Lompoc Brewing has announced their 6th annual Black Out Beer Fest and 11th annual Chowder Challenge after taking last year off. Taking place on a single weekend on back to back days, March 2 and March 3 at 3901 N Williams Ave. On Friday, March 2, the 6th annual Black Out Beer Fest will take place from 4pm to 10pm; and on Saturday, March 3, the 11th Chowder Challenge returns from Noon to 3pm (or until chowders run out).More from a press release:Black Out Beer FestThe Black Out Beer Fest is for people who love the decadent, dark beers of winter. The event features at least two dozen rotating dark beers – including dark lagers, porters, stouts, coffee beers and black IPAs – from Lompoc and more than 20 guest breweries from around the Northwest (and one from The Netherlands). Participants include 54-40, Baerlic, Breakside, Buoy, Burnside, Coin Toss, Double Mountain, Ecliptic, Everybody's,  Fort George, Gigantic, Lompoc, Occidental, Old Town, Oproer Brouwerij, pFriem, PINTS, StormBreaker, Thunder Island, Uptown Market, Widmer and Zoiglhaus.Admission into the Black Out Beer Fest is free; tasting packages, required to taste the beers, cost $20, which includes a souvenir glass mug and eight beer tickets. Additional beer tickets are available for $1 apiece. All tasting packages and additional tickets are purchased at the door. The event is for ages 21+.Chowder ChallengeThe Chowder Challenge is a blind tasting of a dozen samples of clam chowders by area restaurants and brewpubs. Attendees receive a tray with a dozen numbered two-ounce samples of chowder, then vote for their favorite; the chowder receiving the most votes is named the People’s Choice Winner. This year's challengers include Burnside Brewing Co., EaT: An Oyster Bar, Ecliptic Brewing, Farm House Cafe, Ground Breaker Brewing, Lompoc Brewing, PINTS Brewing Co., The Riverhouse Nestucca, Produce Row Cafe, Renner's Grill/The Hawthorne Hideaway, Saraveza and Wayfinder Beer.A tray of all 12 chowder samples costs $15, or $20 for a tray and a Lompoc pint; all tickets are sold at the door. The event also features a beer garden, a raffle with prizes from the participants, and pub food for purchase. Minors are welcome at the family friendly event. All net proceeds are given to the Community Transitional Schooll for homeless children in the Portland area.