debtOr in San Diegan of a certain age, 91X Radio has provided the soundtrack to our lives. Many of those same San Diegans grew up in the burgeoning craft beer scene around our county. As a result, when 91X hosts the beer and music festival BeerX, it just seems right.
Add in a stunning venue on the Pacific Highway, a waterfront park with views of the bay, and 75-degree sunny days with cool breezes, and you have a special experience.
Last Saturday, the BeerX Craft Beer and Music Festival returned to Waterfront Park, featuring over 40 breweries and 5 great music acts. The annual concert and beer festival is sponsored by 91X Radio.
Garett Michaels, program director and host of 91X Radio’s Resurrection Sunday, shared his perspective on the event with me.
“The combination of the 91X Radio brand and craft beer is perfect because it’s all part of the San Diego lifestyle,” Michaels said. “And now that we’re back at Waterfront Park Park, the venue matches the event.”
Regarding the brewery and beers on offer, Michaels added:
The rest of the old guard was there too, with Stone, Coronado and Mission Brewing rounding out San Diego’s founding fathers of craft beer.
“But we also wanted some recent additions to the founding brewery, along with new kids with great beer,” Michaels said.
One of those newcomers was Seek Beer Company, one of San Diego’s newest breweries in North Park. They were serving Jerez Lager, Lead By Example.
It’s a beer that can be tricky to make right, but it’s clear that the Seek Beer team knows what it’s doing. The collaboration beer with KBC Lager House was a refreshing and sharp beer with a malt sweetness that matched the style.
To celebrate Beer X and all things San Diego, the radio station has created Beer X, a collaboration beer with Karl Strauss Brewing. than the styles offered a few years ago. I thought it would be refreshing on a warm afternoon and perfect after sunset.
It was always a pleasure to see so many representatives of North County breweries. His Rouleur Brewing Company in Carlsbad served his RAIDA, a delicious Japanese rice lager.
Brewed with white rice, Japanese Sorachi Ace hops, and Pilsner malts, this crisp, light, and refreshing beer was the perfect pairing for sunny early mornings and old-school tunes.
Also representing North County: Bear Roots, Belching Beaver, Eppig, Booze Brothers, Burgeon, Pure Project, Stone, Wild Barrel. Eppig was sharing his newly released seasonal Festbier. A version had a select pale ale made with Citra and Amarillo hops.
Michaels liked beer, so he was obviously excited about the music. And for good reason – it’s an impressive line-up.
\Nathaniel Rateliff and Night Sweats headlined the show with Chicano Batman, Los Tortugas, Smoke and Mirrors Sound System and Pachyman performing throughout the afternoon.
“We wanted to create a musical vibe for BeerX San Diego lifestyle music. Good music to drink beer with,” said Michaels.
To wrap everything up, the afternoon party was kicked off by Los Tortugas, a surf ska band featuring Karl Strauss Brewing Company’s brewmaster Paul Segura.
Segura was also the co-host of 91X’s Beer for Breakfast show and helped create the Beer X IPA. If that wasn’t enough, Michaels jumped on stage and joined the set with the band.
Maybe it keeps everything in the family a little bit, but it’s family!
The event successfully brought together all of San Diego’s best to celebrate the unique San Diego lifestyle.
Jeff Spanier is the host of I Like Beer the Podcast, available wherever you can get a podcast. You can also follow his ILB his team’s adventures on Instagram @ilikebeerthepodcast and his website ilikebeerthepodcast.com.
