Fall Homebrewing Class Sign-Up

This is an update to announce the Fall homebrewing classes I conduct in Santa Cruz, California. The Fall extension brochure has not been mailed out yet but the Cabrillo website is up and taking registrations.

This five week intensive course fills up quickly this time of year and I would encourage early sign-up to participate in this class. The maximum number of students that can attend is 18. You can find out all of the details for the class by going to my website
here.

Or, you can go directly
here to register on-line at the Cabrillo College extension program website.

I'm looking forward to another exciting class of eager homebrewers. I hope to see you there.
You can contact me directly with any questions about these classes. Cheers!

Suds On The Shore Beer Festival

I'll be heading back to Michigan the end of next week for a much needed visit with relatives and of course I have plans for some Midwest beer tasting while I'm at it. I can't wait to do some taste comparisons between what's brewing here on the West coast and beers from the midland. I suspect that they may not be as hoppy as a lot of us Californians prefer but I will keep an open mind. It's not a happy coincidence that the annual Suds On The Shore beer festival will be going on while this short vacation occurs. You may remember the write up from guest writer 'Mom' when she attended in 2009.

Here is the press release and a list of participating brewers this year. It'll be nice to sample so many offerings in one location.

United Way of Mason County

August 5, 2011

The Suds On The Shore Committee in partnership with United Way of Mason County, beneficiary of the proceeds from the event, will be hosting its third craft beer and Michigan wine tasting festival on Saturday, August 20, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m at Ludington City Park. Tickets can be purchased at Jamesport Brewing Company, Surroundings and United Way of Mason County. They can also be purchased on-line at www.sudsontheshore.com.

Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the gate and include, souvenir sampling glass, eight 4 ounce samples of beer or 2 ounce samples of wine and “2012 Save the Date” magnet. Non-drinkers or those serving as designated drivers can purchase tickets on the day of the event for $5.00. Individuals attending the festival must be 21 years of age or older and present valid ID to enter.  

“We are very excited about this year’s festival and are optimistic that it will only continue to grow. Last year, the number of people attending the festival almost doubled when compared to the prior year, and we are optimistic that this year’s festival will be even bigger,” stated Curt Vanderwall, Committee Chair. “What is nice about this type of fundraising event is that it attracts people from all over the state, which ends up being a win, win for our entire community,” Vanderwall added. 

According to Vanderwall, there are 27 vendors who will be at the festival providing samples of beverages such as, craft beer, hard cider, mead and wine, which is an increase of seven from last year. There will be live band performances beginning at 1:00 p.m. with C-Spin and at 3:00 p.m. Zeek and Wally will be performing. In addition, there will be a food concession, festival souvenir booth, and new to this year’s festival, a home brew beer demonstration.

For more information or to volunteer contact the United Way of Mason County office at 231-843-8593 or visit the Suds On The Shore website at www.sudsontheshore.com or on facebook.

Registered Vendors

1. Allstar Import’s Germany and Belgian Beers
2. Arbor Brewing Company
3. Atwater Brewery
4. B. Nektar Meadery
5. Bell’s Brewery, Inc.
6. Brewery Vivant
7. Cascade Winery and Jarden James Brewery
8. Crispin Apple Cider
9. Founders Brewing Company
10. Frankenmuth Brewery
11. Elite Brands USA
12. Great Lakes Brewing Company
13. Henry Fox Sales
14. Jamesport Brewing Company
15. Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
16. Michigan Beer Cellar
17. Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company
18. New Holland Brewing Company
19. North Peak Brewing Company
20. Old Boys Brewhouse, Inc.
21. Red Hook
22. Saugatuck Brewing Company, Inc.
23. Schmohz Brewing
24. Short’s Brewing Company
25. The Walldorff Brewpub and Bistro
26. Vander Mill
27. Widmer Bros.

If you're in the area or planning to go to this event. Let me know so we can say hello to each other. See you there.

New Brewery Relief

Normally I don't pass on press releases but I thought this deserved some space here. This change is overdue and I can think of a couple of new breweries coming to Santa Cruz that will be very grateful.

Governor signs brewery tasting room bill

AB 1014 reduces unnecessary restrictions on brewery tasting rooms.

Sacramento, CA ~ August 1, 2011 -- A bill to make it easier for breweries to install tasting rooms was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown today.
AB 1014 exempts breweries from unnecessary and burdensome building requirements that were designed for food facilities but not relevant to improve the safety of brewery tasting rooms. Previously, craft brewers wishing to have a tasting room at the brewery would be required to install several industrial sinks, redo plumbing and electrical wiring among other requirements, simply to provide beer samples. These renovations can cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars creating a huge burden for small breweries.
“This bill will relieve craft brewers from the unnecessary burden of installing restaurant grade equipment that simply isn’t needed to pour a taste of beer,” said Tom McCormick, Executive Director of the California Small Brewers Association. “This is a common sense law that garnered bipartisan support at the Capitol. Yet another example that good beer brings people together.”
The bill, authored by Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego and Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata, passed both the Senate and Assembly floor votes unanimously. There are over 250 craft brewers in California, many of which are expanding and adding jobs on a regular basis to meet demand. Nationwide, craft beer grew 11% last year while major brands were flat.
“We are an industry the state can be proud of,” said McCormick. “Craft brewers by nature tend to have environmentally sound practices, we employ a lot of people and we give back to our communities in many ways”
For more information please feel free to contact the CSBA at 530-265-0422