew Beechum and the Executive Director of the California Craft Brewers Association, Kelsey McQuaid-Craig. But after all is said and done, of course, beer is the main draw.

Thirteen breweries comprise this year’s “Pro Pour Night” lineup, which includes San Diego operations Ballast Point Brewing and Home Brew Mart, along with popular outfits Firestone Walker Brewing, ISM Brewing and Solaris Beer & Blending. A full list of the breweries that will be pouring can be found here. (Brewing companies that would like to join in on Pro Pour Night are invited to contact the CHA via email.)

In addition to these festivities, there are a pair of bottle shares. The first will be organized for individuals who are camping at the site and take place on Thursday evening. The second , the “Outrageous Homebrew Bottle Share” is being organized by the Society of Barley Engineers and will take place on Friday at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the SCHF are available online. Additionally, organizations looking to sponsor the event may still do so by reaching out to the CHA here.

Vail Lake KOA Resort is located at 38000 California State Route 79 in Temecula