Pacific Brewer Cup Winners Announced

Greetings Fellow Homebrewers:

After a year and a half of covid-related delays, we are please to announce the winners of the 2021 Pacific Brewer Cup.  Congratulation to Steven Severn of the Orange County Mash-ups for his Best of Show entry Janet’s Brown Ale, brewed as a memorial to Mike “Tasty” McDole, a renowned homebrewer who passed away just over a year ago.  Janet’s Brown Ale was itself a memorial brew first brewed by Tasty to honor the memory of his wife Janet who passed away in 2001.  Congratulations Steven, and a salute to your fallen comrades.

Our first Runner-up was a dry sparkling Cider brewed by Kyle Brawley.  Rounding out the top three was a Märzen brewed by Carl Townsend.

The Best Brewer award goes to Jon Silvertooth of Long Beach Homebrewers.  Jon had three first-place beers, and also led the charge for the Top Club award which goes to Long Beach Homebrewers.

Full result can be found at:http://comp.pacificgravity.com/ Read more

First Friday at The Daily Pint

Greetings Pacific Gravity,

I hope you all had a fulfilling and safe Halloween!

First Friday for November we are coming back to the Daily Pint.

Pacific Gravity First Friday
@ The Daily Pint; 2310 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405
11/05/2021 at 7:00 PM

Phil has rounded up some tasty beers for us. They include: Read more

Stewards and Judges Needed for Pacific Brewer Cup Saturday Nov 6th

The 2021 Pacific Brewers Cup will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021 starting at 8:30 AM.  We are still short of our desired number of judges and stewards.  The registration site for Judges, Stewards and other volunteers is now up and running at http://comp.pacificgravity.com/ .

We will be running both a morning and afternoon session.   If at all possible, please stay and do a second round.  To help me out with planning, when you register, please check your “availability” to reflect the one or both sessions if you can stay for both. We completed the bottle organizing session on the 30th with 172 entries. Entry registration is now closed.

Please note we are asking that all judges and stewards be fully vaccinated in accordance with LA County brewery patron rules.  Joe is allowing us to spread out over the entire brewery floor and will have the doors open.  We will also ask everyone to observe COVID protocols such as wearing a mask whenever you don’t have your nose inside a taster cup.

If you have never done stewarding before it is a fun and simple task.  (A more detailed write-up is found below). The main steps are as follows:

  • Your main job is to bring entries to the judging tables when asked by the judges. Do not open any bottles.  They may ask for just one entry at a time, or possibly 2 or 3 depending on the ideal serving temperature for the style. Beers will be organized by category and style.
  • Check the table supplies.  Tables should have scoresheets, cups, bottle openers, flight sheets, a dump bucket and bread.
  • After the judges finish writing scoresheets, check the math.  Then deliver the scoresheets to Tim, who will be doing data entry.
  • The judges may tell you which beers are “keepers”, or “dumpers”.  Recap the keepers.  You are free to sample the dumpers.
  • Collect discarded cups as needed.  As part of COVID protocols, do not drink out of any reused cup. Empty the dump buckets if needed.
  • After all the entries in a group have been judged, the judges may ask for the keeps to do a final taste-off.
  • After any taste-off, the judges may invite you to taste some of the keepers.
  • The lead judges at the table will then hand you the “Flight Summary Sheet”.  Verify the math on the form, and make sure the lead judge has signed it.  You can sign the steward line.  Then, hand it to Tim.

This competition is hosted on a rotating basis with Pacific Gravity Homebrewers Club, Strand Brewers and Long Beach Homebrewers.  This is a BJCP and AHA-sanctioned competition.  This is full-category competition based on the 2015 BJCP Guidelines, including meads and ciders.

Our host brewery this year is Tortugo Brewing Co, located at 916 W Hyde Park Blvd Inglewood, CA, CA 90302. Breakfast snacks and a full lunch will be provided to all volunteers.  In addition, we have a bunch of cool swag from Sierra Nevada Brewing and Wyeast, and gift certificates from Stein Fillers, Moonlight Meadery and Williams Brewing.

For more information, check out http://pbc.pacificgravity.com/ .

UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, Nov 5th, early evening:  First Friday at the Daily Pint, 2310 PICO BLVD SANTA MONICA, CA 90405
Saturday, Nov 6th, 8:30 AM:  Pacific Brewers Cup at  Tortugo Brewing Co,  916 W Hyde Park Blvd Inglewood, CA, CA 90302
Saturday, Nov 20,  Noon: Annual Chili Cookoff, Board Elections and Member of the Year voting. At Casa Molloy, 6738 W. 87th Place Los Angeles, CA 90045

Long Instructions for Stewards:

Stewards are responsible for assisting judges during the judging process, and interfacing with the
competition staff to preserve anonymity of entries. If judges have questions or requests during
judging, handle them as best as possible including checking with the competition staff if unsure
of something. One frequent request is to check competition entries against the database to ensure
an entry is correct, and that all supplied information has been provided to the judges.
Stewards bring the beer to the table for judging. This can be done one bottle at a time, or
multiple bottles can be brought at once (this is a common occurrence when using multiple teams
on a category, or if judges think the serving temperature is too cold). Handle the judge requests
as best you can. They may also request ice if they believe the entries are too warm.
Stewards should double-check the entry numbers before presenting the beer for judging.
Announce the entry and category for the judges. Do not open the bottles unless requested. Most
judges prefer to look at the bottles and open them themselves. Remember that beer can contain
sediment, so be careful in the handling of the bottles.

Stewards should monitor the table supplies and replenish items as necessary. Remove used cups
(check with judges first before touching their cups, as judges often save favorite samples for
later). Empty dump buckets as they fill, or if an objectionable-smelling entry is dumped. Do not
remove bottle caps without checking with judges; they may be needed to identify entries.
Judges may request assistance with paperwork, usually the Flight Summary Sheet and the Cover
Sheets. Stewards who do this job for judges will be helping to speed up the competition, and
deserve the thanks of judges. Regardless of other requests, stewards should check the math on
scoresheets, and scan them for completeness and inappropriate comments.
In general while judging is active, defer to the lead judge at the table unless you are directed
against specific competition instructions. Structure your activities so that you are doing your
work while the judges are judging; this keeps things moving along. Stewards who anticipate
judge needs and who pay attention to the judging process are quite valuable to competition
operations.

If stewards are invited to taste while judges are judging, stewards should refrain from
commenting until the judges have completed their scoresheets and turned them in, unless directly
asked by a judge for an opinion. If a steward has entered the competition, the steward should not
work in categories where they have entries.

October Meeting Thursday Oct 21 at Tortugo Brewery

Greetings Pacific Gravity,

Please join us this Thursday October 21, 2021 for our next monthly club meeting at Tortugo Brewing!

We will get started at 7:30 PM

October Monthly Meeting; Thursday 10/21/2021 at 7:30 PM

Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90302
(424) 227-9963

Our style of the month is Read more

Entry Window Open for 2021 Pacific Brewers Cup

Greetings Fellow Hombrewers:

After more than a year-long hiatus, October is here and we are eager to do some homebrew judging!   The official registration page of 2021 Pacific Brewer Cup is now up and running!  Pacific Brewers Cup is run annually (usually) on a rotating basis by Long Beach Homebrewers, Strand Brewers Club and Pacific Gravity Home Brewers Club. This year, Pacific Gravity is running the competition.   The PBC is an American Homebrewers Association (AHA)-sanctioned homebrew competition and will use the 2015 beer style guidelines published by the Beer Judge Certification Program.

The main judging will be on November 6th at our host brewery, Tortugo Brewing Co. in Inglewood CA.

Entry registration runs from October 15th through October 29th. Entries may be dropped off at any of the following locations:

Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W Hyde Park Blvd Inglewood, CA, CA 90302
(424) 227-9963

South Bay Brewing Supply Co.
1311 Post Ave Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 328.2133

Stein Fillers Fermentation Supply
4160 Norse Way, Long Beach, CA 90808
(562) 425-0588

The Home Beer, Wine And Cheesemaking Shop
22836 VENTURA BLVD Unit 2, WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364
(818) 884-8586

Here are the details Read more

Pacific Gravity Octoberfest

Greetings Pacific Gravity,
We have chosen to celebrate Octoberfest!

We will actually be holding our celebration on the last official Oktoberfest weekend on October 2nd!

So get out your dirndl’s and lederhosen and chicken dance your way over to Dean’s Backyard Biergarten for our Octoberfest celebration!
Pacific Gravity Octoberfest
Saturday October 2, 2021  2:00 PM
Dean’s Biergarten:
1310 Amalfi Drive, Pacific Palisades CA

We will have beers on tap and festival style foods for your enjoyment!  Master Chef Ian has worked up a special menu serving up all the traditional style of German style fest foods!

The Wave of Beer will make its usual appearance.  If you have a keg to bring, (either beer or soda) please let Carl know and he will make up a festive Bavarian tap tag.

Due to the pandemic we will have to enforce some new protocols for the protection and safety of all.

  • We ask that all attendees are vaccinated and can provide proof of same upon request.
  • This event is NOT a pot luck event!  There will be no self-serve of food or beverages.
  • The club will set up our “land-locked” food truck stall in Deans yard serving up all the traditional style of German style fest foods!  You just walk up, place an order and your food will be handed directly to you from one of those poor bastards working the food stall (Rob and I).
  • All beers will be served in a 1 time use plastic glass by the beer-tenders working the bar.  No self-pouring allowed.  This will limit cross contamination.
  • Bottle sharing will still be encouraged with the hope that all participants remain self-aware and be cautious.

We hope to make this event a safe as possible while still maintaining a biergarten vibe for the participants.  We hope to see you all there!

Cheers,

Ian Fraser
President, Pacific Gravity

Upcoming Events:

Pacific Brewers Cup

Sign up to judge or steward now at  http://comp.pacificgravity.com/
Entry Registration starts October 15th
Entry Organizing October 30 at Tortugo Brewing Co.
Judging Day:  November 6th, 2021 starting at 8:30 AM at Tortugo Brewing Co.

September First Friday at Richmond Bar and Grill

Greetings Pacific Gravity,

I hope this message finds you safe and well!  The PG Board continues to struggle with keeping us all safe while allowing some kind of social gathering!  We hope this First Friday will fit the bill!

FIRST FRIDAY AT RICHMOND BAR AND GRILL
Sept. 3, 2021 at 7:00 PM
145 Richmond St, El Segundo, CA 90245  (310) 322-7197

https://www.richmondbarandgrill.com/

We have reserved the back patio for our group, it is outdoors yet in an enclosed area so we won’t have a lot of foot traffic coming through.  This way we can socially distance while being gathered together!

Tom Rierson reports in good things about the pub; the new owners have made some renovations to improve on the location.  He has also arranged that “Old Rasputin” will be one of the offerings on tap that evening.  The beers are $8.00.

So come on out, join your fellow members and lift a pint!

See you there!
Cheers,

Ian Fraser

President

Pacific Gravity

Upcoming Events

  • Sept 16, club meeting at Tortugo Brewing
  • Oct. 1, OCT. First Friday; location TBD
  • Oct 2 (SAT!) Octoberfest summer party!
  • November 6th:  Pacific Brewers Cup at Tortugo Brewing

VIRTUAL – Pacific Gravity Club Meeting Thursday August 19th

 

Greetings Pacific Gravity!
Greetings Pacific Gravity, I Hope you all are staying well and safe.  We have good news and bad news.Due to the rising COVID numbers and out of an abundance of caution the board has decided to postpone the Summer Party tentatively scheduled for August 28, to its new date of October 2nd, 2021.  Instead of a “summer” party, we will now call it our “OKtoberfest” party! We will have an Oktoberfest theme and foods.  If my plan comes together we will even have a special surprise in store!Because we decided to postpone the summer party we also decided to pivot and have a club meeting this month.  However, the board also decided to hold this meeting as “virtual” to avoid spreading the Delta variant to our members.  We hope that we can resume ‘in person’ meetings next month but we are monitoring the situation as a day to day and will decide based on the CDC guidance given.

For August 19, we will be holding our meeting virtually at Tortugo Brewing.  Joe has generously put together a tasting pack of beers he has ready to go.  Thank you for putting this together for us on the fly Joe!
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963The tasting pack will be a 4-pack of 16 OZ cans of the following:

  • 2 16oz Watermelon mint west Coast IPA; – An 8.5% ABV West coast IPA brewed with 400 lbs of fresh watermelon and 25lbs of fresh mint dry hopped with citra and lemon drop
  • 2 16oz BC25 coffee west coast IPA – A 7% ABV Single Westcoast IPA brewed with Ethiopian and Sumatra coffee then dry hopped with galaxy and mosaic hops
  • PLUS:  1 32oz Santiago Stout – A 6.7% abv American Stout With huge roast and malty notes (Lloyd Johnson’s first 100% of his own recipe on the Tortugo brewing system)!

All 5 beers for a special club price of $25!

All the beers will be available starting on Saturday, August 14, 2021.

I hope to see you all then!

Cheers,

Ian Fraser

President, Pacific Gravity

Upcoming Events

Friday Sept. 3rd:  First Friday at Richmond Grill

Thursday Sept 16, 2021: Club Meeting @ Tortugo Brewing

Saturday October 2, 2021:  Oktoberfest Party at Dean’s

Competition Corner – August 2021

As we work through the dog days of summer, we have just now gotten the results of the Mayfaire competition.  Congratulations go to Carl Townsend with a 3rd place for Märzen, and a 2nd place for Southern English Brown (using Dean’s virtual big brew recipe!)   And, Craig Corley got a 2nd place for Bpa #43 Belgian-Style Pale Ale.  We had a good judging session up at MacLeod Brewing Co on July 24th, though COVID limitations set this competition back by about 3 months from its normal schedule.

Next up is some just-released info on QUAFF’s America’s Finest City Beer Competition in 2021.  Usually held in February, there is a new entry deadline of August 20th at 9:00 PM.  Entries must be received by that date at Alesmith Brewing Company,  9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126.  Two bottles are required per entry.  Please visit the site, and sign up at https://quaff.org/AFC-2021/ .  Quaff is also looking for judges. Judging will be at Alesmith on Friday August 27 at 6:00 PM,  and on Saturday August 28th at 9:00 AM.  The competition staff requests that all judges have proof of vaccination.

Coming up in October is the California Homebrewers Association Fall Best of Show Fall 2021.  Five styles will be judged in this competition, including
❏ 6C. Dunkles Bock
❏ 18A. Blonde Ale
❏ 22C. American Barleywine
❏ 26D. Belgian Dark Strong Ale
❏ 30A. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer

The club is allowed to have two entries, and entrants must be a paid member of CHA.  If you have an entry, please let me know by early October.  If we have 3 or more entries, we will do a mini taste-off to select the two entries.

And don’t lose sight of the long-delayed 2020 Pacific Brewers Cup. (No, 2020 is not a type – just like the Olympics.) We have set a judging date of November 6, 2021 at Tortugo Brewery  (thanks Joe!) Details are still being worked out, and we hope that the current surge of COVID cases doesn’t mess up our plans.  But in any case, you clearly need to get some beer ready to enter, so get those brew kettles going now.

Carl Townsend
Competition Coordinator

Upcoming Events

August 19: VIRTUAL club meeting featuring Tortugo Brewing
September 3rd: First Friday at Richmond Grill (tentatively in person)
September 16th: Club meeting @ Tortugo Brewing (tentatively in person)
Summer Party – POSTPONED! Will be Oktoberfest, October 2, 2021

 

Stuffed Sandwich FIRST SATURDAY August 7th

 

Greetings Pacific Gravity!

For our August First Friday, we are switching it up to FIRST SATURDAY! Please join us at the Stuffed Sandwich, Saturday August 7th at 12:00 NOON in San Gabriel.

1145 East Las Tunas Dr.
San Gabriel,  CA  91776  (626) 285-9161

THIS IS A LIVE EVENT!  We plan to sit in the outside patio under the misters…but dress for the heat!

I was in San Gabriel this last weekend and it was 90+ degrees.
Marlene is expecting us, and for August she is featuring fruit and sour beers on tap.
This is a ‘drive yourself’ event so try and arrange car pools if you can!

I hope to see you all there!
Cheers,

Ian Fraser
President
Pacific Gravity

Upcoming Events

August 28: Summer Party
September 3rd: First Friday (location to be announced)
September 16th: Club meeting @ Tortugo Brewing