Cali Roots enjoys very solid lineup (SOJA, Roots, Fishbone, Steel Pulse...) and now its own session beer.

In its sixth year, California Roots organizers have gathered a roster of energizing Rasta befitting its ever-strengthening rep as the biggest reggae-rock concert on the map.

SOJA, Steel Pulse, Dirty Heads, Iration and Slightly Stoopid rank among the big names.

Only now the festival has added a most worthy and diversified depth of hip-hop, alt-rock and other rootsy sounds, all dripping with talent and consciousness.

Some of the names that leap out:

• Dilated Peoples, back after a hiatus with more creativity and self-control than ever now that they've partnered with an independent label.

• Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon house band and hip-hop collective The Roots, who have been making Fairgrounds visits a habit after a Jazz Fest appearance in September and a Monterey Music Summit starring role back in the day.

• Legendary blunt lovers and pioneering Latin L.A. rappers Cypress Hill.

• The soulful and skilled John Butler Trio, who weave awareness into earthy acoustic funk.

• G-Love & Special Sauce, the three-member alt, blues, hip-hop outfit from Philly (like The Roots—they also played Monterey Music Summit), also making their Cali Roots debut.

• Fishbone, purveyors of their own swirl of punk, funk, ska, metal, soul and reggae and vigorous performers.

Then there's another ingredient to admire—and ingest: a festival-specific special brew. 

Sierra Nevada Brewing has crafted Hoppy Roots IPA, a session brew created purely for purchase at the event.

It's a score for both sides: The top tier festival pulls in more than 40,000 fans to the Monterey County Fair and Event Center over the Memorial Day weekend.

Festival producers Dan Sheehan and Jeff Monser worked with  Sierra Nevada brewers to develop Hoppy Roots, a session beer, meaning it has a lower ABV content than most every IPA out there (4.7 percent ABV), making it more suitable for a day of dancing and listening. (A session being an extended beer-loving experience.)

The Hoppy Roots will line up alongside the classic Sierra Nevada Pale, Nooner Pilsner, Torpeedo IPA and Summer Fest, along with their high altitude beers, Big Foot and Narwhal, which Sierra has only done for a few special festivals.

Click over to the California Roots Music & Arts Festival website for more info, including remaining ticket options ($75 and up).