Spirits were high Friday night as music and beer fans lined up for the first of three OC Brew Hee Haw Craft Beer Roundup tasting sessions at Pacific Amphitheatre at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa.
The annual event, which served as the official kick-off of the Pacific Amphitheatre’s 2021 season, is put on by Orange County-based Brew Ha Ha Productions and drew hundreds of patrons ready to sample a variety of craft beer offerings from local, regional and national breweries.
Over the past few years, the event has moved locations inside the OC Fair but eventually settled inside The Hangar. However, due to the limited capacity of the OC Fair this year and uncertainty surrounding what COVID-19 restrictions would be in place by the time it actually opened, Brew Hee Haw was relocated to Pacific Amphitheatre for the first time.
Fans of the band Sublime dance during a performance by the cover band Burritos on day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
The Sublime cover band Burritos performs during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Bacon wrapped hot dogs available during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
The Sublime cover band Burritos performs during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
The Sublime cover band Burritos performs during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
The Sublime cover band Burritos performs during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Eric Huynh tries Rad Beer Company’s Dude Bro IPA during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
From left, Caitlyn Nojiri and Quinn McLaughlin jokingly play basketball during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
From right, Heather Seid and Theresa Collins smile after tasting Ace’s pineapple cider during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Tommy Kenny serves Cerveza Cito’s Sandia Seltzer during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Attendees of the OC Brew Hee Haw share a kiss at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Jess Signore tries 101 Cider House’s Cactus Rose during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
The opening of the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa features the OC Brew Hee Haw on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
From left, Sasha Matusevich and Olivia King pose for a photograph during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
The Sublime cover band Burritos performs during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Judy Quintana serves Ace’s pineapple cider during day one of the OC Brew Hee Haw at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa on Friday, July 23, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Brewery pop-up tents were scattered throughout the various levels of the venue and spaced out near the entrance where guests could also nosh on fair foods such as street tacos, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, giant corn dogs and mounds of curly fries with piping hot cheese sauce on top. Though the layout of the event gave plenty of space for people to cruise about, the more narrow sections of the Amphitheatre could get congested around the more popular breweries. But for the most part, people gave each other space. Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were on hand, encouraging ride share options while offering free Breathalyzer tests at a booth.
The orchestra seats and pit were left open for fans to hang out and enjoy music by Orange County-based Sublime tribute band, Burritos. Saturday’s back-to-back tasting sessions will include sets from Fleetwood Mac tribute Twisted Gypsy and Billy Idol tribute act, Idol X.
There were a variety of offerings including double and triple IPAs, stouts and Hefeweizens. Since it’s summer, there was also a big selection of fruity sours, ciders and seltzers that shot down quickly on a warm, balmy evening in Costa Mesa.
Some of the refreshing standouts included San Diego’s Modern Times’ Bubble Party grapefruit hard seltzer, a lighter, not too sweet, but not too sour seltzer that seems perfect for poolside sipping. Both pours offered by Julian Cider were popular including the Black & Blue Knockout blueberry and blackberry cider and the Freaky Tiki Exotic pineapple and key lime juice cider. Each sample was packed with flavor and tasted like dessert.
The Dog Park Brewing Company in San Juan Capistrano had the juicy Crush: Apricot, a sour-fruited gose made with apricot puree and just the right amount of tart and sweet. Anaheim’s Rad Beer Co., co-owned by Brew Ha Ha Productions’ Cameron Collins, poured its Foggy Talk double hazy IPA, which has hints of mango and orange – and an 8% ABV. Broken Timbers Brewing Company, which is also based in Anaheim, had its tasty Calico Blonde on tap that paired well with a trio of spicy chicken street tacos.
