Thought I would share our latest Press Advisory with you...
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Excitement Building for the Return of Matsonian’s West Coast Invitational Craft Brew Festival

Sacramento, CA -- On Saturday, May 11, 2019, hundreds of craft brew enthusiasts will converge on Sacramento’s iconic Miller Park, right along the Sacramento river, to indulge in the unlimited tasting of over 100 of the West Coast’s finest Craft Brews.

For many, this has been an annual ritual since the West Coast Brew Fest started in 2001 and became the region’s premier beer focused festival (renamed the West Coast Invitational in 2015).
For some it will be their first time.

But for all, it has been an experience sorely missed when the organizers of the West Coast Invitational decided to take a break from what had become a very crowded festival market.

According to Matson Breakey, founder of the event “at one point in Sacramento it seemed like there was a Beer Fest every weekend. While that is incredible for the Craft Beer movement, the region was simply saturated and we thought maybe it was time to step away. We were proud of what we started, but as a fundraiser the donations were simply harder to come by.”

“We figured the time had come and we wouldn’t be missed. We were wrong,” he adds.

By all accounts, the end of the West Coast Invitational left a gap in the community that was truly noticed.

But not noticed as much as it’s return. The growing excitement in next month’s West Coast Invitational Brew Fest is evident in the overwhelming response by both attendees and breweries in the region.

“We are truly humbled by the response,” says Matson. “Not only from our fans and fans of West Coast Craft Brew, but from the West Coast beer community as well.”

The list of breweries attending continues to grow, from Firestone Walker to Stone to New Helvetia to Heretic to Lost Coast to Tower to Knee Deep… the community is welcoming the return of one of the premier’s best brewfests.

Tickets are available at WestCoastInvitational.beer and includes VIP for early entry and a larger tasting mug, General Admission and, of course, Designated Driver for those who want to enjoy the live music but don’t need the beer.
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It seems like forever ago... a few thousand craft beer lovers gathered at Miller Park as part of an annual ritual -- tasting and loving over 120 amazing craft beers.

But, alas, 2016 would be the last year of West Coast Invitational Beer Festival. 

Or so it seems.

Matsonian Group, in cooperation with the Robla Education Foundation, has announced the return of the West Coast Invitational to Miller Park on Saturday, May 11, 2019. 

Congratulations to Black Diamond Brewing for winning Best of Show for the 2016 West Coast Invitational Commercial Craft Competition...

With over 160 entries from some of the best brewers of the West Coast, this is quite a great accomplishment. Check out the details below.

2016 WCI BEST OF SHOW

1. Black Diamond Brewing Co    |     Dryed Up Old Geezer    |     (Specialty Wood-Aged Beer)
2. High Water Brewing    |     Stella Blue    |     (Wild Specialty Beer)
3. Altamont Beer Works    |     Something New    |     (Imperial Stout)

If you're lucky, you might just get a chance to taste these brews with our Unlimited Award Winning Craft Brew Tasting. 

On Saturday, May 14, some of the best noses and palettes in the beer enthusiast community came together at Sactown Union Brewery for the West Coast Invitational Commercial Craft Competition. 

Over 160 beers were entered and judged for 10 Categories and Best of Show... 

The judging was a Triple Blind Tasting... which means the judges had no idea what brand of beer they were tasting for each category.

And now, what you have all been waiting for... here are the winners of the 2016 West Coast Invitational Commercial Craft Competition... (if you're lucky you'll get to taste some of these winning brews at Saturday West Coast Invitational)

Table 1: Lagers and Light Hybrids

1.  The Monks Cellar   |    Maibock   |    (Helles Bock)
2.  New Helvetia Brewing   |    Buffalo Craft Lager   |    (Munich Helles)
3.  Feather Falls Brewing Co   |    Doppel Down Doppelbock   |    (Doppelbock)

Table 2: Domestic and International Ale

1.  American River Brewing Co   |    Coloma Brown   |    (American Brown Ale)
2.  El Dorado Brewing Co   |    Sutter’s Mill Red Ale   |    (Irish Red Ale)
3.  New Helvetia Brewing Co   |    Molly American Red Ale   |    (Scottish Export)

Table 3: American Blond/Pale Ale

1.  Sactown Union Brewery   |    Centennial Falcon   |    (American Pale Ale)
2.  101 North Brewing Co   |    Golden Naked Ale   |    (Blonde Ale)
3.  Track 7 Brewing Co   |    Bee Line   |    (Blonde Ale)

Table 4: Mild, Porters, and Stouts

1.  Altamont Beer Works   |    Something New   |    (Imperial Stout)
2.  New Helvetia Brewing Co   |    Homeland Stout   |    (Irish Extra Stout)
3.  High Water Brewing   |    Aphotic Imperial Porter   |    (Imperial Stout)

Table 5: IPA        

1.  Knee Deep Brewing Co    |    Breaking Bud   |    (American IPA)
2.  Track 7 Brewing Co   |    Blood Transfusion   |    (Specialty IPA)
3.  Track 7 Brewing Co   |    Panic   |    (American IPA)

Table 6: American Strong Ale    

1.  American River Brewing Co   |    Rockhound Barleywine   |    (American Barleywine)
2.  Knee Deep Brewing Co   |    Hoptologist   |    (Double IPA)
3.  Track 7 Brewing Co   |    Left Eye Right Eye   |    (Double IPA)​

​Table 7: Wheat/Saison/Belgian/Sour    

1.  High Water Brewing   |    Stella Blue   |    (Wild Specialty Beer)
2.  American River Brewing Co   |    River Bend Hefeweizen   |    (Weissbeer)
3.  The Monks Cellar   |    St. Arnold   |    (Belgian Dark Strong Ale)

Table 8: Specialty Beers        

1. Black Diamond Brewing Co   |    Dryed Up Old Geezer   |    (Specialty Wood-Aged Beer)
2. High Water Brewing   |    Cucumber Kolsch   |    (Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer)
3.  Out of Bounds Brewing Co   |    Juiced Grapefruit DIPA   |    (Fruit Beer)

Table 9: Ciders        

1. 2 Towns Ciderhouse   |    Outcider  |    (New World Cider)
2. Common Cider Company   |    Blackberry Sangria   |    (Specialty Cider/Perry)
3. 2 Towns Ciderhouse   |    Ginja Ninja   |    (Cider w/ Herbs/Spices)

Table 10: Mead       

1. Aesir Meadery   |    Fehu   |    (Sweet Mead)
2. Aesir Meadery   |    Marglod   |    (Melomel)
3. Stung Fermented   |    Mosaic   |    (Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Mead)

BEST OF SHOW...
Ha! You don't get to know that yet. ;-) Stay tuned...

The West Coast Invitational is more then just another beerfest.  The WCI is a true craft brew lovers appreciation party.

With over 120 different brews, including specialty brews & ciders that you won't find on the average tap, the West Coast Invitational was designed to give you 4 hours of memories to be talked about all year. 

And lets not forget the Commercial Craft Competition! 

Limited to West Coast breweries, the WCI is one of the last remaining fully sanctioned Craft Brewer competitions. Those that are interested in being a part of the competitive fun can check out the event at http://wcicomp2016.ubsbrew.com.

Tickets are available online or at a couple select area breweries. 

But don't delay, they've been known to sell out fast!