Taste-bud-friendly brewfest

Beer was a principal element in the ancient Egyptian diet. Medieval Germans also crafted beer, and 19th-century Irish-American immigrants and plumbers with butt cleavage from the 1980s consumed it after a long day at work.

Yet somewhere along the way, between ancient Egypt and 21st-century America, rich businessmen with no taste buds took control over beer production. It’s damn depressing that thousands of years of beer innovation led to the creation of mass-produced, pee-flavored beer. Sure, that corporate variety is suitable for drinking games. But when it comes to enjoying the flavor of a cold one, microbreweries maintain the monopoly on taste.

The 15th incarnation of the California Brewers Festival will feature 150 microbrews that are handcrafted by more than 60 brewers in the West. Beer lovers will get 10 tokens with each ticket, which is good for 10 4-ounce beer samples. Additional beer tokens, food from a variety of vendors and cigars will be available for a bit more cash. There also will be music by Utz! and the Shuttlecocks and Velvet Tongue.

Technically, the brewfest is an übersustainability event: local-ish beer, local bands and, uh, the outdoors. Ride a bike along the American River trail to Discovery Park to up the sustainability ante. Besides, this event goes toward fighting off all the other big corporations. Protest Monsanto and plant a home garden. Give up Wal-Mart’s cheap prices and buy local. Save your taste buds and drink microbrews at the California Brewers Festival.