Competition Corner – August 2021

As we work through the dog days of summer, we have just now gotten the results of the Mayfaire competition.  Congratulations go to Carl Townsend with a 3rd place for Märzen, and a 2nd place for Southern English Brown (using Dean’s virtual big brew recipe!)   And, Craig Corley got a 2nd place for Bpa #43 Belgian-Style Pale Ale.  We had a good judging session up at MacLeod Brewing Co on July 24th, though COVID limitations set this competition back by about 3 months from its normal schedule.

Next up is some just-released info on QUAFF’s America’s Finest City Beer Competition in 2021.  Usually held in February, there is a new entry deadline of August 20th at 9:00 PM.  Entries must be received by that date at Alesmith Brewing Company,  9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126.  Two bottles are required per entry.  Please visit the site, and sign up at https://quaff.org/AFC-2021/ .  Quaff is also looking for judges. Judging will be at Alesmith on Friday August 27 at 6:00 PM,  and on Saturday August 28th at 9:00 AM.  The competition staff requests that all judges have proof of vaccination.

Coming up in October is the California Homebrewers Association Fall Best of Show Fall 2021.  Five styles will be judged in this competition, including
❏ 6C. Dunkles Bock
❏ 18A. Blonde Ale
❏ 22C. American Barleywine
❏ 26D. Belgian Dark Strong Ale
❏ 30A. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer

The club is allowed to have two entries, and entrants must be a paid member of CHA.  If you have an entry, please let me know by early October.  If we have 3 or more entries, we will do a mini taste-off to select the two entries.

And don’t lose sight of the long-delayed 2020 Pacific Brewers Cup. (No, 2020 is not a type – just like the Olympics.) We have set a judging date of November 6, 2021 at Tortugo Brewery  (thanks Joe!) Details are still being worked out, and we hope that the current surge of COVID cases doesn’t mess up our plans.  But in any case, you clearly need to get some beer ready to enter, so get those brew kettles going now.

Carl Townsend
Competition Coordinator

Upcoming Events

August 19: VIRTUAL club meeting featuring Tortugo Brewing
September 3rd: First Friday at Richmond Grill (tentatively in person)
September 16th: Club meeting @ Tortugo Brewing (tentatively in person)
Summer Party – POSTPONED! Will be Oktoberfest, October 2, 2021

 

Competition Corner – July 2021

As we are coming out of our COVID-induced cocoons, we finally have some competitions to work on. First up is the California Homebrewers Association Fall Best of Show Competition.  Pacific Gravity is allowed to have two entries only.  Congratulations to Eric Muhlheim who has already qualified with an outstanding Schwarzier. Hence, we have just ONE more entry slot.  This is a small competition with just four more acceptable styles:

❏ 1A. American Light Lager
❏ 1C. Cream Ale
❏ 8B. Schwarzbier (This slot won by Eric!)
❏ 19B. California Common
❏ 23A. Berliner Weisse
If you have a beer to enter, please drop me a line by July 2nd. If more than one person responds, we will do a small taste-off.

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Competition Corner – September 2020 New “LateFaire” Details

The Maltose Falcons have decided to keep their record string of Mayfaire competitions alive despite the imposition of the COVID-19 crisis!

In order to accommodate socially-distanced judging, the total number of entries has been capped at 100, and the styles have been lumped together into eight broad groupings. Entries, however, must be designated with their respective styles from the Falcons or BJCP stylesguides.

Registration is now open at https://competitions.maltosefalcons.com/2020Mayfaire/  Entries are $10 each and require three bottles.  The entry deadline in Sept 11th, but I’m certain it will max out almost immediately, so sign up now if you have entries.

I’ll make a trip up to the Woodland Hills shop on Thursday, Sept 10th, so if you have entries, you can drop them off with me by Wednesday the 10th.

The Falcons are also requesting judges.  If you are available, please sign up with the above link, and also drop me a line.  All judging will use social distancing techniques.

Also, don’t forget about the CHA “Bragging Rights Only” competition.  At this point, there is only 1 entry, which will win by default if no one else enters.  The deadline is September 13th.

CHA Bragging Rights Only Competition

For those of you who typically go the the California Homebrew Festival, you know that they run an informal competition at the fest to decide which club makes the best beer in a narrow range of styles.   This is known as the “Bragging Rights Only Competition”.  Each club can only enter one beer.

This year, the Fest was canceled due to COVID-19.  But, they still want to run the competition.  So, we need to select a beer from the club.  Note that you can enter regardless of whether you usually go to the fest or not.

This year, the style list is a follows:

Helles (2015 4A)
Kolsch (2015 5B)
Hefeweizen (2015 10A)
Amber Lager / Marzen (2015 6A)
German Pilsner (2015 5D)
If you have a beer to enter, please let me know by Sunday, September 13th, and drop off one bottle at my place.  Since I’m not entering, I’ll select the winning entry from all the contenders.
If your entry wins, you will need to submit three more bottles to one of the drop-off sites no later than September 27th.  I’ll have an update with the available drop-off sites later on.
Good Luck!
Carl Townsend

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LABBC Status – Please visit our sponsors!


Thank you for participating in the 2020 Los Angeles Belgian Brew Challenge! This year we judged 68 beers and had some really good entries.

Our host brewery Los Angeles Ale Works is open daily from 12noon-8:00 pm for pickup of cans and crowlers.  No shipping or delivery offered on beer at the moment.  Read more

Pacific Gravity response to the Coronavirus (COVID -19)

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

It’s Time to Enter LABBC

Pacific Gravity’s first homebrew competition for 2020 is now open for business!  Registration is now up and running at http://comp.belgianbrewchallenge.com/  On-line registration will run up until March 6th at 6:00 PM.  Entries can be dropped off at the local homebrew shops, or directly at our host brewery, Los Angeles Ale Works in Hawthorne, starting on February 21st.

Judging for Los Angeles Belgian Brew Challenge will be held this year at Los Angeles Ale Works, on Sunday, March 15, 2020.    Back again are all your favorite Belgian styles as described in the BJCP guidelines, along with the ever-popular Belgian Specialty Category 35A.

A new feature this is is that we will have TWO Pro-Am opportunities for the Best of Show Beer and a second beer to be selected between Los Angeles Ale Works and Smog City Brewing.

In addition to your entries, we need judges and stewards to make this all work.  You can sign up for either at  http://comp.belgianbrewchallenge.com/index.php?section=volunteers .  All volunteers will get a tee shirt, so make sure you enter in your tee shirt size.

Other upcoming events:
Feb. 7, 2020 First Friday at Smog Cites newest taproom, Smog City West
Feb. 15, 2020 25th anniversary bottleshare at 4th Horseman
Feb. 20, 2020 25th Anniversary Club meeting at Neil Saunds
March 7, 2020, 1st Saturday Bus Trip to Stuffed Sandwich

Competition Update – AFC and State Fair

Our first competition of the year First up is America’s Finest City, run by QUAFF in San Diego.   Registration is now open at https://quaff.org/AFC-2020/I’ll be heading to San Diego Friday morning 1/31, so if you get you entries to my place no later than Thursday 1/30, they will get personal service.  Or, you can ship them off for arrival by Friday to  AleSmith Brewing Company, 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126. 

The next competition is the California State Fair.  This one has been moving earlier in the season each of the last several years.  Registration is already open at http://home.castatefair.beer/.  You can drop off entries at South Bay or Eagle Rock shops, but they must be packed for shipping.  Local drop-off is February 3 – February7, 2020.  I‘ll be heading to Eagle Rock on Thursday morning February 6th, so if you drop them off by Wednesday, Feb 5th, I’ll take them along.  They still need to be packed for shipping. 

Next up is first round of the AHA Nationals.    Placement announcements and payment must be made by February 14.  Entry drop-off then runs from February 20th through March 5th.  Judging will begin on March 13thIf you can make the trip to San Diego at the end of February of Early march, please let me know.

Carl Townsend
Competition Coordinator

Competition Corner – January 2020

As a new year dawns upon us, now is the time to brew!  We have a bunch of competitions front-loaded this year.

First of all, there is a series of BJCP Mead series of three judging classes starting Wednesday, January 8th, 3 classes Wednesday nights (7PM) lead by John Kaufman of the Maltose Falcons. Classes will be at the Woodland Hills shop.  The class will lead up to BJCP Mead judging exam on Saturday, Feb. 1,  2020.  Contact John at  [email protected] if you are interested.

Last year, Craig Corley walked away with the coveted Pacific Gravity Homebrewer of the Year award. Who will win this year?   Here is a rundown of the competitions eligible for point awards in 2020:

Our first competition of the year First up is America’s Finest City, run by QUAFF in San Diego.   Registration is now open at https://quaff.org/AFC-2020/ .  Beers need to be dropped-off any time up through January 31, 9:00 PM at AleSmith Brewing Company, 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126.  If anyone is interested in making the trip to drop off entries, please let me know and the club can reimburse you with gas money. Read more

Competition Corner – October 2019

As we await the final results of Pacific Brewers Cup, don’t lose sight that the final competition of the year is fast approaching.  Entries for The California State Homebrew Competition are due Friday, October 11th.  Registration is up and running at https://castate.brewcompetition.com/ .  Since there are no local drop-offs for this competition, each entrant is responsible for shipping off their entries.  Entries cost $12 each and must include 3 bottles.

The shipping address is:
Oak Barrel Winecraft
1443 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 849-0400
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