Our communities have all benefited from the contributions craft brewers have made (152 Cong. Rec. E1088)

Usually, if there is a turf war over drugs, it leads to violence. But apparently, if there is a turf war over alcohol, it leads to parties. Recently, in Tijuana, there was not one, but two, beer festivals in a single weekend. I can't be sure why the organizers would plan their events at competing times (especially right before -- instead of after -- the city's annual marathon), but if you need a narrative, I will suggest that the Cerveza Tijuana, which along with Stone Brewing sponsored one of the festivals, had a falling out with the Asociación de Cerveceros Artesanales de Baja California, the sponsor of the other festival, about how many swear words the entertainment should use.

A significant number of curses poured out of Hollywood Roses, a tribute band to Guns N Roses (left), as the beer flowed at TJ Beer Fest, held in the parking lot of Caliente Casino (right). The mostly-Mexican attendees didn't seem to mind, though, perhaps because the band's banter was entirely in English -- and entirely annoying (incidentally, most of their songs were, too).

 

It was worth bearing the brunt of the bad music because this festival was the better deal. Admission was $10, which included tickets for three samples. Then you could buy more samples for a little less than a dollar, or full pours for $3-$4, depending on the brewer. TJ even got a deal at Cervecería Legion; for just a couple bucks more, the brewery threw in a pint glass with its logo (top left). Some of the other beers on hand were sponsor Cerveza Tijuana, of course (top right); Cerveza Agua Caliente; Cerveza Cucapá; Cerveza Patricia; and Cerveza Mexicali (bottom).

 

Most of the brews we tried for the first time were pretty mediocre, possibly because they got a little skunked sitting out on the sun-soaked pavement all day. From the comments of our fellow suds-sippers, the winner seemed to be Baja Brewing Company, whose Cactus Wheat, which I sampled in Cabo, got good reviews. But in my opinion, the best free sample was the mechanical bull, obviously the most appropriate activity for beer drinkers. I managed to fly off just before the operators shut down the ride for the night.

 

Upon arriving at the Baja Beer Fest, held on Avenida Revolución, I immediately noted that it did not have a mechanical bull. It also did not include any free samples with its $6 admission fee (otherwise, the prices for 4-ouncers and pints were about the same). But what it lacked in activities and cost-effectiveness, it made up for in atmosphere. Smack dab in the middle of downtown, it provided vistas of city's landmarks: the fountain in front of the Jai Alai Palace (top left), the extra-large Mexican flag (top right), and the Welcome to Tijuana arch (bottom).

The lack of a mechanical bull might be because this festival was geared toward a different crowd (i.e. one that includes gringos like myself). Possibly because it was the middle of the day, there were far more families and friends just relaxing and sitting at tables (left) instead of hanging on each other in an attempt to remain standing. But there were some similarities; I did hear the entertainment (right) use the F-word at least once, for example. 

But no doubt, there were differences in the food. As opposed to the bratwurst, which I highly suspect were probably chorizo, at the previous festival, downtown drew some more gourmet establishments, including Don Diego (left), whose choripan and empanadas convinced me I should track down its non-tent location. The quality was so high that TJ didn't even think twice about shooting an oyster from a street vendor (right).

 

Like the food, the beer was better. Many of the Tijuana operations -- including Cervecería Monastika, Silenus Cerveza, and Cervecería Rámuri were much more well-established than the small home brewers at the first festival. And many participants were from farther afield. Old Mission Brewery and Cervecería Marinera came up from Ensenada, as did Blondyes Home Brew, whose offering would pretty much be good only for the beer pong tournament it was advertising. The clear winner here was local favorite Cervecería Insurgentes, whose owl logos will soon be found at Baja Craft Beers Tasting Room, which opens July 27 at Orizaba 3003-E5 (two streets west of Sonora for you Tijuanenses).

So perhaps some other men's beer brawl was our boon. Or perhaps, Tijuana just likes to party. Merely one weekend later, the same casino parking lot was the site of the first-ever Festival de la Brasa, la Cerveza, and el Vino, where not one, but two, types of alcohol would be served up with grilled treats from 16 area restaurants.