This Friday and Saturday, December 5-6, Pizza Port Carlsbad is hosting the 18th annual Strong Ale Festival. With 80+ taps of beers 8% and above, we highly recommend eating well and not driving to this one.
The first Strong Ale Festival was held in 1997 and this year will feature big beers by way of taps, cask and bottle. Pizza Port Carlsbad’s head brewer, Mike Aubuchon, brewed four specialty beers for the event: Bird Dog Barley Wine (17%), Chocolate Mint Thunder Imperial Stout (10%), Passion Fruit Big Deal (9.5%) and a Barrel Aged Stout blend of Barrel Aged Z Man, Night Rider and Bird Dog (which will be available in 22 oz. bombers).
“The festival’s longevity is a tribute to the growth of the craft brewing industry and the fact that people want more flavor out of their beer.” Aubuchon continues, “It also helps that the festival is perfectly timed between Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the summer heat, you want a light, refreshing beer. But when the cold weather hits, the heavier beers can warm you up a little.”
Sip gently! Here’s a link for tickets. A list of some of the beers is below.
| 3 Floyds Brewing Company (IN) | Majsgoop |
| 3 Floyds Brewing Company (IN) | Behemoth |
| 3 Floyds Brewing Company (IN) | Oh Myyyy Takei |
| Avery (CO) | Tweak |
| Avery (CO) | Rumpkin |
| Bad Beat Brewing (NV) | Next Level |
| Bear Republic Brewing Co (CA) | Tripels Alley |
| Bells (MI) | Expedition |
| Big Dogs (NV) | War Dog |
| Bootleggers Brewery (CA) | Knuckle Sandwich |
| Bravery Brewing (CA) | Tequilla Old Rat |
| Coronado Brewing Company (CA) | Barrel Aged Punk’n Drublic |
| Epic (UT) | Brainless On Peaches |
| Epic (UT) | Smoked & Oaked |
| Faction (CA) | NYX – Goddess of the Night |
| Golden Road (CA) | Hudson Porter |
| Hanger 24 (CA) | Gourdgeous |
| Inland Empire Brewing Co. (CA) | Victoria |
| June Lake Brewing (CA) | Hutte double IPA |
| Knee Deep and Kern River Collab (CA) | Deep River |
| Ladyface Ale (CA) | Reyes Adobe |
| Ninkasi Brewing Company (OR) | Sleighr |
| Nobel Ale Works (CA) | Waimea Showers |
| Oskar Blues (CO) | Old Chub **Nitro** |
| Pizza Port Carlsbad (CA) | 2014 Strong Ale Blend |
| Pizza Port Carlsbad (CA) | Chocolate Thunder Mint |
| Pizza Port Carlsbad (CA) | Barrel Aged Bird Dog |
| Pizza Port Carlsbad (CA) | Big Deal with Passionfruit |
| Pizza Port Ocean Beach (CA) | Bacon and Eggs |
| Pizza Port Ocean Beach (CA) | La Flama Dorada |
| Pizza Port Ocean Beach (CA) | Leather Bound Books |
| Pizza Port Ocean Beach (CA) | BBA Eukaryst |
| Pizza Port Ocean Beach (CA) | Sinister |
| Pizza Port San Clemete (CA) | Order in the Port |
| Pizza Port San Clemete (CA) | Dusk til Dawn |
| Pizza Port San Clemete (CA) | Faceplant |
| Pizza Port San Clemete (CA) | Mintimidator |
| Pizza Port San Clemete (CA) | Way Heavy |
| Pizza Port San Clemete (CA) | Imfamous |
| Pizza Port Solana Beach (CA) | Deofuls Calibration |
| Pizza Port Solana Beach (CA) | May the Port be with You |
| Rip Current Brewing (CA) | Hop Wine |
| Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (CA) | Barrel Aged Ovila |
| St. Bernardus (Belgium) | Christmas Ale |
| Stone Brewing Company (CA) | 2011 Stone IRS |
| Stone Brewing Company (CA) | 2013 Stone ESPRESSO IRS |
| Tenaya Creek (NV) | 15th Anniversary |
| The Bruery (CA) | Melange #3 |
| The Bruery (CA) | White Chocolate |
| The Lost Abbey (CA) | Agave Maria |
| The Lost Abbey (CA) | Angels Share Grand Cru |
| Toolbox Brewing Company (CA) | Fallout |