Kick back a cold brewski

Water, malt, hops and yeast combine to create a tempting evening in Huntington Beach next week.

The seventh annual Art of the Brew at the Huntington Beach Art Center will feature tastings from the city’s four resident breweries: BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery, BrewBakers, Oggi’s Pizza and Brewing Company, and the Huntington Beach Beer Company.

People will have the opportunity at the event to cheer for their favorite varieties in a down-home voting process.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Greg Gerovac, the Huntington Beach Beer Company’s brewer. “It’s a great opportunity to meet people, enjoy beer and see the brewers stand up and talk about our art.

“I will probably bring an amber lager called Starlit Haze, and our Golden Bear Brown ale.”

The establishment gives its beers local names like Huntington Beach Blonde and Pier Pale Ale, and plays on the area’s own grainy history — when growers would sickle their locally grown grain and deliver it by horse and carriage to Los Angeles breweries.

Across town, BrewBakers allows visitors to come in and make their own beer. They offer recipes to help people make something resembling their favorite brand.

BrewBakers owner Dennis Midden will be celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary the day before the event, and laughingly hoped he will be coherent enough by Thursday to put on a good show.

“We’ll be bringing our pumpkin ale, Christmas in Ireland stout, and probably some mead,” he said.

Honey mead is an ancient drink made from honey, water and yeast that brought about the word “honeymoon.” A husband would brew the sweet stuff for his bride (or they would be given it by their families), and they would drink it during the first moon cycle (or month) of their marriage for fertility.

Midden also plans to bring some of the bakery and brewery’s famous pretzels, including a cinnamon version with cream cheese icing.

The event runs with the center’s art show; this year’s focuses on baseball [For more, see accompanying story].

“More than ever, this year fits in perfectly with the beer tasting,” said Matthew Murdock of the art center.

“People come for the beer and brew, and stay for the exhibition.”

IF YOU GO

WHO: Huntington Beach Art Center

WHAT: Art of the Brew

WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23

WHERE: Huntington Beach Art Center, 538 Main St.

COST: $20 per person; reservations recommended

INFORMATION: (714) 374-1650 or surfcity-hb.org

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at [email protected].