Brea was the center of the SoCal craft beer universe on April 27, as TAPS Fish House & Brewery brewmaster Victor Novak gathered more than 30 of his SoCal brewery compatriots to pour craft beer at their First Annual Craft Brew Festival in downtown Brea, with Culinary Director Tom Hope and Executive Chef Manny Gonzalez preparing global street food and a portion of proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Brea-Placentia-Yorba Linda.

When the Travelocity gnome isn’t circling the globe, he can be found tending TAPS beer barrels.

TAPS opened their doors (and their patio) to 32 favorite SoCal brewing friends.

Barbara Gerovac and Greg Gerovac revived Anaheim Brewing, a long dormant brewery that now carries the motto: “Where Past Has Presence.”

Anaheim Helles is the brewery’s 6% ABV Bavarian biergarten beer.

Ballast Point Brewing recently re-branded and rolled out cans, which were at TAPS.

Strand Brewing Co. continues to build on the back of their Pale Ale. A recent bottling consisted of Musashi, a black IPA named for a legendary samurai.

Noble Ale Works founder Jerry Kolbly upgraded his beer offerings by hiring Novak’s protégée Evan Price.

Noble Ale Works Naughty Sauce is a 5.4% ABV Golden Milk Stout brewed with Portola Coffee Lab Guatemalan coffee, milk sugar and oats, poured on nitro so it’s nice and creamy, “flavored layers of pecan pie, cinnamon and cookie dough.”

Plenty of beer pros were singing the praises of I&I Brewing from Chino.

I&I Brewing Citra Pale Ale clocks 5.5% ABV and promised to be “light, refreshing + hoppy.” Mission accomplished.

TAPS didn’t pour any of their own beers at the fest due to the type of ABC license they carry, but their beer barrels still featured prominently by the entrance. These contained Remy, a Russian Imperial Stout named for Novak’s friend.

TAPS served street food ranging from Hawaiian SPAM musubi to L.A. style danger dogs.