Shandelle Battersby goes beer hunting northeast of Los Angeles.
There are definitely more fake bears than real bears at California's Big Bear Lake, but on a hot July afternoon we were more interested in finding beers than bears, so a local pointed us in the direction of Big Bear Brewery.
It's estimated that the forest behind this pretty alpine settlement, two hours northeast of Los Angeles, is home to just 350-500 black bears, but town merchants have run with the name and there are multiple gift shops selling bear-related merchandise for anything you can think of: Bear toilet paper holder? No problem. Bear-decorated toilet paper? Also no problem. Best bear pun? A surprising lack of decent gags bar one notable exception: Grizzly's Bear Belly Deli. Genius.
We wandered down to the brewery and took a seat on the deck under a bright yellow umbrella. American flags fluttered patriotically. A sign read: "Well behaved and leashed dogs welcome on patio" — and there were dogs everywhere.
Inside was packed, despite the glorious sunshine outside; baseball played on the televisions but it didn't look like anyone was watching. Country pop burbled in the background as the kitchen staff slaved away behind a corrugated iron wall that gave way to an open kitchen.
