Club Meeting Thursday, June 19 7:30 at Tortugo Brewery

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Our June monthly meeting is this Thursday at our home-base Tortugo Brewing.

Our style of the month is “Sour beers, smoked beers, and wood-aged beers”  which covers a lot of ground, so please feel free to bring something interesting for people to share.

The biggest new news we have is that we now have a date for our group blending to determine the right recipe for our Anniversary beer at Cellador!  See the blurb below for details.

Also, a tentative date for the summer party has been set to Saturday August 2!

I hope to see you all at the meeting Thursday!

Parker Waechter – President, Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

June Monthly Meeting – Thursday 6/19/2025 at 7:30 PM
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963

Blending At Cellador Ales Saturday 7/12 12pm-3pm

Erik at Cellador Ales has graciously offered to let us collaborate on a beer to celebrate our 30th anniversary!  For anyone not familiar, Cellador is particularly well known for their barrel aged sour beers and they make MANY very unique things.
The idea of this event is that everyone who comes to this event will sample several base beers, and vote on blend and on what else we want to add (i.e. fruit/spices/love), then they will prepare and package for sale like other beers in their lineup.  He says he will give the club a first shot at purchasing, so as we near availability, we will pass along the details.
So please come to this blending event to put your hand on the tiller for this unique anniversary collaboration!

Competition Corner

As we get into the summer swing of things, don’t lose sight of upcoming competitions.  First up (maybe) is the Long Beach Red White and Brews competition featuring 30 different American styles.  I haven’t seen the current info yet.  Last year’s info is at https://www.longbeachhomebrewers.com/comp/rwb/bcoem/  I’ll send out updated info when I get it.

Next up is Pacific Brewers Cup in September.  Jeffrey Hoy and Michael Rivera from Strand have a good handle on things this year.  They will need assistance from us, so please save the dates:
Now:  Registration is open at https://www.strandbrewersclub.org/pbc/bcoem/
August 1:  Bottle Drop-off begins at the local homebrew shops
August 29:  Entry Deadline
Judging is September 20th at Project Barley Lomita.

We’ll finish off the year with the California State Homebrew Competition.  Entries are due October 16, with judging on November 2nd.  Brew now!

It’s Time to Do the Dues!

It’s June, so and that means its time for our annual Pacific Gravity membership dues collection.  All club members need to pay their dues to keep their membership active until March 2026.  Annual dues are $48 for individuals or $72 for couples and are prorated for members who joined the club within the last year.

Keep in mind that your dues are the primary way we fund such club activities as club parties, monthly meetings, club brews and much more.  Your paid membership also ensures that you’ll continue to receive the many club benefits available, access to various brewing activities, discounts and information.

There are several ways you can renew your annual dues.  Club Treasurer, Craig Corley will be collecting dues at the upcoming March club meeting and other upcoming club events.  You can go old school and send Pacific Gravity a check to PO Box 2451, Culver City CA 90231. And for the ultimate in convenience, you can renew your dues online via the PayPal links below:
Individual Membership – Full 1-year Renewal: https://py.pl/121AAr
Couples Membership – Full 1-year Renewal: https://py.pl/5LD8s

Along with your dues renewal, we need all members to complete a Membership Application/Liability Waiver. And in the case of couples memberships, we need this for both members.  You can fill out and submit your Membership Application/Liability Waiver at the following link: https://forms.gle/f2xCjNBAp5qoJjFK8

All current club members should have gotten a renewal notice via email detailing their dues renewal amount and member information on file. This is a good opportunity to update our membership records, so please let Craig know of any changes to your member information (address, email, phone, etc) or include changes with your check/renewal form.

For any individual members who might be interested, the couples membership provides full membership status/benefits to both partners of a couple including membership cards, emails, etc. Note that the couples membership is optional, couples can continue with one partner being an individual member and the other being their guest.  It’s an additional $24 to upgrade your individual membership to a couples membership and you’ll need to include your partner’s name and email along with your payment.

Have questions about your dues or how much you owe? Check with Craig at the club meeting or by email at Treasurer@PacificGravity.com.

Upcoming Events

  • June 19  : Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company – Style: Sour Smoked and wood aged beers
  • July   12: Blending of Anniversary Beer at Cellador 12pm-3pm
  • July TBD: Red White and Brews Competition
  • July   17: Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company – Style: IPA
  • Aug     2: (Tentative) Summer Party!!
  • Aug  29:  Entry deadline for Pacific Brewers Cup
  • Sept 20: Judging for PBC

PG May Club Meeting May 15th at Tortugo Brewery

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Our May club meeting this Thursday at our home-base Tortugo Brewing.

Our style of the month is is Dark/Black beers so please bring your schwarz, dunkel, stouts, black IPAs or mysteriously darkened beers of your choice.

The So Cal Homebrew Fest was a monstrous ball of fun. Everyone who wen participated in helping out (particularity with some tasty beers!), so thanks to all, but special thanks to Terry for organizing it all, Ian for the great eats, and Carl/Tom for all the serving setup/transport.

I hope to see you all at the meeting Thursday!

Parker Waechter – President, Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

February Monthly Meeting – Thursday 5/16/2025 at 7:30 PM
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963

Competition Corner

Results have been released for two recent competition:  Mayfaire and the California State Fair.  Congratulations go to Craig Corley for picking up ribbons in both events. Two of his beers scored twice!
His Belgian Pale Ale BP24 picked up 1st place in Mayfaire and a 3rd place in the State Fair.
His Belgian Blonde #21 picked up 3rd in Mayfaire and 2nd in the State Fair.
In addition his Weissbier Sa #9 – Weise Färse took 1st place in the State Fair.
Craig takes a commanding 10 point lead in the PG Brewer of the Year tally.

The next competitions on the horizon are the Red White and Brews competition run by Long Beach in July, and Pacific Brewers Cup, run by Strand Brewers in September.

Here is a run-down on the rest of this year’s future competitions:

  • July – Long Beach Red White and Brews
    • American beers, 30 different styles
  • September – Pacific Brewers Cup
    • Strand running it in 2025
  • October California State Competition

It’s Time to Do the Dues!

It’s May, so and that means its time for our annual Pacific Gravity membership dues collection.  All club members need to pay their dues to keep their membership active until March 2026.  Annual dues are $48 for individuals or $72 for couples and are prorated for members who joined the club within the last year.

Keep in mind that your dues are the primary way we fund such club activities as club parties, monthly meetings, club brews and much more.  Your paid membership also ensures that you’ll continue to receive the many club benefits available, access to various brewing activities, discounts and information.

There are several ways you can renew your annual dues.  Club Treasurer, Craig Corley will be collecting dues at the upcoming March club meeting and other upcoming club events.  You can go old school and send Pacific Gravity a check to PO Box 2451, Culver City CA 90231. And for the ultimate in convenience, you can renew your dues online via the PayPal links below:
Individual Membership – Full 1-year Renewal: https://py.pl/121AAr
Couples Membership – Full 1-year Renewal: https://py.pl/5LD8s

Along with your dues renewal, we need all members to complete a Membership Application/Liability Waiver. And in the case of couples memberships, we need this for both members.  You can fill out and submit your Membership Application/Liability Waiver at the following link: https://forms.gle/f2xCjNBAp5qoJjFK8

All current club members should have gotten a renewal notice via email detailing their dues renewal amount and member information on file. This is a good opportunity to update our membership records, so please let Craig know of any changes to your member information (address, email, phone, etc) or include changes with your check/renewal form.

For any individual members who might be interested, the couples membership provides full membership status/benefits to both partners of a couple including membership cards, emails, etc. Note that the couples membership is optional, couples can continue with one partner being an individual member and the other being their guest.  It’s an additional $24 to upgrade your individual membership to a couples membership and you’ll need to include your partner’s name and email along with your payment.

Have questions about your dues or how much you owe? Check with Craig at the club meeting or by email at Treasurer@PacificGravity.com.

Upcoming Events

June 6:    First Friday (TBD)

June 19:  Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company – Style: Sour Smoked and wood aged beers

Club Meeting Thursday March 20

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What’s the craic PG! Happy March!  It is leprechaun season with a lot of fun to be had!  This Thursday 3/20 will be our monthly club meeting at the usual time and place:

March Monthly Meeting; Thursday 3/20/2025 at 7:30 PM
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963

Being it is only a few days after St Pat’s, there will also be some St Patrick’s Day type goodies provided by Club Chef Ian and Club Monkey Parker.  It is possible there MAY even be a leprechaun sighting…

This Saturday 3/22 will be our 2025 Monster Brew at Smog City – you wouldn’t want to miss it (even if you don’t need wort)!  – details below.

Read more →

Club Meeting This Thursday, February 20th 7:30 PM at Tortugo Brewery

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Greetings Pacific Gravity!

W00t!

At our February monthly meeting this Thursday we will be kick off the celebrations of the club’s 30th Anniversary!!

Chef Ian will be providing some tasty eats, and Craig Corley will be bringing an appropriate toasting beer!

Our style of the month is is English Beer, so please bring your milds, stouts, bitters and whatever else tickles your Brit-bone to share with the group.

We have a number of opportunities to celebrate this year, but you don’t want to miss the first!

Also, we have a  minor bit of business in that we will be voting on a small dues increase to support club activities. Club dues collection begins in March.

I hope to see you all at the meeting Thursday!

Parker Waechter – President, Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

February Monthly Meeting – Thursday 2/20/2025 at 7:30 PM
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963

Celebration of Life for Bruce Bode

On a more somber note, the brewing community has lost a significant member recently.  Bruce Bode passed away last week, and the Maltose Falcons are honoring him with a celebration of life at Santa Monica Brew works on Saturday March 1, 12-3pm.  This will be our March First Friday (Saturday) event.  Please come and raise a glass for Bruce!
More details to follow as they become available.

Southern California Homebrew Festival

The Southern California Homebrew Festival will be held May 2-4, 2925 at Vail Lake near Temecula.  Sign up is available now at https://www.calhomebrewers.org/ . Remember, you need to join CHA first, ($10) and then you can sign up for the fest itself. ($60 through the end of February).  The prices goes up after that, so sign up soon.

If you have not already contacted Terry Molloy abut attending, please let him know ASAP at tmsoccercoach@gmail.com .  If you plan on camping or food with the club, there will be a separate fee payable to Terry.

This fest is always a blast; you won’t want to miss it.

Competition Corner

The registration windows for the first two competitions of 2025 are now open.

First up in the National Homebrew Competition.  You must be an AHA member and then select which site you want to enter at https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/national-homebrew-competition/  There is a cap of 750 entries at each site, but they have removed the entry cap per person, so these are likely to fill  up fast.  If your first pick is full, go ahead and try another site.  The registration deadline is this Wed, 2/19.  The bottle entry window varies by location, ranging from early March to mid-April.

Next up is America’s Finest City Competition in San Diego.  Registration is at https://www.quaff.org/AFC-2025/  Entries will be due by February 27th at Alesmith brewery.

>Here is a run-down on the rest of this year’s future competitions:

  • April – Mayfaire Competition
    • Entries due April 11th at local homebrew shops.
    • Judging April 26th
  • May/June  State Fair.
    • Likely Angel City drop-off site
  • June/July Long Beach Red White and Brews?
    • American beers, 30 different styles
  • September – Pacific Brewers Cup
    • Strand running it in 2025
  • October California State Competition

Upcoming Events

  • Feb 20  : Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company – Style: English Beers
  • March 1: First Saturday – Celebration of Life for Bruce Bode, Santa Monica Brew Works 12-3
  • March 20 : Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company – Style: Belgian Beers

Club Meeting This Thursday, November 21st at Tortugo Brewery

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Please come join us for our last regular meeting of the year at our home base at Tortugo this Thursday 11/21 at 7:30. Our style of the month is is fruit/spice beers, meads, ciders & perries, so it should be an interesting one!

We will also be voting for member of the year and the board for 2025. If you have additional nominations, you may email elections@pacificgravity.com by Wed 11/21 and they will be added to the ballot (or people can write in if need be). If you will be unable to attend, members may vote by email by sending to that same address.  Since we have such a large number of Member of the Year nominees, you may vote for 2 nominees.

Current Nominations:

Member of the year: David Ashe, Tomm Carroll, Craig Corley, Ian Frasier, Joe Kovatch, Terry Molloy, Eric Muhlheim, Neil Saund, Dean Sussman, Carl Townsend

    Board Nominees:
President – Parker Waechter
Vice President – Terry Molloy
Treasurer – Craig Corley

Holiday Party
The annual PG holiday party is rapidly approaching and will be held on Saturday 12/14 at Neil’s Duplex (12966 Rubens Ave, Los Angeles, CA. (at Alla Road)).

Carl will have a signup sheet at the meeting for kegs you will be bringing so he can make his traditional festive tap tags(tm). Chef Ian will be doing his culinary magic as always, but we always need some more salads, sides, deserts etc, so please start thinking about how you can dazzle with kitchen skills to match your brewing skills!

The Sunday before the party (12/8) at noon we will be doing setup for the holiday part as our “first friday” in December.  Please stop by and help out… many hands makes for light work and all that…

See you all at the meeting Thursday!

Parker Waechter – President, Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

November Monthly Meeting; Thursday 11/21/2024 at 7:30 PM
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963

Strand Monster Brew At Scholb 12/7 – Deadline approaching!
Sign up no later than November 29th! Strand Brewers club is hosting a monster brew at Scholb Premium Ales (2964 Columbia St, Torrance CA 90503) on  Saturday 12/7/2024 08:00-12:00 noon.  The cost is $35 for 5 gallons of wort (Dills Cornhole Pilsner) and is limited to 44 batches, so if you are interested, sign up with them soon at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1-CHt01yAVc8KR73id9M1SFghbBmDEZcQfJ7BdNkiXz2oOg/viewform .

Upcoming Styles of the Month

  • November 2024 – Fruit/spice beers, meads, and ciders/berries
  • December 2024 – No style of the month (Holiday Party)

Upcoming Events

  • Nov 21 : Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company – Style Fruit/spice beers, meads, ciders and perries
  • Dec 7    : Strand Monster Brew at Scholb
  • Dec 8    : Holiday Party Setup 12:00pm at Neil’s Duplex
  • Dec 14  : Holiday Party

Pacific Gravity Chili Cook-Off this Saturday 10/26

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Please join us for the much-beloved Pacific Gravity Annual Chili Cook-Off this Saturday at noon, once again graciously hosted by Terry and Noel at Hacienda Molloy (formerly “Casa Molloy”, now upgraded to “Hacienda” after extensive renovations!).  All attendees vote for the “Best” and “Most Unique” chili, so grab Igor, fire up your cauldrons and conjure up a batch that will mesmerize the taste buds and leave everyone spellbound! Winners will receive the much-coveted “bragging rights and a beer”.  Our style of the month is “Alternative Fermentables” – a predominately eye-of-newt witch’s brew is “to-style”!

Additionally, this will be your opportunity to nominate candidates for next year’s Board (President, Vice President and Treasurer) and for Member of the Year. The election will held at our November meeting, so this is the time to get the nominations in!

Our last task from Pacific Brewers Cup is to drink some beer!  We will have the remaining unconsumed bottles available for free, some with pretty high scores!  Please grab a few six-packs, or even a full case.  ALL bottles MUST GO go before the end of the day.

And last but certainly not least, the date for the Holiday Party 2024 has now been set!  It will be Saturday 12/14 at Neil’s Duplex.

Pacific Gravity Chili Cook-Off: Saturday 10/26/2024 at 12:00 noon
Hacienda Molloy
6738 W. 87th Place (Please note, it is PLACE, not Street!)
Westchester, CA 90045

Parker Waechter – President, Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

Strand Monster Brew At Scholb 12/7

Strand Brewers club is hosting a monster brew at Scholb Premium Ales (2964 Columbia St, Torrance CA 90503) on  Saturday 12/7/2024 08:00-12:00 noon.  The cost is $35 for 5 gallons of wort (Dills Cornhole Pilsner) and is limited to 44 batches, so if you are interested, sign up with them soon at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1-CHt01yAVc8KR73id9M1SFghbBmDEZcQfJ7BdNkiXz2oOg/viewform Pacific Gravity Chili Cook-Off this Saturday 10/26

Upcoming Styles of the Month

  • October 2024 – Alternative fermentables beers (using sugars and/or grains other than malted barley)
  • November 2024 – Fruit/spice beers, meads, and ciders/berries
  • December 2024 – No style of the month (Holiday Party)

Upcoming Events

  • Oct 26: Chili Cook-off – Beer Style: Alternative Fermentables
  • Nov 1:   First Friday (El Segundo Brewing Company 7pm)
  • Nov 21: Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company – Style Fruit/spice beers, meads, ciders and perries
  • Dec 7:    Strand Monster Brew at Scholb
  • Dec 14  : Holiday Party

Pacific Gravity Chili Cook-off Rescheduled to Saturday 10/26!

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We just wanted to drop a quick note to let everyone know we are rescheduling the October Chili-Cookoff due to unforeseen circumstances.

The new date for the Chili Cookoff meeting is Saturday 10/26/2024.

Location:
The Molloys
6738 W. 87th Place,
Westchester, CA 90045
(Please note, it is PLACE, not Street!)
Time: 12:00PM to 7:00PM

Also, for those who are not familiar, this event replaces the usual 3rd Thursday club meeting for October, and will include the meeting as well as nominations for next year’s Board and for Member of the Year.
Further details will be in a future email, but start planning you entries for “Best” and “Most Unique” chili.

Parker Waechter – President, Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

 

California State Homebrew Competition – Enter now! 
The entry deadline for the California State Homebrew Competition is approaching and they are nearing their total entry cap! Entries are due Oct 17 in Concord, CA.  Enter now at https://chc.brewingcompetitions.com/

Pacific Brewers Cup Results

Congratulations go to Kyle Hufford of Santa Barbara Brewing Society who won Best of Show with his beer June Creek, a barrel-aged and cherry-infused Fruit Lambic.  As a result of this prestigious accomplishment, he won a three month free subscription to Your Beer Friend!

Our Runner-Up BOS consists of the team of Adam Flynn and Chance Hope of Orange County Mash Ups.  Their exquisitely well-balanced American Pale Ale, named Chance & Adams Bad Ass Ale won them a $50 gift certificate to Williams Brewing.

The 2nd runner-up BOS goes to Doug Walker of Inland Empire Brewers for his Northern English beer entitled Northern Wanker.  Doug was also our most prolific winner, pulling in four First Place ribbons and one Third Place ribbon.   He earns a $50 gift certificate to Yakima Valley Hops.

Daniel Sepulveda and Brent Dreher of Long Beach Homebrewers scored the highest point score of any entry in the competition.  Their Brett beer called Last Rung scored a whopping 45 points!  They earned a $25 gift card from Yakima Valley Hops.

Congratulations to the winners, and a big thanks to the judges, stewards, lunch chef Dean, sponsorship coordinator Eric, treasurer and tee shirt coordinator Craig  and webmaster Andrew.   Full results can be found at https://pbc2024.pacificgravity.com/.

 

Strand Monster Brew An Scholb 12/7

Strand Brewers club is hosting a monster brew at Scholb Premium Ales (2964 Columbia St, Torrance CA 90503) on  Saturday 12/7/2024 08:00-12:00 noon.  The cost is $35 for 5 gallons of wort (Dills Cornhole Pilsner) and is limited to 44 batches, so if you are interested, sign up with them soon at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1-CHt01yAVc8KR73id9M1SFghbBmDEZcQfJ7BdNkiXz2oOg/viewform .

Upcoming Styles of the Month

  • October 2024 – Alternative fermentables beers (using sugars and/or grains other than malted barley)
  • November 2024 – Fruit/spice beers, meads, and ciders/berries
  • December 2024 – No style of the month (Holiday Party)

Upcoming Events

  • Oct 26: Chili Cook-off – Style Alternative Fermentables NOTE NEW DATE!!
  • Nov 1:   First Friday (Location TBD)
  • Nov 21: Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company – Style Fruit/spice beers, meads, ciders and perries
  • Dec 7:    Strand Monster Brew at Scholb

Club Meeting This Thursday, Sept 19th at Tortugo Brewery

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Zicke Zacke Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi!

Yes, it is that time of year again (ok, SLIGHTLY early, but still…) – this Thursday will be our Oktoberfest meeting!

There will be some traditional Oktoberfest food! There will be one, if not two members in Lederhosen!
And let us not forget, das Bier! Our style of the month is German and Czech Beers, which coincidentally fits the theme, so please bring your marvelous Märzens or whatever excellent homebrew you have to share!

For anyone who missed it, the summer party was a huge amount of fun – many thanks to Dean for hosting, Ian and Rob for cooking, Carl and Tom Rierson for making the serving system and competition stuff happen, Joe, Porter and Tomm for donating great prizes, Neil for single-handedly producing the majority of the beer served, Scott for the most over-killing sound system ever conceived, and to everyone who brought food/beer/soda and other contributions to the event!
Congrats to Carl for best beer (Cascade Wet Harvest IPA), and Luis for best soda (Guava Strawberry soda) of the summer party!

This Saturday 9/21 is Pacific Brewers Cup judging – please talk to Carl if you would like to help by stewarding or judging.

Also, Tomm Carroll has arranged our next First Friday (10/4) – an Oktoberfest and Pacific Brewers Cup ribbon presentation at Wurstkuche [add link to https://www.wurstkuche.com/]  in Venice!  We will have a table/section outside in the back of the patio area.  They always have a good selection of beer and sausages to enjoy!
In addition, for anyone who would like to do their actual Oktoberfest event opening, Tyler has offered us a 25% discount on tickets for the first session – Saturday Sept 28 at 12:00pm.
Use the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/933981763597?aff=oddtdtcreator
and the code PacificGravity at checkout.

Oans, zwoa, drei, Gsuffa!!!
Parker Waechter – President, Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

September Monthly Meeting; Thursday 9/19/2024 at 7:30 PM
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963

Upcoming Styles of the Month

  • September 2024 – German and Czech beers
  • October 2024 – Alternative fermentables beers (using sugars and/or grains other than malted barley)
  • November 2024 – Fruit/spice beers, meads, and ciders/berries
  • December 2024 – No style of the month (Holiday Party)

Upcoming Events

  • Sept 19: Club Meeting at Torgugo Brewing Company – Style German and Czech beers
  • Sept 21: Pacific Brewers Cup Main Judging Session
  • Oct 4:   First Friday/PBC Ribbons at Wurstkuche Venice 7:30
  • Oct 19:  Chili Cookoff – Style Alternative Fermentables

Pacific Gravity Club Meeting Thursday, June 20th at Tortugo Brewery

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Howdy Ho Pacific Gravity!

Our club meeting this week will be at usual time and place:

June Monthly Meeting; Thursday 6/20/2024 at 7:30 PM
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963

Our Style Of The Month for June is Sour, Smoked and Wood Aged beers – please bring your home-brewed works of art to share!

Carl will be collecting competition entries for the Red White and Brews competition Read more →

Pacific Gravity Club Meeting Thursday, May 16th at Tortugo Brewery

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Greetings Pacific Gravity! 

Welcome to a marvelous May!  Our club meeting this week will be at usual time and place:

May Monthly Meeting; Thursday 5/16/2024 at 7:30 PM
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963

Our Style Of The Month for May is Dark/Black  beers – so please bring some of your interesting high SRM creations to share!

 

The Southern California Homebrewers Festival was well attended and definitely met expectations for fun, comradery and of course the opportunity to sample lots of quality home-brews from our peers at dozens of clubs.  Carl and Tom did great work getting the booth setup, torn down and transported.  Ian overcame some adversity of freeway-escaped equipment to still create excellent meals, along with the help of Tim, who turns out is an excellent substitute for the wok stand and lots of general help.  Tim and Dean did lots of work helping streamline the creation and cleanup on the meals.  Brett on guitar is a perennial favorite around the campfire.  And of course a massive thanks to Terry who is the one who organizes this whole thing for us and make sure we get the awesome campsites – not to mention being the one to go to the serving meeting early so others don’t have to!  Strand participated closely with us this year and were a great addition to the taps booth, help around camp and fireside conversation!

Our First Friday for June is planned for 6/7 at Far Field Beer Company.
See you all this Thurs 5/16 at Tortugo!!

Parker Waechter – President, Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

Competition Corner May 2024

The 2024 Brewer of the Year competition cycle is now underway.  So, get those brewpots going while the fermentation weather is still on the cool side.

I hope you got your entries registered for the American Homebrewers Association National Homebrew Competition.  Entry shipping drop-off runs from May 13th, 2024 to May 22nd, 2024, assuming you are sending them to San Diego.  We do not have a driver, so you have to ship your entries.  If you are sending then elsewhere, please check the listings, dates may vary.  Assuming your entries make it to the second round, the final round shipping deadline runs from July 29 to August 9.   October 10: Awards will be announced at the Great American Beer Festival on October 10th.

April – Mayfaire Competition.  Congrats to Craig Corley who scored a 2nd place ribbon for his wheatbier, SA7  GM Wheat Weissbier, and a 3rd place for Single #5,  Belgian Single.  Full result can be found at https://competitions.maltosefalcons.com/2024Mayfaire/

April/May – California State Fair.  The entry deadline has passed, and all the entries brought to my attention were delivered to Angel City Brewery for shipment to Sacramento.  Judging will be conducted the third week of May in Sacramento.  Results will be posted at  https://castatefairhomebrew.brewcomp.site/

July:  Long Beach Red White and Brews competition.  This competition focuses on 30 different American styles.  Look for details in the next month or so.

??:  If we hear that the County Fair competition is revived, (not likely) it is still included in the competition cycle.

September – Pacific Brewers Cup.  We are running the competition this year, so there will be much more info to come.  Key dates:

·         September 5th  Entry deadline,

·         September 7th Entry organizing

·         September 21st Main judging session at Tortugo Brewery.

October California State Competition.  This will be the last competition of the 2024 Brewer of the Year season.

Upcoming Styles of the Month

  • May 2024 – Dark/black beers
  • June 2024 – Sour beers, smoked beers, and wood-aged beers
  • July 2024 – IPAs
  • August 2024 – No style of the month (Summer Party)
  • September 2024 – German and Czech beers
  • October 2024 – Alternative fermentables beers (using sugars and/or grains other than malted barley)
  • November 2024 – Fruit/spice beers, meads, and ciders/berries
  • December 2024 – No style of the month (Holiday Party)

Upcoming Events

  • May 16: Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company – Style: Dark/black beers
  • June 7: First Friday at Far Field Beer Company