Get out there and have fun

There's a word in German that best describes the Saturday afternoon atmosphere at Bluesapalooza: Bierseligkeit. It’s a certain ale-induced camaraderie, literally translated as 'beer soulfulness', that reaches new heights at an outdoor festival boasting no fewer than 50 micro-breweries pouring samples of their hand-crafted wares.

This year's Bluesapalooza promises more soul and more beer than ever before. Soul shows up in what safely can be called the best blues lineup Mammoth has ever seen. Things get rocking during the Friday barbecue with three bands, including previous Bluesapalooza headliner Tommy Castro. The tunes and the suds start flowing Saturday at twelve. That afternoon is a quaffer’s delight: the Grand Tasting, an all-you-can-drink (from a three-ounce glass) beer smorgasbord. But even the biggest beer advocate will want to pace himself for Charlie Musselwhite and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, both of whom take the stage Saturday evening.

There’ll be plenty of room for a beach chair nap under the pines: the Sam’s Woods site will be expanded for the event. There’ll be plenty to eat, too: organizers are bringing in a greater variety of food vendors for both Friday and Saturday.

So why all the fuss? And what about more beer?

"This event is extremely important to the brewery," said Jim Vanko about Mammoth Brewing Company, whose team of employee-owners is bringing Bluesapalooza full circle. The blues and brews fest, which has drawn some 4,000 annual attendees in its decade-plus history, was the brainchild of Mammoth Brewing Company founder Sam Walker (yep, the guy that gives Sam's Woods its name). Several years ago, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area took over the management and marketing of Bluesapalooza. Now it's back in the hands of MBC and Sean Turner, with help from Walker and former MMSA events guru Vanko's new production company.

Turner wants Bluesapalooza to be a big deal not just for beer lovers, but for beer makers. To that end, Mammoth Brewing Company is hosting a conference of the California Brewers Association the week before the festival. While a yeast workshop and canning seminars will be closed door affairs, stout and porter fans will get a chance to meet the makers on Thursday at a to-be-announced brewers' reception.

Turner expects about 50 of the association's 65 member breweries to participate in the conference, which he hopes will become an annual event. Unlike other beer festivals, Bluesapalooza tends to attract brewery "decision makers," Turner said, not just salespeople. Since the brewers and owners are here anyway, why not make it formal?

With the combination of the conference and stellar music, Turner reported that he’s expecting an additional 1,000 beer and blues aficionados this August. That kind of Bierseligkeit just can’t be bottled—or canned.

For the complete festival lineup and ticket information, go to www.mammothbluesbrewsfest.com