Here are the results from Drake’s 1st annual Beer Festival & Washoes Tournament in San Leandro. The competition involved 19 beers all made with the same hop — Summit — but with each brewery free to use whatever malt, yeast and water they wanted.
1st Place: Bison Brewing
2nd Place: Marin Brewing
3rd Place: Bear Republic Brewing
Congratulations to all the winners.
Pyramid Brewing announced today that CEO John Lennon has resigned, effective immediately. The company is reporting that Lennon left to “pursue other business interests,” which is about a vague as you can get. He had been on the job only since last August, and before that he was with Beck’s. It will be interesting to see what finally comes out as the real reason for his departure, because in my mind these sort of things don’t play out like this unless there is a hidden agenda.
He will be replaced by board member Scott Barnum, who previously has worked for Pete’s Brewing and Miller. Barnum is a resident of the Bay Area and will apparently maintain offices both in Berkeley and Seattle.
Stocton’s Valley Brewing has announced two new releases, a Belgian-style wit beer and a weizenbock.
From the press release:
Summer “Soulstice” Wit
5.5% ABV
Both bitter and sweet orange peel, Coriander seed and a little Grains of Paradise, almost borders on a Saison, enjoy.No More Mr. Weize Guy
7.7% ABV
Big monster for the summer heat. Lots of dried fruits in the nose and flavor with hints of chocolate.
Anderson Valley Brewing’s Brother David’s Double, in addition to being awarded a gold medal in the Belgian Strong Ale category, was declared “Best of Show” in the Commercial Craft Brewing Competition at the 2006 California State Fair.
From the press release:
“We’re very proud of the Brother David’s Abbey Style Ales,” said Brewery President, Ken Allen. “Not only did Brother David’s Double win the Best of Show, but our Brother David’s Triple received the Third Place Bronze. We think our abbey style ales stand up to just about anything the Belgians themselves are producing, and the public response to these two beers has been very gratifying,” he added.
Certified beer judges and craft brewers from around the state chose the winners at this year’s competition from 411 California beers submitted by 74 breweries in 35 categories. “California Craft Brewers once again show us why they are leaders in the American micro brewing renaissance. They are actively pushing the industry forward with high levels of quality and
stylistic innovations,” said J.J. Jackson, state fair craft brew competition organizer. He described Brother David’s Double as “a unique, stylistic beer and one that I enjoyed tasting after the judges awarded it.”
Vic Kralj, co-owner of the Bistro, with the real Brother David, Dave Keene, owner of the Toronado.
Last night my friend Jeremy Cowan held a National Release Party for his two new beers, Genesis 10:10, Shmaltz Brewing’s 10th anniversary beer, and Lenny’s R.I.P.A, a Rye Double IPA in honor of Lenny Bruce, who died forty years ago this year. As usual, the Toronado was jumping and there were several friends in attendance. Mercifully, it was no longer opressively hot and a nice cool breeze was circulating around the Toronado, which is quite unusual in my experience.
And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
— Genesis 10:10, KJV
In case you’re curious, this chapter of the Torah/Bible concerns the history of Noah and the other survivors’ offspring post-flood and this verse is talking specifically about Nimrod.
I’d tasted the Genesis 10:10 a couple of weeks ago and it’s a really terrific strong beer. The original Genesis Ale, from ten years ago, had pomegranates in it so Jeremy used pomegranate juice in the anniversary ale. As I understand it, it was added to fermentation about halfway through and as a result the yeast didn’t drop out for a week longer than expected. I don’t know if that’s the reason or not, but you’d never know from tasting this beer that it’s 10% abv.
The RIPA used 20% rye, which is a lot, but it’s not overpowering in the final beer. Personally I like rye, so perhaps I have a higher tolerance for it than most. To me rye does more for the mouthfeel and texture than for flavor though the distinctive rye character was certainly present there, too, especially when enjoying it with a sandwich on rye bread, which I made for myself while I was there. This is a great twist on an imperial IPA and the rye makes it stand out — in a good way — from the usual doubles.
At the Toronado last night for He’Brew’s release party. From left: Alec Moss, Half Moon Bay Brewing, Pete Slosberg, formerly of Pete’s Wicked Ales and now making Cocoa Pete’s Chocolates, Jeremy Cowan of Shmaltz Brewing and Rodger Davis of Drake’s Brewing.
Last one to stick his nose in his glass buys a round. Sorry Alec.
July 8, from Noon to 6:00 p.m., at Drake’s Brewing in San Leandro, California you’ll have a unique opportunity to taste at least sixteen beers all made with the same hop, but with different malt, yeast and water. This should be a lot of fun. Perhaps I’ll see you there.
From the press release:
We will have around 17 local breweries in house with their beers, and all will have made a “single hop beer” or in this case “same hop beer.” The idea was to have each brewer make a beer with their own malt, water and yeast, but have everyone use the same hop. This year we are using the new Summit hop. Come on by and see for yourself how different malts, yeast, water and brewing techniques can change a beer. Brewers will also be bringing some of their other fine products. We will also be playing the game that will be sweeping the brewing nation — Washoe. The $35 admission price includes entry to the fest, all the beer you wish to responsibly consume, entry into the Washoe tournament, a festival t-shirt and a great time. Please join us!
Drake’s is about a 15-20 minute walk from the San Leandro BART station. Buses run up and down Davis Street. Cabs are available at the BART station. We are located at the loading dock area around the back of the Wal-Mart. This is to benefit San Leandro school teachers. Hope to see you here.
Come out to the festival and meet Drake’s brewers Rodger Davis and Melissa Myers.
Breweries Attending
7.8
Single Hop Festival & Washoe Tournament (2nd annual)
Drake’s Brewing, 1933 Davis Street #177, San Leandro, California
510.562.0866 [ website ] [ directions ]
Yesterday a new beer festival took place in the Bay Area. The Bay Area Brewfest was held at the County Expo Center in San Mateo, California and appeared to be a modest success. Attendance rumors were that around 1,200 people sampled the fifty or so craft and imported beers available at the festival. The music was very good and mercifully not too loud. For a first-time festival, the organization seemed outstanding. As I’ve said before, the Bay Area could really use a big outdoor festival to showcase the area’s wonderful and many contributions to the beer scene. Is this is? Not yet, but the potential is definitely there. I would have liked to see more local breweries there, but perhaps next year?
Even though attendance was good, it never felt crowded at the Expo Center, and there was plenty of parking.
Festival organizer Jeff Moses, who’s also GM of Coast Range/Farmhouse Brewing Co. of Gilroy, California.
Music was sponsored by the local radio station 107.7, The Bone, who had a stage with seating set up on one end of the festival area. You could hear the music throughout the festival, but it was never too loud, a rarity at these type of events.
Jeremy Cowan, of Shmaltz Brewing, shows off his new 10th anniversary brew Genesis 10:10.
J.J. Phair, owner of the award-winning E.J. Phair Brewing.
The wold looks rosier when seen through beer goggles.
Jack Curry, co-owner of the Prince of Wales, a San Mateo institution and great beer pub.
Fellow writers Lisa and Mike Pitsker, along with their son James, my table-mates at the festival.
This Saturday in San Mateo, a new Bay Area beer festival will take place at the County Expo Center, aptly named the Bay Area Brewfest. The Expo Center a good, centrally-located spot for a beer fesitival with plenty of parking, and the Bay Area could really use a good annual beer festival. There’s plenty of good small ones here and there but there hasn’t really been a good big one in the area since the KQED Beer & Food Festival and the Berkeley Beer Festival both stopped pouring for good several years ago. So it’s with high hopes Jeff Moses, who is also the GM for Coast Range/Farmhouse Brewing in Gilroy, has organized this new event. I’ll be there to offer my support along with fifty breweries who’ll be pouring samples of their beer from 12-6 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 at the gate and include admission, entertainment, and tastings.
Please think about coming out and supporting the festival so it can be an annual event. The first year’s turnout will go a long way to insuring future festivals.
6.10
Bay Area Brewfest (1st annual)
County Expo Center, 2495 South Delaware Street, San Mateo, California
[ website ] [ tickets online ] [ map ]
Yussef Cherney, intrepid Ballast Point brewer in San Diego, California, acted heroically yesterday to save a 100-keg batch of Ballast Point beer. In the middle of the brew, a water main broke leaving the brewery without water, according to a report by NBC San Diego. Rather then have the batch ruined, a brewery employee drove around the area and discovered the spot where the main had broken and alerted local water officials. Within hours it had been fixed and the water was flowing again to the brewery, effectively saving the brew. Way to go go guys!
21st Amendment brewpub’s beer school, which was monthly but has been on sabbatical lately, is returning.
From the press release:
Join us Tuesday, June 13th at 6 pm on the mezzanine at the 21A for an evening of Summer Brews. Beer and brewers from all around the Bay area will be pouring as we discuss the history and styles of summer beer.
$25 for beer samples and appetizers.
6.13
21st Amendment Beer School: Summer Brews
21st Amendment Brewery – Restaurant – Bar, 563 2nd Street, San Francisco, California
415-369-0900 [ website ]