The 8th Annual Over-The-Line Craft Beer Fest & Tournament, a kick-off to OTL’s July tournament, will be held at Mariner’s Point in Mission Bay Park on Saturday, May 18.

Come on out, dust off those bats, and enjoy your favorite local beers at this event sponsored by Old Mission Beach Athletic Club featuring some of San Diego’s finest craft breweries and food trucks.

Previously a two-day fest, it is now handled in a single day with the OTL Tournament from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Craft Beer Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

OMBAC event chair Tom Doyle discussed the origin of this OTL tournament, which is a prelude to the 71st Annual Over The Line World Championships held on back-to-back weekends this year on July 13-14 and July 20-21.

“Traditionally, the club (OMBAC) always had this event in late May or June as a coming out party for one of our members (Delmar Miller) who was a POW during the Korean War, to celebrate his making it home from the camp,” said Doyle. He added the original event featured live music at Mariner’s Point. However, it became so popular it outgrew its format. “So, we pivoted to a different format, with some of the best OTL players coming out for a warm-up along with a craft beer festival, which started eight years ago.”

In 2023, the OMBAC’s spring pre-OTL event coincided with Mother’s Day causing a scheduling conflict, which led to the event’s being cut back from two days to one. “Players were telling us they could not come out on that Sunday, so we cut down the number of teams playing and decided to have it all in one day,” noted Doyle adding, “I think the (heightened) atmosphere of the event makes for a super fun day with really great OTL being played and 20 or so craft breweries participating.”

Doyle said the Mariner’s Point event is a win-win for participants and observers alike as “the weather hasn’t been bad yet, it gives players a chance to warm up for July and also allows people to enjoy some great craft brews. People can buy drinks in a beer garden-type space, along with our Beer Buggy, as we close off all of Mariner’s Point.”

Currently, the event is for ages 21 and up. OMBAC is waiting to hear back from the City as to whether its request to stage an all-ages event will be granted. Check OMBAC’s website and social media for possible changes.

Team entry: $150 per team starting. Divisions: Men’s Pro, Men’s Open (gloves are allowed in this division), Men’s Masters (Must be 45 or older, 65-plus can wear gloves), and Women’s Open Divisions (Team entry includes three tasting event wristbands for players).

Ticket sales are through events.com. Breweries included: Mike Hess Brewing, Second Chance Beer Co., BNS Brewing, Resident Brewing, Burgeon Beer Co., Ballast Point Brewing, Mujeres Brew House, Thorn Brewing, The Lost Abbey, Ashland Hard Seltzer, Dos Desperados Brewery, 3R Brewing, Three Punk Ales Brewing Co., Pure Project, Kings & Convicts Brewing Co., Alesmith Brewing, Coronado Brewing, Societe Brewing, Pacific Islander Brewing Co. and You & Yours Distiling Co.

For more information, visit ombac.org/beerfestotl/ and facebook.com/ombac and Twitter: @OMBAC.

OTL CRAFT BEER FEST & TOURNAMENT

Where: Mariner’s Point in Mission Bay Park.

When: Saturday, May 18, OTL Tournament 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Craft Beer Festival 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Info: ombac.org/beerfestotl/.