All Pacific Gravity news.

Pacific Gravity First Saturday September 2nd, 2023 – Project Barley Square

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Greetings Pacific Gravity!

As summer winds down and the 3 day weekend approaches joins us this Saturday September 2nd at the UK inspired Project Barley Square in Torrance for some real ale and fish and chips. For those that are unaware Project Barley took over Yorkshire Square Brewery facility and are continuing the tradition of British influenced food and Cask Ale. We’ll get started around 12:00pm. Project Barley opens at 11am for brunch.

Location:
Project Barley Square
1109 Van Ness Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501
12pm

South Bay Brewing Supply is just 2 block away, (1311 Post Av).  While you are in the neighborhood, plan your next brew day now and pick up everything you need for your next brew day.

PG News:

  • Our next club meeting will be at Tortugo Brewing on the 21st of September and it’s Festbiers and Amber lagers month.
  • Board Member Elections are upcoming.  Nominations will be held at our September and October club meetings.
  • Elections for Board Members (President, Vice President and Treasurer) will be held at our November club meeting, along with voting for the Club Member of the Year.

Upcoming Competitions

September – Pacific Brewers Cup (Long Beach Homebrewers)

  •  https://www.longbeachhomebrewers.com/comp/pbc/bcoem/
  • Registration open, deadline September 23
  • Dropoff at Stein Fillers in Long Beach starting September 7th.
  • You can bring them to the club meeting September 21st and Carl will drop them off at Stein Fillers.
  • Judging at La Jara Brewing October 7th in Norwalk.  Please sign up to judge or steward.

October – California State Competition

  • This is the last competition of the 2023 Brewer of the Year Cycle. The winner will be announced at the Holiday Party.
  • Registration is now open at https://castate.brewcompetition.com/ .
  • You must ship your entries to the bay area between September 30th and October 12th. Entries due by October 12.
  • Judging October 28th – November 5th in the Bay area.

Upcoming Styles of the Month

  • September – Festbiers and Amber lagers
  • October – IPAs
  • November – Amber and Brown Beers
  • December – Holiday Party

Upcoming Events

  • September 21st: Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company Styles includes any Festbiers and Amber lagers
  • September 23rd: Pacific Brewers Cup Deadline
  • October 7th: La Jara Brewing Pacific Brewers Cup Judging.
  • October 12th: California State Competition Deadline

Pacific Gravity Summer Party July 29, 2023

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Greetings Pacific Gravity!

 

RED, WHITE and BREW
This year’s summer party is set for July 29, 2023 and will be held at Dean Sussman’s Highland’s home located at 1310 Amalfi Drive, Pacific Palisades.

 

The theme for this year’s summer party is the American BBQ! We’ll be spotlighting burgers, smash burgers and hotdogs.

However, this being a ‘bring a plate’ potluck event we want you to bring your favorite dish along to the event as well; any dish is welcome, feel free to bring all your American BBQ side dish classics.

The summer party is a volunteer’s event, and we need lots of Read more →

Monster Brew and Yard Sale with Scholb Brewery

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There are still spaces available for the Monster Brew with Scholb Brewery on August 5, 2023. Cost is $35 per batch.  This event works just like the Smog Monster Brews in the past.

Scholb Monsterbrew Full Details

They will also hold a Yard Sale for your unwanted homebrew equipment.  Even if you don’t want to get in on the wort, you can bring items to sell or buy.  Please note if you stuff doesn’t sell, you MUST take it back home afterwards.

Important Note:  If you want wort, you must sign up no later than Saturday, July 29th (Summer party day). You can order one or two 5-gallon batches. Sign up at:  https://forms.gle/QBQxqcSJLJdLN9c37

First Saturday July 1st, 2023 – Smog City Torrance

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Greetings Pacific Gravity!

July’s First Friday is actually a First Saturday on the 1st of July. Porter has graciously agreed to host us this month at his Brewery and Taproom in Torrance at the 1901 Del Amo Blvd Location. We invite all PG members to come and joins as we support Jon Porter and Smog City as they have supported us throughout the years. Join us starting at 12:00pm

Location:

Smog City Brewing
1901 Del Amo Blvd.
Torrance, Ca. 90501

 

 

https://smogcitybrewing.com/
12pm

Food Trucks:
vchostruck.com
Baserriko Peppers

Pacific Gravity Club Meeting Thursday, June 15th at Tortugo Brewery

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Greetings Pacific Gravity!

Our meeting this month will take place on Thursday, June 15th, 2023 at Tortugo
Brewing Co, located at 916 W Hyde Park Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90302.

We will get started about 7:30 PM.

June Monthly Meeting; Thursday 6/15/2023 at 7:30 PM
Tortugo Brewing Co.
916 W. Hyde Park Blvd.
Inglewood,  CA  90302
(424) 227-9963

 

Style of the Month is Pale Beer:
Carl will be hosting this months commercial Pale beer tasting. Please feel free to bring in any of your own homebrew Pale beers if you got them. Of course as always all home brew styles are welcome to share

Dues are DUE!!
The end of this month is your last chance to pay due without penalty, so if you have not had a chance yet, please take care of it. Please note that unpaid dues will need to be paid for entry into our Summer Party July 29th.. Please fill out the wavier as well if you have not already.

Individual Membership – Full 1-year Renewal
Couples Membership – Full 1-year Renewal
Prorated Membership – Partial year Renewal
Membership Application/Liability Waiver at the following link: https://forms.gle/f2xCjNBAp5qoJjFK8

AHA in San Diego: June 22th, 2023:
If you are planning on going to the AHA this year in San Diego, Please reach out to Carl.

Summer Party: July 29th, 2023
Our annual summer party is coming up and we are hoping you all can attend. With so much going on as AHA creeps up and on the heels of Temecula, We are seeking volunteers for both beer and event setup/breakdown. More details to come… in the meantime, let’s get brewing and fill our taps.

Monster Brew with Scholb Brewery: August 5, 2023

NEW Monsterbrew Info – Sign up Now

Once again, we did not get enough wort sales to hold the Smog Monster Brew, but Strand Brewers have set up a Monster Brew with Scholb Brewery on
August 5, 2023. Cost is $35. Scholb has a smaller brew system, so the event is less likely to be canceled.

They will also hold a Yard Sale for your unwanted homebrew equipment.

Sign-up are now open at  https://forms.gle/QBQxqcSJLJdLN9c37

It is gratifying that we have resumed gathering in person, but as always, we encourage and expect everyone will be vigilant about their own health to ensure the groups safety!  Please observe all safety precautions and stay home if you do not feel well.

We hope to see you all at our meeting!

 

Upcoming Styles of the Month

  • June – Pale Beers
  • July – Summer Party (All styles, All fermented Beverages welcome)
  • August – Wheat Beers
  • September – Festbiers and Amber lagers
  • October – IPAs
  • November – Amber and Brown Beers
  • December – Holiday Party

Upcoming Events

  • June 15: Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Company Styles includes any Pale Beers
  • June 22th – 24th: AHA in San Diego
  • July 1st or 8th First Saturday – Details TBD
  • July 29th – Pacific Gravity Summer Party 2023 – Get Brewing!
  • August 5th – Monster Brew at Scholb Brewery

Monster Brew Canceled, RIP Fred Waltman

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I have two items of bad news, one considerably worse than the other.

It is with deep regret that I report the passing of our founder, Fred Waltman. Fred started Pacific Gravity with Steve LaBrie in 1995 after breaking off from the Woodland Hills-based Maltose Falcons.  He also founded the Culver City Homebrew Supply Company.
He remained passionate about beer with blogs, guides and travel writings that made many of us who knew him envious. He was our cat herder on the annual Europe trips and many of the folks he introduced us too remain friends to this day. Here is a picture of Fred along with his cousin Jim (left) at the Uerige brewery on Sticke day, 2010.

For those of you in the local area, we will hold an impromptu “Lift a Pint for Fred” memorial tomorrow night (June 2) at Firestone Propagator starting about 5 PM.  We will  also have a tribute to his memory at the June club meeting on June 15th at Tortugo Bowery.

Come join us, lift a pint to Fred’s memory.
— Ian Fraser

In other news,  we regret to announce that the Smog City Monster Brew scheduled for this Saturday, June 3rd has been canceled. We were unable to to sell enough batches to make it viable for Smog City (39 out of the 55 minimum needed).  For those of you who pre-paid via PayPal, you should have received separate notice of refunds. Please don’t show up at Smog City Saturday morning, no one will be there until their regular hours. Also, please share this information with anyone you know who might have been planning to join us.

As a heads up, planning is underway to hold a monster brew and yard sale at Scholb Brewery on August 5th, 2023, jointly hosted by Strand, Long Beach, So Cal Cerveceros, and Pacific Gravity brew clubs.  Look for details in the coming weeks.

Thanks
Craig Corley
Treasurer
Pacific Gravity Home Brewers Club

It’s Time to Do the Dues!

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It’s March and that means it’s time for our annual Pacific Gravity membership dues collection.  All club members need to pay their dues to keep their membership active until March 2024.  Annual dues are $42 for individuals or $63 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

Couples Membership – Full 1-year Renewal

Prorated Membership – Partial year Renewal

As an incentive to pay your dues early, we’ve got a past year’s Pacific Brewers Cup or LA Belgian Brew Challenge tee shirt for those who pay their dues before or at the March meeting.  This is limited to the stock we have on hand and you will have to pick up your tee shirt at the March club meeting.

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 $21 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 March club meeting or by email at [email protected].

Club Meeting Thursday (8/18) at Tortugo Brewing

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Hope your summer is going well!  We have one more chance to party before fall sets in.  Please join us Thursday August 18th at Tortugo Brewing Co, located at 916 W Hyde Park Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90302.   We will get started about 7:30 PM.  We will have a recap of the Summer Party (thanks Dean!), as well as announcements of upcoming events such as club elections, upcoming First Friday or Second Saturdays, and important news about upcoming homebrew competitions such as Pacific Brewers Cup and the California State Homebrew Competition.

Our President Ian will be be pouring commercial samples of our styles of the month Wheat and Witbier.  And, of course, if you bring your homebrews to share, we will have a full slate of enjoyment.

We have no organized food plan this month, so please plan on dropping a few buck on Torgugo’s grill, or eat before the meeting.

Hope to see you there!

UPCOMING EVENTS
August 18:  Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Co, located at 916 W Hyde Park Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90302
September 2:  First Friday at Tortugo
September 15:  Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing Co.
September 3 – 25:  Entry Drop-off Window for Pacific Brewers Cup
October 8, 15: (Maybe other dates too) Judging at Project Barley Brewery & Pizzeria

STYLES OF THE MONTH

  • August – Wits and Wheats
  • September – IPAs
  • October – Festbiers and Amber lagers
  • November – Dark beers
  • December – Holiday Party, all styles

 

Pacific Gravity Summer Party Saturday, July 23rd

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Greetings Pacific Gravity!

Time for some blether, braw and fizzy juice!

This year’s summer party is set for July 23, 2022 and will be held at Dean Sussman’s Highland’s home located at 1310 Amalfi Drive, Pacific Palisades.  It is sure to be a wee beastie!

The theme for this year’s summer party is the Scottish Highland Games!  So, grab your kilt, your sporran and your brogues and join the fun!  We will feature a haggis and our own poet laureate Reed will offer up our address to the haggis!  There will be other Scottish inspired foods as well, Scottish eggs, clapshot, salmon, and more!

However, this being a ‘bring a plate’ potluck event we want you to bring your favorite dish along to the event as well; any dish is welcome, so the menu is WIDE open for you to bring your best scran and show off your culinary skills!

The summer party is a volunteer’s event, and we need lots of volunteers!  Volunteers will be needed for set up the day before and clean up of Dean’s house the day after.  We pay all volunteers in beer at the event, all-you-can-drink in fact; the only catch is we need you to brew the beer so we can use it to pay the volunteers!  Lot’s of beer!

We also need your sodas for the non-alcohol drinking crowd, if you have a good soda recipe; this is a great place to show it off.

Along with our best beer of the party judging we will also host this year’s drink competition!  Bring a batch of your favorite non-beer or non-alcohol (sodas count!) summertime drink and we will judge it and announce a winner at the event!

As always with the pandemic, we expect everyone to be fully vaxxed and/or non-symptomatic.  Please be careful and remain safe at all times.

Stay tuned for additional details!

Pacific Gravity’s Summer Party Checklist

Saturday, July 23, 2022 – 2pm to 10pm

Location:  Dean Sussman’s – 1310 Amalfi Drive, Pacific Palisades, 90272

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IMPORTANT: PLEASE EMAIL US WITH WHAT YOU WILL BRING AND HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Checklist for ALL party attendees:

  • Bring BEER, BEER & more BEER!  Also, bring sodas or a non-beer beverage for the Beverage” competition!  Please email what you are bringing to Carl at [email protected]
  • FOOD – sign up to bring any dish to our POTLUCK party. (the club will supply some food but we need YOUR dishes too!) We need ALL kinds of food: appetizers, sides dishes, main dishes (pre-cooked), desserts, etc. All your specialty dishes are welcome!  We need LOTS of food to go with all the beer so please email us at [email protected] what dishes you will add to our feast!
  • VOLUNTEERS – we need YOU to help make this a successful party!  Please email us at [email protected] .  We have lots of volunteer opportunities!
    • Setup on Friday night – starting at 6pm
    • Food prep on Friday – please contact Chef Ian to help
    • Cleanup on Sunday morning – starting around 10am
    • Bartender shifts – 1hr. (please see Carl on Saturday to volunteer)
  • Beer Equipment  (email Carl at: [email protected])
    • Jockey boxes
    • CO2 cylinders
    • Bags of ice for jockey boxes
  • Other Equipment needed for the party.  Please let us know if you have any of the following and would be willing to loan to us for the party. Please email us at: [email protected] . We will email confirmation back if we need you to bring items on Friday night during setup.
    • Tables
    • EZ Ups/Canopies
    • BBQs
    • Power/extension cords
    • Extra coolers/ice chests

Don’t forget to bring and things to know:

  • Bring BEER & other beverages
  • Bring FOOD – Scottish themed or any food that goes with beer!
  • Fee for all adult guests is $10 per guest. Kids are free. (Current members are free.)
  • Payment for past due membership – cash or credit
  • Chairs and Blankets
  • Bathing suits and towels, if you want to use the swimming pool.
  • Sunscreen
  • Jackets & sweaters for the evening
  • Cash for Raffle tickets
  • PG merchandise will be available for sale at the Front Desk.
  • Note for food contributions, we will NOT have use of a kitchen for heating or cooling so please plan accordingly. Please label your food containers so that we can get them back to you.

It is great that we can all get together in person, but as always we encourage and expect everyone will be vigilant about their own health to ensure the groups safety!  Please observe all safety precautions and stay home if you do not feel well.

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

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Greetings Pacific Gravity!
Our next club meeting is on June 16, 2022 at Tortugo Brewing Co, located at 916 W Hyde Park Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90302.   (424) 227-9963
We will get started about 7:30 PM.

We will discuss upcoming events, the next First Friday and the Summer Party!

We have restarted the ‘style of the month’ effective with the May meeting, which you can find here.    For June, the official beer is Pale Ale.  Of course, at any meeting, any beer you have brewed will be gladly accepted and drank!

Our monster brew last month at  Smog City Brewing was a rousing success.  Seventy-five batches were sold using a modified recipe of Little Bo Pils.  We hope to see many of these beers  with a diversity of modifications at summer party! Thank you Porter for a great time!

Results have been release for the 2022 Mayfaire homebrew competition.  Congratulations to Carl Townsend for his first place at IPAs with his “Let the Wookie Win” black IPA, and for his second place ribbon for Czech Dark Lager.  Full results can be found at https://competitions.maltosefalcons.com/2022Mayfaire/

We had a great showing for our First Friday on Second Saturday at All Season Brewing in Korea town.   The IPAs were quite solid as was the fruited Berliner weisse.  We wish to thank the team for their recent sponsorship of Pacific Brewers Cup.

It is gratifying that we have resumed gathering in person, but as always we encourage and expect everyone will be vigilant about their own health to ensure the groups safety!  Please observe all safety precautions and stay home if you do not feel well.

I hope to see you all at our meeting!

Cheers,

Ian Fraser
President

Annual Dues

It’s time to renew your annual membership dues for the Pacific Gravity Home Brewers Club. 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. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming members only opportunities!

Individual Membership = $36/yr – Renew now with PayPal: https://py.pl/BiB2I
Couples Membership = $54/yr  – Renew now with PayPal: https://py.pl/2T086cDIgzz

Upcoming Events

Saturday, July 23  SUMMER PARTY at Dean Sussman’s place.

Thursday, August 18:  Club Meeting at Tortugo Brewing.

 

Upcoming Styles

  • June – Pale Ales
  • July – Summer Party (all styles)
  • August – Wits and Wheats
  • September – IPAs
  • October – Festbiers and Amber lagers
  • November – Dark beers
  • December – Holiday Party (all styles)

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