Brewed for Surf City

In an age when beers from around the world are conveniently available in grocery and liquor stores, it’s easy to overlook locally brewed beers.

“Local breweries bring more than just a beer,” said BrewBakers master brewer Dennis Midden. “People that come [to breweries] are all into beer, and that brings them together.”

The Monkey House Cafe will give beers from two Huntington Beach breweries the spotlight tonight as part of Brew Night in the Jungle. The cafe will host a beer tasting of a sampling of beers from the Huntington Beach Beer Company on Main Street and BrewBakers on Heil Avenue.

Angleli Poon of The Monkey House said the event is an opportunity for the cafe to show off its catering prowess while giving local artisans exposure.

Like the cafe’s past tea and wine events, Poon has made sure the amateur beer aficionados at Brew Night will walk away a little more informed, not to mention a little bit tipsy. Brewmasters Midden and Greg Gerovac will both speak about the delicate process of making beer.

“I’m always interested in knowing how things are done,” Poon said.

Midden, born and raised in the Budweiser bastion of St. Louis, Mo., didn’t have a taste for commercial beer.

As a baker he knew the histories of bread and beer are intertwined, but he had never delved into the world of beers.

“I hated beer until I tasted micro-brews,” Midden said.

That opened up a new world for him.

He now brews nearly 100 different beer varieties at BrewBakers, which he is happy to share with Huntington Beach.

Visitors to the tasting will get a pint of their choice of beer (or wine, for the non-beer drinkers), appetizers, beer samplings and a souvenir Monkey House Cafe pub glass.

More beer will be available for purchase.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Brew Night in the Jungle

WHERE: The Monkey House Cafe, 18862 Beach Blvd.

WHEN: 6 to 8:30 tonight

COST: $20, coupons for four beers are available for $15.

INFO: (714) 965-1135; www.monkeyhousecafe.com

JOSH ADEN may be reached at (714) 966-4609 or at [email protected].