Pacific Gravity May Club Meeting -Virtual- Thursday May 21 at 7:30PM

/in /by

Greetings Pacific Gravity,

I hope this message finds you all well, safe and healthy during this extended time of crisis and uncertainty! Pacific Gravity is doing what we can to add a little normalcy and continuity during this time.

In our ongoing effort to continue to comply with state mandated regulations against group gatherings, our May 21, 2020 club meeting will be virtual. Time will be at 7:30 PM.

However we want to be at Tortugo Brewing! So how do we achieve this? Well we are bringing Tortugo to you! Our meeting will include a virtual celebration of Tortugo Brewing. Joe Kovach will be on hand to discuss his beers and in particular the Balta Red and the Secret IPA. Here is how it works! Stop by Tortugo Brewing starting tomorrow and pick up some of his beers, be sure to include the ‘Balta Red’ and the ‘Secret IPA’ in your purchases.

Joe has the following beers available at this time:
Cristobal Mexican lager 5.2%;
Seymour Kolsch 5%;
Isabela white ale 4.5%;
Baltra red ale 6%
Kicker rock IPA 6.9%;
West Coast Livin IPA 8%;
Porter 7.5%;
Applewood Smoked pale ale 5.2% &
Secret IPA 7%;
Lava beer dry hopped red ale 6%

Also he has these but these beers sell out fast!
New mai tai pa 5% (available Thursday)
New Island time 3% (available Thursday)
New Caught in the Rain 5% (available Friday) Read more →

April Virtual Meeting Thursday 4-16 7:30PM

/in /by

Greetings Members,

I hope you are all staying home, healthy and safe during this crazy time!   Due to the restrictions put into place due to the Covid – 19 pandemic our meeting this month is going virtual!

Please see the email, sent to you from the club, for the information you will need to join our virtual club meeting. If you did not get an email inviting you to the club meeting please reach out me at:  [email protected] and we will get you the needed information.  You will need to download the ‘ZOOM’ app or already have it to access the meeting.  We will discuss the current situation, plans for the future, competition news, compare the beers we are drinking and even have a virtual tasting hosted by our own Craig Corley!

Our style of the month are Belgian beers and he is going to be tasting a Westmalle Double and Triple.  So if you are lucky enough to have one of those in your stash, you can taste right along with him!  We are also going to invite our club sponsors so you can get the latest brewery information, news, and what’s available for purchase during this crisis!

So get yourself set up on Zoom, log in with the links below and we will see you all on Thursday!

Cheers,

Ian Fraser
President
Pacific Gravity

Pacific Gravity response to the Coronavirus (COVID -19)

/in , , , , /by

Dear Club Members,

Considering the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to assure you that Pacific Gravity is taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our membership and guests. In an abundance of caution and to avoid exposure the Board has decided to suspend club meetings and events for the short term as this situation develops.

As of this moment, judging for LABBC will still happen this Sunday (3/15), but this could change, so please check for any last-minute notices. Given that this is a discretionary event, we recognize that some of you may wish to not participate. If this is the case, please contact Carl Townsend (Head judge)  as soon as possible.

We will be taking a number of precautions at the judging site to avoid any unnecessary exposure. Specifically,
1) You will be asked point blank as you enter if you are sick, or even think you might be sick, or if you have been exposed to anyone with Covid-19. (We would hope that you would refrain from even coming out.)
2) Please avoid unnecessary body contact. Do a fist-bump if necessary, but avoid shaking hands or hugs. We will be spreading you out to avoid crowding.
3) Please wash your hands thoroughly using the CDC guidelines a couple of times throughout the morning. We will provide plastic gloves for use if desired. If you have hand sanitizer, please bring some along.
4) Do not pass around cups of beer. Do not swig out of the bottles, even if they are nearly empty. We will have plenty of cups available.
5) Lunch will be served up by our chef. Please do not serve yourself. If the weather cooperates, please spread out to eat using the outdoor tables. (This also avoids food smells in the judging area.)

Other Upcoming Events:
The March meeting scheduled for March 19th is cancelled.
The Monster brew scheduled for March 28, 2020 at Smog City Brewing is postponed, tentatively until May.
AHA has notified us that the first round judging for the National Homebrew Conference has been postponed.
We are staying in contact with the CHA and monitoring their response and will provide updates about SCHBF (May 1-3, 2020) as they become available.

While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our club’s membership and public health officials assess our risk to be low, we are focused on caring for the health and well being of our members, their families and our community at large.

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation has caused.

Please maintain your focus on keeping yourselves and your families safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Ian Fraser
President
Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

25th Anniversary Club Meeting Thursday February 20th

/in /by

Our 25th Anniversary Club meeting is finally here! This is the actual month of this club’s creation 25 years ago!

We will meet on 02/20/2020 at Neil Saund’s Party Duplex. It is located at 12966 Rubens Ave. Los Angeles, CA (At Alla Road).

We plan to make this a bit more of an event then your typical meeting. We will be firing up the BBQ’s for this event and cooking a true Pacific Gravity flashback of Carne Asada (and other flavors) street tacos! Ian and Dean are in charge of the food and plan to do it right!

Our commercial style of the month is: Barleywines; hosted by Dominic and Jun!

We have lots to update you on and will have sign up sheets for bus ride to The Stuffed Sandwich. If you want to secure your seat on the bus, bring $25 to the meeting to pay for it. This is one bus ride you do not want to miss!

This meeting will be a big one and probably go late! If you can, take Friday off!

Cheers,

Ian
President

 

Pacific Gravity Holiday Party Saturday Dec 7th

/in , /by

Greetings!

It is time for the Pacific Gravity annual holiday event. Mark your calendars! This year the party is happening on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Neil Saund’s duplex – at: 12966 Rubens Ave, Los Angeles, CA (at Alla Road).

The party will kick off about 5:00 P.M. If you have not attended one of the past holiday events, let us tell you this is one party not to be missed!

We really, really need your help with the following:

FOOD:
Although the club will be providing some of the main dishes, this is still a potluck party and YOUR favorite party dish will be greatly appreciated! The menu should mostly reflect past holiday parties featuring Carbonnades ala Flamandes, deep fried turkeys, spiced ham and much more!

Suggestions of what to bring would include any kind of main dish but especially all side dishes, veggie dishes, salads, desserts and appetizers. So, if you have a favorite family holiday recipe and want to share it with the rest of us, this is your chance. Please let us know what you will bring. If you have any questions about what to bring, please contact Club Chef Ian ([email protected]).

The dinner portion of the event will be ongoing beginning at approximately 7pm. Please note that there will be very little space available for reheating food, so please bring your food ready to serve, not ready to cook.

Crockpots and chafing dishes with sterno fuel would be a great idea of how to bring something and keep it hot.

Also, don’t forget to label your containers or anything you want back.

BEER:
Got beer? We need all types of beer, meads, cider and sodas for this event. Pull out your favorite holiday beverage, dust off the bottle or keg and bring it down! We’ll have the Wave of Beer set up to help dispense your holiday homebrews. If you plan to bring beer, soda or other seasonally festive beverage, please contact Carl ([email protected]) and let him know what you will bring. Everyone who signs up in advance will have a colorful tap tag.

VOLUNTEERS needed for setup & cleanup
On Saturday, Dec 7th from approximately 10am to 12noon, we need help with final setup at Neil’s.

On Sunday, Dec 8th, starting at 10am, we need lots of people to help with clean up. The more we get the faster it goes. (probably ending around 12noon-1pm).

If you’d like to volunteer for set up or clean up contact us: PG Board at [email protected].

EQUIPMENT:
We need a few more heat lamps and fire pits so please donate them if you can.

We NEED lot & lots FIREWOOD! If you can bring wood please do so. December evenings can be cold so please help bring some wood so we can all stay warm.

We need more TABLES, e-z ups (canopies), and power strips.

We also need jockey boxes and CO2 cylinders and Sanke taps to help make sure all the beverages flow cold with perfect carbonation. We have more kegs than taps on the Wave, and the jockey boxes help out big time.

If at all possible, please bring your kegs and heavy stuff to setup on Friday evening or between 10am – 12noon on Saturday. This makes the last minute activities at party time go much more smoothly. The early kegs get the best slots on the Wave. Make sure all your kegs, coolers, tanks taps, and other equipment are well labeled so they all return to their rightful owners Sunday morning.

Note, if you can’t deliver beer kegs to the Neil’s house at setup on Friday evening or Saturday afternoon, then please email Carl Townsend at [email protected] to make arrangements to drop off your kegs at his house.

4th Annual Holiday CLOTHING CHARITY DRIVE:
It’s time to clean out your closets…Pacific Gravity is having our 4th annual Holiday CLOTHING DRIVE!

We will have boxes for any donations you can bring to the party.
For clothes & other items, please see the list below which will be donated to The People Concern (formerly, OPCC). They are mostly in need of men’s clothing in large sizes. Clothing can be “gently used” and should be clean.
Monetary donations will also be accepted – checks or cash. Special donation envelopes will be available at the party. Tax receipts for monetary donations will be sent to you by mail.

Below is a list of items that we can always use:

Clothing
Sweat socks – for men, women and children
Sweat shirts and pants for adults – all sizes especially larger sizes
New underwear – men’s, women and children
Flannel and long sleeve shirts for adults

Personal & Household items
Hygiene Items: toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, disposable razors, bar soap, hand & body lotion,etc.
Blankets (preferably wool)
Sleeping bags for adults

Final Party Details:

Dress warm for our winter party, bring food and bring beer!

Highlighting the evening will be the crowning of the Pacific Gravity Club Member of the Year, and awarding of the trophy for Brewer of the Year.

Santa is sure to make an appearance to give away lots of great door prizes (prize donations welcome).
All club members and their guests are welcome, so plan on joining us…Celebrate the season, good beer, good food and friends the Pacific Gravity way!

Cheers,
Ian Fraser
President, Pacific Gravity

Club Meeting, Chili Cook-off and Elections Saturday Nov 9th

/in /by

Greetings,

This coming Saturday is our November meeting, packed with activities and events!

The meeting is two weeks early this month, so don’t miss out!  The Molloys were generous enough to host us (again) and this weekend was the best fit for their schedule. Remember, it’s a private residence so carry-in & carry-out and be on your best behavior!

Event:  November Club Meetings; Elections and Chili Cook-Off!
Where:  Casa Malloy:  6738 W. 87th Place, Westchester, CA 90045  (Please note, it is PLACE, not Street!)
Time:  12:00 Noon until 7:00 PM

We will be conducting our annual chili cook off and all members are invited to bring a crock pot of homemade chili to enter.  The club will provide toppings, rice and corn bread.  All members are welcome to bring any side they wish as well!

We will also be conducting our elections for next years Board and member of the year!   We will accept nominations right up to the day of the event.  Currently we show:

MEMBER OF THE YEAR:
Dean Sussman
Neil Saund
Rives Borland
Ian Fraser

And nominations for next year’s BOARD looks like this so far:
Ian Fraser – President
Parker Waechter – Vice President
Craig Corley – Treasurer
Casey Bond- Secretary
Derek Marshall – Secretary

Our style of the month is:  Sour Ale, Wild Ale, and Mead, hosted by Peter Moran & Robert Wilkinson.

Cheers,
Ian Fraser
President,
Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

Upcoming Dates to remember:
December 1, 2019 First Friday (on a Sunday!)  Set up and bottle share at Neil’s duplex.
December 7, 2019 Pacific Gravity Holiday party!

 

Club Meeting October 17th at Tortugo

/in /by

Greetings,

Please join us at Tortugo Brewing for our October Club Meeting tomorrow night, 10/17/2019 at 7:30 P.M.!

Event:  Club meeting
Where:  Tortugo Brewing, 916 W Hyde Park Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90302
When:  7:30 PM

The style of the month is:  Smoked Beer and Wood Beer, Hosted by Derek Marshall.
We will be opening nominations for next years Board and member of the Year, talking about the upcoming chili cook off and the holiday party.
There will be ‘Octoberfest’ themed food served by Parker and Ian.

See you there!
Cheers,

Ian Fraser
President, Pacific Gravity Homebrewers

Upcoming:

Nov. 2, 2019:  First Friday on Saturday!  Common Space Brewing and LA Ale Works
Nov. 9, 2019:  Chili cook-off and Club meeting (plus elections) at Terry Malloy’s
December 1, 2019 First Friday (on a Sunday!)  Set up and bottle share at Neil’s duplex
December 7, 2019.  Holiday Party at Neil’s Duplex.

Club meeting 8-15 at Tortugo Brewing

/in /by

Greetings folks:
I hope your hangovers from the summer party are gone.  Why?  Because the third Thursday of August is this week!  Please join us for our regular club meeting this Thursday August 15, 2019 at Tortugo Brewing, 916 W Hyde Park Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90302.

Our style of the month is fruit beers with our style tasting being hosted by Dominic Reiss and Jun Gao.  We will get started about 7:30 PM.  I hope to see you there!

Cheers,
Ian

Dates to remember:
9/6/19  First Friday:  TBA
9/19/19 Next Club meeting at Neil’s Duplex in MDR.

Big Brew Saturday July 13th 2019

/in , /by

Have you ever wanted to make the jump from extract to all-grain brewing but didn’t really know how to go about it? Come on over to Carl’s place for our annual Big Brew on Saturday, July 13th. This is an excellent opportunity to enhance your brewing skills and see how other members of the club create some awesome-tasting beer. Carl will crank up the amazing thermosiphon reboiler as he sharpens his “Exceedingly Quick Wit” for the Summer Party. In addition to the brewing activity, Master Chef Ian will crank up the BBQ for summertime picnic fare. Side dishes are welcome. The Wave of Beer will be up and running, so if you have a keg to share, bring it along.  The Big Brew takes the place of the regular July meeting, so other club business will be discussed as needed.

We still have room for more brewers, so if you want to bring your brew system, drop me a line at c136 @ 7 d . com .  There is still time to make a batch of a low-gravity quick-maturing beer for the Summer Party. The first four respondents are guaranteed a space to set up your rig. Other space will be allotted on an availability basis. All-grain, extract brewers and other alternative beverage brewers are all welcome.

I will also have a handful of fresh-harvest Nugget hops available directly from my hop garden.

Speaking of the Summer Party (coming up August 3rd), we will have some all-important planning updates about including sign-up sheets for pot-luck food dishes, volunteer set-up/clean-up, and the all-important beer sign-up list.

Date: Saturday, July 13th, 2019
Place: Carl’s Place
3621 Redwood Ave
Los Angels CA 90066
Time: Carl will start mashing in around 10:00am.  Extract brewers can start later.

If you secure a spot, it would be helpful if you could drop off your equipment either Thursday or Friday. Arrange a drop off time with Carl (c136 @ 7 d . com).

June Meeting 6/20 at Smog City

/in , /by

Our next meeting will be held this Thursday, June 20, at 7:30pm at Smog City Brewing Company – 1901 Del Amo Blvd B, Torrance, CA 90501

Bring your Monster Brew! Porter has been gracious enough to host our annual monster brew, but rarely gets to sample the results. Not anymore!

Our style of the month is British and American strong ales, with a commercial tasting hosted by Robert Wilkinson and Peter Moran.

Jill, of Strand Brewers Club, will be handing out ribbons from the Jeff Sanders Memorial Competition.

See you there!

Upcoming dates:

July 5: First Friday at The Doughroom

July 13: Big Brew at Carl’s House – Limited Space – Sign up with Carl

August 2: First Friday bottle-share/Summer Party setup at Dean’s House

August 3: Summer Party at Dean’s House – Get your keg on The Wave of Beer – sign up with Carl

August 15: Meeting at Tortugo Brewing