SoCal HomeBrewers Festival – Anyone Else Going?

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So far, 6 tent campers (Carl T, Jay H, Tom Rierson, David F., Uncle Enzo, and Brett W) and 2 RV/Trailer (me, Larry P) have advised they will be attending the fest, which will be held at Temecula’s Vail Lake RV Resort over the weekend of April 29 – May 1, 2016.

An additional 5 PGers were put on the “maybe/probably/not sure” list at the last meeting.

I will be making the campsite reservations during the week of Nov 2, so I need to know how many sites to plan for.  We are limited to 6 campers per tent site (RV/Trailers will get their own site), so a reasonable headcount will allow me to reserve the proper number of sites.

We have had up to 50 campers in past years, but we do not want to reserve for that and risk incurring a bunch of $20 site cancellation fees if we have less attendance.

If you plan to attend and stay at the PG campsite, please send an email to me at:  “brewfest {at} pacificgravity {dot} com” and advise:

(a) If you will be camping in a tent, how many – including yourself – camping slots will you need? The cost will be $30 per person for the weekend (Fri and Sat);

or

(b) If you plan to stay in an RV/Trailer.  In this case, your RV/Trailer will get its own campsite at a cost of $110 for the weekend, and must be paid at the club meeting in November. (If you want the lowdown on this option, talk to Larry Powell; he did it at the 2015 fest.)

Thank you.

Firestone Walker – Anniversary Brew Weekend Itinerary

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The time is here!  Its finally here!

Here are a couple of last minute notes for everyone along with an itinerary.

Dinner

For those of you who have signed up for dinner on Friday we have a reservation @ 7:30pm at the Taproom at Firestone Walker on Friday 10/30/2015.

The Taproom

1400 Ramada Dr, Paso Robles, CA 93446

The taproom is putting together a custom menu for our group to help accommodate our group size.  If you have specific dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, etc.) you will just need to tell your server before hand.

Brew Session

Brewery Location:

1400 Ramada Dr, Paso Robles, CA 93446

Firestone Walker is going to brew our beer in TWO sessions.  The first session will Mash In @ 6am BEFORE we arrive at the brewery.  We are scheduled to arrive and check in @ 8am at the brew house so that we can all be checked in by the second Mash In @ 9am.  You will be checked in for two things:

  1. To confirm that your dues to the club are fully paid.
  2. To check your ID and ticket (if you are attending) to the anniversary party.  If you are attending you will be given a wristband that will give you access to the party and allow you to skip the line for quick entry.

Please be there as close to 8am as possible so we can get everyone checked in quickly.

Some other notes for the brew day:

  • Bring photo ID!
  • Wear closed toe shoes
  • If you have eye protection please bring your own.  If you do not have any eye protection the FW team will supply some for you.
  • Our brew session starts with Mash In at 9am.  Please be punctual at 8am so that you can get checked in on time.
  • Due to the number of attendees we will likely be moving around in groups during the brew session to keep the numbers down in key areas.

Anniversary Party

There will be a line of people outside of the brewery waiting to get in to the party at 11am.  As I mentioned above the FW team will be checking tickets and ID’s when we check in at 8am.  This will help the FW focus on the lineup of guests outside when the event starts, but it also will provide our group the ability to skip the line and head directly into the party due to already having wristbands and tickets for our bottles of anniversary ale.

The facility will be PACKED with people on Saturday who are just attending the FW Anniversary Party, so please come prepared!

Cheers!

October club meeting is next week

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This months meeting will be at the brew store next Thursday.  We will be taking nominations for the next years board for ALL 3 voted on positions (president, vice president and treasurer).  If you can’t make the meeting, you can always send a nomination for any of these fine positions to board@pacificgravity.com and it would be great if you could do so before next Thursday.  Also, if you have an itch to help out the club in any capacity (we sure could use it), but don’t want to be any of the voted on positions, there are other positions that are appointed that you can also volunteer for like club secretary.

Speaking of volunteering, we need a volunteer to take on the commercial tasting for the meeting next week.  The style this month is wood aged beers, so anything pretty much goes as long as it’s been aged in some wood! Please email styles@pacificgravity.com if you’d like to volunteer.  It’s super fun to do and you get to pick beer out on someone else’s money :).

Can’t do this month but you’d love to do the tasking? You’re in luck and we need a volunteer for the November tasting as well!

Styles of the month information

 

http://pacificgravity.com/events/october-club-meeting-cchbs/

15oct7:30 pm- 10:00 pmOctober Club Meeting: CCHBS7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Culver City Home Brew Supply

 

 

 

SoCal HomeBrewers Fest: Response Needed

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The next Southern California HomeBrewers Festival will be held April 29 – May 1, 2016 at Vail Lake RV Resort in Temecula.  I will be reserving our club campsites in a couple of weeks, and I need your help to figure out how many sites P.G. will need.

We are limited to 6 campers per campsite, and there is a different cost structure depending on whether you are staying in a tent or in an RV/trailer.

If you plan to attend and stay at the PG campsite, please send an email to me at:  “brewfest {at} pacificgravity {dot} com” and advise:

(a) If you will be camping in a tent, how many – including yourself – camping slots will you need? The cost will be $30 per person for the weekend (Fri and Sat);

or

(b) If you plan to stay in an RV/Trailer.  In this case, your RV/Trailer will get its own campsite at a cost of $110 for the weekend, and must be paid before we reserve the campsites in the first week of November. (If you want the lowdown on this option, talk to Larry Powell.  He did it at the 2015 fest.)

 

OTHER FEST NEWS:

  • The costs listed above cover the cost camping only. They do not include CHA membership ($10 – required to purchase fest pass) or the Festival Pass ($35 if purchased in January; $40 if purchased in February; $45 if purchased in March or April) or food.

 

  • The Bricktop Blaggers will be back, providing their take on Celtic Rock on Friday night.
  • A different band will be playing Saturday afternoon.
  • The Friday night commercial pour will take place in the festival area.
  • They plan to have 5 commercial breweries pouring Friday night; each must pour 2 or 3 special beers.

State Homebrew Comp Entries Due Thursday Oct 8th

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It is time to get your entries ready for the last competition of the 2015 season.  Registration for the California State Homebrew Competition is now up and running at  http://nchfinfo.org/castatecomp/.  This is one of the three big competitions that Anchor Brewing considers for the California Homebrew Club of the Year Award, so make sure you get your entries ready to go.

Michael Musgrave has volunteered to hand carry the entries up to the Bay area, but only if you get them to the Culver City shop by the close of business Thursday, October 8th.  NOTE HOURS:  the shop closes at 6:00 PM.

If you miss the local drop-off deadline, you can still ship your entries to Oak Barrel Winecraft 1443 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702.  Entries must be registered by October 10th, and arrive by October 17th.

First Friday is tomorrow at The Doughroom ( bottle share also, please read for details) !

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First Friday is here and what better place to celebrate than The Doughroom! This First Friday will be a special one as Kaveh and co are graciously allowing us to have another bottle share.  Make sure you bring your best bottle (yes, only 1 bottle) to share with fellow Pacific Gravity members and patrons.

PLEASE NOTE

If you are bringing a bottle to share, you MUST purchase some food and drink as well. Lets make sure to support The Doughroom so we can continue having awesome events there like this one!

Also, they still have some Monkish beers on tap (sorry, doesn’t look like Triumphus is there any longer) and some other great beers.  And if you haven’t had their lasagna yet or the Spicy Bear pizza, you need to try them!

 

Spicy Bear Pizza

Spicy Bear Pizza

 

2oct - 3oct 27:00 pmoct 3First Friday - The Doughroom7:00 pm - 12:00 am (3) The Doughroom

 

Pacific Brewers Cup Results Posted

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Results for the 2015 Pacific Brewers Cup have been posted!  Congrats to Craig Corley with four ribbons including a 1st place for his Alt #15.    Brian and Kingsley stepped in with two firsts and a a 3rd, with help from Kevin Segna to pull an a 2nd place as well.  Ted and Lloyd picked up a 1st place for their Lavander IPA beer in the Spice/Herb/Vegetable category and an honorable mention in the Strong Belgian Ale category as well.  Dan and Emily picked up a couple of 3rds.  Chris Lindsay and Mike Patterson each picked up a 3rd.  Finally to round out the field, Neil Saund picked up an honorable mention for his Biere de Garde.

Thanks to all the PG members that showed up for the judging session at Four Points Sheraton.   Strand Brewers did an excellent job this year.  My hat is off to them!

Complete results have been posted at http://strandbrewersclub.org/pbc/db/ .  And, about a bazillion photos have been posted to http://craftbeerguy.com/tag/photos/

 

September club meeting is tomorrow

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Just a friendly reminder that the club meeting is tomorrow at Casa Molloy. The style of the month is IPAs so bring your favorite IPA you’ve brewed or even a commercial one you love with a passion. Brian said he’ll be happy to debate with any of you that there is no better IPA than a Pliny.

Who doesn’t like IPAs???? Be there or miss out!

More info at: http://pacificgravity.com/events/september-club-meeting/

17sep7:30 pm- 10:00 pmSeptember Club Meeting7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Casa Molloy

Pacific Brewer Cup Entry Deadline Saturday

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Just a reminder that the entry deadline for  Pacific Brewers Cup  is this Saturday Sept 12 at Noon!  Register now!

Judges and Stewards are also needed.  Sign up at the same you register your entries!  http://www.pacificbrewerscup.com/

Entries can be dropped off at the Culver City Home Brewing Supply Company, or at several other locations.

The competition is going to be held on Saturday, September 26, 2015, at the Four Points Sheraton LAX, 9750 Airport Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, 90045.

First Friday – Monkish Brewing Co

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First Friday is upon us and this month we’ve changed it up and are going to Monkish.  The reason we decided to do this is because Triumphus is on tap!

What is Triumphus?  It is the best of show beer at the Los Angeles Belgian Brew Challenge (ran by Pacific Gravity) this year, that was won by our very own Brian Holter and Kingsley Toby!  Not only is it a delicious tripel, it will be entered as a pro-am for this years GABF!  Even more awesome, it also comes in corked bottles which are only sold at the brewery!  There are limited quantities so make sure you support the club and Monkish and buy some, it’s really good, as Henry and co have graciously supported us for this competition and even put the PG logo on the bottle! How cool is that?!

triumphus

Food at Monkish

Monkish does have snacks available in the tasting room and outside food is welcome, so please make sure you plan accordingly.

 

4sep7:00 pmFirst Friday - Monkish Brewing7:00 pm