Firkiesta

Take down the tiki and store away the tropical shirts because Firkfest has a new theme for 2019…

June 29th is the date this year and tickets are on sale NOW!

Recap – Firkfest 2018

The 2018 Caskaway Tiki Beer Fest aka Firkfest is in the books.

Here is my beer and photo recap from Anaheim….

I went into the fest with the express purpose of hitting the Orange County breweries that I have not tasted from. So 3 Punk Kids, Towne Park, Stereo Brewing, Lost Winds and Asylum were all tasted. I also snuck in a new beer from Firestone Walker and Los Angeles Ale Works as well.

But the best drinks on the day were beer cocktails. There was a dedicated Orange Count cocktail tent and I had a rum and coke with beer called Midnight Oil as well as a coffee and rum cocktail, a style Coffee Colada with Unsung beer added. Lastly, Beachwood Brewing had a beer cocktail of their own called the Dark & Squally that was really good too. I would have happily camped out to try all of the hourly releases

As to be “expected” now, the location is great, the rain stopped for the day as well. It was easy to get whichever beer was wanted. And the brewery list was well curated. But I seemed to pick beers that were more 2oz sippers and less “go back for more” beers. Firestone Walker’s Corn ‘n’ Oil tasted way too young. Others were fine but even ones that I liked more, had either an ingredient or balance that could have been improved.

I think the Tiki can be stored away and a return to creative casks (maybe IPA only)or a further backtracking to straight up English styles might be in order. But keep the cocktails!

Tiki-Firk


I have brought it up already, but make sure you get your tickets to the 2018 edition of Firkfest (second year with the Tiki theme).

Need one more reason to come? The OC Bartenders Cabinet will be there making Tiki cocktails.

Too Firk Too Furious


Firkfest 5 is coming! And the Tiki theme will be back as well. So if you are a fan of pineapple, mango, guava and coconut and you prefer only well-run events with a curated list of breweries then go get your tickets.

This is a great event and one of the very few that I have traveled out of Los Angeles for.

For 3/11


Constant readers will notice that I don’t go to a lot of festivals. Not nearly as much as my younger days for sure.

But there are a few festivals that are must attend and Firkfest held in March each year, is one of them.

Founder and organizer Greg Nagel has themed this year’s party as “Tiki”. So expect a tropical tour for your tastebuds.

Stop reading and go get your tickets.

FirkFest 2016

Amazingly, there are still tickets available for this year’s rendition of Firkfest in Anaheim! You should remedy that situation and get your admit one (or two) for the 19th of this month. It is money well spent and much better than being in a crowded, rowdy bar on St. Patrick’s Day for sure.

So hop to it and click this LINK to purchase.

Here are some of the breweries whose tents you should visit if you already have your tickets: Bottle Logic, Firestone Walker, Legends (new to me) and Monkish (especially if they have the Spa beer again).
firkfest2016

In the Tap Lines for March 2016

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March has blown in for another round and this month, the Portland posts start us off and will be the featured reviews. L.A. happenings and news will start to seep in though as Phantom Carriage turns one and Brouwerij West turns One day + tickets for the 8th L.A. Beer Week Kick-Off go on sale in 4 days!

~ e-visits to three cideries from Oregon such as Portland Cider Co., Cider Riot and the Apple Outlaw.
~ special featured reviews of beers from Portland
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads the Best Food Writing of 2015
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 109 covers the topic, “?”

Here are two events to get your March started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) March 4th – The Doughroom will have (3) taps from Bend, Oregon’s Crux Fermentation on draft.
2) March 12thFirkfest at Farmer’s Park in Anaheim

Firkfest Fotos

Firkfest part Deux was this past Saturday.  I will cover the beers on a post on Food GPS this Thursday, but for now, some photos from the day….

Beer Guy LA pouring for King Harbor.
Beer Guy LA pouring for King Harbor.

My intro to Artifex and their DIPA.
My intro to Artifex and their DIPA.

The long and lovely casks of MacLeod
The long and lovely casks of MacLeod

Josh and Craig pouring the ales of MacLeod.
Josh and Craig pouring the ales of MacLeod.