The Santa Rosa Beerfest is a benefit for Face to Face, a local Sonoma County charity combating AIDS. They “provide compassionate care to more than 500 people living with HIV and/or AIDS and their families, and prevention education to the entire Sonoma County community.” Many of the Face to Face volunteers also help out at the festival, as these women were on hand to hand out glasses.

Two from Russian River Brewing, co-owner Natalie (center) and as many times as I’ve met this gentlemen I can’t remember his name, along with Brian Hunt from Moonlight Brewing (right).

The cool thing about this festival is that there are as many food stands as beer ones, and they work the same way. Sidle up to a beer table, get a sample of beer. At a food stand, they give you a portion of food. You can spend the entire day trying different combinations of beer and food pairings. How splendid is that?

Justine from 21st Amendment hands out yet another glass of their popular Watermelon Wheat created by brewing genius Shaun O’Sullivan.

Ken Allen, owner of Anderson Valley Brewing, working his booth.

A beer-sipping bird.

Rebecca and Fraggle, inveterate festival-goers. If they’re not there, it’s just not a party.

Yum. Portobello mushrooms.

The gang from Russian River behind their taps.