The Lab Brewing Company Wins "Best in Fest" Brewery Competition Title for 2nd Year in a Row in the Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival

CAMARILLO, CA--(Marketwired - May 13, 2016) - The 2016 "Best in Fest" Brewery Competition of the Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival was held in Agoura Hills, California on Saturday, April 30, 2016.

Coordinated by JC Lombardo, "Best in Fest" chairman, and Curtis Taylor of HopHeadSaid.com, the competition pitted 13 local craft breweries' finest brews against each other in a blind competition featuring four brew experts: Erin Peters, columnist and beer blogger, also known as "The Beer Goddess"; Lisa "Monie" Wickenden, beer specialist for the Wine Warehouse; Jorge Alem, co-owner of the Ojai Beverage Company; and Kevin Pratt, a Certified Cicerone^®, and head brewer at the Santa Barbara Brewing Company. Kevin is the second highest ranked BJCP judge in the United States.

Participants in the 2016 Wine, Food & Brew Festival "Best in Fest" brew competition included: Enegren Brewing Company, Institution Ale Company, Five Threads Brewing Company, MadeWest Brewing Company, Topa Topa Brewing Company, The Lab Brewing Company, Surf Brewery, Island Brewing Company, Smoke Mountain Brewery, Ladyface Ale Companie, Rincon Brewery, Anacapa Brewing Company, and Tap It Brewing Company. Entries were judged on style, aroma, appearance, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression.

The Lab Brewing Company was awarded for its "Take Her Home Tripel," a Belgian-style Ale. Honorable Mentions were awarded to Topa Topa Brewing Company in Ventura for its Chief Peak IPA; Five Threads Brewing Company in Westlake Village for Jessica, a triple red ale; and Made West Brewing Company in Ventura for its Pale Ale.

For the second year in a row The Lab Brewing Company will receive the first place prize on the main stage during the Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival. The winning brew will also be paired with a course at the 3^rd annual Yummie Top Chef Dinner, a 7-course feast and $200 per person event taking place prior to the Festival on June 3, 2016.

The Casa Pacifica Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival will take place on Sunday, June 5, 2016 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at California State University Channel Islands. The popular event will feature more than 85 restaurants and 150 wines, brews, and beverages, live entertainment, an extensive silent auction, and the Yummie culinary competition.

Those interested in exhibitor or sponsorship information can contact Juliana Thiessen, Casa Pacifica Event Coordinator, at (805) 366-4014 or jthiessen@casapacifica.org.

Tickets are currently on sale for $125 General Admission and $250 for VIP tickets. To purchase tickets or for more information about the Angels Wine, Food & Brew Festival, visit www.cpwinefoodbrewfest.com. 

About Casa Pacifica Center for Children and Families

Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families is a crisis-care and residential treatment facility for abused, neglected, or at-risk children in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The agency is the largest non-profit provider of children's mental health services in both counties and along with its campus-based programs administers a number of community-based programs which are designed with the intent to strengthen families and keep children in their homes. For more information about Casa Pacifica or to learn about its "Building New Foundations of Hope" Capital Campaign that is underway, please visit its website www.casapacifica.org or call the Development Department at (805) 445-7800.