Three California breweries have come together to honor the mariachi pioneer Maestro Gabriel Zavala, whose sudden passing in March shocked the mariachi scene to its core. Full details on this beer in honor of Maestro Zavala are below.
California – Norwalk Brew House (NBH), HenHouse Brewing Co., and SLO Brew announces “Mariachi Maestro” Hazy IPA – the first release in a series of collaboration beers supporting the Rhythmo Mariachi Academy in Orange County. Other collaborators include: Liberation Brewing Co. (Long Beach), Feathered Serpent Brewery (San Dimas, CA) and Cerveza Cito (Santa Ana).
In early March, word spread quickly about the sudden passing of Orange County mariachi pioneer, Maestro Gabriel Zavala. A staple in the local music community, Maestro Zavala was beloved and respected for his contributions promoting and preserving the Mexican folk genre of mariachi. He unfortunately succumbed to complications of Covid-19 in late February.
In the ‘60s, Gabriel Zavala and his band of brothers, Los Siete Hermanos Zavala, were the first group to bring mariachi music to Orange County, CA. After a decade of performing, Zavala taught kids the skill and culture of mariachi music through his nonprofit school, Rhythmo Music Academy. This is where he became known as the beloved, “Maestro.”
