December 2009 Club Events

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Note: There are no Ladies Club or regular Club Meetings in December, both are replaced by the Holiday Party.

Online and subscribe-able club calendar available at: http://ical.me.com/cgcorley/PacificGravityEvents

For more info on upcoming events, check for related articles herein or contact President@PacificGravity.com

It’s Holiday Party Time-Again!

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The annual PG Holiday Party is almost here, this year to be held on December 12. This will be a first for the club, holding the party on a Saturday. This will guarantee a great turnout, lots of beer, food, and fun for all.

The Great Gathering takes the place of our monthly Club meeting, so that club members don’t have to miss celebrating the holidays with their families.

For those new members, and there are many of you reading this, the Holiday party is as good as the Summer Party. There are a few differences, though. This is not a kid friendly event. The party is at night, a lot more crowded and noisy, and there is nothing for a child to do, except be stepped on.

Once again, Neil Saund is graciously allowing us to hold the party at his empty duplex in Del Rey. We’ll have our usual line up of incredible appetizers, fabulous main courses, and succulent desserts.

Four batches of Carbonnades a la Flamande, each featuring a different beer, are being cooked, to be scarfed up by members and guests. We hope no one will be too “stewed” to eat it.
We’ll be having Baked Hams, for you porkers among you. Fried turkeys will be cooked and gobbled up. A most special surprise treat, by Club Chef Ian Fraser, will be served right on ‘cue for those of the bovine persuasion.

In addition to the above, we count on YOU to also bring food, beer, soda and any other homemade or purchased beverages you can think of. The Club depends on the membership and its guests for making the party a complete success. Appetizers, snacks, salads, sweets, and desserts are more than welcome. They are actually needed!

We also need volunteers for set up, and clean up. Those who arrive early get first beer tastings, and those who stay late, get to pick over the leftovers, which usually include some late night brews. We will be setting up on Sunday, Dec. 6 around 12-4, and again on Saturday Dec. 12 in the early afternoon. Cleanup is Sunday morning, around 10.

If you don’t know what to bring, contact me or PG Prez Craig Corley for hints.
ActivitiesDirector@PacificGravity.com
President@PacificGravity.com

The Board of Directors wants to wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season. May Gambrinus be with you.

Address: 12966 Rubens Ave.
Los Angeles 90066
Date: December 12, 2009.
Time: 7:00pm. The party ends when the last one out locks the door.

November 2009 Club Meeting

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The November club meeting will be on Thursday, November 19th from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Culver City Home Brewing Supply. We’ll be featuring Brown Ales and Porters as our style of the month and as always; we’ll have some homebrewed examples on tap to complement our monthly commercial style tasting (volunteer kegs are welcome).  Lee and Andrew Bakofsky will be guiding us on a tour of Brown Ales and Porters for our style tasting.  Please remember to bring some of your homebrew to share with us.  While you’re at it, bring some of your friends and maybe some new members.  As always we’ll be giving away lots of club swag and beer/brewing related goodies (donations welcome) in our monthly raffle.

The November meeting will feature our annual election of club officers and the club member of the year. We will be voting for President, Vice President and Treasurer.  In addition, we will be voting for the prestigious honor of Club Member of the Year with the results of this ballot to be announced at our Holiday Party on December 12th.  See Annual Club Elections for more details.

We’re planning on having the new club tee shirts with our new club logo on hand.  If you pre-ordered a shirt we’ll have yours set aside for you to pick up and if not, we’ll have extras available, but you’ll probably want to pick one up before we run out of your favorite size/style.

With this being the last meeting before our annual Holiday Party, we’ll be actively seeking volunteers for food and homebrew.  Plan on showing up and signing up to let us know what food and homebrew you’re planning on sharing with us.  We’ll also be collecting entries for the upcoming Belgian Strong Ales (category 18) AHA club only competition (see Competition Corner for more info).  Of course we’ll also have the latest info on all upcoming club events, plan on joining us…

Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day

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Every year, the first Saturday of November is designated “Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day”, by the American Homebrewer’s Association. This year Neil Saund is once again hosting a brew event at his home in Del Rey. The event is a single brew all grain event, and is a great opportunity for new members who want to move up from extract to all grain brewing. Snacks will be served.
See the club calendar, posted earlier today by club Prez, Craig Corley for a map link to Neil’s house.

Chili Cookoff Results

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Well, better late than never, I say.
Your humble servant had an attack of the lazies and has neglected to write an article about the Chili Cokoff until now.
Here goes…
On September 26 Eric Moreau hosted the PG Annual Chili Competition and Big Brew. Eric and his loyal fellow brewer Chris “Cosmo” Briles brewed 10 gallons of Saison. with help from about 20 drinkers/observers.
We had 6 chili entries and the results were close for the Grand Prize winning Best Chili. After a tiebreaker vote, Club Master Chef, Ian Fraser, was once again crowned, “Master of Chili”. The prize was a bottle of Deus which,
being pre-chilled, was graqciously shared by all.
Current PG Treasurer, Peggy Robinson, won a Malheur Brut for making the “Most Unique” chili.
In addition to all the above, Tom Rierson made a tortilla and salsa verde side dish, worthy of the great chili being eaten. Eric’s mom made cupcakes, and we ate like piggies.
To all those who weren’t there, be sure to come next year. To those who weren’t successful in dethroning Ian, Including me, better luck next time.
Michael Steinberg, PG Activities Director

November 2009 Club Events

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Online and subscribe-able club calendar available at: http://ical.me.com/cgcorley/PacificGravityEvents

For more info on upcoming events, check for related articles herein or contact President@PacificGravity.com

October 2009 Club Meeting

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The October club meeting will be on Thursday, October 15th from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Culver City Home Brewing Supply. We’ll be featuring All Lagers as our style of the month and as always; we’ll have some homebrewed examples on tap to complement our monthly commercial style tasting (volunteer kegs are welcome).  Carl Townsend will be guiding us on a tour of Lagers for our style tasting.  Please remember to bring some of your homebrew to share with us.  While you’re at it, bring some of your friends and maybe some new members.  As always we’ll be giving away lots of club swag and beer/brewing related goodies (donations welcome) in our monthly raffle.

The October meeting marks the beginning of our annual election season.  We’ll be accepting nominations for the elected positions of the 2010 Club Board (President, Vice President and Treasurer) with the election to be held at our November meeting.  The remaining board positions are appointed and we’ll be recruiting club members to fill those positions as well.  We’ll also be accepting nominations for the 2009 Club Member of the Year award, which recognizes and honors significant contributions and involvement by club members.  Elections for this prestigious award will also be held at the November meeting with the winner being announced at our annual Holiday Party in December.

We’re planning on having the new club tee shirts with our new club logo on hand and will be selling them for $15 each.  If you pre-ordered a shirt we’ll have yours set aside for you to pick up and if not, we’ll have extras available, but you’ll probably want to pick one up before we run out of your favorite size/style.

With several club events upcoming, including the Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day and Holiday Party, we’ll have a number of sign ups and details to finalize.  Of course we’ll also have the latest info on all upcoming club events, plan on joining us…

October 2009 Club Events

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Online and subscribe-able club calendar available at: http://ical.me.com/cgcorley/PacificGravityEvents

For more info on upcoming events, check for related articles herein or contact President@PacificGravity.com

September Club Meeting

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The September club meeting will be on Thursday, September 17th from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Culver City Home Brewing Supply. We’ll be featuring Belgian and French Ales as our style of the month and as always; we’ll have some homebrewed examples on tap to complement our monthly commercial style tasting (volunteer kegs are welcome).  Yours truly will be guiding us on a tour of Belgian and French Ales for our style tasting.  Please remember to bring some of your homebrew to share with us.  While you’re at it, bring some of your friends and maybe some new members.  As always we’ll be giving away lots of club swag and beer/brewing related goodies (donations welcome) in our monthly raffle.

We’ve finally finalized the design for the new club tee shirt and we’ll be taking pre-orders for the shirts at the club meeting.  We’re targeting $15 per shirt and plan to deliver them at the October club meeting.  Plan in letting us know how many, what size and style of shirt you want and if you can’t make the meeting, please email your pre-order to me at President@PacificGravity.com

With several club events upcoming, including the Chili Cookoff and Club Brew, we’ll have a number of sign ups and details to finalize. The Pacific Brewers Cup judging is on the Saturday following the meeting and we’ll be recruiting members to sign up to judge or steward at the competition.  We’ll be collecting entries for the upcoming European Amber Lagers (cat 3) AHA club only competition.  Of course we’ll also have the latest info on all upcoming club events, plan on joining us…

Club Brew and Chili Cookoff Coming on September 26th

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gravity-cookoffHey Graviteers,  it’s Chili Cookoff time again!! Get that meat, beans, onions, garlic and lots of chilis mixed up in your own unique way and see if you can be crowned this year’s  King or Queen of Chili.

Can you out-chili the Chili Master?

For the last two years Ian Fraser has been the holder of the title, Chili Master, and fully expects to keep the crown. This is your chance to prove that the Master’s chili is not all powerful, by breaking out your favorite recipe and defeating him in a winner take all competition.

In the past we have had as many as 10 chili entries. Two prizes are awarded, one for Best Chili, and the other for “Most Unique”. Veggie, Sea Food,  and All Meat have been represented in past competitions.

The Club supplies all sides and additions for the chili, as well as snacks and dessert. Attendees are encouraged to bring homebrew or commercial beer to the event.

What is a Club Brew?

This year the event will take place at the home of Eric Moreau in El Segundo. Eric will be using his brew system to brew 10 gallons for the club.

For those who are new to PG, a Club Brew is a 1 batch brew, belonging to the club. The host uses his equipment and skill, and the club gets the beer. Of course, there is the opportunity to help the chief brewer, learn to use the equipment, drink beer, and eat.

EVENT TIME: 10am-6pm.
COMPETITION: Begins around 12:30.
WHERE: 1225 East Maple St. (West of Sepulveda), El Segundo