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Bay Area Craft Beer Festival brewing in Martinez

Just in time for Oktoberfest season, craft beer will be the starring act at a new event held at 330 Ferry Street, one of the Zocchi buildings.

After attending the 2010 Monterey Beer Festival in June, Main Street Martinez director Leanne Peterson thought it would be a great idea to host a similar event in Martinez.

 

“I’ve been actively trying to recruit a microbrewery to come to Martinez, and we’ve worked with four so far,” Peterson said Thursday, adding that two are in serious negotiations with the City. “There’s an association between craft beers and brick buildings, older towns. It was a natural fit.”

 

The problem with brewpubs, said Peterson, is that they require a lot of room, and then there are the recently publicized problems with expensive sewer hookup to the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District. 

 

However, Peterson said the management at Central San indicated to MSM Board president John Curtis that if a brewery operator can commit to recycling a large portion of used ingredients to local farmers, there might not be any fees incurred.

 

“The brewery has to work with Central San [on that issue], but it can happen,” said Peterson.

 

Since her husband is a home brewer and she has a lot of contacts in the craft beer industry, Peterson went to work organizing an event in Martinez to highlight its suitability as a brewpub destination.

 

After pitching the idea to the City of using one of the vacant Zocchi property buildings as a venue for the one-day event, Peterson said she began rounding up several of the top microbreweries to participate in the event.

 

“Join us in the Historic Cannery District at the picturesque Martinez Waterfront Park, located at 333 Ferry St.,” coaxes the event website.

 

The Bay Area Craft Beer Festival will take place on Oct. 23 from 1 to 5 p.m., or 12 to 5 p.m. if attendees purchase one of the VIP tickets. 

 

Live bands will perform for an anticipated crowd of 2000, and food booths will sell various vittles.

 

“We’re offering free shuttle service from the North Concord BART station, and I’ll be advertising wherever the [Capitol Corridor] trains go so people can take the train from Sacramento or Oakland [to the festival],” said Peterson.

 

While plans are still being hammered out, Peterson said she estimates at least 30 craft beer makers will participate.

 

Interested breweries can visit the website http://bayareacraftbeerfestival.com to download the necessary forms. Those interested in volunteering for the festival are encouraged to call 228-3577 for more information.

 

Attendees from out of town can also take advantage of a special offered by the John Muir Best Western Inn for $59 a night that weekend.

 

Tickets are selling for $50 for the VIP Access and $35 for general admission, and Peterson said she expects the event to sell out.

 

By Greta Mart, Staff Reporter for the Martinez News Gazette on August 22, 2010. Click here to read the full article.

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