Hoppy days arrive in Chula Vista

Hoppy Beer Hoppy Life is celebrating its fifth anniversary in Chula Vista.

The ocean-based beer apparel company is celebrating five years of business from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 23 at Chula Vista’s Memorial Park, 373 Park Way.

“It’s turned into a beer festival instead of just a party,” Fede Saviñon, owner of Hoppy Beer Hoppy Life, said.
Hoppy Beer Hoppy Life teams up with local breweries to make  gear. They sell beer themed t-shirts, hats, pins and other apparel items.

Saviñon said he is  taking the party to downtown Chula Vista because of the recent buzz Third Avenue has generated with the opening of new craft breweries and other businesses.

“It’s because of the growth that I keep seeing on Third Avenue,” he said. “A lot of people that we like, a lot of people that we admire are opening up either a brewery, or restaurant or a coffee shop down there. So we wanted to bring attention to Third Avenue.”

Hoppy Beer Hoppy Life’s celebration will feature plenty of food from 10 different restaurants, unlimited beer tastings from at least 35 breweries and live entertainment.

Kelly Lannom, event manager, said this is not a city or a Third Avenue Village Association event. However, Lannom said TAVA will be involved by publicizing their different businesses with social media outlets and hashtags at this specific event. She said this is important because the event will bring in a different crowd than a city of Chula Vista event or TAVA event.

Lannom said Hoppy Beer Hoppy Life’s event will be similar to TAVA’s Amps and Ales event. Saviñon described the event as one that is going to be “neighborly and relaxed.”

Saviñon said last year 200 people attended the fourth year anniversary despite there being little publicity. He said he wanted to build off that momentum and host a bigger event this year.

Lannom said if the event proves to be successful, the plan will be to continue the tradition.

“I hope people don’t miss out on this,” she said. “It will be well worth it.”

Tickets cost $70  for VIP and $55 for general admission.  Purchase tickets on the company’s website at www.hoppybeerhoppylife.com. Part of the proceeds from the event will go to bajadogrescue.org.