California’s Great America announces a new food event labeled Red, White, & Brews on May 27-29 and June 3-4, 2017. Red, White & Brews will bring the Hometown Square area of the park to life with locally sourced food experiences, more than 25 regional craft brews, Northern California wines, Bay Area bands, outdoor games and kids’ entertainment.

Admission to Red, White, & Brews is free with your admission to California’s Great America. However, food, beverage, and entertainment choices are an additional fee as noted.

Tasting cards will be available for $25 per person (6 selections per card) to sample savory items that include:
– Jumbo smoked chicken drumsticks
– BBQ pulled pork bun
– Skewered bacon wrapped chicken hearts
– Corn ears roasted in chili powder and lime juice
– Tombstone sliders with shaved brisket, pulled pork, jalapeno, and pineapple
– Dessert choice between an innovative apple pie, bacon and cheddar parfait, or a traditional strawberry shortcake

Craft beer and wine tasting cards will also be available for $25 per person at Candy Cafe, Firehouse No. 1, and Maggie’s Smokehouse. The card includes six, six-ounce samples, featuring renowned and niche microbreweries from throughout Northern California, including:
– Gordon Biersch
– Sierra Nevada
– Anchor
– Stone
– Mendocino
– Hanger 24
– Lagunitas
– Speakeasy Ales & Lagers
– Many others

Single 16 oz beer tastings are $10.99.

Wine pouring options will include William Hill, Flora Springs, J. Lohr, White Oak, Concannon and more.

Unique food items for sale individually in the Hometown Square area are:
– Brisket mac and cheese conewich with crispy brisket tips, crispy onions and BBQ sauce (Look for this to be offered at next event)
– Red, white & blue funnel cakes topped with strawberries, vanilla ice cream and blueberries
– Bourbon peaches and cream with cinnamon cream and candied walnuts
– Cinnamon dessert nachos, which are fried tortillas paired with vanilla ice cream and chocolate and caramel syrup (Available at Sweet Tooth in Orleans Place)
– Fried Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (Available at Sweet Tooth in Orleans Place- $9.99)

For an additional fee, the San Jose Beer Bike will tour guests through the park each day, providing up to 10 friends the opportunity to view Great America while sipping and cycling (with a designated cyclist at the wheel). Hometown Square entertainment will feature oversized board and carnival games, free balloons for kids, giant Adirondack chairs for lounging and photo opportunities, and more.

“Red, White & Brews will create a vibrant, dynamic atmosphere inside the park and showcase the region’s incredible food and drink possibilities,” said California’s Great America Vice President & General Manager Raul Rehnborg. “Red, White & Brews joins Taste of Orleans and Fiesta Hispana as wonderful reasons to visit the park multiple times each year.

An outdoor stage will be constructed in front of the Great America Theater where four local bands will perform rock, country and bluegrass music throughout the day. Adding to the live entertainment, dueling pianos will be positioned in the gazebo, intensifying the outdoor atmosphere.

Red, White, and Brews runs from 11:00 am until one hour before closing.

Review California’s Great America Red, White and Brews

Bacon wrapped chicken hearts

Although this is not your typical theme park fare do not be afraid to try these chicken hearts. They have a subtly meaty flavor that pairs perfectly with the juicy bacon wrapping these tasty skewers.

Tombstone Sliders / Pulled Pork Buns

Great America’s pulled pork has become a fast favorite at Maggie’s Smokehouse, and at Red, White and Brews you can find it in two delicious menu items. The Tombstone Sliders are a highlight of the festival, combining pulled pork with tender shaved brisket and a tangy mixture of pineapple and fried jalapenos and onions, it is a really delicious mix of flavors. By contrast, the Pulled Pork Buns keep things simple, but just as tasty, with a generous helping of the rich, juicy meat in served in a fresh warm dough pocket.

Spicy Roasted Corn

A huge ear of fire-roasted corn, dipped in melted butter and fully loaded with cheese, chili powder, lime, herbs and mayonnaise. Not only tasty, but fun to eat and messy!

Jumbo Smoked Chicken Drums

Although the “jumbo” label might be stretching the imagination a little, biting into the crispy skin of these drumsticks revealed mouth-watering juicy chicken with a delicious smokey taste. We could eat these by the bucket load!

Warm Apple, Bacon and Cheddar parfait and Strawberry Shortcake

The toughest decision of Red, White and Brews is deciding between the desert options! The parfait is a decadent treat with layers of warm spiced apple and melted cheddar cheese, and topped with whipped cream and real bacon crumbles. For a more traditional choice, the Strawberry Shortcake combines juicy strawberries, crumbly shortcake and whipped cream into an elegant confection.

Fried Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

A creative twist on chocolate chip banana bread, by adding a stick, dipping it in batter and deep frying until golden. This treat is exactly the unique food offerings we would expect to find at an amusement park.

Dessert Nachos

Your choice of ice cream piled on top of a layer of sweet cinnamon nachos and drizzled with chocolate and caramel!

What was your favorite menu item from Red, White and Brews? Let us know below in the comments.

A very special thanks goes out to Mike from Inside CGA (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram), for partnering with us to cover California’s Great America food. For additional photos and details of the event, please visit the Inside CGA accounts above.

A special thanks also goes out to California’s Great America for hosting our visit and allowing us to try some of the amazing food offerings!

Cover photo ©California’s Great America

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