Lake Elsinore's 5 Favorite Beer Announced On National Beer Day: Do You Agree?

LAKE ELSINORE, CA —It's National Beer Day in Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, celebrated every year on Thursday, April 7. The day toasts the anniversary of congressional passage in 1933 of the Cullen-Harrison Act, which eased Prohibition-era restrictions and permitted the manufacture of low-alcohol beer and wines. Nine months later, on Dec. 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition altogether.

Craft breweries in the United States date back to the late 1970s, the first opening shortly after President Jimmy Carter signed legislation that made home-brewing legal in 1978.

In recent decades, craft beer has become a popular choice for Californians. Though the Golden State is known for its wine and wineries, craft brewing is on the upswing from the verdant fields of Napa to the sprawling Temecula Valley.

Though there are many craft breweries across Riverside County, only a handful belong to the California Craft Brewer's Association:

• Lake Elsinore: Stadium Pizza, Main Street: 169 N. Main Street
• Murrieta: 8 Bit Brewing Company: 26755 Jefferson Ave., Suite F
• Palm Desert: La Quinta Brewing Company: 77917 Wildcat Drive
• Temecula: Karl Strauss Brewing Company: 40868 Winchester Road
• Temecula: Refuge Brewery: 43040 Rancho Way #200
• Temecula: Iron Fire Brewing Company: 42081 3rd Street, Unit A
• Wildomar: Stadium Pizza, 32278 Clinton Keith Road

Also beloved in Lake Elsinore are nearby the Electric Brewing Company, Mason Jar Brewing Company, Inland Wharf Brewing, Solaris Beer and Blending, and the Backyard Bottleshop and Taproom.

Temecula's Refuge Brewery earned top local honors with the Golden Tap Brewery of the Year award, Visit Temecula Valley reports.

Refuge Brewery offers a unique Blood Orange Wit. This is an easy-drinking Belgian ale sources from locally grown blood oranges and an "explosive flavor" that is well balanced sweet and tart blend that is highly drinkable.

And, for a bit of something different, we suggest dropping in for a pint of honey-brewed Batch Mead. Situated in Temecula, this family-owned business brews small batches of meads and hard ciders, while not "beer" this fermented beverage is definitely worth both a nod and a sip.

If you're looking for a new, fun beer-tasting experience not too far away, we suggest hopping over to Orange County's Disney California Adventure for a sampling of Pym Test Kitchen Ale.

Across the state, local craft breweries took home 60 medals at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival awards, the largest competition to date, as reported by California Craft Brewing Association.

The California craft breweries which received top honors in 2021 include:

• Almanac Beer Co.
• Arts District Brewing Co.
• Barebottle Brewing Co.
• Beachwood Blendery
• Bearded Tang Brewing
• Belching Beaver Brewery – Tavern & Grill
• Berryessa Brewing Co.
• Claremont Craft Ales
• Coronado Brewing Co. – Production Facility
• Corralitos Brewing Co.
• Deft Brewing
• Eel River Brewing Co.
• Eppig Brewing
• Escape Craft Brewery
• Fall River Brewing Co.
• Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
• Ghost Town Brewing
• HenHouse Brewing Co.
• Highland Park Brewery – Chinatown
• Hop Dogma Brewing Co.
• Karl Strauss Brewing Co. – Anaheim
• Kilowatt Brewing
• Liquid Gravity Brewing Co.
• Morgan Territory Brewing
• Mountain Rambler Brewery
• North Park Beer Co.
• Original Pattern Brewing Co.
• Radiant Beer Co.
• Redwood Curtain Brewing Co.
• Riip Beer Co.
• Rouleur Brewing Co.
• Seismic Brewing Co.
• Stereo Brewing Co.
• Strike Brewing Co.
• Sudwerk Brewing Co.
• TapRoom Beer Co.
• The Bruery
• The Rare Barrel
• Third Street Aleworks
• Third Window Brewing Co.
• Two Roots Brewing Co.
• Unsung Brewing Co. – Taproom
• WestBrew
• Wild Barrel Brewing Co.
• Wild Fields Brewhouse

Although craft beer's presence continues to grow, it still hasn't quite cracked the top five in popularity. According to a survey by the marketing and analytics company Top Agency, large brands like Budweiser and Heineken still remain the most popular choices among beer aficionados.

The most popular beer in California though is Budweiser. See the full top five, according to Top Agency, below:

Top 5 Most Popular Beers In California

1. Budweiser
2. Bud Light
3. Heineken
4. Guinness
5. Sierra Nevada

Do you agree with the survey, or is a craft brew more your style? Let us know in the comments.