It’s not your typical taco festival.

Expect attractions like bull riding, Latino music, a variety of food and crafts stalls, and naturally, beer at the upcoming Tacos and Beer Festival 2024, organized by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce on May 4.

The Chamber has partnered with Juan Larios of Rancho La Guadalupe for this occasion, which is set at the Ramona Outdoor Community Centre, located at 423 Aqua Lane.

“We noticed that the Latino demographic in our community felt underrepresented, hence we decided to host an event especially for them,” said Bob Krysak, president of the Chamber.

He estimated that Latinos make up about 40% of Ramona’s population.

“There will be bull riding, some heavy hitting bands, taco vendors and craft vendors for a variety of food, music and entertainment,” he said.

Krysak said the event is expected to attract between 1,500 and 2,000 people.

“We wanted to pump up our little taco fest,” said Laura Leeman, office manager at the Chamber. “All our previous fests have been pretty packed, so we wanted to revamp it and make it bigger and better.”

An event that consists of bull riding, music, and dancing is referred to as a jaripeo in Mexico. This tradition is common in the central and southern parts of Mexico, having presence in both rural communities and ranches.

Several bands, celebrated for their festive tunes, are scheduled to perform. These include La Septima Banda, Banda Zeta, Banda Tierra Surena, Group Zona Blindada, and Seis N Linea.

The event will also be featuring outstanding bulls from the ranch Rancho El Aguaje, owned by Sergio Pelayo, Jr. Located in Puerto Vallarta Jalisco, the ranch boasts of housing several million-dollar bulls.

In addition to this, over a dozen food vendors will be present at the venue.

“The cuisine is a blend, largely Mexican, offering everything from seafood and chips to funnel cakes and ice cream,” said Leeman.

“The primary beer on offer will be Modelo, alongside shots, given its popularity,” mentioned Krysak.

He also revealed that, despite there being numerous beer outlets, they would not be serving mixed drinks due to the high anticipated attendee numbers as well as the time and effort each mixed drink requires.

Moreover, there will be over a dozen craft vendors displaying an array of products such as jewelry, wooden arts, Western attire, and T-shirts.

“There will also be a face painter for the kids,” Leeman said.

Chamber officials are still seeking volunteers, specifically for the entry gate and to tend bar (must be over 21).

There are also sponsorships open at the $200, $400 and $600 levels.

Doors open at 1 p.m. Event hours are 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. General admission is $80, VIP passes $130, but will go up closer to the date of the event.

“All the money raised goes right back into the community, so we hope everyone comes out and has a good time,” Leeman said.

For more information, contact the Ramona Chamber of Commerce at 760-789-1311.

The Guinness resurgence is alive and well across the UK – why is the traditional stout enjoying a resurgence? (Photo by Rob Cousins/Evening Standard/Getty Images)

In the ever-evolving landscape of the global beer industry, few brands have achieved the iconic status and enduring popularity of Guinness. This dark, creamy stout, with its distinctive flavour and rich history, has not only become a staple in pubs and bars worldwide but has also seen a remarkable surge in popularity recently, particularly in the UK.

A Surge in Sales and Market Dominance

Recent financial reports reveal a striking upward trajectory for Guinness. The beer division of its parent company, Diageo, reported a 14% increase in net sales, with volumes up by 3%. This growth is attributed to strong performance across all regions, with the notable exception of Asia Pacific. In the UK, Guinness has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the best-selling beer in both the on-trade (pubs and bars) and off-trade (retail) markets which underscores the brand’s deep-rooted appeal and its ability to resonate with a diverse range of consumers.

Historical Perspective: From Local Brew to Global Phenomenon

The prominence of Guinness is a narrative that traverses beyond two centuries. Its establishment was in 1759 by Arthur Guinness. During its life span, it has seen economic collapses, conflicts, and evolving customer choice. In 1868, its sales stood at 350,000 barrels. Fast forward to 1876, the number had escalated to 779,000 barrels. Choosing to publicize in 1886 marked a turning point. It created the required revenue to broaden procedures and delivery networks. Currently, Guinness stands as not just a prominent British and Irish brewer but also a global giant. Its stouts and ales are being relished in more than 150 nations.

Innovation and Adaptation: The Key to Sustained Growth

Guinness’s recent growth owes much to its capacity to innovate and adapt to shifting market trends. They introduced Guinness 0.0, a non-alcoholic variant of their classic stout, in 2021. This decision was strategic and aimed at the market where customers are progressively seeking low-alcohol or alcohol-free substitutes. Guinness 0.0 quickly became the best selling non-alcoholic beer in Great Britain in the four-pack format. This initiative is not just about expanding the brand’s appeal, but it also emphasizes its commitment towards inclusivity and responsible alcohol consumption.

The Power of Branding and Experience

Guinness owes a large part of its enduring popularity to its effective branding strategies and the creation of immersive consumer experiences. The Guinness Storehouse, situated in Dublin, plays host to a premier brewery experience that has turned it into a must-visit location for beer fans and tourists alike. It’s undeniable that since its inception, it’s played a key role in re-energizing the brand and cementing its relationship with consumers. The 2012 launch of the ‘Made of More’ advertising campaign further bolstered the brand’s identity. The campaign, noted for its emotional storytelling and top-quality production value, has struck a chord with worldwide audiences, further bolstering the brand’s market position.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Despite its achievements, Guinness still has to grapple with various challenges in an intensively competitive and dynamic industry. The advent of craft beers and shifting consumer preferences could potentially chip away at its market share. However, the brand’s robust heritage, ongoing innovation, and successful marketing strategies all bolster its ability to tackle these challenges head-on. As Guinness steers towards the future, it will need to persistently innovate and adapt, while at the same time upholding its core values. Broadening its range of products, penetrating new markets, and harnessing digital technology to enhance marketing efforts and engage consumers will be instrumental in sustaining its growth momentum.

The rise in popularity of Guinness is indeed testament to its quality, innovation and branding kudos. As it continues to adapt to the changing landscape of the beer industry, Guinness is poised to remain a beloved brand for generations to come. Whether it’s the classic stout or the newer non-alcoholic variant, Guinness has secured its place in the hearts of beer lovers worldwide, proving that it is indeed “Made of More.”

Here in New England we just survived an early April ice/snowstorm and an earthquake. By the time you read this, a solar eclipse will also have happened.

Add in a record amount of cicadas predicted to hit the East Coast in a month or two, and you might well think it’s the End Times.

But we beer aficionados like to look on the bright side of things, so today let’s look at some good news from the Brewers Association.

First up is the 27th annual Big Brew Day on May 4. This yearly event is an opportunity to celebrate homebrewing.

The Brewers Association provides plenty of resources to get you involved in the art of homebrewing, including recipes, supplies, tutorials and marketing materials.

The Brewers Association also just announced that its latest group of aspiring brewers and start-ups in its Mentorship Program matches the largest number ever to date: 35. The program has served 200 members thus far in its history. The program provides a 12-week virtual mentorship where each mentee works with three mentors in their areas of interest.

Last but not least, the BA is supporting H.R. 7577, the Creating Hospitality Economic Enhancement for Restaurants and Servers [CHEERS] Act) a bipartisan piece of legislation to support local businesses, restaurants, and bars that utilize draft beer systems and help revitalize the hospitality industry.

The CHEERS Act looks to expand tax incentives for energy-efficient systems that would include keg and tap systems. Draft beer is the most sustainable type of packaging for retailers and suppliers, and the legislation would provide tax relief to small businesses that use them.

Beer notes:

In local news, the Manhan Charitable Foundation’s Brewfest will take place at 6 p.m. in the Boylston Room at Easthampton’s Keystone Mill on April 25. The event will feature beers from local breweries such as Abandoned Building, Bright Ideas, Fort Hill, New City Brewery, Leadfoot Brewing, and Progression.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door through Venmo @MCF1876. The Manhan Charitable Foundation is run by current and former Easthampton Firefighters. Keystone Mill is at 122 Pleasant St.

Speaking of Easthampton, my ongoing search for good old-school West Coast IPAs was rewarded by a recent visit to New City Brewery, where I enjoyed the venue’s Signature IPA, a 6.5% gem that hit all the marks. I also sampled the delicious Microburst Imperial IPA, an 8.2% double IPA that was perfectly balanced between malt structure and hoppy complexity, with no hint of the elevated booziness in the flavor. Both are recommended.

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Oh, hoppy day! Whether you prefer lager, stout, pilsner or IPAs, brew lovers can all agree that National Beer Day is a cause for celebration.

The drink-devoted holiday falls on Sunday, April 7, and many restaurants and bars are brewing up deals to mark the special occasion. Here are a few that’ll leave you saying, “Cheers!”

On National Beer Day, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings is offering dine-in customers a 12-inch cheese pizza and draft beer for just $15. To cash in on the deal, simply mention the offer at the register at participating locations.

What goes better with wings than beer? To celebrate National Beer Day, Buffalo Wild Wings is pouring 22-ounce glasses of Coors Light for $5 all day.

BurgerFi is offering dine-in customers a cheeseburger and a draft beer for $10 on April 7 at participating locations. Simply mention the offer at the register to score the deal.

To celebrate National Beer Day, City Brew Tours is offering customers 10% off its in-person City Brew Tours (they operate in 20+ cities in the U.S.), the Beer of the Month Club (it features a new craft beer city every month delivered to your home) and Holiday Advent Beer Boxes. Simply use the code BEERDAY to cash in on the deal.

Feel like playing some games while you’re enjoying your beer? Dave & Buster’s will have $2 beer all day on April 7.

Dogfish Head has brewed up an offer just for TODAY.com readers! If you’re one of the first 50 people to visit Dogfish Head’s e-store and add this merchandise bundle to your cart, you’ll get a free shower beer holder and a bar of Dogfish Head beer soap (customers will need to pay the cost of shipping). Simply use the code DFHBEERDAY at checkout through April 12.

When you buy a pint at Dog Haus Biergartens on April 7, you’ll get upgraded to a liter at the following participating locations.

Arizona: Tempe

California: Alhambra, Long Beach, North Burbank, Old Pasadena

Colorado: Colorado Springs

Maryland: Bethesda, Dupont, Kentlands, Silver Spring

New York: Clifton Park

Texas: Arlington Highlands, Frisco, Richardson

Wisconsin: Ballpark Commons

When it comes to beer, variety is always best and GourmetGiftBaskets.com has plenty of gift baskets with several types of beer. The site is offering TODAY.com readers 30% off beer gifts through April 30 with the code BEERTODAY.

MonthlyClubs.com offers a variety of food and beverage clubs, including a beer club. The site is currently running the following sale, just in time for National Beer Day:

$10 off any 4-shipment order with the code SAVE10

$15 off any prepaid 6-shipment order with the code SAVE15

$30 off any prepaid 12-shipment order with the code SAVE30

Between April 7 — 13, Mr Brews is serving up $8 beer flights and other daily promotions to help brew lovers celebrate National Beer Day.

On April 7, Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe is serving draft beer for $4 a pint and $6 a mug.

Samuel Adams has a special offer for TODAY.com readers! The first 50 people to visit the Sam Adams e-store and add this merchandise bundle to their cart will score a free 16-ounce Perfect Pint glass and a branded bottle opener (customers are responsible for the cost of shipping). Simply use the code SAMBEERDAY at checkout through April 12 to take advantage of the offer.

Participating Taco Bell Cantina locations will have the following offer on April 7: Buy two beers and get two free tacos.

Have you ever wished that a pizza-flavored beer existed? No? Well, it does now. Tombstone and Voodoo Ranger have teamed up to create I(Pizza)A, a limited-edition pizza-flavored beer that goes on sale online on April 7.

Through National Beer Day, you can enter for the chance to win a four-pack of the new flavor and one of Tombstone’s new pizzas.

If you’ve ever seen Yard House‘s Half Yards (aka 32 ounces of beer), you know they’re pretty epic. The restaurant is selling them for $10 all day long on April 7.

The restaurant has an exciting offer for anyone celebrating their 21st birthday on National Beer Day. The first 50 individuals to DM Yard House proof of their date of birth will receive a fun surprise.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com

NATIONAL BEER DAY

Today, Sunday, April 7, is National Beer Day, and to celebrate one of the world’s oldest fermented drinks, there are lots of offers available so you can sample some frothy goodness. Remember to drink responsibly y’all!

Here’s a run down of some of the deals out there:

The restaurant chain boasting, in their own words, “The world’s largest selection of draft beer”, is offering $10 half yards on select house beers including Give ‘Em Helles, One Twenty Five Lager, Honey Blonde Ale, House IPA and Hazy IPA. They’re usually $15 or over.

You’ll find Yard House in over 80 locations round the U.S. but aren’t offering the deal in IL, MA, PA and Atlantic Station, GA. Offer times are restricted in TX, OH, VA and SC.

This nation-wide chain (1,287 locations across the U.S.) is offering a 22-ounce glass of Coors Light for five bucks.

$1.50 a beer. Yep, you read that right. Sea Island Shrimp House, with 7 locations in Texas, has $1.50 beers all day long on Sunday.

Fancy half price pours? Get down to the Crooked Pint, where they’re offering all their tap lines, with domestic beers, local crafts and seasonal brews at 50% off.

A post shared by Crooked Pint Ale House (@crookedpint)

Grab a BurgerFi cheeseburger and draft beer for ten bucks at participating locations when you dine-in. You’ll find BurgerFis mainly on the east coast, with lots in Florida, but they are dotted around a bunch of other places too now.

The Mexican-family-owned restaurant with locations around California has five-beer taster flights for $5 all day. That’s crazy compared to the usual $16 price. Needless to say, they do tacos too. Hold us back.

If you’re in Porterville, California, drop into the Eagle Feather Trading Post and get your beer at 10%.

April 7th is National Beer Day! Get 10% OFF ALL BEER starting Saturday April 6th through Sunday April 7th! Come on by and stock up on all your favorites!#EagleFeatherTradingPost#EagleFeather#TradingPost#Porterville#NationalBeerDay#Beer#Wine

Head to 10thandTerrace for $5 draft beers all day long on their fabulous rooftop terrace with sublime views over Raleigh, NC.

The Strat does a whole lot more than beer (anyone for crazy golf?), but if it’s beer you want then you’ll find half-priced pints & growlers at PT’s Wings & Sports, 108 Drinks, View Lounge and REMIX. They’ve even made a rhyme so kudos to them.

We’re making a weekend party out of #NationalBeerDay with half-priced pints and growlers at PT’s Wings & Sports, 108 Drinks, View Lounge and REMIX from today through Sunday. Some ales are red, IPAs are brown, join us some beers, and have another round!

Beer celebrations are taking place throughout Grand Central Terminal, with offers at Beer Table, Central Market New York, Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, Michael Jordan’s The Steak House, Shake Shack, Shiro of Japan, Tri Tip Grill and Zaro’s Bakery.

The Kansas City and Lawrence-based Pizza restaurant is offering deals, differing by location, on their signature canned Burlesque lager and Domestic Pitchers.

Head to the grocery store to get your beer and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home! Ibotta, the cash back and coupon company, are offering deals on a number of beers, including (last time we checked) a $3 rebate on Budweiser. (Regrettably, Ibotta does not offer their beer deals in AL, AR, HI, IN, LA, MO, NC, PA, TX, UT, or WV.) Registration is required.

Slickdeals has a $7.11 off deal for select beers at … have a guess. Yes, you guessed it. 7-Eleven convenience stores. That’s on a 12-pack of selected beers including Coors, Miller, Budweiser, Michelob, Modelo, Corona, Heineken and Dos Equis. Membership in 7Rewards is required.

Take a look at your local bars, pubs and restaurants’ social media accounts for deals and special offers to celebrate National Beer Day. If you can’t find anything, we suggest you visit your closest independently-owned bar and try a craft beer from a small, local business. America boasts an impressive array of small breweries that deserve our support, so go out and enjoy a drink.

The first National Beer Day was celebrated in 2009 after Justin Smith, from Richmond, Virginia, created a Facebook page to commemorate this day in 1933, when the Cullen-Harrison Act was enacted, overturning the beer prohibition. Full repeal followed with the ratification of the twenty-first amendment on December 5, 1933.

Interestingly enough, they are. Brewer Voodoo Ranger has collaborated with Tombstone Pizza to produce a limited edition Pizza IPA named, unsurprisingly, I(Pizza)A.

This beer carries a robust 7% ABV (which they like to refer to as a “slice of heaven”) and encapsulates the taste of a Tombstone Pizza. You can expect flavors including crispy crust, tangy tomato sauce, savory herbs and spices, and a final kick of pepperoni.

It’s a limited edition so might be hard to find, but we are at least curious to try it.

About the author

David Nelson

Scottish journalist and lifelong sports fan who grew up in Edinburgh playing and following football (soccer), cricket, tennis, golf, hockey… Joined Diario AS in 2012, becoming Director of AS USA in 2016 where he leads teams covering soccer, American sports (particularly NFL, NBA and MLB) and all the biggest news from around the world of sport.

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Cooking lean meat can be tricky since it tends to get tough easily, which is why brining chicken is so important. The task helps to preserve the chicken’s moisture so that it remains juicy as it cooks. We’re talking of a wet chicken brine, where the chicken is submerged in a mixture of salt and water at a ratio of one cup per gallon of water. Yet this mixture can be altered with the simple addition of beer for better results.

A plain chicken brine helps to preserve and even adds moisture to the chicken. This works through two processes. Once the chicken is submerged in brine, osmosis occurs. This involves water transferring from the brine through the membranes of the chicken’s cells. The second process, diffusion, sees salt (and water) move from the higher concentration in the brine and settle in the chicken, leveling out the distribution. Not only that, but the absorption brings out the flavor of the meat since salt is a flavor enhancer.

Similarly, chicken’s flavor is enhanced by beer. If salt-brining is the king of imparting flavors, beer-brining is the ace card. The beer, along with the brine, transfers its natural aromas along with salt so that it enriches the meat through diffusion. Tannins and acids in beer also help break down the chicken meat so it’s tender. Imagine the taste of chicken bolstered with hints of toasty, roast-y aromas and its meat falling apart so effortlessly — divine.

Read more: 13 Liquors Your Home Bar Should Have

To make a chicken brine, combine water, salt, and optional sugar in a pot and heat on medium until the salt and sugar dissolve. At this point, you can add any desired flavorings. For instance, you might introduce a wheat beer and preserved lemons for a unique citrus twist. Once everything has dissolved, take the pot off the heat and submerge your chicken in the brine.

Refrigerate the brined chicken for at least four hours or overnight. Before cooking, you can rinse the chicken or pat it dry with a paper towel. You can cook the chicken in whatever way suits your taste – poached, fried, or, our recommendation, herb-roasted. This combination of brining and roasting helps the chicken to brown nicely and imbues it with a deep, caramelized flavor.

If the idea of a beer-infused chicken brine doesn’t appeal, you could try making beer-can chicken instead. This odd-sounding technique involves grilling a chicken while it’s sitting upright with a beer can inside it, allowing the beer to evaporate and flavor the bird from the inside. Despite its unusual preparation, the results are fantastically flavorful.

You can find the original article on Tasting Table.

Beer, a globally loved alcoholic beverage, can be found in virtually every flavor imaginable, made from grains such as wheat, barley, or rice. One element, however, is much-feared if unexpectedly encountered – oxygen. Oxygen can either be beneficial or detrimental to your favorite foods and drinks, including beer.

While certain beers like lambics and slow-aged barley wines can benefit from controlled oxidation, it is generally viewed negatively by brewers. Oxygen exposure often results in a stale taste in beer – even in newly purchased ones. The flavor may be described as “wet cardboard,” “leather,” or any other vivid descriptor; stale-tasting beer is usually due to oxygen. The challenge for brewers is that it can occur at any point, from brewing to packaging.

Read more: 10 Of The Healthiest Beers You Can Drink

While it’s crucial to activate yeast during beer-making, it’s nearly impossible to avoid excessive oxygen exposure throughout the process. This is because beer isn’t brewed in a cold, lifeless vacuum like space. The trick lies in controlling it, as the more a beer oxidizes, the more likely it tastes stale. Oxidation can occur at any time, be it excessive mash stirring, inadequate splashing of the wort when recirculating it, or exposure when beer is packaged. Breweries can usually control it earlier in the making process, so most stale beer bought directly from stores likely suffered oxidation during bottling.

How you store beer also has a significant effect on this process, though. Oxidation increases as temperature goes up, meaning your beer will go bad faster if stored at room temperature or, worse, in the heat. Refrigerated beer isn’t just refreshing, it’s actually fresher.

There are, however, a couple of instances where too much oxygen does actually help in brewing. Chief among these is that oxygen is key to providing the flavor of lambic beers. There’s a particular strain of yeast known as Brettanomyces, responsible for beers like lambics and Flanders red ales, that converts ethanol and sugars into acetic acid when exposed to oxygen. Instead of creating a stale taste, this results in the strong taste lambic beer is known for. This takes time to reach its full effect, though, which is why, unlike most beers, lambics can be aged for up to three years.

Still, this is the exception rather than the rule, and oxygen typically harms rather than helps during brewing. If you’re stuck with a six-pack of skunky or stale beer, though, take heart that it could’ve been a lot worse. If it had instead continued to ferment after bottling, it could’ve fully detonated, like Trader Joe’s ginger beer once did.

Read the original article on Daily Meal

Hosts of “Las Vegas Morning Blend”, Elliott Bambrough and Jessica Rosado, engage in a discussion about the renowned Great Vegas Festival of Beer. Identified as Las Vegas’ top craft brew festival, it is slated to commence at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center this coming Saturday, April 6.

Six-pack beer sales are declining as 12-packs and singles gain in popularity.

Joe Six-Pack might have to change his name.

Six-pack beer sales declined last year for both craft beer and beer as a whole, according to a recent recap and analysis released by the Brewers Association.

Nielson data cited in the analysis reveals 12-pack can sales have surpassed six-pack can sales both in terms of dollars and total volume of beer sales as the top beer format. In the craft beer arena, the six-pack remained the top-selling beer format but its popularity is waning: six-pack craft beer sales were down more than 12% for the year.

So how are people buying their craft beer instead?

If you’re a craft beer fan you might assume it is the popular four-pack 16-ounce cans, which seems as synonymous with craft beer these days as beards and plaid shirts — but you’d be wrong. The four-pack also dropped in popularity with sales by volume decreasing 7.3% over 2023. Instead, 12-packs increased in popularity along with singles, which were the biggest winners of the year, increasing by 2.2%. Surprisingly, singles actually surpassed four-packs in popularity over the past year.

Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association and author of the recap, predicts that we will continue to see the popularity of four-packs and six-packs drop. “In the same way we’ve seen consumers focus in on alcohol by volume (ABV) and specific occasions, hollowing out the middle of the ABV range a bit, I wonder if they are starting to do something similar with pack sizes,” he wrote in the analysis. “Six-packs are still the plurality of craft packaging, but they are now down to 43 share of volume. It’s likely that singles and 12-packs will pass them in 2024.”

It is all part of beer world that is rapidly changing. Beer sales are trending down overall as consumers are drawn to other types of alcohol. But craft beer has long been built on change. I still remember when some beer connoisseurs would look down on anything in a can as inferior. Those days are long gone and can sales overall continue to increase growing by 4% over the past year.

Personally, I don’t see anything too concerning for the industry in shifting pack-size format choices. I also love singles, it allows you to taste a beer without spending on a four-pack and I’m pleased that more breweries are providing them. The bigger 12-packs are also a tremendous deal when you wish to stack up on a beer you favour. However, as six-pack sales dropped, I do speculate what an average American drinker will pick for the weekend to sip when working on the machines of their ‘88 Ford Mustangs.

After all, Joe 12-Pack doesn't quite possess a nice ring to it.

Female beer brewer in Greenville, South Carolina talks about making strides in a male-dominated field