Food, music, fun and 70 craft breweries at Santa Rosa’s Battle of the Brews

In recent years, Northern California has become a destination for people who appreciate great beer.

At the annual Battle of the Brews contest and festival on Saturday at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, more than 70 breweries will participate, many of them from Northern California. The event, which drew nearly 2,300 people last year, will include tastings and competitions, food and live music.

The sight of fans winding around the block at downtown Santa Rosa’s Russian River Brewing Co. every February, lined up for the annual, limited release of its popular Pliny the Younger triple India pale ale, has become a familiar local reminder of the passing of the seasons, like trees blooming or birds migrating.

But there is much more to the rise in Wine Country of craft beer, brewed in smaller quantities for discerning tastes, than the success of one brewer.

“I believe there’s been a boom going on for awhile now,” said John Lilienthal, regional sales manager and co-owner of 101 North Brewing Co. in Petaluma, which opened in 2012. The company’s brewmaster is Joel Johnson, formerly with Bear Republic Brewing Co. in Healdsburg.

“We’re one of the little guys now, but the sky’s the limit,” Lilienthal said. “Craft beer is artistic. Who knows where it’ll go?”

The 101 North Brewing Co. will be one of many represented at Battle of the Brews.

“We include everyone from major local breweries, like Lagunitas, to big-time breweries in Southern California and even outside the state, like Samuel Adams,” said Brian Sosnowchik, co-chairman of the event.

“We want everything and anything that is associated with craft beer to be represented at our event. So we’ve got not only big breweries, we’ve got small ones and some that are participating for the first time. We’ve also got home brewers.”

The Battle of the Brews, now in its 19th year, is a prestigious event, Lilienthal said. It’s also set up to be fun, with live music adding entertainment.

“It has become a competition that is reputable, because they bring in a panel of beer writers who blind-taste beers now,” Lilienthal said.

Battle of the Brews is divided in two parts: The Craft Cup, a higher-priced VIP event where the beer is judged and restaurant chefs compete in the ‘Wich Hunt sandwich contest; and the Main Event, with beer and cider tasting, food from local restaurants and live music.

“The primary focus of this year’s event has been to expand upon the success of our VIP event by featuring even more breweries and entertainment options for our guests,” Sosnochik said. “We have also made a stronger push to attract guests from the Bay Area, Sacramento and beyond.”

Battle of the Brews is presented the Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa, No. 50, and benefits local children’s charities.

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. Read his Arts blog at arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.