Learn to Brew/Chili Cookoff Day Nov. 6

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As in past years, Learn to Brew Day (formerly Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day), a nationwide AHA event will take place the first Saturday in November. Due to the Summer Party having been held in August, we were forced to pospone the cookoff until November, so Pacific Gravity will also be conducting our annual Chili Cookoff on that day.

The event will be held at the home of our Competition Coordinator and Brewmaster, Carl Townsend. The address is 3621 Redwood Ave, L.A. 90066. It’s just a few blocks west of Beethoven, north of Venice.
BREW:
Carl will brewing on his all grain system, and there is room for 4 additional brewers. If you want bring your equipment and brew, send an E-mail to me at ActivitiesDirector@PacificGravity.com, or to CompetitionCoordinator@PacificGravity.com

CHILI COOKOFF:
For the past 2 years, club chef, Ian Fraser has taken the prize for Best Chili. This year, he MUST BE BROUGHT DOWN! Ian has begun to think he owns the prize, and must be taught a lesson. Who’s gonna do it? YOU, of course.

The competition is simple. Make you best chili, bring it in a crockpot or any other vessel which can be heated. A tasting will take place, votes counted, and a winner announced. All serving utensils, garnishes, rice, crackers, salad and dessert will be provided by the club. Just label your entry.

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

TIME: Brewing commences at 10am
Chili serving and voting starts around Noon.

First Friday-10/01/10

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It’s that time of the month again, boys and girls! This month we’re going to 2 bars, one new, and one old favorite. How can we do it? Easy-they are 100 feet from one another. What could be better than that (except Dan and Anne’s Carriage House Tap Room).

In the last couple of months the Venice Ale House opened on the Venice Boardwalk, right near the venerable Swiss/German restaurant, On the Boardwalk.

They are located right on the boardwalk at Rose Ave. Getting there is easy, and there is a municipal parking lot on the beach, just feet away from both places. If you are a cheapskate, like me, there is usually some neighborhood parking within a few blocks.

The Venice Ale House has 23 taps and  10 bottles, something for everyone, organic, inorganic (WTF!), hops, malt, specialty. While a few are rather ordinary, there  is absolutely NO BudCoorsMillerLight anywhere around. All are priced at 5-8 bucks, and bottles are 5-7, except for La Merle at $16/750ml.  Food is reasonably priced and all organic.

On the Waterfront is definitely NOT organic. It’s the place to go for your German brews. On tap is Köstrizer Black Beer, Bitburger Premium, König Pilsner, Erdinger Dunkel, Erdinger Weizenbier.  There is also a selection of bottled beer, and some of the usual American Brews.

On the Waterfront  Cafe is located at 205 Ocean Front Walk, just north of Rose.

As usual, the First Friday officially begins at 7pm, but many of us will be arriving by 5, while there is still some daylight. Join PG for what promises to be a great time.
         
 waterfrontcafe.com         

www.venicealehouse.com

First Friday-Sept. 3

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Well, Graviteers, another super PG Summer Party has come and gone.

Now that we’ve recovered, we must get back to business, as usual. That means First Friday! To celebrate Labor Day weekend, we are going to Culver City’s newest gastropub, Waterloo & City, located at 12517 Washington Blvd.

A few of us have already visited, and the consensus at last month’s FF was that we should go back to Culver City, try a new place, and support it.

The Tap lineup consists of Weihenstephan, Green Flash IPA, Hofbrau, Allagash White, Stone Pale, Arrogant Bastard, Duvel Green, and Ohara’s Irish Stout, a brew I’ve not seen anywhere else. There is also a cider on tap. The bottle list is pretty extensive, with something for everyone’s taste.  Prices of draughts are 4 (Green Flash) to 10 bucks (Duvel). Bottles average 7-12 for the ones we’d consider drinking.

Food is what has made W & C a destination for many. There are small pizzas, enough for 1 or 2 to share, and other appetizer sized portions.  Prices range from 6-12 bucks. If you want to have a full meal, and sit at a table, it would be wise to make a reservation, due to the overwhelming popularity of the place. The telephone number is: 310-391-4222.

W & C opens at 5pm, and happy Hour is from 5-7.

Hope to see you there.

Mead Day!

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It’s that time of year again… Mead Day!  We missed the official AHA National Mead Day, but that is not going to stop us.  So we will be celebrating our own Mead Day on September 11 at the home of Dan & Anne Hakes.  We will be brewing, tasting and talking about mead.  Last year Mead Day was held at my house and I made an all agave syrup fermentation.   We will be sampling that along with the mead we made last year and see how it’s coming along.  I have a few other meads sitting around and you never know what I might find in the cellar.  If you have some mead to share, bring it along. Beer is welcome too!

Michael Steinberg will be bringing snacks, and the Carriage House Taproom will be open.  Drop by, socialize, and watch how easy it is to make mead!

Saturday September 11, 2010

12:00 noon

2379 W 21st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90018

323-203-5089

First Friday July 2

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July 1st Friday we once again have the pleasure of being entertained at The Carriage House, AKA the home of Dan and Anne Hakes.

Dan has the best home “tavern” in the club, and welcomes all PG members to partake of his hospitality.

As usual, the event officially begins at 7:00pm, ends when Dan and Anne kick the last one of us out (around 11).

Since this is not a Public House, any and all beer and snack donations will be more than welcome.
Bring homebrew, commercial beer, and anything else you like.

Address: 2379 W. 21st St.
L.A 90051

Directions:
Take the 10 freeway to Arlington Exit.
North to Washington (from the West, make a Left at the exit – about 4 short blocks).
Right 1 long block on Washington to Cimmaron.
Right on Cimmaron to 21st St.

Park anywhere in the neighborhood, and walk to Dan’s.

Michael Steinberg
PG Activities Director

June 26 Big Brew and Jockey Box Project

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In addition to the Jockey Box Construction Project, being held at my house on June 26, we will be having a Club Big Brew on the same day.

The Jockey Box portion of the event is being organized by Tom Rierson and Carl Townsend. See Carl’s separate article for details.

This event will be a multi brewer Big Brew, as opposed to a single “Club Brew”. People bring their equipment and brew outdoors on my driveway. There is room for 6-8 brewers, and reservations are a must.

Word has it that many PG  members have expressed interest in learning how to brew all grain beer. In response, there will be one member brewing an all grain batch and giving instructions. It’s always possible that there will be other all grain brewers, in addition to partial mash and extract brewers.

The event begins at 10am, and ends when the last brewer and Jockey Box maker is finished. The time should be around 5 or 6pm. As usual, anyone who wants to show up earlier is welcome do do so, since I’ll be up and brewing by 7am.

FOOD: Will be served. Snacks and lunch will be available. Any attendee bringing food and beer will be given a special commendation, and will be able to drink beer at the event 🙂

BEER: As with any PG event the beer will be supplied by whoever shows up. Bring kegs, bottles, or growlers. Maybe we’ll be able to test some of the Jockey Boxes at the event.

Address: 10754 Barman Ave. Culver City. That’s across the street from Vet’s Park, between Overland and Coombs. Look for the RV in the street.

SIGN UP: Please send an E-mail to me at ActivitiesDirector@PacificGravity.com

Hope you can make it.

Michael Steinberg, PG Activities Director

First Friday, June 4-Brewster’s

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It’s 1st Friday again boys and girls!

Join me and the gang at Brewster’s, in the 4 Points by Sheraton LAX, located at 9750 Airport Blvd,

 Los Angeles 90045.

In the past Brewster’s was a regular watering hole for the PG crowd, and we always had a great time on Friday.
The management would like us to return to the newly remodeled bar, one of LA’s preeminent hotel based beer bars.

Brewster’s has 7  taps as well as a great list of American Craft beers,  Belgians, and German brews in bottle.. 
A  light food menu is available., including appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, etc.

As usual, the event begins at 7PM, although no one will complain if you show up early.

See you there.

How do I build a Jockey Box?

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This Month’s Question:  How do I build a Jockey Box?

 

Answer: The simple answer to this is to join us on Jockey Box Day, Saturday, June 26th at Mike Steinberg’s house.   You bring a cooler, and we’ll bring a bunch of supplies, so at the end of the day you can head home with a new portable beer serving system.  Let us know ahead of time how many taps you want, so we can plan accordingly.  We’ll have a sign-up sheet at the May Club meeting on Thursday, May 20thBuild your own on Jockey Box Day June 26th. Read more →

First Friday, May 7, 2010

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  May First Friday we’re going to one of our most popular destinations,
The Richmond Bar and Grill in El Segundo.
Jeff and Patty always set us up with a special keg or two, and this time
promises to be at least as good as past events.

Beer is served in pitchers for our group, and we pay up at the end.
The food is very moderately priced, with almost everything less than 10
bucks.
Burgers, salads, chili dog, and sandwiches are generous, and the service
is excellent.

There are no credit purchases, so bring cash.
If you forget your money, there is an ATM on premises.

For those who have never been to the Richmond, it’s a unique
neighborhood bar in downtown El Segundo.
Parking is great, and the trip is convenient from the West Side or the
Beach Towns.

The meeting is in a private room behind the bar, with its own patio.
To say the least, having you own space is a real plus on a First Friday.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Time: 7pm, unless you want to get there early (early birds pay for their
pints individually before the group event starts).
Address: 145 Richmond St. (1.1 blocks south of West Grand, West of Main
St.)
El Segundo, CA 90245
310-322-7397

First Friday April 2nd

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This month we’re all going to Stout, in West Hollywood.

Well known for their Burgers, and having a good beer lineup to go with the food, here’s a place for you Mid Town people to go.

The following is from the LA Time Article November 20, 2009:

“Taking over the former Karma Coffehouse in Hollywood’s Cahuenga Corridor, he and partner Charles Lew, 34, both of whom are lawyers turned bar/restaurant owners, wanted to open a neighborhood place where they could pair high-end burgers with adventurous beers. Dominated by a copper and oak half-circle bar, Stout has 30 taps that pour beers such as Port Hop 15, Saison Dupont and Delirium Tremens. The menu offers nine standard burgers along with suggested beers for each. With the Six Weeker, a coarsely ground, 6-ounce burger dressed with fig compote, arugula, melted brie and caramelized onions ($10) Stout recommends either a Brother David, a rich, light and moderately malted Belgian ale, or a Scaldes, a high-alcohol, heavily malted Belgian dark ale with fruit flavors. Stout has 10 additional 750ml bottled beers ($20 to $50) and six wines ($6 to $13 a glass).”

Address: 1544 North Cahuenga Blvd (near Selma).

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