Slow Food Nation is a celebration of American food and sustainability. It’s a part of the international Slow Food organization as well as a subsidiary of Slow Food USA. This is the first year for the event, and it’s taking place in San Francisco. There are four sessions in the Taste Pavilions on Saturday and Sunday. On Friday night, there was a press and media preview. After initially being denied a press pass, my friend and colleague William Brand was able to get me on the list (thanks Bill) so I could attend. The whole event was quite impressive, especially the Beer Pavilion put together by Beer Curator Dave McLean, owner of Magnolia, where they were serving 150 beers from 60 breweries on cask, draft and in bottles.

The Beer Pavilion before the people arrived.

Dave Hopwood, from Stone Brewing, helping set up the draft bar. Notice the table is made of 22 oz. bottles (they’re all Lagunitas bottles, BTW).

Inside the cask trailer.

Inside the pavilion tent, hops ran down each corner with a moon-like light in the center.

Dave Hopwood showing off one of the bottled beers available. Notice the bar top.

It was created by Vetrazzo, a Berkeley company.

The table is made of recycled beer bottle glass.

Here’s a close-up of the bar top.

There were seventeen beers on cask.

Arne Johnson, from Marin Brewing, in the cask trailer.

Eventually people arrived. Here, Ben (also from Magnolia) serves cask beer.

While over at the draft bar, people make their selections from the board.

From the side of the cask bar.

Dave McLean, Beer Curator, looking pleased with his creation.

 

Continue on to Part 2