Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Auburn Alehouse Set to Open Thursday

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Brian Ford, the former brewer at Beermanns Beerwerks near Sacramento has been trying to get his new brewpub open for some time now. Finally, his new Auburn Alehouse Brewery & Restaurant will be opening this Thursday, June 21 in Old Town Auburn, California, which is also just outside Sacramento. I saw Brian and tried a pair of his beers at the Raley Field Brewfest May 12. Brian even invited me up this weekend to try things out but with Father’s Day it just didn’t work out.

Photograph by Ben Furtado of the Auburn Journal
 

 Yesterday’s Auburn Journal, the local paper, ran a nice introductory story on the brewpub.

Although I confess to a chuckle over this amusing understatement:

All beer is brewed using traditional ingredients like malted barley, hops, fresh water and yeast, as well as some specialty ingredients like wheat, maize, spices and regional fruits.

As opposed to …? When I first read that, it made me think the reporter was informing the reader as to what beer is made with, but to be fair, she copied this statement from the Auburn Alehouse’s website, but changed the first few words from “All beers will be brewed using …” to “All beer is brewed using …., which changes the meaning considerably.”

But that gentle gaffe aside, it was great to see Brian’s new venture get some local attention. Their website lists nine regular beers and will also be supplemented “seasonal or monthly special brew,” along with what they’re calling “Pub Brewed Special,” which sounds like very small batches.

Also the food to be served at the restaurant sounds pretty damn good. The chef is Luis Gomez, who is also a co-owner. He’s apparently been cooking for almost thirty years centering on “Mediterranean and Southwestern flare.”

The restaurant will also feature more than a dozen appetizers, including crab cakes, alehouse wedge fries and pub pickle chips, roughly 30 entrees including steak, fish and pizzas, soups, salads and desserts.

And the cheeseloaf sound pretty tasty, too. It’s described as a “[b]aked to order sourdough round loaf, stuffed with Gruyere, Parmesan, Swiss, garlic butter, and chives, served with balsamic and olive oil.” He’ll also be using as many local ingredients as possible. I’m looking very forward to the time when I can try Brian’s beer and eat some of the food at Auburn Alehouse.

 

Beerfest in Santa Rosa

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This was the 16th annual Santa Rosa Beerfest, which is a benefit for Face to Face, a Sonoma County AIDS charity. What’s fun about this festival and what sets it apart is two things. First there’s the emphasis on local beer and food producers. Second, and most importantly in my opinion, is the way they treat food. There are as many, perhaps more, food stands than beer stands. And for your admission price you get unlimited samples of both food and beer. That means you can choose a food and a beer to pair, and try endless combination of pairings right there on the spot. More festivals should adopt this method, because it’s a terrific way to really show just how good beer and food are together. I can write about it until I’m blue in the fingers, and you can try single pairing after pairing, but to have an opportunity to mix and match like this is priceless and a fantastic learning experience. Plus, the equal emphasis on food alleviates the drunkenness that sometimes accompanies lesser festivals. Anyway, it was a great day — perfect weather — and I had a great time talking with friends, eating and drinking and listening to live music. After the festival I was so full, I didn’t have another bite for the rest of the day. I was satiated and satisfied.

Rebecca and Fraggle, inveterate festival-goers, at this year’s Santa Rosa Beerfest.

Two from Russian River Brewing, co-owner Natalie (center) and as many times as I’ve met this gentlemen I can’t remember his name, along with Brian Hunt from Moonlight Brewing (right).

For more photos from this year’s Santa Rosa Brewfest, visit the photo gallery.

Raley Field Brewfest

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The first Raley Field Brewfest was put on by the Northern California Brewer’s Guild in an effort to raise funds for the fledgling organization. It was a good first fest at a great setting with perfect weather, especially for Sacramento. Because it was a festival by brewers for their own benefit, attendance was better than usual for a first-time event, and there were several breweries who rarely make an appearance at festivals, which made it more interesting than ones with only the usual suspects.

Brian Ford, who returns to the brewing community June 1, when his Auburn Alehouse Brewery & Restaurant is exected to open, with Glynn Phillips, owner of Rubicon and the festival organizer.

Melissa Myers, brewer at Drake’s, serving festival-goers.

Peter Hoey, from Sacramento Brewing, and Steve Altimari, from Valley Brewing.

For many more photos from the Raley Field Brewfest, visit the photo gallery.

West Coast Brew Fest Awards Announced

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The results of the West Coast Beer Festival Commercial Competition have been announced. The winners are listed below. Each line below contains the category or style judged under the broad heading above it, the beer name, the brewery and where it’s located.
 

1. Light Lager

  1. German Pils, Pilsner, Radeberger, Germany
  2. Maibock, Maibock, Sequoia, Fresno, CA
  3. Helles, Lincoln Lager, Beermann’s, Roseville, CA

2. Dark Lager

  1. Schwarzbier, Black Lager, Krusovic, Czech Republic
  2. Vienna, Luna De Miele, SBC, Sacramento, CA
  3. Vienna, Dreher Vienna, River City, Sacramento, CA

3. Amber Ale

  1. Red Ale, Woodenhead Red, River City, Sacramento, CA
  2. Amber Ale, Thunderhead , Sequoia, Fresno, CA
  3. Red Ale, Winter Ale, Shipyard, Portland, ME

4. Light Ale

  1. American Wheat, Marin Hefewies, Marin, Larkspur Landing, CA
  2. Blonde Ale, Cascade, Deschutes, Bend, OR
  3. Cream Ale, Cream Gold, Sequoia, Fresno, CA

5. American Pale Ale

  1. American Pale Ale, Fire Rock, Kona, Kona, HI
  2. American Pale Ale, Slough House, Elk Grove, Elk Grove, CA
  3. American Pale Ale, Mt Tam, Marin, Larkspur Landing, CA

6. English Pale Ale

  1. English Pale Ale, Chamberlain, Shipyard, Portland, ME
  2. ESB, Old Thumper, Shipyard, Portland, ME
  3. English Pale Ale, Scapegoat, Big Sky, Missoula, MT

7. India Pale Ale

  1. India Pale Ale, IPA, Marin, Larkspur Landing, CA
  2. India Pale Ale, General Sherman, Sequoia, Fresno, CA
  3. India Pale Ale, Inversion , Deschutes, Bend, OR

8. Brown Ale

  1. Mild Ale, Northern Mild, Brew It Up!, Sacramento, CA
  2. American Brown Ale, Moose Drool, Big Sky, Missoula, MT
  3. American Brown Ale, Downtown Brown, Lost Coast, Eureka, CA

9. Porter

  1. Brown Porter, Seadog Hazelnut, Shipyard, Portland, ME
  2. Robust Porter, Pt. Reyes, Marin, Larkspur Landing, CA
  3. Robust Porter, Plow Share, Lodi, Lodi, CA

10. Stout

  1. Oatmeal Stout, Oatmeal Stout, Brew It Up!, Sacramento, CA
  2. Sweet Stout, Grain Barrel, Elk Grove, Elk Grove, CA
  3. Foreign Extra, Industrial, Beermann’s, Roseville, CA

11. Wheat

  1. Hefewiezen, Hefewiezen, Blue Frog, Fairfield, CA
  2. Hefewiezen, Hefewiezen, Sequoia, Fresno, CA
  3. Hefewiezen, Umna Hefe, Lodi, Lodi, CA

12. Fruit Beer

  1. Fruit Beer, Orange Blossom, Lodi, Lodi, CA
  2. Fruit Beer, Raspberry Brown, Lost Coast, Eureka, CA
  3. Fruit Beer, Apricot Wheat, Shipyard, Portland, ME

13. Strong Ale

  1. Imperial Stout, Abyss, Deschutes, Bend, OR
  2. Strong Ale, Imperial Red, SBC, Sacramento, CA,
  3. Barley Wine, Bourbon Barrel BW, Beermann’s, Roseville, CA

14. Mixed

  1. California Common, California Common, Schooners, Antioch, CA
  2. Kolsch, Kolsch, Sequoia, Fresno, CA
  3. Alt, Alaskan Amber, Alaskan, Juneau, AK

15. Belgian Ales

  1. Wit, Allagash White, Allagash, Portland, ME
  2. Wit, Skinny Dip Wit, New Belgium, Ft. Collins, CO
  3. Belgian Dark Ale, 1554, New Belgium, Ft. Collins, CO

16. Cider

  1. Pear Cider, Pear Cider, Fox Barrel, Colfax, CA
  2. Pear Cider, Perry, Two Rivers, Sacramento, CA
  3. Apple Cider, Hard Cider, Fox Barrel, Colfax, CA

17. Other

  1. Eisbock Aged in Sherry Barrel, Barrel Aged Eisbock, Lodi, Lodi, CA
  2. Smoked Porter, Smoked Porter, Alaskan, Juneau, AK
  3. Coffee Stout, Coffee Stout, SBC, Sacramento, CA

 
Congratulations to all the award winners.

Boonville Beer Festival

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Saturday was the 11th annual Boonville Beer Festival, held as usual at the Mendocino Fair Grounds in Boonville, California. Over the last few years, this festival has really become one of the “must attend” fests of the year, and this time was no exception. I didn’t hear the final attendance figures, but it must have been another record year. I did hear that despite ordering almost double the festival glasses as last year, they still ran out early and had to resort to dixie cups for late-comers. It was also Cinco de Mayo and the festival tried to celebrate the Mexican holiday, as well.

The Anderson Valley horse-drawn coach transported VIPs from the brewery to the festival.

During the opening of the festival, we were serenaded by the traditional Humboldt Firkin Tappers. For a video of their performance, see the photo gallery.

Anderson Valley Brewery owner Ken Allen.

Brian Hunt from Moonlight Brewing.

Adrienne, in her watermelon wheat hat, and Motor, who podcasts at Beer School.

Brian Hunt from Moonlight Brewing, Aron Derosey from Beach Chalet , Jeff Barkley (also from Moonlight) and Melissa Myers from Drake’s.

Vinnie Cilurzo does a celebrity endorsement of 21st Amendment’s IPA in a can. Watch the commercial at the photo gallery.

In another bit of shameless promotion, Shaun O’Sullivan from 21st Amendment gets Matt Brynildson, from Firestone Walker, to wear the watermelon wheat pimp hat.

Claudia, Yuseff Cherney, from Ballast Point, Jeff Bagby, from Pizza Port Carlsbad, and his assistant brewer.

For many more photos from the festival, visit the photo gallery. At the photo gallery there is even video of the Humboldt Firkin Tappers and Vinnie drinking beer from a can. And if you’re a fire bug like me, there is also many photos of the bonfire, including what it looks like when a beer bottle melts.

Rally at Raley Field This Saturday

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This Saturday will be the Raley Field Brewfest in Sacramento, California, a benefit for the Northern California Brewers Guild. Tickets are $30 at the door, or you can save $5 by purchasing tickets online.

Here are some of the breweries slated to be pouring:

Rubicon Brewing Company, Blue Frog and Grog Brewery, Butte Creek Brewing Company, New Belgium Brewing Company, Jack Russel Brewing Company, Marin Brewing Company, Moylans Brewing Company, Sacramento Brewing Company, Bison Brewing Company, Trumer Brauerei, Lockdown Brewing Company, Bear Republic Brewing Company, Elk Grove Brewing Company, Brew it Up Brewing Company, Hoppy Brewing Company, Two Rivers Cider, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Davids Ale Works, Black Diamond Brewing Company, Drakes Brewing Company, Valley Brewing Company and many more!

The festival will begin a 1:00 p.m. at Raley Field. “One ticket is valid for up to 10 tastings. Additional tastings can be purchased on-site.”

There will also be music and food available. Come out and support this very worthy cause. The newly formed Northern California Brewers Guild was created to keep good local craft beer available throughout northern California. Help them help you by attending the event and enjoying some terrific beers, most of which were created locally.

5.12

Raley Field Brewfest

Raley Field, 400 Ballpark Drive, West Sacramento , California
916.376.4700 [ information ] [ online tickets ]
 

New Albion Honored

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Last year, my friend and author Maureen Ogle was having a book release party at Anchor Brewery in San Francisco and she asked me to help her put together the guest list since I lived here and she was in Iowa. When she sent me her preliminary list of guests I was very surprised to see Jack McAuliffe’s name and address among them. It had been quite some time since anyone knew where McAuliffe was and I had heard he’d made it abundantly clear he wanted to keep it that way. I immediately asked about Jack, and Maureen told me that in the course of working on her book Ambitious Brew that she’d become good friends with him.

I mentioned all of this to Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing a week or so later and he told me that Jim Koch was looking for McAuliffe because he wanted the Brewers Association to honor him and New Albion Brewery for his great contribution to the craft beer industry. At GABF I let Koch that Maureen knew how to reach McAuliffe and the rest, as they say, is history. At this year’s Craft Brewers Conference, the Brewers Association Recognition Award was given to Jack McAuliffe, founder of New Albion Brewing Company in Sonoma, California.

From the press release:

The Brewers Association Recognition Award went to Jack McAuliffe, founder of New Albion Brewing Company. McAuliffe’s inspiration, enthusiasm and support have contributed to the development of American craft beer movement.

Steve Bradt, Head Brewer at Free State Brewing Company and Brewers Association Board of Directors member says, “As founder of what author Maureen Ogle calls ‘…the most important failed brewery industry’s history, the New Albion Brewing Co.’ Jack McAuliffe epitomizes the kind of tough, ingenious, and fiercely independent men and women who have come since in the Craft Brewing world. In fact, probably find reason to present him with each of the awards presented today, not just this one.”

Even though New Albion Brewery lasted only a few short years, it’s influence on the future of microbreweries cannot be underestimated. We all owe Jack a debt of gratitude. Pick up Ambitious Brew for the most thorough account of that period of history. Unfortunately, McAuliffe could be coaxed out of his self-imposed isolation. Instead, his assistant brewer, Don Barkley, was on hand to accept the honor on his behalf. After New Albion closed in 1982, Barkley went on to success as Mendocino Brewing’s brewer.

Bradt giving the Brewers Association Recognition Award to Don Barkley, who accepted it on behalf of Jack McAuliffe, founder of New Albion Brewing Company, who was unable to be present.

Don Barkley reminisced about working at New Albion and about McAuliffe. Maureen Ogle asked me take a picture since she wasn’t able to be there either, and I decided I could make her feel more like she was actually there my shooting some video with my camera, so that’s what I did and it’s below here.

 

Sierra Nevada’s New Pry-Off Cap

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I made a trip up to Chico, California last week to interview Ken Grossman for an article I’m working on and fortuitously happened upon a new innovation that Sierra Nevada Brewing just launched. They’ve discarded the twist-off crown in favor of a new one they’re calling a “pry-off cap.” They’re using up their old stock now and then replacing it with the new crowns so over the next few weeks or months you’ll begin seeing the new crowns on store shelves. Some, like Pale Ale, have already made the switch.

What’s innovative about this is the material they’re using inside the cap that sits against the top of the glass bottle providing the seal. Oxidation is, of course, probably the most common reason beer goes bad. Twist-off crowns and regular crowns do a pretty good job of creating an oxygen barrier and keeping out the oxygen, but they’re not perfect and some oxidation will occur over time. So Grossman spent the last 6-7 years researching how to make a better seal. What he came up with was a super high-density non-PVC substance that’s used in Germany but is uncommon here. It’s harder than the usual rubbery crown insides and requires a bit more pressure to seal, which is why they can’t use the twist-off cap any longer. But the new substance keeps out oxygen ten times better than anything else Sierra Nevada tested, so having to use a bottle opener is a small price to pay for a fresher beer that stays fresher longer. Now that’s a good use of new technology.

 

SacBrew Barley Wine Festival Winners

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The results are also in for the 2007 SacBrew Barley Wine Festival. Since I wasn’t able to go north to Alaska, I was fortunate enough to be able to judge in Sacramento last night. Here are the top three Barley Wine winners: