Competition Corner – January 2013

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The first competition of the 2013 brewing year is upon us.  Entries are due Friday, February 1st for the America’s Finest City Homebrew competition organized the QUAFF.  You can drop off your entries at the Culver City shop.  Registration is up and running at
https://quaff.org/AFC-2013/ .  You need 2 bottles per entry and the entry fee is $7.00.  The competition uses the BJCP style guidelines and represents an excellent test bed for any entries you might have for the AHA Nationals.

Speaking of which, the entry window for the AHA Nationals opens on February 26th this year.  Last year, the entire competition was filled with entries after about 36 hours, so make sure you are ready to jump on-line when the window opens.  This year TWO bottles are needed for the first round of this competition.  You can drop off the physical entries assuming they are going to San Diego, by March 18th.  If you are entering bottles to any other location (which several people did last year), you must ship them off yourself. Read more →

Competition Corner – December 2012 –> NOTE Special Deadline

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Hope all you folks are having a great set of holidays!  In all the flurry of activity, please don’t miss the deadline for the next Club-Only Competition.  Because of shipping logistics, we have a special deadline of Sunday, December 30th at the Culver City shop.   This time, we are doing the “Un-Session Beers” (OG>1.040).  This competition covers BJCP categories 1C-E, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6C, 7, 8C, 9D & E, 10, 12B & C, 13B-F, 14, 15, 16, 17B, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23.  Note that the low-gravity categories are excluded if the official lower end of the gravity range is 1.040 or below, even if your particular beer is over 1.040.   Seem like an odd rule, but hey, I don’t write these rules.

Since so many styles are eligible, we have a limit of ONE entry per person.  So, sort through your inventory and bring us your best shot.  We need one bottle for judging on the 30th, but you must be prepared to deliver two more to Carl if you win. (You can bring 3 bottles ahead of time if you like).  All entries must have the official rubber band label, which you can down load here:  http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/attachments/0000/0325/bottleid.pdf  Read more →

State Homebrew Comp Entries Due Friday Oct 5th

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Entries for the California State Homebrew Competition are due at the shop on Friday October 5th.  Thanks to Peter Moran, your entries will get personal delivery up to the bay area, so they will get plenty of TLC.  This is one of the competitions used to determine the 2012 Anchor Club of the Year award, so keep some bottles ready to go.  Details are all on the website:  http://www.nchfinfo.org/state-comp.html .

Although this competition uses the BJCP styleguide for judging, they have them grouped in a different order.  Please make sure you check out the rules package before assigning category numbers to them.

Sorry for the late notice, but we’ve had a few problems with the website. If you need a bit more time, drop me a line and I’ll hook you up directly with Peter.
Good Luck
Carl Townsend

Competition Corner – September 2012

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For all you folks looking for something different and interesting to brew, here are a couple of unique opportunities:  At the September club meeting on Sept 20th, we will be holding a special soda contest for the 2012 Beer, Art & Music Fest.    Sodas are quick to brew, so there is plenty of time this weekend to get one ready.  Winning entries get two free tickets to the fest, and get to have your soda featured at the fest itself on October 6th, at the 18th Street Art Center in Santa Monica.   Rules of the competition are simple:

1)      You need to bring a keg to the September meeting.
2)      Note that the entry can have NO alcohol.
3)      Club members will vote on the white board (just like the keg of the month contest).
4)      Winners must agree to bring soda to the fest.

This year 18th Street is teaming up with Pacific Gravity member and LA craft beer industry veteran Martin Svab (Stone Brewery & Naja’s Place) to help facilitate the beer side of the festival.  Participating craft breweries range from big to small, including the popular and larger Sierra Neveda Brewing and Firestone Walker Brewing Companies, to the smaller but equally great Angel City, Golden Road and Surf Brewing.  Martin had hoped to offer Pacific Gravity Homebrew at the fest, but we were limited to non-alcohol offerings due to ATF/ABC restrictions.  But, we all know the club can make some great sodas, so bring out your best!

Also up for grabs are two soda slots for the LA Beer Week and the awesome LA Beer Week Festival at Union Station, which will be on Sunday, September 30th from Noon until 4PM.  Winners get free tickets, but must agree to serve soda and hand out PG flyers at the event.   Details about the event can be found at http://www.itsmyseat.com/LABeerWeek/ .

Also at the September meeting Read more →

Pacific Brewers Cup Deadline is Thursday, Sept 6th

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Pacific Brewers CupJust a quick reminder that the entry deadline for Pacific Brewers Cup is this Thursday, September 6th.   According to Strand Brewers, who are organizing the event this year there will be some “really spectacular prizes”!  The entry window is now open online at http://www.pacificbrewerscup.com/.  Your physical entries can be dropped off at the Culver City shop, or the Eagle Rock shop, as well as six other homebrew shops.   Pacific Gravity always has a great showing in this competition and we hope to keep it up.  Strand is also asking for help on judging day, Saturday, September 22, 2012, at the Four Points Sheraton by LAX, the Beer Hotel.  They will need every judge and steward we can supply, so please sign up now.   The hotel is located at 9750 Airport Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045, next to LAX. (Map).

Competition Corner – August, 2012

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Pacific Brewers Cup 2012It’s that time of the year to get out your best bottles of homebrew for the 2012 Pacific Brewers Cup. The entry window is now open online at http://www.pacificbrewerscup.com/.  Strand Brewers are putting together what is going to be a great competition.  Entries are due by September 6th, and can be dropped off at the Culver City shop.  Pacific Gravity always has a great showing Read more →

County Fair Judging at the Culver City Shop – Sunday 7/29 at 5:00 PM

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The Falcons have a record 300 beers to judge for the Los Angeles County Fair Homebrew Competition and they have asked us to help!  We will be doing a preliminary judging round on Sunday, July 29th at 5:00 PM.   Come on by and help out on what has always been a good competition for Pacific Gravity.  We need a couple of stewards too!  To sign up, please send me a note at Competitions@PacificGravity.com .  And, to make sure your points get recorded, please sign up here:

http://competitions.maltosefalcons.com/2012LACF/judgeform.php

Note that they also need many many judges at the main judging session which will be at the Woodland Hill shop on Sunday, August 5th, at 9:00 AM. Make sure you check the proper session boxes for “Preliminary session” or “day of the competition” to keep it all straight.

I guarantee there will be some great beer, so come on by!

Thanks
Carl Townsend
Competition Coordinator

 

Competition Corner – July, 2012

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The next Club-Only competition is for Porter, BJCP category 12.  Because of the Summer Party schedule, note the special due date of Friday, July 13th at the Culver City shop.  If you have any one of these (or more than one) bring three 12 oz. bottles to the meeting and make sure you let Carl know they are here.  If possible, please also fill out an entry form, Read more →

Competition Corner – June 2012

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June represents a slow spell for the competition season, except for those lucky enough to place in the AHA Finals competition.  Judging will be this Thursday at the AHA conference in Seattle.  Keep your finger crossed for the following first round winners: Read more →

Brew For The Cure!

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Hello Home Brewers!

The Brew for the Cure Homebrew Festival is happening May 13th. This is a call for entries. We need the great homebrewers of Southern California to jump into the fight against cancer and help us throw a kick ass party! It’s a chance to hang out with friends compete for prizes and get your beer out there to see what people think.  There will be music and food, and the home brew will be flowing. Prizes will be awarded to the winning beers chosen by the public.