Beer booth volunteers Microbrews

To round out a sublime festival experience, satisfy your palate with a glass of fine wine, a refreshing margarita or a cold, crisp beer while taking in the gorgeous art and lively music at this year’s Mountain View Art & Wine Festival, September 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Castro Street. What could be more lovely on a sunny, summer day while strolling a world-class festival?

By tradition the talented brewmasters at Mountain View’s Tied House Cafe & Brewery salute the Art & Wine Festival with a special brew. This year’s brew is a South German Style Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier, fruity and refreshing with plenty of aroma and flavor for a warm summer outing. Hefeweizen is often described as clove or nutmeg-like and can be smoky or even vanilla-like. Banana-like esters are often present. These beers are made with at least 50 percent malted wheat, and hop rates are quite low. Weissbier is well attenuated and very highly carbonated, yet its relatively high starting gravity and alcohol content make it a medium to full bodied beer. The color is very pale to pale amber. Because yeast is present, the beer will have yeast flavor and a characteristically fuller mouthfeel, and may be appropriately very cloudy. Tied House’s stellar Cascade Amber Ale, Stella Artois, Widmer Hefeweizen, Red Hook Longhammer IPA, and Bud Light will also be served. Commemorative beer and wine glasses featuring this year’s stylish festival logo will be available.

Refreshing wines

The Margarita King –– The World’s Best Margarita –– offers festivalgoers another refreshing beverage alternative. Margaritas will come in many variations: there’s the “King Cocktail” (basic margarita), the “Miami Vice” (margarita with a splash of pineapple juice), and the “Girlfriend” (margarita with a splash of pomegranate juice).

Wine lovers will be tempted by luscious vintages from from several exceptional winemakers including Forestville, Crane Lake, BV Coastal, Salmon Creek, Laurier, Sterling, Blossom Hill and award-winning Brassfield Estate Winery. Vinophiles can sample from an outstanding array of chardonnays, pinot grigios, sauvignon blancs, gewürztraminers, shiraz, cabernets, merlots, zinfandels, and syrahs while champagne sippers will have the opportunity to enjoy a bit of bubbly by Stanford Cuvee Brut and Rocar.