August Club Meeting at CCHBS

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Hey PG!

I hope you’ve all been enjoying the summer, preferably brewing lots and lots of delicious homebrew. I’m sending this simple message out as a reminder that THIS THURSDAY is our August club meeting at Culver City Homebrewing Supply starting at 7:30pm. Here’s a short list of what to expect…

– Our commercial tasting style this month is “Sour”, hosted by Tim J.
– Best Beer of The Meeting competition style is also Sour beer. (Kegs and bottles are welcome!)
– I’ll be cooking up some tasty cheese burgers on the grill, condiments will be care of Dean, and homemade buns by Tom R. (Suggested donation is $5 per burger, every dollar helps and is appreciated!)
– Announcements, raffle & prizes, and of course: Generally excellent comradery.

Looking forward to seeing you there! Details and directions below.

Thanks!

Michael

17aug7:30 pmAugust Club Meeting7:30 pm Culver City Home Brew Supply

First Friday August: Firestone Walker’s Propagator

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Hey PG,

Our Summer party on Saturday was a blast, wasn’t it? A well earned thanks goes out to Mimi for orchestrating, Dean for hosting, and to the team of volunteers who planned, prep’d food, brought beer & raffle prizes, and helped with setup & cleanup. Our special events and charity coordinator Mimi did her usual excellent job of laying out the plan, and everything went off without a hitch.

If you have photos from the event, I’d love to see them. There are about four ways to reach me, choose one or two. 🙂

Next up on our calendar is August’s First Friday this Friday August 4th. We are going out to Firestone Walker’s Propagator near Washington and Lincoln; not too far from the shop actually. Manager Jay is always good to us, and we have a great relationship with FW in general. I’m hoping for a decent turnout, on that note just a reminder too: First Friday’s are always open to friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc. Aiming to be there myself at around 7pm, but come by when you can.

Heads-up: Firestone Walker only fills FW branded growlers.

Looking further on into the month, I’m going to be cooking up some burgers at Culver City Home Brew Supply for our Third Thursday club meeting. Tim J. will supply the commercial tasting, style is Sour beer. I have a few bottles I’ll be bringing out for the Best Beer of Meeting competition, and I’m calling on our best sour beer makers to do the same. Yes, that was a challenge. The line is drawn in the sand, cross it if you dare! 😛

Alright, info on First Friday is below. Tim, I hope you’re already shopping for your Sour flight — I’ll gladly help you pick them if you’re having trouble deciding.

See you Friday @ 7pm PG!

Michael

4aug7:00 pmFirst Friday - Firestone Walker's Propagator7:00 pm Firestone Walker Propagator

Summer Party Tomorrow!!!!

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Hey PG!

We are just ONE more night away from our annual Summer party tomorrow (Saturday)!

We’ve heard from a bunch of you with beer, food, and equipment volunteering and things are coming together nicely.

A few bits we can always use more of:

Power cords
Power strips
Tables & chairs
MORE FOOD AND MORE BEER!

And we’ve got our setup work to do tonight starting at 6pm as well, if you’re free c’mon up!

Also, don’t forget that a big part of what we do each year revolves around charity work. We’ll be collecting donations at this event and would love it if you each dug into a closet or stopped into a box store to grab a few items to donate. All donations will go on to our partners in charity at The People Connection (formerly Ocean Park Community Center.)

IDEAS & SUGGESTIONS

Clothing (all donations should be clean and, if used, in good condition.)

Sweat socks – for men, women and children
New underwear – men’s, women and children
Sweat shirts and tee-shirts for adults – all sizes especially larger sizes
Flannel and long sleeve shirts for adults
Pants and jeans for adults – all sizes especially larger sizes
Sneakers – men’s & women’s most needed
Shower shoes/thongs
Rain ponchos for adults & children
Personal & Household items

Hygiene Items (Travel or regular size)
toothpaste
• toothbrush
• deodorant
• shampoo
• disposable razors
• bar soap
• hand & body lotion
• sanitary napkins & tampons
Blankets (preferably wool)
Backpacks or duffel bags
Sleeping bags for adults
Diapers – all sizes
Bedding: Twin size sheets, comforters and pillows. Please note pillow must be new.
Welcome Home Packages

Kitchen Kits (dish towels, dish soap, utensils, plates and cups, pots and pans etc.)
Bathroom Necessities (shampoo and conditioner, body wash/soap, hand and body towels, shaving cream, razors, etc.)
Bedroom Essentials (comforter, sheets, pillows, pajamas, slippers, etc.)
Cleaning Supplies (dust pan, broom, Windex, counter spray, toilet bowl cleaner and brush, etc.).

Reply back to this message if you have any questions (or reach out on Facebook, that works too) and otherwise I’ll see you tomorrow at 2pm!

Michael

29jul2:00 pm2017 Summer Party2:00 pm Dean's House

Countdown to Party!

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Hey PG

Michael here, I hope this message reaches you well and I hope your spring brew sessions are paying off big! We have definitely had plenty of beer drinking weather, and finally the good sun has landed on the weekends for once. I put a Belgian Saison in the fermenter (at 75F) just this past Saturday and I’m already planning my next warm fermented beer.

In just a few days now, we’re meeting at Dean’s place for our annual Summer party. There will be plenty of food and home brewed beer, lots of fun people, and we’ll have our door prize raffle as always.

I want to make sure everyone who can make it comes out and if you’ve never been to a PG event before, it’s a great one to start with. Members enter free and non-members pay just TEN BUCKS each for free reign on food and access to a wide range of unique and delicious home brewed beer, cider, and mead.

Pick your preference of Uber, Lyft, or carpool. Dean’s house really isn’t difficult or far to get to and from the Culver City area and I don’t remember much traffic in previous years.

As usual, we need help from members to make this event a success.

First, if you’re bringing a beverage to put on tap with us, be it a keg of beer or soda; Reply back to this email and let us know what you’re bringing. Carl will make a tag for the tap handle and everyone will know who made it and what it is.

Next up, we need help most on Friday night starting around 6pm and Sunday morning starting around 10am for setup and clean up. It’s a fun way to give back and usually involves a beer or two and some creative thinking. Please, please, please, if you volunteer just one hour – Make it at either Friday’s setup or Sunday’s cleanup. We need the help.

Chef Ian may tap you on the shoulder for help too, there will be plenty to do around the BBQ.

We need some items too, if you can bring an item or two from this list we would be much better off.

Folding tables
Folding chairs
Popup tents
Bottled water
FOOD and BEER! (our theme is Tropical but bring whatever!)

Finally, here’s a quick list of things I recommend bringing for you and your guests.

Cups/glasses
Sunscreen and/or a hat
Picnic blanket or a chair
Towel and bathing suit (the pool is open)
Friends!

Okay, I intended for this to be a quick one but I’m too excited for Saturday. Don’t be surprised if you hear from me again before the week is up. 🙂

See you Saturday at two pm!

Michael

29jul2:00 pm2017 Summer Party2:00 pm Dean's House

PG Summer Party — Are You Ready?

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Pacific Gravity’s Summer Party Checklist

Saturday, July 29th – 2pm to 10pm

Location:  Dean Sussman’s – 1310 Amalfi Drive, Pacific Palisades, 90272

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IMPORTANT: PLEASE EMAIL US WITH WHAT YOU WILL BRING AND HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Checklist for ALL party attendees:

Don’t forget to bring and things to know:

  • Bring BEER & other beverages
  • Bring FOOD – Hawaiian Luau-themed or any food that goes with beer!
  • Fee for all adult guests is $10 per guest. Kids are free. (Current members are free.)
  • Payment for past due membership – cash or credit
  • Donations for Charity – clothes, toiletries, new socks/underwear, kitchen kits, cleaning supplies, etc.
  • Chairs and Blankets
  • Bathing suits and towels, if you want to use the swimming pool.
  • Sunscreen
  • Jackets & sweaters for the evening
  • Cash for Raffle tickets
  • PG merchandise will be available for sale at the Front Desk.
  • Note for food contributions, we will NOT have use of a kitchen for heating or cooling so please plan accordingly. Please label your food containers so that we can get them back to you.

Charity Donation – IDEAS & SUGGESTIONS

Clothing  (all donations should be clean and, if used, in good condition.)

  • Sweat socks – for men, women and children
  • New underwear – men’s, women and children
  • Sweat shirts and tee-shirts for adults – all sizes especially larger sizes
  • Flannel and long sleeve shirts for adults
  • Pants and jeans for adults – all sizes especially larger sizes
  • Sneakers – men’s & women’s most needed
  • Shower shoes/thongs
  • Rain ponchos for adults & children

Personal & Household items

  • Hygiene Items (Travel or regular size)
  • toothpaste
    • toothbrush
    • deodorant
    • shampoo
    • disposable razors
    • bar soap
    • hand & body lotion
    • sanitary napkins & tampons
  • Blankets (preferably wool)
  • Backpacks or duffel bags
  • Sleeping bags for adults
  • Diapers – all sizes
  • Bedding: Twin size sheets, comforters and pillows. Please note pillow must be new.

Welcome Home Packages

  • Kitchen Kits (dish towels, dish soap, utensils, plates and cups, pots and pans etc.)
  • Bathroom Necessities (shampoo and conditioner, body wash/soap, hand and body towels, shaving cream, razors, etc.)
  • Bedroom Essentials (comforter, sheets, pillows, pajamas, slippers, etc.)
  • Cleaning Supplies (dust pan, broom, Windex, counter spray, toilet bowl cleaner and brush, etc.).

Competition Corner – July 2017

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As we approach the middle part of summer, I hope your Summer Party beer is just about ready for action.  Along the way, don’t forget to hold back a couple of bottles for the Los Angeles County Fair.  Entries are due Friday, July 21st.  Registration is up and running at http://competitions.maltosefalcons.com/.  Two bottles are needed for each entry.  Styles are based on the Maltose Falcons Style Guidelines.  Entry fee is $9.00 and must be paid via PayPal.  Entries can be dropped off at the Culver City Homebrew Supply Co.  They also need judges for the event.  Judging will be on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 8:30AM at the  94th Areo Squadron, 16320 Raymer St  Van Nuys, CA 91406.  Judges and stewards for the LA County Fair Homebrew Competition receive two free tickets to the fair as well as a free parking pass!

Pacific Brewers CupWhile you are at it, put away a couple more bottles for the 2017 Pacific Brewers Cup. As soon as you know the carbonation is good, keep them chilled.  Our big competition day is September 30th and you’ll want to make sure your beers haven’t been impaired by the hot dog days of summer.  You also have just enough time to start a quick-maturing beer if you brew now.  If you haven’t already done so, check out the website at http://pbc.pacificgravity.com/ (or you can click on the “competitions” tab above.)  The entry rules have been posted, along with the all-important timeline.  You can already sign up to be a judge or steward.  You can register your entries starting August 1st, with the entry deadline of September 15th.  We’re gonna need a ton of help with bottle organizing and transportation, as well as judging and stewarding help in the latter half of September.   The main judging session will be at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church at 3590 Grand View Blvd in Mar Vista.  Depending on the number of entries we get, we may also be doing some prelim sessions at Los Angeles Ale Works.

As we get caught up in the fray of Pacific Brewers Cup,  we will be approaching the deadline for the California State Homebrew Competition.  On-line registration is already working at http://castatebrewcomp.org/.  Entries will be due on October 12th and need to go up to San Francisco.  If you happen to be going that way in early October, we are looking for a driver to drop our entries off.  Drop me a line and the club can reimburse a portion of your gas money.

 

 

Final Reminder for PG Bus Trip to the Stuffed Sandwich on Saturday, July 8th!

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There are still some seats available on the bus so come join us for a fun road trip. Friends are welcome.
And, don’t forget to bring a brew or 2 to share with friends on the bus.

The bus leaves at 12noon from the Culver City Home Brew Supply so please plan to arrive by 11:30am.
See more details for this can’t be missed PG adventure at: http://pacificgravity.com/2017/06/save-the-date-for-pgs-bus-trip-to-stuffed-sandwich-saturday-july-8th/

If you want a preview, then go checkout Stuffed Sandwich’s website for the July beer special offerings.

See you on the bus!

 

Upcoming Summer Events that can’t be missed!

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Bus Party/Bus Trip to Stuffed Sandwich on Saturday, July 8th

Who’s going on Pacific Gravity’s road trip to Stuffed Sandwich on Saturday, July 8th?
Please let us know ASAP if you want a seat on the bus. And, please let us know if you will be going but not on the bus. We need to give Stuffed Sandwich an estimated headcount by the end of this week. Please email Mimi at [email protected] at your earliest convenience this week.

Also, please note that Stuffed Sandwich has confirmed the lunch special as:
Half a sandwich (Ham, Turkey, Roast Beef, Italian Sub or veggie option) served with a side of potato or macaroni salad along with a pint of draft beer in a complimentary glass for $19.50 (a $25 value).  Note this is in ADDITION to your money for the bus ride. The sandwiches are huge, so this is a good lunch even for a big eater. We will collect orders for the special lunch as we board the bus on July 8th.
Please see the post for this trip on the PG website for more details.

Pacific Gravity’s Summer Party on Saturday, July 29th

A note from Chef Ian about our PG Summer Party on Saturday, July 29th:
SUMMER LUAU

WE ARE GOING ON A HUKILAU, A HUKI HUKI HUKI HUKI HUKILAU!  We are going to eat some ono kau kau!  At our huki huki huki huki hukilau!

Aloha and shaka bra!  This year’s summer party will feature a Hawaiian style luau theme.  This particular theme is near and dear to our chef’s heart and soul as he was a long time native of the islands.  So expect him to pull out all the stops and try to create as close to a traditional style luau as we can get without actually digging an imu (oven) pit in Deans yard!  So get out your grass skirt and palm frond hat on and hula on down to Dean Sussman’s little grass shack in the Pacific Palisades.  The address is 1310 Amalfi Drive.  The date for our luau will be July 29th.

As usual this is a huge operation and its success will depend on massive amounts of member assistance.  First off we need beer, lots of it; if you brew now you still have time to get it in the keg for the summer party.  We also need sodas for the non-drinkers, if you ever wanted to make a soda, now is a good time to try it.  This year’s drink contest will feature ‘tropical fruit’.  Any alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink or beer that features a tropical fruit will be considered for this award.  Plus we will award the best beer an honor as well.

We will need all party attendees to bring food dishes to compliment our Chef’s luau feast. So, please start thinking what you will bring.

And, time to clean out your closets! We will have collection of charity donations for The People Concern (formerly OPCC). Charity Donation Goods to be collected: – clothes, toiletries, new socks/underwear, kitchen kits, cleaning supplies, etc ( https://www.opcc.net/?nd=in )

Finally, we will need volunteers for all aspects of the party: setup-Friday & Saturday, food prep-Friday & Saturday, check-in, bartender shifts & cleanup-Sunday am.

So, please email us ([email protected] ) if you have questions or just want to sign up to volunteer!

First Friday (July 7th) in Redondo Beach

And, don’t forget that we have First Friday (July 7th) in Redondo Beach: Naja’s Place & King Harbor Brewing Taproom. (see PG website/calendar for more details)

Looking Back On A Great Weekend

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Someone once told me that travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. This past weekend’s PG trip to the Bay area was one of those times for me that the concept rang loudly and clearly. We couldn’t have ordered better weather and (thanks to the many tenured Bay area’ists with us) we found a bunch of great spots to haunt. The local food and beers were exceptional and the accommodations were well situated; thanks again to Ian for the hotel recommendation and help w/ booking.

The party at Anchor was a great time, in my opinion their brewery is one of the most unique in the country. The copper brewhouse, their open fermenter rooms, the hop room, and the tasting room all laid out as I assume they were on that first day in 1979 when they moved in.  Pretty cool history beyond, taught by Ryan and his co-host, both in their white jumpsuits per tradition. My personal favorite beer was a mix of Old Foghorn Barleywine and the Liberty Ale American IPA, it was a great mash up (credit to Tad for recommending that one).

I know there was some travel trouble flying back, which seems to be a common problem as of late. To those that were held back due to flight delays, I hope you made the best of the time over a few more local beers!

Thank you to everyone who came along and thank you to Anchor Brewing Company for the honor and the party. WE WILL BE BACK!

Looking ahead…

First Friday at LA Ale Works is Friday June 2nd at 7pm.

They have been rolling out new beers, lots to look forward to on their tap list. It’s been great watching them grow and I know they’re happy to host us.

June’s Third Thursday lands on the 15th and we’ll be meeting at Culver City Home Brew Supply. Style of the month is International and Czech Lagers and Luis is hosting the tasting.

These meetings at CCHBS are a perfect way to introduce a friend to our hobby and to the club so feel free to bring good people with a genuine interest in getting into zymurgy for a free orientation visit.

Also, as you’ve probably heard: We’ve started the process of hosting the annual Pacific Brewer’s Cup competition and we need volunteers to help out. Navigate to pbc.pacificgravity.com for more information. As always, we’re hoping to make a grand showing in PBC this year as a club, since of course we are hosting. Bring out your best!   🙂 

See you soon!

Michael