Bottoms Up

The brewers in and around Sacramento got together last week to begin planning their own Sacramento Craft Beer Week. Tentative dates are February 24-28 of next year, a few weeks after SF Beer Week. Watch their website as new developments unfold.

ALL MONTH

November 1-30

All November, the BRU/SFO Project will be going on at both 21st Amendment Brewery & Restaurant and Magnolia Pub & Brewery.

What is it? “It’s an excursion of Belgian-style and Belgian-influenced beers, six from each brewery. Grab a boarding pass and take a trip to Belgium via Magnolia and the 21st Amendment. The first three beers at each brewery hit the taps on Monday, 11/2 and then both breweries will release a new beer every Monday for the rest of the month. Try all 12 and get the special commemorative glass.”

The beers will be released throughout the month by the following schedule:

21st Amendment

1. Via - Belgian Single 11/2
2. St. Martin’s Abbey 11/2
3. Noir de Blanc- Chocolate Wit 11/2
4. Brew Libre! Ou Mourir - Belgian IPA 11/9
5. Monk’s Blood - Belgian Dark Strong 11/16
6. Baby Horse - Quadruple 11/23

Magnolia

1. Deep Ellum Dubbel 11/2
2. Tweezer Tripel 11/2
3. Gris-Gris - Belgian Grisette 11/2
4. Gordo - Pumpkin Wit 11/9
5. Destiny Unblonde - Belgian Pale 11/16
6. Paint it Black - Belgian Dark 11/23

THIS WEEKEND

Sunday, November 8

Dean Biersch’s Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol is hosting a benefit event Sunday afternoon from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to benefit the Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research (IMBCR). Guitarists Ottmar Liebert and Roy Rogers will play the 2 Guitars 4 The Cure event. Reunion Beer will also be served. Tickets are $75 and include brunch.

IN THE COMING WEEKS

Saturday, November 14

The Bistro in Hayward will be hosting their annual Barrel Aged Festival, which will feature beers aged in various types of barrels, whether new or having previously held wine or spirits.

Sunday, November 15

The first BevMo! Holiday Beer Fest will be held at Fort Mason’s Herbst Pavilion in downtown San Francisco on Sunday November 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The event will feature 50+ Holiday, Seasonal & Special, “soon-to-be-released beers. Tickets are $35 in advance, and can be purchased online, or $45 at the door the day of the event.

Monday, November 16

21st Amendment Brewery & Restaurant in San Francisco will host a beer dinner by Sean Paxton, the Homebrew Chef, and will debut the collaboration beer, Monk’s Blood. From the press release:

Sean and 21A’s Shaun (that’s two Shawns folks) and Nico collaborated on Monk’s Blood Beer this past February for Strong Beer Month, then took the recipe to Belgium  where they further collaborated with the West Flander’s brewery De Struisse Brouwers, the makers of old world style Belgian beers with a new world approach. They then brought the recipe back to San Francisco this past summer  brewing and refining it further before heading out to the 21A production brewery in Minnesota for wider release.

The cost for the five-course beer dinner is $95, including tax and tip. Call 415-369-0900 for reservations.

ON THE HORIZON

November 18: New Belgium beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

December 2: Dogfish Head beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

December 12: From Noon to 4:00 p.m., Pacific Coast Brewing in downtown Oakland will host their 21st annual Holiday Beer Tasting.

If you know of an upcoming beer event, please let me know about it so I can share it here. Let me know at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com.

Halloween weekend is now the biggest keg sales time of the entire year, so most people will having their own beer events this weekend.

THIS WEEKEND

Saturday, October 31-Sunday, November 1

Rubicon, in Sacramento, will hold their 4th annual Hoptoberfest. Rubicon has been collecting their favorite hoppy IPAs and Double IPAs. At the fest they’ll be pouring 21 IPAs on tap.

IN THE COMING WEEKS

Saturday, November 14

The Bistro in Hayward will be hosting their annual Barrel Aged Festival, which will feature beers aged in various types of barrels, whether new or having previously held wine or spirits.

Sunday, November 15

November 15: The first BevMo! Holiday Beer Fest will be held at Fort Mason’s Herbst Pavilion in downtown San Francisco on Sunday November 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The event will feature 50+ Holiday, Seasonal & Special, “soon-to-be-released beers. Tickets are $35 in advance, and can be purchased online, or $45 at the door the day of the event.

ON THE HORIZON

November 18: New Belgium beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

December 2: Dogfish Head beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

December 12: From Noon to 4:00 p.m., Pacific Coast Brewing in downtown Oakland will host their 21st annual Holiday Beer Tasting.

If you know of an upcoming beer event, please let me know about it so I can share it here. Let me know at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com.

It’s the end of an era for beer dinners tomorrow night and on Sunday ride up to Santa Rosa and Russian River Brewing to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

THIS WEEKEND

Friday, October 23

On Friday, October 23, the last beer dinner at the Cathedral Hill Hotel will take place. The Beer Chef, Bruce Paton, will cook the final dinner featuring the beers of Allagash and brewer/owner Rob Tod will be on hand, as well.

Sunday, October 25

Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa has paired with Revolution Moto to create the ”Scooters For Hooters” ride to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness Month this Sunday, October 25th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. The entrance fee is one of their “All Hopped Up For The Cure” t-shirts, and the ride begins at RevMoto by the brewpub on Fourth St. More info available at Russian River Brewing or RevMoto.

IN THE COMING WEEKS

Saturday, October 31-Sunday, November 1

Rubicon, in Sacramento, will hold their 4th annual Hoptoberfest. Rubicon has been collecting their favorite hoppy IPAs and Double IPAs. At the fest they’ll be pouring 21 IPAs on tap.

Saturday, November 14

The Bistro in Hayward will be hosting their annual Barrel Aged Festival, which will feature beers aged in various types of barrels, whether new or having previously held wine or spirits.

Sunday, November 15

November 15: The first BevMo! Holiday Beer Fest will be held at Fort Mason’s Herbst Pavilion in downtown San Francisco on Sunday November 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The event will feature 50+ Holiday, Seasonal & Special, “soon-to-be-released beers. Tickets are $35 in advance, and can be purchased online, or $45 at the door the day of the event.

ON THE HORIZON

November 18: New Belgium beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

December 2: Dogfish Head beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

December 12: From Noon to 4:00 p.m., Pacific Coast Brewing in downtown Oakland will host their 21st annual Holiday Beer Tasting.

If you know of an upcoming beer event, please let me know about it so I can share it here. Let me know at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com.

Sad to say, the economic downturn has claimed yet another good craft brewery. Sacramento Brewing closed for good on Monday, October 19. Owners George and Sarah Irwin, who only recently bought the brewery, were unable to keep it going in the face of the slowing economy. That’s the third Sacramento brewery to close this year.

It’s time once again to dive into the mind of Tom Dalldorf, the publisher of the Celebrator Beer News, the nationally distributed “brewspaper” that’s headquarted in Hayward.

Celebrating Beer with Tom Dalldorf

‘Tis the Season!

Over forty percent of all alcoholic beverage sales take place in the months of November and December. Colder damper weather requires warming elixirs and the holidays are a natural for welcoming beverages of all sorts. This is a spectacular time for beer lovers as the brewers step up to provide highly flavored and curiously inventive winter beers and ales of all descriptions.

American brewers have taken the great traditions from Europe’s finest breweries and, in their usual fashion, have done remarkable jazz riffs on styles, processes and ingredients. The results are often spectacular and every so often, well, challenging. But if the brewer likes it there is a good chance that there will be a following for just about every new expression of the brewer’s art and ingenuity.

Celebrator is gearing up for its annual blind panel tasting of Holiday and Winter beers. Be sure to check out the December/January issue for results and write-ups. Meanwhile, here are some suggestions of new beers available in the late fall and winter. It is advised to get these quickly as they are usually gone by the holidays.

Black Xantus is a rare bird indeed. Named after the black hummingbird found in parts of Mexico, it is the first ever specialty beer from Nectar Ales from the Paso Robles powerhouse Firestone Walker Brewery. Black Xantus is a bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout infused with coffee sourced from Jobella, a fair-trade organic coffee roaster also in Paso Robles. Only 500 cases will be produced for all of Firestone Walker’s extensive distribution regions so move quickly on this one.

Yet another bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout not to be missed is Pike Breweing’s Entire weighing in at 9.5% abv and with a huge roasty-chocolate flavor profile and toasty barrel character. Quite a massive beer from this iconic Seattle brewer now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Also from Pike is the Auld Acquaintance Hoppy Holiday Ale hopped with Magnum, Willamette and East Kent Goldings. This winter warmer is infused with orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg and coriander for festive flavor but at a more modest 5% abv.

Look for exotic winter beers at better liquor stores around the bay area. City Beer Store on Folsom and Healthy Spirits on 15th Street in San Francisco and Ledger’s Liquors in Berkeley are always a good bet for the latest beers and freshest inventory. Be sure to have a good selection on hand for guests and, more importantly, your own enjoyment. Beer is still the affordable luxury so indulge yourself and share the experience with friends. ‘Tis the season, ya know.

There’s both beer and whisky events this weekend, enough to keep the thirstiest person from getting parched.

THIS WEEKEND

Friday, October 16-Saturday, October 17

Oakland’s oldest modern brewery, Pacific Coast Brewing, will celebrate their 21st anniversary this weekend, beginning on Friday, October 16 with a Block Party from 5:00-11:00 p.m. The festivities also include the music of Kevin Cadogan. All day Saturday, the brewpub will offer roll back pricing and have live music. Come down and check out their wonderful beer, now that they’re “Legal At Last.”

Friday, October 16

The 3rd annual WhiskyFest is coming to San Francisco on Friday, October 16, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Put on by the good folks from Malt Advocate magazine. Tickets are $110 or $155 for a VIP ticket. While that may sound like a steep price, but you can taste a whole lot of pricey whiskies and meet with the makers themselves. If you love single malt scotch, you should not miss this great event.

Saturday, October 17

Saturday will be St. Feuillien Night at the Trappist in Oakland, where you can meet fourth generation owner Dominique Friart. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., for $12 you can try all four beers (5 oz. each) from the brewery that will be served that evening: the 2008 Noel, Tripel, Blanche and the Saison. Taking place at the back bar, there will also be free Charcuterie for all (meat & cheese, the good stuff).

Sunday, October 18

Dean Biersch’s Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol will be hosting a beer dinner featuring the beers of Brasserie St. Feuillien. Fourth generation owner Dominique Friart will be on hand to talk about his beers. The four-course dinner costs $50 per person and you can see the menu online.

IN THE COMING WEEKS

Friday, October 23

On Friday, October 23, the last beer dinner at the Cathedral Hill Hotel will take place. The Beer Chef, Bruce Paton, will cook the final dinner featuring the beers of Allagash and brewer/owner Rob Tod will be on hand, as well.

ON THE HORIZON

October 31-November 1: Rubicon, in Sacramento, will hold their 4th annual Hoptoberfest. Rubicon has been collecting their favorite hoppy IPAs and Double IPAs. At the fest they’ll be pouring 21 IPAs on tap.

November 14: The Bistro in Hayward will be hosting their annual Barrel Aged Festival, which will feature beers aged in various types of barrels, whether new or having previously held wine or spirits.

November 15: The first BevMo! Holiday Beer Fest will be held at Fort Mason’s Herbst Pavilion in downtown San Francisco on Sunday November 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The event will feature 50+ Holiday, Seasonal & Special, “soon-to-be-released beers. Tickets are $35 in advance, and can be purchased online, or $45 at the door the day of the event.

November 18: New Belgium beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

December 2: Dogfish Head beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

If you know of an upcoming beer event, please let me know about it so I can share it here. Let me know at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com.

I stopped by City Beer Store last night on my way home from another event to try the latest release by Nectar Ales (the label is owned by Firestone Walker), an imperial stout called Black Xantus. The beer is very limited. Only 500 cases of 22 oz. bottles were produced.

This is the first special release they’ve done under the Nectar Ales label. Playing on the hummingbird theme of their other labels, the name, Black Xantus, comes from a rare species of hummingbird native to Mexico.

According to the press release:

Black Xantus, a bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout infused with coffee. Black Xantus will definitely be an “odd bird” with chocolate, espresso, bourbon aromas and flavors and over 10% alcohol by volume, a slight departure from the session beers that Nectar has been known for. Local Paso Robles area coffee roaster, Jobella, was sourced to provide the organic, fair-trade coffee infused into this special brew.

“Holy hummingbirds, this beer is amazing,” said Brewmaster Matt “Batman” Brynildson. “We are so excited to be able to brew a beer of this caliber and with so much character,” he added.

Black Xantus will be available beginning October 1 in 22 ounce bottles in select markets where Nectar Ales are currently sold. Only 500 cases of this unique brew will be produced. Bottles are expected to retail for around $15 each.

I picked up a couple bottles for myself and had an opportunity to try the beer on draft. What immediately impressed me was how smooth and chocolately the beer is. The smoothness is no doubt in part because the malt build included 15% oats. Though it’s billed as being 50 IBUs (which is on the low end for this style), wusing 100% American Fuggles, very little hop character comes through and the coffee bitterness doesn’t overpower the beer, either. It’s complex flavor profile never hits you over the head, but the coffee and vanilla notes just tantalize, creating Instead an impression of great balance, subtlety and restraint, which is especially surprising because it’s such a strong beer. It’s already been aged for a time in bourbon barrels, which most likely took some of the edge off of it and I can only imagine, at 13% a.b.v., that it will soften and improve even more with aging. Brewer Matt Brynildson already has a reputation for creating some of the best beers in California. This beer will only serve to further his legend. This is a sublimely terrific beer. Pick up some before it’s all gone.

There’s plenty of beer events this weekend. The only problem will be picking which ones to go to, they all look so good.

THIS WEEKEND

Thursday, October 8

Tonight at San Francisco’s City Beer Store there will be a Black Xantus release party beginning at 6:00 p.m. “Only 500 cases were produced of this rare bird of a beer, coffee infused Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels created by Firestone Walker’s Nectar Ales brand. Bottles will be for sale, and Nectar Ales will be poured on draft. The name refers to a genus of hummingbird found in Mexico; who perhaps has an affinity for tasting the nectar of coffee plants.”

Saturday, October 10

The Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at U.C. Berkeley will be holding a very unique event called 99 Bottles of Beer: Global Brewing Traditions 2500 B.C. — Present.

Saturday, October 10

Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax will celebrate their 5th anniversary with a “special menu, food and beer specials, and dancing to local country music favorites Danny Montana & the Bar Association.”

Saturday, October 10

This should be a fun one. Beer & Nosh is hosting Notoberfest, which they describe as “an epic feast prepared by Ryan Farr & the 4505 Meats Team, custom beer-infused ice creams & treats from Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream, and Reinheitsgebot-breaking beers from Valley Brewing.” The beer dinner will take place from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 at the Mars Bar (located at 798 Brannan St. in San Francisco). Tickets will be $50 in advance and $60 at the door. You can also view the menu at Beer & Nosh.

Saturday, October 10

Oakland is throwing its own Oktoberfest, dubbed Oaktoberfest, on Saturday the 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. “Oaktoberfest in the Dimond 2009 will feature fresh brews from many of the best breweries in the Bay Area, served in a giant covered Beer Hall” named “The Bill Brand Memorial Biergarten.” There will also be an Eco Fair, a Kid’s Area with Root Biergarten, a homebrew competition, and vendors from around the Bay. “Celebrate Oktoberfest, Oakland style, in the Dimond at Fruitvale and MacArthur.”

IN THE COMING WEEKS

Friday, October 16-Saturday, October 17

Oakland’s oldest modern brewery, Pacific Coast Brewing, will celebrate their 21st anniversary this weekend, beginning on Friday, October 16 with a Block Party from 5:00-11:00 p.m. The festivities also include the music of Kevin Cadogan. All day Saturday, the brewpub will offer roll back pricing and have live music. Come down and check out their wonderful beer, now that they’re “Legal At Last.”

Friday, October 16

The 3rd annual WhiskyFest is coming to San Francisco on Friday, October 16, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Put on by the good folks from Malt Advocate magazine. Tickets are $110 or $155 for a VIP ticket. While that may sound like a steep price, but you can taste a whole lot of pricey whiskies and meet with the makers themselves. If you love single malt scotch, you should not miss this great event.

Saturday, October 17

Saturday will be St. Feuillien Night at the Trappist in Oakland, where you can meet fourth generation owner Dominique Friart. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., for $12 you can try all four beers (5 oz. each) from the brewery that will be served that evening: the 2008 Noel, Tripel, Blanche and the Saison. Taking place at the back bar, there will also be free Charcuterie for all (meat & cheese, the good stuff).

Sunday, October 18

Dean Biersch’s Hopmonk Tavern in Sebastopol will be hosting a beer dinner featuring the beers of Brasserie St. Feuillien. Fourth generation owner Dominique Friart will be on hand to talk about his beers. The four-course dinner costs $50 per person and you can see the menu online.

Friday, October 23

On Friday, October 23, the last beer dinner at the Cathedral Hill Hotel will take place. The Beer Chef, Bruce Paton, will cook the final dinner featuring the beers of Allagash and brewer/owner Rob Tod will be on hand, as well.

ON THE HORIZON

October 31-November 1: Rubicon, in Sacramento, will hold their 4th annual Hoptoberfest. Rubicon has been collecting their favorite hoppy IPAs and Double IPAs. At the fest they’ll be pouring 21 IPAs on tap.

November 14: The Bistro in Hayward will be hosting their annual Barrel Aged Festival, which will feature beers aged in various types of barrels, whether new or having previously held wine or spirits.

November 15: The first BevMo! Holiday Beer Fest will be held at Fort Mason’s Herbst Pavilion in downtown San Francisco on Sunday November 15th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The event will feature 50+ Holiday, Seasonal & Special, “soon-to-be-released beers. Tickets are $35 in advance, and can be purchased online, or $45 at the door the day of the event.

November 18: New Belgium beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

December 2: Dogfish Head beer dinner at the Hopmonk Tavern.

If you know of an upcoming beer event, please let me know about it so I can share it here. Let me know at BrooksOnBeer@gmail.com.

If you read my column in today’s newspapers, you already know that the Hearst Museum at UC Berkeley will be launching an exhibition of artifacts of beer-making from 2500 B.C. through the present.

The Museum will unveil their latest show this Saturday, October 10 from 12-6 p.m.: “99 Bottles of Beer: Global Brewing Traditions 2500 B.C. — Present.” The event will include a Beer Fair and Symposium with such speakers as Fritz Maytag, from San Francisco’s Anchor Brewery, Charles Bamforth, the Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences at UC Davis, and the Beer Chef, Bruce Paton.

The exhibit itself includes some 130 beer-related items, most from the museum’s collections and many on display for the first time. The goal, says Jacknis, is to reveal “the striking unities and diversities of human cultures as they come together to celebrate the fruit of the grain.”

Among the treasures: a limestone statue of a servant woman, straining mash for beer, that dates back to the Old Kingdom, Egypt, circa 2500 B.C. It’s the oldest item in the Heart Museum collection. Other items came from local excavation sites and other sources. Possibly the quirkiest display is a full beer bottle, believed to be between 100 and 150 years old, stored in the museum’s refrigerator.

The yearlong exhibit kicks off with the Symposium, Beer Fair and Workshop on Oct. 10 from noon-6 p.m. at the museum, which is located on the UC Berkeley campus on the corner of College and Bancroft. Tickets are $20 for either the Symposium or the Beer Fair and Workshop, or $30 for both, and may be purchased online at hearstmuseum.berkeley.edu/beer.

To whet your appetite, here are a few more pieces that will be in the exhibit.

Museum curator Ira Jacknis, down in the bowels of the museum, giving me a preview peek at the collection early last week.

The oldest piece in the exhibit is this figurine of a servant woman “straining mash for beer.” It’s painted limestone and dates from the Old Kingdom in Egypt’s 5-6 Dynasty (2465-2150 BCE)

Egyptian tumblers, with pointed bottoms, and their frame holders. They’re pointed, too, so they can be stuck in the ground to keep the beer from spilling. I imagine cocktail parties with everyone’s glasses stuck in the ground as people talk and enjoy the party.

A corn beer tumbler in gold from the Ica Valley in Peru. It dates from around 1000-1476 CE.

The corn beer tumbler with other items being prepared for the exhibition.

Beer steins.

A South American stein.

The tallest item from the collection, from Peru.

A German mug made of salt-glazed stoneware ad pewter, created some time between 1880 and 1940.

A pair of gold drinking vessels made for South American royalty.

I hope to see you at the show. If you can’t make it on Saturday, the exhibition will be open for at least a year, so stop by when you get a chance to get a glimpse of beer’s long history.