VIDEO: Watch as Art Vasquez from Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse chats about the craft brewing process.
Whether you’re hungry or thirsty, both can be catered to at the Beer Culture: Craft Beer Weekend, Sept. 12-13, at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs.
Babe’s Bar-B-Que and Brewhouse in Rancho Mirage will give you the chance to sample craft beer by itself or as an ingredient in a food offering.
“There will be beers that are from the Coachella Valley that are going to be used in recipes; one of our products is going to be used in the actual menu,” says Art Vasquez, C.O.O of Babe’s.
Babe’s will be one of three local craft breweries at the Ace Hotel event, and is the oldest with 12 years under its belt compared to newcomers Coachella Valley Brewing Co. and La Quinta Brewing Co.
Overall, more than 20 craft breweries will be on hand. The weekend schedule includes beer pairings with a four-course Chef’s Table feast on Friday followed by beer tastings and live music on Saturday. Tijuana Panthers, Beach Party, RT N’ THE 44s, and Pearl Charles and the Pipes Canyon Band are on tap.
“They really want participants to bring the best, most unique products they have,” says Vasquez.
After winning three medals at the Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition, Babe’s will showcase it gold medal winning Barley Wine Ale, plus Dunkelweizen, Belgian Vanilla Blonde Ale, and Blackfin Lager. The Blackfin is a very dark beer, but with a surprisingly light, flavorful taste.
“It is a German style ‘Schwarzbier’,” Vasquez explains, “which most people aren’t familiar with. When they see the color, they’re not really sure. So it’s exposing them to something they are not familiar with.”
The weekend’s best offering may be the comradery that the craft beer community shares.
“There’s one thing that’s been really amazing about the beer events in the Coachella Valley is that every representative from the breweries that participate in events in the Coachella Valley are not only extremely nice, they are knowledgeable, and once you see them, you engage them, you meet them, you want to go to the next event,” Vasquez adds.
Beer Culture: Craft Beer Weekend, Sept. 12-13, at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs. Visit www.acehotel.com/palmsprings to purchase tickets.