Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Anchor Announces New Fall Seasonal

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Today, Anchor Brewery announced that they’re releasing a new fall seasonal beer, BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red. According to the press release, the beer will be available beginning August 5 and will be around through October. In addition to draft, it will also be bottled in 6-packs and 22-oz. bombers.

BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red was inspired by a native California tree, its incredible leaves, its delicious syrup, and the colors of fall. The tree, known as Bigleaf maple, thrives along the banks of California’s mountain streams. Native Californians once made rope and baskets from its bark. Today, artisans handcraft its wood and burl into custom guitars.. Bigleaf maple sugaring in California dates to the 1800s; yet this tree’s unusually flavorful syrup remains the product of a small group of hobbyists. A hint of maple—including bigleaf maple—syrup in every brew perfectly complements the malty complexity, balanced hoppiness, and rich fall hue of BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red, a red ale like no other.

“When presented with the challenge of developing a new seasonal beer, all of our brewers collaborated to think fall and came up with this red ale,” said Mark Carpenter, brewmaster at Anchor Brewing. “We are very happy with the finished product, especially since we don’t do test batches here at Anchor. It requires us to be on top of our game when crafting new beers and BigLeaf Maple is a beer we’re all proud to share.”

BigLeaf Maple Autumn Red (6% ABV) is a quaffable, well-balanced red ale with character. Its malty complexity and coppery color come from a combination of two caramel malts, pale malt, and a hint of maple syrup. To complement these flavors, Anchor Brewing uses three additions of Nelson Sauvin hops in the brewkettle and a unique blend of Nelson Sauvin, Citra, and Cascade for dry hopping. The result is a distinctive fall seasonal with extraordinary depth and intriguing aroma.

Since the 1970’s, Anchor Brewing has worked with renowned local Artist Jim Stitt to create our beer labels. A distinct, handmade beer deserves a distinct, handmade label and BigLeaf Maple is no exception. In autumn, the bigleaf maple’s huge leaves, up to a foot across, can display a full range of color as they slowly turn from green to gold to red. Capturing this symbolic transition from summer to fall, a watercolor of bigleaf maple’s magnificent leaf is featured on our label and signed by Jim Stitt.

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Moylan’s Hires Derek Smith As New Brewmaster

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Got the news last week, but it slipped my mind. You may not have heard, but Denise Jones gave her notice last month that she was leaving Moylan’s, apparently to pursue an interesting enterprise brewing custom beer for celebrities. The company is somewhere in Napa, which is closer to home for Denise, though I haven’t yet had a chance to ask her about the details yet. In the meantime, Moylan’s has announced her replacement, Derek Smith, who used to brew at Black Diamond

From the press release:

Moylan’s Brewery is pleased to announce the addition of new Brewmaster Derek Smith. Smith joins Moylan’s from Black Diamond Brewing Company in Concord, California, where he served as Brewmaster for the past 6 years and was instrumental in leading the brewery to a number of award-winning beers. Derek has a seasoned history of California brewing and has been a longtime friend and fan of Moylan’s Brewery.

Smith graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in architecture. Upon graduating, Smith traveled abroad and took a job at the White Horse in London as a cellarman. The White Horse instilled in Smith a deep appreciation for great cask ales and Belgian beers. Six months abroad turned into a four-year odyssey of travel, scuba diving, and beer tasting. Smith bolstered his newly discovered passion for brewing by apprenticing at Two Rows Brewery followed by The Master Brewers Program at UC Davis. Since then, Smith has served as Brewmaster for Black Diamond Brewing Company, where he was well known for his creative and bold hop-centric IPAs, Belgian ales, and barrel-aged beers.

Founder Brendan Moylan is excited to have Smith onboard, commenting, “Derek is the perfect choice to take over the reigns here at Moylan’s Brewery. He is known in West Coast brewing circles for his passion and dedication to making great craft beer. We are excited to bring his expertise to Moylan’s and we believe Derek will play a vital role in shaping our brewery’s future.”

Smith is eager to bring his unique style and talents to the popular Novato brewery. “I am looking forward to sharing in Brendan’s vision of crafting quality beers at Moylan’s…” commented Smith, “and I am excited to be joining one of the strongest teams of innovative beer makers in the Bay Area.”

Great news for both Derek and Moylan’s.

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Derek, at far right, after the Beef Chef’s Chocolate & Beer Dinner in 2009; with, from left: Arne Johnson (Marin Brewing), Fal Allen (Anderson Valley), Bruce Paton, Alec Moss (Half Moon Bay).

The Best Beers In California: 2013 California State Fair Winners

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Last week, the judging took place for the 18th annual California State Fair Craft Beer Competition in West Sacramento. This year’s entries came from 83 of the state’s breweries, with roughly 700 beers judged.

From the press release:

Some 40 beer experts from all over the state judged the various panels with blind tastings of the entries considering beers by style and classification. The judging panels were selected by Head Judge Tom Dalldorf, publisher of Celebrator Beer News, a national beer magazine.

The Best of Show tasting panel consisted of five of our top judges who were confronted with an unprecedented 47 entries all gold medal winners in previous rounds of judging. After a lengthy judging session, the panel agreed on giving Best of Show honors to a stunning Vienna Lager called Una Mas from Left Coast Brewing Company in San Clemente, Calif. A new award, Best of Show Session Beer (under 5% alcohol) was awarded to a wood-aged saison called Ocho Barril from Half Moon Bay Brewing Company in Half Moon Bay, Calif.

Beer enthusiasts can taste the award winning beers from the State Fair’s Craft Brew Competition on Saturday, July 20, from 3 pm–6 pm at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, Calif.

Full disclosure, I was privileged to be one of the dozens of judges who tasted all of the beers over three days, and even was on the panel of five that tasted all 47 of the winners of each category to pick the “best of show,” this year’s choice for the best beer in California. It was a very hard decision, as there were some unbelievably great beers on the table, in a breathtaking variety of styles. Best of show judging is harder than regular judging, because you’re not comparing like styles against one another. Instead, your looking for intangible qualities that make one beer stand out over another, made doubly difficult because every beer was already an award winner. But we persevered, and after a few hours emerged with a unanimous decision.

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Below are all of the award winners. 1 is a Gold medal, 2 is Silver, 3 is Bronze, and 4 is an Honorable Mention.

Category 1: Light Lager — Dortmunder/Premium American

  1. Auburn Export Lager, Auburn Ale House (Auburn)
  2. Local Lager, Tahoe Mountain Brewing (Tahoe City)
  3. Dead Canary, Ol’ Republic Brewing (Nevada City)

Category 1: Light Lager — Munich Helles

  1. Blue Eyed Blonde, Solvang Brewing (Solvang)
  2. Helles Lager, Hangar 24 Brewing (Redlands)
  3. Lager, Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch (Davis)

Category 2: Pilsner — German Pils

  1. Brainfood, Monkey Paw Brewing (San Diego)
  2. Longshoreman Lager, San Pedro Brewing (San Pedro)
  3. Pivo Pils, Firestone Walker Brewing (Paso Robles)
  4. Honorable Mention: Port Town Pilsner, Port Town Brewing (Los Angeles)

Category 2: Pilsner — Bohemian/Classic American Pils

  1. Summerfest, Sierra Nevada Brewing (Chico)
  2. None awarded
  3. Gold Country Pilsner, Auburn Ale House (Auburn)

Category 3: Amber Lager

  1. Una Mas, Left Coast Brewing (San Clemente)
  2. Marzen, Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch (Davis)
  3. Sullydunkel, 21st Amendment Brewery (San Francisco)

Category 4: Dark Lager

  1. Tatoo Black Lager, San Pedro Brewing (San Clemente)
  2. Bavarian Black Lager, Ol’ Republic Brewing (Nevada City)
  3. California Black Beer, Dale Bros. Brewery (Upland)

Category 5: Bock

  1. Welke Bock, San Pedro Brewing (San Pedro)
  2. Mai Bock, Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch (Davis)
  3. Doppelbock, Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch (Davis)

Category 6: Light Hybrid Beer — Cream Ale

  1. American Cream Ale, Schooner’s Grille & Brewery (Antioch)
  2. None awarded
  3. None awarded

Category 6: Light Hybrid Beer — Blonde Ale

  1. Common Sense, Berryessa Brewing (Winters)
  2. 805, Firestone Walker Brewing (Paso Robles)
  3. California Blonde, Eel River Brewing (Fortuna)

Category 6: Light Hybrid Beer — Kolsch

  1. Kalifornia Kolsch, Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery (San Francisco)
  2. Kolsch, Faultline Brewing (Sunnyvale)
  3. Bruin Blonde, San Pedro Brewing (San Pedro)
  4. Mission Blonde, Mission Brewery (San Diego)

Category 6: Light Hybrid Beer — American Wheat/Rye

  1. Lucille’s Hefeweizen, Bayhawk Ales (Irvine)
  2. Gramarye, Heretic Brewing (Fairfield)
  3. None awarded

Category 7: Amber Hybrid

  1. Alt-bier Ale, Hangar 24 Brewing (Redlands)
  2. California Amber Lager, Ol’ Republic Brewing (Nevada City)
  3. Anaheim 1889, Anaheim Brewing (Anaheim)

Category 8: English Pale Ale — Standard/Ordinary Bitter

  1. Freewheel Bitter, Freewheel Brewing (Redwood City)
  2. Freewheel Pale Ale, Freewheel Brewing (Redwood City)
  3. None awarded

Category 8: English Pale Ale — Special/Best/Premium Bitter

  1. Bonnie Lee’s Best Bitter, Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery (San Francisco)
  2. None awarded
  3. Freewheel Special Bitter, Freewheel Brewing (Redwood City)

Category 8: English Pale Ale — Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale)

  1. Drake’s Amber, Drake’s Brewing (San Leandro)
  2. Blue Bell Bitter, Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery (San Francisco)
  3. SBC Bitter, Solvang Brewing (Solvang)

Category 9: Scottish/Irish Ale — Scottish Heavy 70/-

  1. None awarded
  2. Maltopia, Hermitage Brewing (San Jose)
  3. None awarded

Category 9: Scottish/Irish Ale — Irish Red Ale

  1. Conner’s Pride, Old Hangtown Beer Works (Placerville)
  2. Rimpau Red, Main Street Brewery/Lamppost Pizza (Corona)
  3. Red Trolly Ale, Karl Strauss Brewing (San Diego)

Category 10: American Ale — American Pale Ale

  1. Grand Am, Bear Republic Brewing (Healdsburg)
  2. Pintail Pale Ale, Karl Strauss Brewing (San Diego)
  3. American River Pale Ale, Auburn Ale House (Auburn)

Category 10: American Ale — American Amber Ale

  1. Mission Amber, Mission Brewery (San Diego)
  2. Rubicon Amber, Rubicon Brewing (Sacramento)
  3. Danske, Solvang Brewing (Solvang)

Category 10: American Ale — American Brown Ale

  1. Coloma Brown, American River Brewing (Rancho Cordova)
  2. Roasted American, 21st Amendment Brewery (San Francisco)
  3. Farmer’s Flannel Maple Brown, Anacapo Brewing (Ventura)

Category 11: English Brown Ale

  1. Ironwood Dark, Tied House Brewing (Mt. View)
  2. Downtown Brown, Lost Coast Brewing (Eureka)
  3. Whippersnapper, Berryessa Brewing (Winters)

Category 12: Porter — Brown Porter

  1. None awarded
  2. None awarded
  3. Double Nut Brown, Mammoth Brewing (Mammoth)
  4. Honorable Mention: Devil’s Peak Porter, Tahoe Mountain Brewing (Tahoe City)

Category 12: Porter — Robust Porter

  1. Oil Piers Porter, Surf Brewery (Ventura)
  2. None awarded
  3. Black Robusto Porter, Drake’s Brewing (San Leandro)

Category 12: Porter — Baltic Porter

  1. Badland’s Baltic Porter, Dale Bros. Brewery (Upland)
  2. Recession Ale, Loomis Basin Brewing (Loomis)
  3. None awarded

Category 13: Stout — Dry Stout

  1. Organic Chocolate Stout, Bison Brewing (Berkeley)
  2. Dragoons Dry Irish Stout, Moylan’s Brewing (Novato)
  3. Black Hawk Stout, Mendocino Brewing (Ukiah)

Category 13: Stout — Sweet Stout

  1. None awarded
  2. None awarded
  3. Black Jack Sweet Stout, Feather Falls Casino & Brewery (Oroville)

Category 13: Stout — Oatmeal Stout

  1. Oatmeal Stout, Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch (Davis)
  2. Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, Anderson Valley Brewing (Boonville)
  3. None awarded
  4. Honorable Mention: Shanghai Stout, Auburn Ale House (Auburn)

Category 13: Stout — Foreign Export Stout

  1. Homeland Stout, New Helvetia Brewing (Sacramento)
  2. Crude, Belmont Brewing (Long Beach)
  3. None awarded

Category 13: Stout — American Stout

  1. None awarded
  2. Export Stout, Ol’ Republic Brewing (Nevada City)
  3. Roxanne Red, Main Street Brewery/Lamppost Pizza (Corona)

Category 13: Stout — Russian Imperial Stout

  1. Sunken City Imperial Stout, San Pedro Brewing (San Pedro)
  2. Imperial Stout, Mendocino Brewing (Ukiah)
  3. Ryan Sullivan’s Imperial Stout, Moylan’s Brewing (Novato)
  4. Honorable Mention: Parabola, Firestone Walker Brewing (Paso Robles)

Category 14: India Pale Ale — English IPA

  1. English IPA, Ol’ Republic Brewing (Nevada City)
  2. Organic IPA, Eel River Brewing (Fortuna)
  3. White Hawk IPA, Mendocino Brewing (Ukiah)

Category 14: India Pale Ale — American IPA

  1. Union Jack, Firestone Walker Brewing (Paso Robles)
  2. Torpedo, Sierra Nevada Brewing (Chico)
  3. Hop Daddy IPA, Main Street Brewery/Lamppost Pizza (Corona)

Category 14: India Pale Ale — Imperial IPA

  1. Double Up, Oggi’s Pizza & Brewery (Del Mar)
  2. Evil Cousin, Heretic Brewing (Fairfield)
  3. Denogginizer, Drake’s Brewing (San Leandro)

Category 14: India Pale Ale — Other IPA

  1. Evil Twin, Heretic Brewing (Fairfield)
  2. Our Dark Secret, Moylan’s Brewing (Novato)
  3. Boardwalk Black IPA, Karl Strauss Brewing (San Diego)

Category 15: German Wheat/Rye Beer

  1. Thunderweizen Ale, Lightning Brewery (Poway)
  2. Dancing Trees Hefeweizen, Feather Falls Casino & Brewery (Oroville)
  3. Orgasmica 4-grain Hefeweizen, Pizza Orgasmica (San Rafael)
  4. Honorable Mention: Windandsea Wheat, Karl Strauss Brewing (San Diego)

Category 16: Belgian and French Ale — Wit Beer

  1. Wit’s End, Ritual Brewing (Redlands)
  2. Wahoo Wheat Beer, Ballast Point Brewing (San Diego)
  3. None awarded

Category 16: Belgian and French Ale — Belgian Pale Ale

  1. Summer Honey Citrus, Monkey Paw Brewing (San Diego)
  2. None awarded
  3. None awarded

Category 16: Belgian and French Ale — Belgian Pale Ale

  1. Le Merle, North Coast Brewing (Fort Bragg)
  2. First Conversation, Discretion Brewing (Soquel)
  3. Saison, Berryessa Brewing (Winters)
  4. Honorable Mention: Fields Ablaze, Valiant Brewing (Orange)

Category 16: Belgian and French Ale — Biere de Garde

  1. None awarded
  2. Farmer’s Daughter, 21st Amendment Brewing (San Francisco)
  3. None awarded

Category 16: Belgian and French Ale — Belgian Specialty Ale

  1. Solace, Firestone Walker Brewing (Paso Robles)
  2. None awarded
  3. None awarded

Category 16: Belgian and French Ale — Flavored Saison

  1. Saison Savoureuse, Tahoe Mountain Brewing (Tahoe City)
  2. None awarded
  3. None awarded

Category 17: Sour Ale

  1. 24th Anniversary Flanders-style Ale, Karl Strauss Brewing (San Diego)
  2. Saison Tart, Green Flash Brewing (San Diego)
  3. Le Petit Diablotin, High Water Brewing (San Leandro)

Category 18: Belgian Strong Ale

  1. Axiom, Valiant Brewing (Orange)
  2. Dipsea Triple, Marin Brewing (Larkspur)
  3. Rio d’Oro, High Water Brewing (San Leandro)

Category 19: Strong Ale — Old Ale

  1. Good Faith, Discretion Brewing (Soquel)
  2. Triple Exultation, Eel River Brewing (Fortuna)
  3. Old Stock, North Coast Brewing (Fort Bragg)

Category 19: Strong Ale — English Barleywine

  1. Old Diablo, Schooner’s Grille & Brewery (Antioch)
  2. Barrel of Monkeys, Devil’s Canyon Brewing (Belmont)
  3. None awarded

Category 19: Strong Ale — American Barleywine

  1. Imperial Barleywine, Mendocino Brewing (Ukiah)
  2. Fat Hog, Ritual Brewing (Redlands)
  3. Beacon St. Barleywine, San Pedro Brewing (San Pedro)

Category 20: Fruit Beer

  1. Blueberry Ale, Marin Brewing (Larkspur)
  2. Golden Eagle Wheat, Loomis Basin Brewing (Loomis)
  3. Strawberry Wheat, Six Rivers Brewing (McKinleyville)

Category 21: Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer — Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer

  1. Platypus Venom Imperial Stout Star Anise, Marin Brewing (Larkspur)
  2. Blue Bridge Coffee Stout, Coronado Brewing (San Diego)
  3. Organic Honey Basil, Bison Brewing (Berkeley)

Category 21: Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer — Christmas/Winter Specialty Spiced Beer

  1. Stumpkin, Old Hangtown Beer Works (Placerville)
  2. Hoppy Holidaze, Marin Brewing (Larkspur)
  3. Movetta a Trois, Karl Strauss Brewing (San Diego)

Category 22: Smoke-Flavored/Wood-Aged Beer

  1. Ocho Barril, Half Moon Bay Brewing (Half Moon Bay)
  2. Bourbon Barrel-aged Island Pale Ale, Island Brewing (Carpinteria)
  3. Pugacheu’s Cobra, Hangar 24 Brewing (Redlands)
  4. Honorable Mention: Sucaba, Firestone Walker Brewing (Paso Robles)

Category 23: Specialty Beer

  1. IPA 395, Mammoth Brewing (Mammoth)
  2. Barrel-aged Kriek, Island Brewing (Carpenteria)
  3. 4th Anniversary Ale, Hangar 24 Brewing (Redlands)
  4. Honorable Mention: Campfire Stout, High Water Brewing (San Leandro)

A few statistics: Firestone Walker, Karl Strauss and San Pedro Brewing won the most medals, six apiece. Ol’ Republic Brewing and Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch each won five. And Auburn Ale House, Heretic Brewing, Marin Brewing and Mendocino Brewing each won four medals. Eleven more breweries won three medals each.

BEST OF SHOW

  1. Una Mas, Left Coast Brewing (San Clemente)

BEST OF SHOW SESSION BEER

  1. Ocho Barril, Half Moon Bay Brewing (Half Moon Bay)

Congratulations to all the winners.

Anchor’s History Of Beer & Baseball In San Francisco

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Dave Burkhart, Anchor Brewing‘s resdient historian, put together a great little video all about the connection between beer and baseball in San Francisco, along with its rich history, of course. The video brings to mind this great quote, by Peter Richmond. “Beer needs baseball, and baseball needs beer — it has always been thus.”

Date Announced For 2013 Brews On The Bay

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The San Francisco Brewers Guild today announced the date for this year’s Brews on the Bay beer festival aboard the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien, docked at Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf. This marks the 10th anniversary of the festival, which will take place on Saturday, October 19, from Noon to 5:00 p.m. According to the press release:

Enjoy over 50 different beers made by San Francisco breweries, while soaking up the salty air, sunshine, live music, food, and spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and San Francisco.

This year’s event is shaping up to be our biggest and best yet. Although we’re still finalizing some of the details, you can expect our member breweries to serve unlimited eight ounce pours of their latest and greatest IPA, farmhouse ale, session beer, barrel-aged sour, imperial stout, and many other beer styles. The brewers will also be on hand to answer any questions about your favorite beers.

In addition to the local beer, we’re going to serve up local food and music. San Francisco’s best food trucks will line the pier to fill your mouth-watering needs. We’ve also enlisted The Brothers Comatose to play their lively roots music on the ship’s deck.

Brews on the Bay tickets will go on sale August 5th at 10:00am.

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Anchor Brewing Announces Zymaster #4: Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale

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Anchor Brewing announced today the 4th beer in heir Zymaster series. This latest offering — Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale — is a beer made with local herbs from nearby Fort Ross, which is located along the coast in Sonoma County. This sounds like an interesting beer. I can’t wait to try it.
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Here’s the full story, from the press release:

Over 200 years ago, ninety miles up the coast from San Francisco, the Russian American Company built a stockade that became known as Fort Ross. It was home base for Russia’s fur trade and, in the 1820s and ’30s, supplied the Russian colony of New Archangel (now Sitka) with grain from “bread plants” like wheat and barley. The farms were small and the harvesting primitive. Reaping was done with sickles and threshing by driving horses over the sheaves.

Among the native plants at Fort Ross is a perennial evergreen shrub, prized by the local Indians for its healing powers, whose purple flowers bloom from May to early July. The Spanish missionaries called it Yerba Santa or Holy Herb. Our Zymaster® Series No. 4: Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale is inspired by the wheat, barley, and Yerba Santa at Fort Ross and the hardy souls who harvested them. Fermented with a local saison-style yeast, this unique brew celebrates the history and flora of Northern California like no other.

Our Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale (7.2% ABV) is a Belgian-style farmhouse ale with a California twist. The unique bitterness and earthy spiciness of Yerba Santa, a native California herb, perfectly complement the fruitiness and clove-like flavors created by a local saison-style yeast. And in addition to hops, barley malt, and wheat malt, we used toasted Belgian wheat malt, which gives our Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale its distinctive maltiness and burnished bronze color.

Zymaster Series No. 4: Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale will be available in draught and 22-ounce bottles and will be poured in select bars and restaurants throughout the United States, as well as the Anchor Taproom, starting June 2013.

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Mateveza/Samuel Adams Collaboration Beer Being Released Tonight

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Tonight from 6-9:00 p.m. at Cervecería de MateVeza, located at 3801 18th Street in San Francisco, there will be a beer-tasting of a new collaboration beer. Here’s the story:

Samuel Adams and MateVeza will come together to celebrate and introduce their limited-release collaboration beer, Boston Tea Party Saison. The unique brew combines MateVeza’s signature ingredient — yerba mate tea — and Samuel Adams’ one-of-a-kind Kosmic Mother Funk (KMF).

After completing a Brewing and Business Experienceship, an extended craft brewing mentoring program offered by Samuel Adams, MateVeza founder Jim Woods teamed up with his mentor to create a unique collaboration beer. The Experienceship is offered to craft brewers as part of Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream, a micro lending and coaching program available to food, beverage and hospitality small business owners as well as craft brewers.

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Jim Woods and Samuel Adams brewer Dean Gianocostas in Boston on the day they brewed the collaboration beer, Boston Tea Party Saison.

Here’s their description of the beer itself:

Samuel Adams and MateVeza came together to brew a Saison, which is a farmhouse beer traditionally brewed in the autumn or winter for consumption during the summer for the farm workers. The final recipe combines MateVeza’s signature ingredient — yerba mate tea — and Samuel Adams’ one-of-a-kind Kosmic Mother Funk (KMF), a blend of wild yeasts and bacteria designed to give beers unique flavors. The bright and satisfying brew has a slightly earthy and deliciously fruity character with a hint of spice and a long dry finish.

If you’re in the city tonight, stop by and give the beer a try. See you there.

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Chris Spinelli and Jon Mervine from Roc Brewing (who also did a similar collaboration beer, though their beer is ThreeNinety Bock), and in the middle Jim Woods, MateVeza, and Jim Koch, from Boston Beer.

Hog’s Apothecary In Oakland Looking For Founding Members

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The Hog’s Apothecary, located in Oakland at 375 40th Street, is looking for founding members on the crowndfunding website Indiegogo. With less than 36 hours to go, they need just $3,000 to complete their vision of bringing an American-style beer hall to Oakland. Check out all of the details on Indiegogo or their Facebook page and support their efforts if it looks good to you. Here’s their pitch:

The Hog’s Apothecary is an American-style beer hall and gastropub brought to you by Bradford Earle and John Streit set to open this summer in Oakland’s Temescal District. The Hog will feature 32 American Craft brews and 4 local wines on draft, weekly firkin selections, a selection of craft bottles and a menu of artisanal sausages and roasts, a selection of charcuterie, appetizers and well composed salads, all crafted onsite.

Under construction since November, The Hog’s Apothecary is a locally owned operation. Owners Bradford and John are local residents, excited to make a lasting contribution to our neighborhood. We love Oakland and we could not be happier to be opening our first restaurant in the East Bay. We invite you to be part of speeding us to our grand opening and to making The Hog the place for you to hang out in the East Bay! We hope that you’ll become a Founding Member and feel that The Hog’s Apothecary is as much yours as it is ours.

We can never have too many good beer bars as far as I’m concerned. I wish them the best of luck.

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Craft Beer: A Hopumentary

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Here’s an interesting video on craft beer by a Jeremy Williams entitled Craft Beer — A Hopumentary. What’s cool about it is that it features Ron Lindenbusch from Lagunitas, Craig and Beth from City Beer Store, Andy French from Southern Pacific Brewing, Zeitgeist, and homebrewer Nathan Oyler. My favorite factoid: craft beer represents 7% of the market, but employs 50% of the employees in the industry.