The California Beer Festival is returning to Southern California, on Saturday, September 7th, 12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m., to the Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas.   Beer experts and enthusiasts alike (as well as their designated drivers) will descend upon the park to sample over 70 craft beers, listen to great live bands, and to see the sights - of which there will be many.  While the word is out about this wildly popular festival, there have been some updates on just what is going to make this year special.  All in all, this is the must-attend event to close out the summer for every beer lover in Southern California. 

"We are excited to be bringing some of the best craft brews in the country to San Dimas," says founder Vincenzo Giammanco. "The picturesque lakeside park setting in the rolling hills of the San Gabriel Valley is a perfect location for a day of beer sampling, enjoying music, eating delicious food and having fun.  It all adds up to a guaranteed good time."

The Breweries

No self-respecting beer festival would be complete without an impressive array of breweries in attendance to share their specialty brews.  Those who will be attending this year include:

Karl Strauss Brewing Company; Lagunitas Brewing Company; Hangar 24 Craft Brewery; Deschutes Brewery; Ninkasi Brewing Company; Firestone Walker Brewing Co; CBF Burt's Banana Hefeweizen; Vermont Hard Cider Company; Tap It Brewing Co; Grand Teton Brewing; Sierra Nevada Brewing Co; Pacific Libations-Big Sky Brewing Co; Surf Brewery; Kat Daddy Brewery; Angel City Brewery; Stone Brewing Co; Alaskan Brewing Co; Heroes & Legends Bar & Grill; Dale Bros. Brewery; Mike's Hard Lemonade; American Vintage Beverage; Manzanita Brewing; Legends Brewing; Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits; Goose Island Beer Co; Widmer Brothers; and J.T. Schmids Restaurant and Brewery, with more being added daily!

The Tunes

While entertainment will be in no short supply, there is a particular component of the day's events that will be music to attendee's ears - in the most literal sense.  The sounds taking over the park will include local blues band Little A and the All Nighters and funk/soul musicians The Bomb, with more to be announced as the event draws nearer.

The Eye Candy

In addition to competitive "Bikini Bocce Ball", Playboy Playmate of the Year 2013 Raquel Pomplun will join the California Beer Festival San Dimas, alongside Playboy radio show host of 'Mansion Mayhem,' Brian Olea, as guest celebrity judges.  They will be joined on the judging panel by SoCal beer expert Aielo Jimenez and Camarillo BevMo manager Moises Alvarez, amongst others. 

Raquel Pomplun is the first Mexican-American playmate to win Playmate of the Year.  After growing up in Tijuana, Raquel moved to Chula Vista after middle school.  She is classically trained in ballet and studied biochemistry at Southwestern College and eventually auditioned for Playboy after a co-worker encouraged her to do so.

The California Beer Festival will donate a portion of ticket sales to local non-profits including the Gen Giammanco Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to student athletes to assist in their pursuit of both scholastic and athletic success in the city of San Dimas.  For a full list of participating breweries, more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.californiabeerfestival.com/sandimas.php.