Craft beer anchors Balboa festival

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A group of friends share a toast with cups of Liquid Aloha from Kona Brewing at the 3rd annual Balboa Craft Beer Festival on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport on Saturday. Thirteen breweries with 30 beers on tap and food from various local restaurants were represented. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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John Shirikian is the center of attention as he carefully plays a game of oversized Jenga at the festival. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Steve Dreyer looks at the color of an IPA from Golden Road Brewery at the 3rd annual Balboa Craft Beer Festival Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Friends play a game of Jenga at the 3rd annual Balboa Craft Beer Festival. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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A stack of pulled pork on a sandwich from Balboa Barbie Q for guests at the 3rd annual Balboa Craft Beer Festival on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Guests enjoy themselves at the Balboa Craft Beer Festival. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Two IPAs from Black Market Brewing at the 3rd annual Balboa Craft Beer Festival on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport on Saturday. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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Mary Shirikian cheers her progress as she plays a game of oversized Jenga at the Balboa Craft Beer Festival. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

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John Shirikian reacts as his Jenga stack collapses after a long game. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)

By Daily Pilot staff

Nov. 5, 2016 6:31 PM PT

Hundreds of craft beer enthusiasts grabbed grub and suds Saturday at the third annual Balboa Craft Beer Festival in Newport Beach.

Visitors to the Balboa Village event listened to the Strangers, a local cover band, play classic-rock hits while tasting beers from 15 breweries and sampling food from local restaurants.

The breweries included Goose Island, Rough Draft, Ninkasai Brewing and local favorites Left Coast, Barley Forge and Bootlegger’s.

Harborside, Newport Landing, Cruisers Pizza Bar and Grill and Ruby’s Diner were among eight restaurants that served food at the event.