TASTING TICKETS ON SALE NOW

SATURDAY, MAY 2ND
10AM – 5PM

 

CHILI, CARS & CERVEZAS PLUS BATTLE OF THE BANDS

PRESENTED BY Friends of the Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fairgrounds

Chili, Cars, and Cervezas returns to the Tri-County Fairgrounds May 2, and this year we’re bringing extra heat with the first ever Chili, Cars, & Cervezas – Battle of the Bands! This International Chili Society World Qualifier Cook-Off features world champion chili, a variety of craft beer, live music from local artists, a car show, and a swap meet!

Tasting tickets are on sale now. This Cinco de Mayo celebration is going to be fire!

THE CHILI

SATURDAY

10AM – 5PM

Get your sampling kits for a hearty tasting experience! Some of the best chili cooks in the West are serving up their most flavorful red, verde, and homestyle chilis and salsas. They’re competing for their shot at the ICS World Championships and your vote for the highly coveted People’s Choice Award!

THE CAR SHOW

SATURDAY

10AM – 3PM

The car show features all makes, models, years, motorcycles, and tractors! Awards will be given out for Best of Show, Best Paint, Best Engine, Best Interior, Oddest Entry, Best Work in Progress + more fun surprises.

Car Show Entries and Info

Contact Robert Dowers 760-873-7131 or stevesautocarshow@gmail.com 

THE CRAFT BEER

SATURDAY

10AM – 5PM

Wash down those savory samples with a flight of craft beer. The Craft Beer Experience is a customizable tour with a variety of award-winning and local favorites on tap for you to sip and sample. Because nothing goes better with chili than an ice, cold beer.

THE BEER LIST

Ashland

Blackberry Lemonade Hard Seltzer – 5% ABV

The drink combines juicy organic blackberries with a zesty twist of lemon, creating a lively mix of sweet and tart. The blackberry entry is rich but not cloying, while the lemon adds brightness and acidity. The finish lingers with citrus peel, tart berry notes, and the crisp carbonation of the seltzer

ATHLETIC BREWING COMPANY

    Moscow Mule – Non-Alcoholic

    Moscow “Mule” has zippy lime aromas, warm ginger, and a crisp finish. It has a subtle ginger spice that is approachable for most, while hints of zesty lime notes enhance it with each crisp sip.

    Paloma – Non-Alcoholic

    With aromas of vibrant grapefruit and zesty lime, this Paloma-inspired brew can be enjoyed as is or over ice with a lime wedge for an extra splash of flavor. Crafted with select ingredients, it’s a refreshing option that delivers bold taste in 70 calories – perfect for sipping anytime!

    Upside Dawn Beer – Non-Alcoholic

    Upside Dawn from Athletic Brewing Company is a non-alcoholic golden ale that gained strong attention in 2020 for its crisp, light-bodied profile and clean flavor 

    BALLOT POINT

      Pineapple Sculpin IPA – 7% ABV

      Our Pineapple Sculpin IPA came from one of many small-batch cask experiments to enhance the flavor of our signature IPA. With so many tropical hop notes in Sculpin, how could we not try adding some sweet, juicy pineapple? The combination of fruity flavors and hop intensity definitely packs a punch.

      BELCHING BEAVER

        Raspberry and Lemon Hard Seltzer – 5.5% ABV

        A light, fruity seltzer with a pleasant balance of raspberry and lemon, though some reviewers note it’s less intense than other fruit seltzers. 

        Descriptions highlight a mix of raspberry and lemon notes, with some calling it “rasz & the lemon.” Best Tasting Spirits’ review of the related Raspberry & Blackberry variant notes a “triple berry cheesecake” aroma, sweet raspberry yogurt peak, and tart blackberry iced tea finish. While the lemonade version may be slightly sweeter or more citrus-forward, the core raspberry fruitiness is consistent.

        DESCHUTES

          King Crispy | German Style Pilsner – 4.8% ABV

          Known for its crisp, hop-forward profile and a nod to the Bit burger Challenge win in Portland.

          Crafted with light grainy pils malt, Tettnang, Sterling, and Mt. Hood hops, and no esters, King Crispy delivers a crisp, floral, and slightly spicy character  It’s designed to be refreshing yet flavorful, balancing noble hop aromas with a clean finish.

          Fresh Squeezed IPA | American IPA – 6.4% ABV

          A highly rated, juicy, citrus-forward American IPA with a balanced hop bitterness and smooth malt backbone. 

          Fresh Squeezed IPA pours a vibrant amber-orange color with a thick, creamy white head that lingers and leaves nice lacing on the glass, giving it a fresh, juicy look. It has a slight haze but remains clear enough to let light shine through, enhancing its visual appeal and drinkability 

          FIRESTONE

            Mind Haze IPA | New England Style Hazy IPA – 7% ABV

              Brewed by Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, California. It is designed to deliver a juicy, tropical flavor profile with a smooth, velvety texture, making it both refreshing and flavorful. The beer is fermented with Firestone Walker’s house hazy ale yeast, which contributes to its signature haze and soft mouthfeel.

              805 Cerveza | Mexican-Style Lager – 5% ABV

              Brewed with a subtle hint of lime for a fresh, citrusy twist. It’s a premium, crisp, clean, and dry lager that leans into the “cracker-like” character of Mexican-style beers, with gentle malt and cereal notes balanced by a refreshing lime influence. The lime is peel-derived rather than juice, adding a touch of depth without sharp acidity.

              LA REINA

                MEXICAN LAGER – 4.6% ABV

                Named for the Queen of the Coast – Rincon. Brewed with Non-GMO flaked maize and just enough hops, resulting in a light and refreshing lager

                LAGUNITAS

                  Daytime IPA | American IPA -4.0% ABV

                  Known for its sessionable qualities. Described as having big, round hop flavors with a toasty malt foundation, it aims to satisfy without being too heavy

                  Lil Sumpin’ Sumpin’ | American IPA –  7.5% APV

                  Pouring this beer, you immediately notice its bright golden color and slight haze, topped with a nice fluffy white head. It’s the kind of beer that looks just as good as it tastes. The carbonation is spot on, giving it a lively and fresh feel from the very start. The aroma hits you with a pleasant blend of fruity and floral hops. Think big notes of citrus—grapefruit, orange, and a bit of lemon zest—with a touch of pine in the background. There’s also a subtle sweetness from the malt, almost like honey or caramel, which balances things out nicely. It smells like a tropical fruit salad mixed with a pine forest, and honestly, that’s a winning combination.

                  MERRICK

                    American Light Lager – 4.5% ABV

                      Light, crisp, and refreshing. Collaboration with Channel Islands Surfboards

                      MODELO

                        Especial – International Pale Lager/Adjunct Lager – 4.4% ABV

                        Dark straw to gold. This beer has a more honeyed hue than other popular Mexican pale lagers, which matches its richer malt profile. International pale lagers tend to carry the subdued lager aromas, and this one is no different. There are little to no perceptible hop characteristics that come through on the nose, instead showing soft honeyed aromas, fresh biscuits, creamed corn, and a hit of herbaceous Ness on the finish.

                        PACIFICO

                          Cerveza Pacifico Clara | Mexican Pilsner – 4.5% ABV

                          A Mexican pilsner-style adjunct lager brewed since 1900 in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, by German immigrants. It’s known for its crisp, dry, and refreshing profile, with subtle bitterness, light body, and a clean finish. 

                          Pacifico pours a light gold to pale yellow with a finger-thick white head that dissipates quickly. The aroma is faintly grassy with a hint of sea air; warming the beer can bring out a creamed corn note. On the palate, it’s crisp, dry, and moderately sweet, with a touch of ocean mist and grass-citrus. The subtle bitterness balances the malt sweetness, giving it more complexity than many light lagers 

                          SALTY CREW

                            Award-Winning Boat Ale | Golden/Blonde Ale – 4.5% ABV

                            What is a boat beer? It’s a versatile, refreshing canned beer… the perfect BLANK SLATE. Whether on or off the board, Salty Crew will take you back to days spent finding refuge in the sea.

                              • Silver Medal Winner – Great American Beer Festival
                              • Bronze Medal Winner – Australian International Beer Awards

                            SIERRA NEVADA

                              Hazy Little Thing IPA | New England Style IPA – 6.7% ABV

                              Brewed with Citra, Magnum, Simcoe, Comet, Mosaic, and El Doradohops, and mashes of two-row pale, Munich, oats, and wheat. It’s unfiltered and unprocessed, meant to showcase its fruit-forward hop character.

                              Pours a hazy golden-orange with a frothy, white head that laces well. It’s not the murkiest hazy, but it still retains a cloudy body that’s characteristic of a New England IPA.

                              Pilsner Lager | Czech/Bohemian Pilsner – 4.7% ABV

                              Sierra Nevada’s Pilsner is a crisp, citrusy lager with a modern twist, but some find it light on malt and hop character compared to traditional European pilsners.

                              Summerfest | Czech/Bohemian Pilsner – 5% ABV

                              A crisp, golden, dry Czech/Bohemian-style pilsner that’s widely praised for its refreshing balance of malt and hop, making it a standout warm-weather beer. Brewed with two-row pale, dextrin, and Munich malts, and hops like Perle and Saaz.  It’s bottom-fermented (though now labeled as pilsner) and benefits from a long lagering period, giving it a smooth, clean mouthfeel.

                              BATTLE OF THE BANDS

                              SATURDAY

                              MUSIC: 11:00AM – 3:30PM
                              AWARDS: 4:00PM

                              The Battle of the Bands will showcase a variety of local music groups from Inyo, Mono, and Alpine Counties. With the help of our panel judges, the winning bands will have the opportunity to be featured at this year’s Tri-County Fair!

                              1st Place Winner

                              Tri-County Fair performance on the Coso Stage Friday night

                              2nd & 3rd Place Winners

                              Tri-County Fair performance on the Coso Stage Saturday/Sunday afternoon

                              11:00AM

                              AMPERAGE

                              Members: Nakoa Lee on Vocals and Bass, Brad Rockwell on 1st Guitar, and William Scobie on drums.

                              Genre: Mainly 90s rock, including grunge and punk

                              Background: All band members attend Bishop High, and all are in the marching and jazz band except William.

                               12:15PM

                              Soul 2 Soul

                              Members: Patty Cook, Vocal, John McDermott, Bass, Mary Tanheimer, Drums, Russell Grevenkamp, Guitar.

                              Genre: Vintage Rock and Roll, Classic Blues from the 60’s through 90’s with an emphasis on the roll in the rock.

                               1:30PM

                              The Harry Andreas Band

                              A family band, “Letting the Good Times Roll,” and carrying on a family tradition.

                              Genre: Classic Rock, Country Western, and a few other genres thrown in.

                              2:45PM

                              Midwatch Band

                              Members: Giacomo Timbrello, Guitar, Chase Thomas, Drums, Caber Vios, Bass. All members perform vocals

                              Genre: A high-energy, soul-driven group bringing an authentic blend of blues, rock, country, and worship to every performance.

                              ENTER THE CHILI COMPETITION

                              RED

                              Awards per day

                              1st Place: $750
                              2nd Place: $300
                              3rd Place: $200

                              CHILI VERDE

                              Awards per day

                              1st Place: $400
                              2nd Place: $200
                              3rd Place: $100

                              HOMESTYLE

                              Awards per day

                              1st Place: $400
                              2nd Place: $200
                              3rd Place: $100

                              PEOPLE’S CHOICE

                              Saturday Award

                              1st Place: $200
                              2nd Place: $100