Saturday, April 4th, was the 6th annual Bay Area Firkin Gravity Fest at Triple Rock in Berkeley. But it was the first time new brewmaster Rodger Davis was at the helm, after five years of Christian Kazakof, who moved to Iron Springs Pub & Brewery last year. Rodger, however, did, help Christian with set-up in the early years, so was quite familiar with the process. From what I could see the festival went off without a hitch, beyond the typical fussiness of firkins.

The line stretched almost to University Avenue before the doors opened.

Inside the firkins were lined up, ready for pouring.

Then after being briefed, the volunteers got into place.

In past years, he bar has been a madhouse, so Rodger moved the firkins that would normally be there upstairs on the outdoor deck. Only the Triple Rock and Iron Springs firkins were on the bar.

Brewmaster Rodger Davis looking surprisingly spry after being at the brewpub until 4 in the morning setting up for the festival.

The weather was beautiful, making the deck upstairs the place to be.

Longshot winner Mike McDole discussing, I’m guessing, beer.

Alec Moss, brewer at Half Moon Bay, and Denise Jones, brewer at Moylan’s.

Erika Osterhout draws a beer from the Triple Rock firkin.