12th Annual Russian River Beer Revival and BBQ Cookoff (Peter Lopez)

The Russian River Beer Revival and BBQ Cookoff unofficial tag line is “if you can’t have fun at this one…you can’t have fun.” Such a bold statement along with a lot of positive feedback from attendees of previous years had my expectations at an all-time high. The event did not disappoint.

It’s easy to see why the 12^th annual event that took place this past Saturday, August 16, sold out within a matter of minutes. Thirty BBQ teams set up their stations among 30 brewery tents for the outdoor event that was hosted by Stumptown Brewery located at 15045 River Rd. in Guerneville. The venue has a great view of the Russian River and sits between the water and trees that provide some shade from the August summer heat.

The BBQ teams brought plenty of delicious food and were vying for the People’s Choice award. I lost track of how many ribs I ate, and it really didn’t matter since nobody was really keeping track. The price of admission included all you can eat and all the beer that you could possibly want to taste.

The list of breweries present was impressive. Local favorites like Bear Republic, Lagunitas, 101 North, Russian River Brewing Co and Moonlight Brewing Co. were in the house. Beer geeks surely must have been excited to see up and coming breweries like Faction, Beachwood and Noble pouring as well.

Live music added to the festive atmosphere. Those wanting to escape the heat were free to jump into the river for a quick cool down. Note to self for next year; bring shorts and floss.

– Peter Lopez