President’s Message

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It’s November again, time for brewing those cool weather fermenters, draining the last of your October fests and Bocks, and getting ready for those malty and high powered Christmas Ales and  Winter Warmers.

As I write this, it looks like Fall outside with a bright sun shining in the heavens, and temperatures in the mid 70’s. Brrrrrrr.  Where’s that cold Kolsch when I need it?

November brings us to new events, as well as some old repeats. We’re going to Naja’s for First Friday on the 4th, brewing on the 5th at Neil Saund’s duplex, taking a road trip to the Northern Territories on the 12th, and holding elections at the club meeting on the 17th. That represents a lot of beer drinking in 3 weeks, doesn’t it? Luckily, you can partake of these activities with a great group of people-Pacific Gravity Members! Please read all of the other articles posted on the website, or in the newsletter for details.

At the next meeting, besides elections, we will be soliciting your help in setting up the Holiday Party, as well as asking for beer and food commitments. Sign-up sheets will be available. Please offer your help, and favorite party food. If you won’t be attending the November Club Meeting, you can send an E-mail to me, VP Reed Wilson, or Activities Directors, Audrey Hill-Lindsay and Mimi Bardet letting us know what you’d like to bring.

For those of you who have never been to the Holiday Party, here’s the deal: PG supplies the main courses-Ham, Turkey, Carbonnades, as well as a few other “large” foods. The membership brings snacks, appetizers, sides, salads, and desserts. This event is your chance to show off your culinary skills, and accept the adulation of your fellow beer drinkers.

That’s all for now.

See you soon.

 

Michael

PG Election Update

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Fellow members,

1. There is still time to nominate people for the following positions:
President, Vice President, and Treasurer.
So far we have only 1 candidate for each position.
President: Audrey Hill-Lindsay
Vice President-Dave Mauceli
Treasurer-Craig Corley

If you would like to run for office, just get someone to nominate you and write a short paragraph on your behalf.

2. Candidates for PG Club Member of the Year are the following:
Carl Townsend, Audrey Hill-Lindsay, Dean Sussman, Neil Saund, and Tom Rierson.
If you wish to add a nominee to the list, please send the name to me, along with a short statement of support.

Submit any nominations to [email protected]

Please submit any new names by November 11th, earlier if possible.

ELECTIONS: Will be conducted at the November 17th meeting. Ballots will be available for Club Officers, and Member of the Year. Each voter is asked to choose 2 people in the MOY (aka Club Member of the Year-CMY) election.
If you cannot come to the meeting, you may vote by E-mail until Nov. 18th.

Election results will be announced at the Holiday Party on December 10th.

Send E-mail ballots to [email protected]

 

Michael Steinberg, President

2 Upcoming PG Events: FIRST FRIDAY (NOV 4th) & LEARN TO BREW DAY (NOV 5th)

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First Friday November 4th at Naja’s Place

A local favorite and frequent watering hole of many PG members, Naja’s Place offers up 88 taps of beer right on the Redondo Pier.  If you have never been then this First Friday is a must!  Though cooler nights and shorter days will have set in by early November, join us for an amazing beer selection, great food and good company to keep you warm.  Our neighbors, The Strand Brewers Club will also be joining us for some friendly beer drinking & discussions.

Beer:  So many choices!  Happy hour is from 4-6pm with $2 off pints & large glasses and $3 off pitchers.  The constantly rotating taps are listed on giant white boards above the bar and an updated picture is featured on their website: www.najasplace.com

Food: There is a section of pub-type appetizers and burgers. 

Music: There is a house band, The Land Sharks, that play every Friday evening beginning at 9pm featuring covers of your favorite rock ’n roll songs.

Time: First Fridays begin between 6-7pm, but feel free to arrive early and enjoy happy hour at the pier!

Address: 154 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Parking: It is generally easiest to park in the structure at the end of N Pacific Ave.  Many club members also find it convenient to ride their bikes to Naja’s.  For more info about getting to Naja’s by public transportation or bike and for more info on parking near the pier see: http://www.redondopier.com/?link=mapsdirections

Join us at Naja’s for beer, food and good company with your fellow PG & Strand Brewers!

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LEARN TO BREW DAY – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5th

Learn to Brew Day (formerly Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day), a nationwide AHA event will take place the first Saturday in November – so, come join us on Saturday, November 5th.  The event will be held at Neil Saund’s duplex. This is a great opportunity to brew outdoors, learn some new brewing techniques and to enjoy the company of your fellow brewers!

BREW INFO:

Neil Saund will be doing an all grain demo.

Victor Macias will be doing a extract batch.

Dave Mauceli & Kurt Periolat will be doing a partial mash demo

In addition to the demonstration brews, there is space for additional brewers, so bring your equipment and come brew. Please send an email to us [email protected], if you want to be added to the signup sheet.

BEER:
Bring some. Kegs, bottles, commercial beers are all welcome.

TIME:
Brew begins at 10am, and ends when the place is cleaned up, usually around 5 or 6.

ADDRESS:
The address is 12966 Rubens Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90066

PG Club Meeting – Thursday, October 20th @ 7:30pm

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Our club meeting is this Thursday! Our October meeting will feature Belgian Strong Ales!

PG Treasurer, Craig Corley, will be hosting the commercial tasting, and he’ll have some fine examples of the styles.  As usual, anyone who brings a keg of Belgian Strongs will be in the running for a $25 CCHBS gift certificate if his/her beer is chosen the Best of the Night.

El Rincon Criollo, our club’s local Cuban & Spanish restaurant, will be selling food at our meeting! Food service will begin at 7pm. They will be offering plates of rice, beans, plantains & a choice of 1 meat (chicken or pork) for a discounted price of $7.50. Sandwiches will also be available at a discounted price of $7.00.

You will want to make sure you have a good meal before our PG October meeting with many strong Belgian Strong Ales being served. So, come support CCHBS’s neighbor, El Rincon Criollo, and enjoy their delicious food while enjoying the October beer offerings.

Our October meeting will be a busy one. Here are some of the topics:

  • Pacific Brewer’s Cup awards will be given out at the meeting.
  • As is tradition, at the October meeting the membership of the Pacific Gravity Homebrew Club will nominate candidates for Club Member of the Year!  (Nominations can also be made by email to [email protected] by 11/19/11. Also, see President’s article on PG website for more details or contact any PG Board member.)
  •  Also, as is tradition, at the October meeting the membership of the Pacific Gravity Homebrew Club will nominate candidates for Club Officer positions. The elected offices are President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Anyone who is interested in performing much needed service to the club is urged to run for office. (Nominations can also be made by email to [email protected] by 11/19/11.  Also, see President’s article on PG website for more details or contact any PG Board member.)
  •  There will be announcements & sign up sheets for many upcoming PG events, such as: 

                   NOVEMBER 12th “Go North” Road Trip
                   NOVEMBER 5th: Learn to Brew Day
                   DECEMBER 4th: First Sunday & Holiday Party Setup
                   DECEMBER 10th: PG Holiday Party

  • Raffle tickets can be purchased from Terry Molloy, PG Raffle Guy & Fundraiser. We always need raffle prizes, so if you have any used equipment you want to donate, it is much appreciated. Glasses, “excess” commercial beers in the monthly style and gift certificates are always appreciated.
  •  PG merchandise will also be available for purchase.

 See you all at our meeting on Thursday!

California State Homebrew Competition Deadline is Oct 11th

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Entries are due for the California State Homebrew Competition on October 11th at the Culver City shop.  Luis DiStefano has graciously offered to transport our entries up to the Bay area, so for the first time in several years, you don’t have to box up your entries.  Although this competition uses the BJCP guidelines, they group the categories differently.  Complete details can be found at   http://nchfinfo.org/state-comp.html.

This competition is one of the 3 competitions used to determine the 2011 Anchor Brewing Homebrew Club of the Year, as well as Sierra Nevada Homebrewer of the Year.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE-OCTOBER

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The Pacific Brewers Cup is now in the history books, and I’d like to extend my congratulations to all the participants and ribbon winners. I’d also like to extend a special thank you to Competition Coordinator, Carl Townsend. Carl performed yeoman’s work this year, keeping the crew on track, and making sure that the PBC was a successful event. We had a great crew working with Carl, including Head Judge- Jeff Koehler, Cellarmaster-Tim Bardet, Database Coordinator- Terry Molloy, and Head Steward- Peigi Robinson. Activities Directors Audrey and Mimi worked hard to put food and coffee on the table, and unsung heroes Neil Saund and Tom Rierson worked all weekend helping with transportation and setup. Dave Stickel handled the Website, and Tomm Carroll and I gathered sponsors for the event.

Elections Are Coming!
As is tradition, at the October 20th meeting the membership of the Pacific Gravity Homebrew Club will nominate candidates for Club Officer positions, as well as Club Member of the Year. The elected offices are President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Anyone who is interested in performing much needed service to the club is urged to run for office. I have served for one year, and will be unable to run again, so the field is clear for a new PG President. If you think you are up to the job, and want to find out more about what the President does, just ask any of the current Board members.
Pacific Gravity Club Member of the Year recognizes the individual who has performed work for the club above and beyond that asked or expected of all club members. This is the most prestigious award that club members can grant to one of our own. The nominees don’t have to be great brewers, or sit on the PG Board of Directors. The criteria for nomination is being present, taking part in activities, helping out when needed, and generally helping to make Pacific Gravity a great club, one we can all feel proud to be members of.
As in past years, nominations will be made by voice, taking place during after announcements are made. Nominees must be members in good standing, meaning they must have paid their dues in full by the time the meeting commences. All nominations are seconded by a club member.
This year we will do something we have not done before. Anyone who nominates a candidate for one of the Board positions, or Member of the Year, will be asked to write a short paragraph stating why (s)he has nominated that person. The statement should be no more than 1 paragraph long. All of the paragraphs will appear in the November newsletter, and be available prior to the actual election.
The reason for having nomination statements available to the voters is to allow everyone to know what makes each nominee deserving of the Board position, or Member of the Year award. Many of our new members may not know who the “unsung heroes” are; those quiet people who, year in and year out, work hard to keep the club vital.
Please come to the October meeting in order to take part, and have your voice heard.

Michael Steinberg
President

First Friday October 7th at Venice Ale House

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After a fun First Friday last year at the newly opened Venice Alehouse, we’ll be returning this year for our October First Friday on the 7th!  It is located right on the Venice Boardwalk at the end of Rose Ave and provides wonderful people watching and beautiful sunsets over the ocean.  By October the summer crowds should be gone and we’ll be able to enjoy great beers on the patio!

Beer: Venice Ale House takes pride in offering beers from exclusively from the Western States, many from brewers with strong sustainability practices.  They have 18 taps of West Coast oriented customer favorites and 10 other rotating taps of seasonal & specialty brews.  Both pints and pitchers are available, as well as “Skates” of 4 or 6 beer tasters.  See their website for a sample of beers on tap: www.venicealehouse.com

Food: There is a simple but satisfying organic menu featuring tapas, tacos, salads, sandwiches & burgers or even brunch offerings that are served all day. 

Time: First Fridays begin between 6-7pm, but feel free to arrive early and take advantage of the late afternoon sun on the boardwalk!

Address: 2 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA 90291

 Parking: There is street parking available in the neighborhood or in the nearby parking lots next to the beach.  For those of you who are local enough or up for the ride, bikes and skateboards are also very welcome!

Come join us this Friday on the boardwalk in Venice for beer, food and good company with your fellow PGers!

-Audrey & Mimi

Activities Directors

2011 Pacific Brewers Cup Results

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Best of Show Sponsored by

Wee Heavy #2

James Hilbing,

 Kurt Rump, and Mike Truman

Strand Brewers Club

First Runner-up:

Sweet Mead

Jay

Ankeney

Strand Brewers Club

Second Runner-up:

Hubris Hefeweizen

Josh

Jensen

Yeastside Brewers
Cat Sub Place Brewer Homebrew Club Brew Name

Category 1:  Light lagers
1 D 1 Norman Jufer Inland Empire Brewers Sweatybrau Helles 153
1 B 2 Rick Burnside Maltose Falcons Standard American Lager
1 B 3 Neil Saund Pacific Gravity Std. American Lager
Category 2:  Pilsner
2 B 1 John Aitchison Maltose Falcons Bohemian Pilsner
2 A 2 Bryan Santos QUAFF Stinkhouse Pils
2 B 3 Neil Saund Pacific Gravity Bohemian Lager

Category 3: Amber Lager
3 B 1 James Hilbing Strand Brewers Oktoberfest #10
3 B 2 Jon Silvertooth Long Beach Homebrewers Toothtoberfest Lager
3 A 3 Norman Jufer Inland Empire Brewers Sweatybrau Vienna 160

Category 4: Dark Lager
4 C 1 Norman Jufer Inland Empire Brewers Sweatybrau Black #158
2 Not Awarded
3 Not Awarded

Category 5: Bock  Sponsored by

5 C 1 Carl Townsend Pacific Gravity Doppelbock
5 C 2 John Aitchison Maltose Falcons Doppelbock
5 B 3 Scott Satterthwaite Worts of Wisdom Bock It to Me

Category 6: Light Hybrid Beer
6 B 1 Jon Silvertooth Long Beach Homebrewers Honey Blonde
6 D 2 Norman Jufer Inland Empire Brewers Sweatybrau Wheat #154
6 A 3 Rob Proffitt Strand Brewers Cream Ale

Category 7: AmberHybrid Beer
7 C 1 Carl Townsend Pacific Gravity Dusseldorf Altbier
7 B 2 Kingsley Toby  & Brian Holter Pacific Gravity Lazy Sunday CA Common
7 A 3 Matt Haugo Mooseknuckle Brewing Roktoberfest

Category 8: English Pale Ale sponsored by

8 A 1 Jay Ankeney Strand Brewers Ordinary Bitter
8 C 2 Bryan Santos QUAFF Extrinsic ESB
8 A 3 Jason Cole Ordinary Bitter

Category 9: Scottish and Irish Ale
9 E 1 James Hilbing Strand Brewers Wee Heavy #2
9 D 2 Robert Nelson Red-Headed Stepchild
9 D 3 Stefan Long Red 5

Category 10: American Ale sponsored by

10 C 1 Norman Jufer Inland Empire Brewers Sweatybrau Browntown #163
10 A 2 Carl Townsend Pacific Gravity Pale Ale
10 B 3 Christopher Lindsey Pacific Gravity 18th St. Bricks

Category 11: English Brown Ale sponsored by

11 B 1 George Eldridge Long Beach Homebrewers George’s Brown
11 A 2 James Dodgen Long Beach Homebrewers Dark & mild
11 C 3 Joe Giacomazza Long Beach Homebrewers nut brown

Category 12: Porter Sponsored by Richmond Bar and Grill
12 B 1 Brett Mitchell Rockridge Porter
12 C 2 Carl Townsend Pacific Gravity Baltic Porter
12 C 3 Matt Haugo Mooseknuckle Brewing HeBREW Delicious

Category 13: Stout
13 F 1 Carl Townsend Pacific Gravity Imperial Stout
13 C 2 Kyle Suta Pacific Gravity Second Breakfast
13 F 3 Eric McLaughlin Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell

Category 14: India Pale Ale Sponsored by

14 B 1 Ward G. Walkup IV Yeastside Brewers Pacific Rim IPA
14 B 2 Andy Johnson Submarino Amarillo IPA
14 A 3 Brett Wilson Pacific Gravity Lucerne IPA

Category 15: German Wheat and Rye Beer
15 A 1 Josh Jensen Yeastside Brewers Hubris Hefeweizen
15 B 2 Eric McLaughlin Dunkelweizen
15 A 3 Jonathan Kissinger Coast Side German Vacation

Category 16: Belgian and French Ale Sponsored by

16 A 1 Timothy Golden Pacific Gravity Avalanche Wit
16 E 2 Craig Corley Pacific Gravity MB3 Funk
16 E 3 Jerl Leutz Yeastside Brewers Oaked Trappist Tripel with Agave

Category 17: Sour Ale Sponsored by

17 E 1 Brett Wilson Pacific Gravity Tart Me Up
17 A 2 Jason Kelly Gold Coast Brewers Happy Hugo
17 F 3 Israel Arrieta Maltose Falcons Sour Peaches

Category 18: Belgian Strong Ale Sponsored by

 Get Well Sam!
18 D 1 Craig Corley Pacific Gravity BB9
18 E 2 Rives Borland Strand Brewers Placitum
18 A 3 Bryan Santos QUAFF Stinkhouse Blond

Category 19: Strong Ale
19 C 1 Steve Cook Maltose Falcons Falcon’s Barrel Aged Barleywine
19 B 2 Kevin Kowalczyk Chicago Beer Society Fall Down Go Boom
19 C 3 Mark Takahashi Pacific Gravity American Barleywine

Category 20: Fruit Beer
20 A 1 Timothy Golden Pacific Gravity North Shore Tangerine Pale Ale
20 A 2 Seth Weiss Seth Weiss
20 A 3 Kyle Suta Pacific Gravity Muggle Hat #9

Category 21: Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer
21 B 1 Carl Townsend Pacific Gravity Holiday Spice Ale
21 A 2 James Hilbing Strand Brewers Vanilla Imperial Stout
21 A 3 Ryan Truax White Christmas

Category 22: Smoke-flavored & Wood-Aged Beer sponsored by

22 B 1 Norman Jufer Inland Empire Brewers Sweatybrau Smoked Bock
22 C 2 Daniel Burke Gold Country Brewers Association Schlitzen on Broak
22 C 3 John Aitchison Maltose Falcons Wood-Aged Beer

Category 23: Specialty Beer Sponsored by

23 A 1 James Hilbing Strand Brewers Tawny Port Imperial Stout
23 A 2 Jeffrey Koehler Yeastside Brewers Rye Barleywine
23 A 3 Kirk Holt & Mike Ross Long Beach Homebrewers Imperial Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Category 24: Traditional Mead
24 C 1 Jay Ankeney Strand Brewers Sweet Mead
24 C 2 Joe Giacomazza Long Beach Homebrewers Sweet Mead
24 C 3 Neil Saund Pacific Gravity Sweet Mead

Category 25: Melomel (Fruit Mead)
25 C 1 Luis Di Stefano Pacific Gravity Lingonberry Mead
25 C 2 Jay Ankeney Strand Brewers Peach Melomel
25 A 3 Matt Haugo Mooseknuckle Brewing CircumCyser
Category 26: Other Mead
26 C 1 Israel Arrieta Maltose Falcons Maple Wonder
26 2 Not Awarded
26 3 Not Awarded
Category 27: Standard Cider and Perry
27 A 1 Jon Silvertooth Long Beach Homebrewers Teacher’s Pet
27 A 2 Bryan McEntire Temecula Valley Homebrewers Brands Cider
27 3 Not Awarded

Category 28: Specialty Cider and Perry
28 A 1 Matt Haugo Mooseknuckle Brewing Hard Dicken’s Cider
28 D 2 Matt Haugo Mooseknuckle Brewing Hard Dicken’s Cider: The Cranberry Edition
28 3 Not Awarded

Long Beach Pub Crawl this Sunday October 2nd!

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Don’t forget to come out and join us for an afternoon walking pub crawl in Long Beach this Sunday led by club member Tom Rierson.

We will be meeting at Rock Bottom in Long Beach (One Pine Avenue Long Beach, CA 90802) at 1pm for a quick beer, then heading over to the NEW Beachwood BBQ (210 E 3rd St. Long Beach, CA 90802 ) about 1:30 for food and several beers, and then we’ll finish up at Congregation Ale House (201 E Broadway Long Beach, CA 90802).

Transportation: All of these pubs are within very easy walking distance of each other.  Since all are located at the end of the Metro Blue Line it is strongly recommended that it be used to get there and back.  A Metro Day Pass good for all Metro trains and buses is $5 but you must have a Metro TAP card (it has a smart chip in it).  The TAP card (and day pass) can be purchased ($2 I think but not positive) in advance at most major grocery stores (Ralphs, Vons, etc.).

If you have any questions please contact Audrey or Mimi at [email protected]

Hope to see you on Sunday!

Tom, Audrey & Mimi

PG Club Meeting Sept. 15

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Hey PG’ers. it’s that time of the month again!
The club will meet at 7:30 PM a behind Culver City Home Brew Supply.

This month the styles are English Brown (Cat. 10) and English and Scottish Strong Ales (Cat. 11).
Please welcome our latest style hosts, Kyle and Lindsay Suta, who will be leading the commercial beer tasting following announcements.

In addition to the monthly style tasting, there will be a BHCP Club Only Competition judging. The style is Specialty Beers (Cat. 23). The style includes any beer which does not fit into any other category. Examples are ice beers, use of unusual fermentables or adjuncts, such as molasses, agave, or honey, oats, buckwheat, potatoes, Imperial or low gravity beers which do not fit anywhere else (got an Imperial Mild, or Belgian Table Beer?). Overhopped, underhopped, historical, or experimental beers also fit into the category. See the BJCP style guidelines for details. Bring a few bottles and see if your “failed experiment” is good enough to go to the COC in BJCP Land.

Third Thursday comes as early in the month as it possibly can, so don’t forget to come on 9/15, NOT 9/22.

One other note, if you think you may be up to the task of hosting a monthly style please see one of the Club Offficers, or send an E-mail to me, Veep Reed Wilson, or our Activities Directors, Audrey Hill-Lindsay or Mimi Bardet and let us know of your interest.