Quick Bites: Craft beer news, Best Of results preview, more Wharf changes and a PBFW oppo for locals.

The craft beer production industry is the fastest growing alcoholic beverage segment in the United States.

Revenue has grown 19.1 percent annually in the last five years, reaching an estimated $5.1 billion in 2015.

Makes me want to celebrate with a pint at Post No Bills in Sand City, English Ales in Marina, Cannery Row Brewing Company in New Monterey or Peter B's BrewPub in Old Monterey.

They each were recent winners of our annual Best of Monterey County Readers Poll for Best Selection of Beers.

But the latest winner is none of the above.

Results arrive Wednesday night, along with those from another 175 categories, and a photo of a person dressed as an inanimate object on the cover.

I will also post some Specialty Foods and Restaurants results on the blog.

More food news follows:

• Old Fisherman's Grotto's designs on a new sign get their day before Monterey City Council Wednesday. That comes as the former Rappa's emerges from its appeal period to go full-on as Big Fish Grill, with a big new sign and a building permit being pulled this week.

• Maya Cinemas in Oldtown Salinas now serves Gold Leaf teas from its stylish and tasty neighbor (who recently got a new home on W. Gabilan).

• Doris Day celebrates 91 years with two jazz concerts 6 and 8:30pm Friday, April 3, at Cypress Inn in Carmel, one of the best bars by the sea and the top spot for dog-friendly happy hour.

• Two years ago this month, I described how one-time Weekly food contributor and long-time agent-of-good Michael Fechter, his wife and a team of good souls turned limited funds into a huge meal to feed the homeless at Del Monte Beach (and how you can make a robust meal for five out of $20). Now another angel is gathering funds for Easter breakfast down there for the homeless and underfed. Call Al Siekert at 402-0820 to help.

• The evolution of over-the-top continues with the eighth annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine April 9-12 and includes beach parties, much more intimate (and more indulgent) dinners and multi-course feasts driven by couples who met in the kitchen. Look to the blog for more soon. Meanwhile, the call for volunteers is out, and allows willing locals to attend lavish events in exchange for staffing others; email volunteer@coastalluxurymanagement.com or tap into www.pbfw.com.

• Recipe submission season for the Great Garlic Cook-Off at the Gilroy Garlic Festival is on. Rules: at least six fresh cloves or three teaspoons chopped or minced garlic must go in, and dishes must be prepped and plated in two hours. Eight finalists will compete onstage July 25 for $5,000. Recipes due by May 1.

• The Red Cross holds a blood drive sponsored by Alvarado Street Brewery. The bus will be parked in the back 10am-4pm April 10, and all donors receive a coupon for a house draft beer. 

• In mildly related news, Kris Cowdrey has moved from Alvarado Street to take the GM reins at Schooners Coastal Kitchen on Cannery Row.

• Five Guys Burgers & Fries in Salinas now does milkshakes.

• Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-6:30pm are wine time at McIntyre tasting room: the price for a glass of red, white or sparkling is set by the clock. So at 3:45pm the charge is $3.45.

• Stone Creek Kitchen (393-1042) hosts winemaker dinner 7pm Friday, April 10, with solar-powered Baker & Brian winery of San Luis Obispo. The theme is “Into the Woods,” with earthy wines and woodland-inspired dishes and ingredients, including rack of elk over root vegetable smash and juniper berry and pendulum reduction as the main ($125).

• Pasta is served—for free—at il vecchio (324-4282) Thursday, April 2, at the Art Surge Dinner. Voluntary donations benefit the Arts Council for Monterey County and their youth art programs. Only one seating at 5pm, no reservations.

• Undercover creative cuisine master Johnny DeVivo has a new twilight menu at Porter's in the Forest with spring ingredients (asparagus, trumpet mushrooms) and inspired plates like the short rib fries ($12) and a salmon salad with pine nuts and JDV's own pancetta ($15) 3pm-dusk Sun-Wed and until 7pm Thu-Sat.