You can’t swing an empty keg without hitting a beer festival these days. And they’re being held in all sorts of spaces, too — not just in the parking lots of local breweries and event halls.
From a cemetery to a zoo to a museum, these summer beer festivals are happening in some less-than-expected Southern California venues.
The original beer garden
Forget farm to table, the Brew Wild Beer Festival on Saturday, June 23, is all about garden to beer.
The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont is teaming up with 15 breweries to create beer using California native plants grown at the Garden.
Expect beers made with ingredients such as sage, juniper and pine needles from breweries including Hamilton Family Brewery, Last Name Brewing and No Clue Craft Brewery.
4-8 p.m. Saturday, June 23, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. $45-$75. 909-625-8767, www.rsabg.org
Drink and shop
There’s no law against drinking and shopping, right? The Inland Empire Brewers Guild is heading to the picturesque Corona shopping center The Shops at Dos Lagos for its annual craft beer festival on Saturday, June 23.
You can check out the pair of lakes at the complex as you look for some new threads after sampling beer from more than 35 breweries. Plus, Echo Love Chamber will perform and admission gets you unlimited tastings and a 16-ounce pint glass from the Guild.
Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, June 23, The Shops at Dos Lagos, 2780 Cabot Drive, Corona. $35. www.facebook.com/iebrewersguild.
Artsy brews
Drink in some culture and brews at the Museum of Latin American Art’s craft beer fest on Sunday, June 24.
More than a dozen breweries will pour at the Long Beach venue, including Norwalk Brew House, Angel City Brewery and Three Weavers. The live music comes from L.A.-based psychedelic band Healing Gems.
You can look all classy as you hold your beer while checking out artwork from renowned Latin American artists — and don’t forget to visit the 30-plus abstract and figurative sculptures in the outdoor garden.
2-7 p.m. Sunday, June 24, Museum of Latin American Art, 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach. $35-$45. www.molaa.org
Dead man’s party
You can toast to the dearly departed and help an ailing cemetery by attending Festival Obscura Presents: A Celebration at Sunnyside Cemetery in Long Beach on June 30.
Organized by the folks at Phantom Carriage Brewing, proceeds from the event will go to the historic cemetery’s upkeep and operation costs.
The festival will feature more than 45 local independent breweries — including Beachwood, Eagle Rock Brewery, Liberation Brewing Company and Smog City Brewing — cideries and wineries along with macabre vendors, live music, historians and more.
Noon-5 p.m. June 30, Sunnyside Cemetery, 1095 East Willow St., Long Beach. $45 for general admission from 1-5 p.m.; $65 VIP admission from noon-5 p.m.; $25 for designated drivers. www.festivalobscura.com
Hoppy fair
Fairs are known for rides, junk food, farm animals, and in Orange County, quality beers at the Brew Hee Haw Craft Beer Roundup.
The fifth annual 21 and older event returns to the OC Fair in Costa Mesa July 14 and 15 with various beer styles from more than 30 breweries — Four Sons Brewing, Unsung Brewing Co. and Belching Beaver among them.
There’s also going to be live music, dancing, games and more. Buying a ticket to the beer festival also gets you into the fair.
Noon-4 p.m. and 6-p.m. July 14; noon-4 p.m. July 15, OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. $55. www.ocbrewheehaw.com
Land a rare brew
Most airport hangars are just huge parking spots for planes, but the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica is a 35,000-square-foot events center that hosts awards shows, concerts, film shoots, and on July 28, the inaugural L.A. Rare and Wild Beer Fest.
The event will feature rare beers from more than 40 breweries. These aren’t rare beers as in you’ll get to drink something brewed with gold nuggets or an ancient beer made by the Egyptians, but rather the kind breweries make for their own anniversaries or one-off productions.
Participating breweries announced so far include Coachella Valley Brewing, Ace Cider, Ballast Point and Barley Forge Brewing.
6-10 p.m. July 28, Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica. $55 general admission; $70 VIP. www.eventbrite.com/e/la-rare-and-wild-beer-fest-tickets-45500692797
Get wild
Hang out with the animals while knocking back at few at the eighth annual Brew at the L.A. Zoo. On Aug. 3 the zoo will open at night for the 21 and older crowd for a beer fest that’s set to bring more than 40 breweries to the 113-acre site that’s home to more than 1,000 animals.
Besides drinking beer, you’ll be able to listen to zookeeper talks and eat pub-style grub while you see what the animals do at night.
The list of participating breweries isn’t out yet, but it’s usually a pretty good collection of the best-known L.A. breweries and big name spots.
7-11 p.m. Aug. 3, Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. $65 for general admission; $135 for VIP. www.lazoo.org.