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Cinco de Mayo got crafty on a recent weekend in Orange County with the first annual Sabroso Craft Beer & Taco Festival. Organized by Brew Ha Ha Productions, the well-known craft beer producers of OC Brew Ha Ha and OC Brew Ho Ho, the Mexican-themed festival was ablaze literally by the pre-summer California heat and the tequila and pepper-infused craft beers.
Located at Lake View Park in Silverado, California, the Sabroso Craft Beer and Taco Festival had something for everyone, including plenty of shade and seating to enjoy Sol Sacrifice, a Santana tribute band, and live Lucha Libre wrestling. And let’s not forget the memorable craft beers being poured for four hours straight.
The brewery lineup included many Orange County breweries such as: Valiant Brewing Company, Beach City Brewery, Bottle Logic Brewing, Noble Ale Works, Tustin Brewing Company, Bootlegger’s Brewery, Cismontane Brewing Company, and Old Orange Brewing Co. After tasting several different varieties of Bottle Logic‘s Leche Mole, I had my eye on their Leche Mole with Tequila poured from a cask engine and soaked in oak chips. I am a big tequila fan as well, and I relished every drop of the hops and blue agave mixture.
The California big hitters were also there too, like Lagunitas, Firestone Walker, Ballast Point, and Pizza Port. My ultimate favorite beer at the event was Belching Beaver Brewery’s P-Nut Butter Milk Stout. It smelled and tasted like I was enjoying a big bowl of Reese’s Puffs with silky milk. And despite the scorching weather, the stout concoction was refreshing.
Tacos were also available to keep the grumbling stomach monster at bay. At just $2 a piece, it made sense to get one of everything. Local craft beer and food establishments such as Hopscotch, Haven Gastropub, The Iron Press, and more served up their versions of gourmet street tacos. Food trucks such as Dos Chinos and Porko Rico BBQ were also serving up delicious tacos. Being a California native, tacos make up half of my recommended daily nutrition, and Porko Rico BBQ‘s Black Beard taco was a satisfying combination of caramelized onions and peppers, bold mango bbq sauce, and smoked and braised beef brisket that melted in your mouth with every bite.
For our entertaining pleasure, luchadores wrestled in the ring at various intervals throughout the day. Eventgoers chanted and cheered for their favorite wrestler, while the announcer poked fun of the referee. Adorned in brightly colored pleather outfits, the luchadores must have been sweltering in the heat, but they made a valiant effort to please the crowd.
The Sabroso Craft Beer and Taco Festival was a great event to hang out with like-minded crafty people who share a common love for tacos and craft beer. Plus, portions of the proceeds went to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. Now, who doesn’t love eating and drinking for a great cause?
