The Southern California Homebrewers Fest is just around the corner! May 4th – May 6th, 2012
Pacific Gravity will once again join hundreds of fellow homebrewers at the Lake Casitas Recreation Area in Ojai, California, for the 22nd Annual Southern California Homebrewers Festival. There’s a lot of info here, so please take the time to read it through.
Over forty homebrewing clubs from SoCal and points further will be pouring keg-upon-keg of home-brewed ales, lagers, meads, and other fermented potables on Saturday, the 5th of May, from 11am to 10pm, but as those of you who’ve attended in the past know, we make a weekend of it. In fact, Friday night is a “mini-fest” in and of itself, with commercial breweries pouring freely (Firestone, Beachwood, and Telegraph are confirmed) as well as some of the more enthusiastic homebrew clubs doing the same. Will this be the year PG joins them that night? Let’s make it happen!
A view of the festival in 2009
We’ve once again secured the Owl Court group campsite, so round up your tent and camping gear and join us.
We typically arrive on the Friday afternoon before (so take the 4th off from work!) and depart for home on the Sunday after the festival. There are also hotels in nearby Ojai for those disinclined to camp.
Ahh, Owl Court brings back memories...kinda.
Renew your CHA membership now!
Membership in the California Homebrewers Association (CHA) is required for entry into the festival, and those memberships are on sale now. There will be no memberships sold at the festival – no exceptions. Memberships are $50 and will be sold up until the day before the festival, at which point all sales will be closed. Membership in the CHA is your ticket to the festival, and you’ll also receive a CHA membership card good for discounts at some fine beer retailers – details to follow.
“Full Ride” or “On Your Own”?
Like last year, we’re offering two camping fee tiers:
⁃ $40 / person for camping plus 2 breakfasts and Saturday evening dinner, or
⁃ $20 / person for “camping only”
With the latter, you’ll need to provide for your own nutritional requirements throughout the weekend. Payment by check is best (make them payable to Pacific Gravity and write “Ojai Camping” on the memo line), but cash is fine too. The Anchor Club of The Year trip was a welcome distraction, but as the time is now short to the Fest, please plan on paying your fees at the March club meeting. Remember also that your “spot” isn’t reserved until you’ve paid.
In addition, we’re revisiting an old PG tradition by having Friday evening’s fare be a club potluck – so think about whether you’d like to provide an entree, side, or dessert – homemade is best! A signup sheet will be available at the March meeting for you to list your contribution.
Then there’s the beer…
Pacific Gravity always has a great showing, and this year should be no different. We have many talented brewers in our club, and we encourage you to contribute a keg for the cause. Now that the club dispense system (CDS) has been upgraded with the expansion box, we have a total of 22 thirsty taps to provide for. We will also need kegs for the group campsite, so if you haven’t already brewed your Fest beers, fire up your kettles and get on with it. As always, we should strive for diversity in our offerings and have some unusual beers to pour as well. Carl will have a signup sheet at the meeting for your Festival keg contributions.
Look at all that awesome homebrew from a few years back!
Just One More Thing…
Once again, Lake Casitas will require attendees to pay for parking – it’s $60 for the weekend, so carpooling will make a lot of sense. Please do your best to coordinate this soon with your fellow club members.
We’re working toward making this year’s festival experience even more affordable, flexible, and enjoyable for all attending, and we hope to see you there!
For more information, please email me at schbf@pacificgravity.com
To purchase your CHA membership, visit calhomebrewers.org
Thanks for your time.
— Victor
