The 11th annual Bistro IPA Festival took place August 9 in Hayward, California. The niche festival is one the must-attend festivals in the Bay Area. Vic and Cynthia put on a great festival with over 50 IPAs.

The festival started at eleven.

Fellow judges Christian Kazakoff (now from Iron Springs Brewpub) and Rodger Davis (who became the head brewer at Triple Rock after Kazakoff left).

A hand-made sign on the mirror behind the bar.

The judges after around 3 1/2 hours in the cellar, along with our beleaguered steward Vicky.

While back upstairs the festival was going on.

A group of brewers and local beer professionals in the tent at the festival.

Dave Hopwood, from Stone Brewing — a.k.a. “Bluebeard” — showing his blue-dyed hair for charity.

Rich Norgrove, from Bear Republic Brewing, showing me what the Bulletin looks like on an Apple iPhone.

The hard-working Vic Kralj, organizer of the IPA Festival, with his lovely wife Cynthia in the background (in the black t-shirt) working the front door.