Rubicon's 21st Anniversary Party: Hoptoberfest

Sacramento's most iconic brewery has been serving excellent ales for 21 years, and this weekend to show their appreciation to its patrons for the years of support they will be bringing in a lot of well-hopped brews. If you're in Sacramento over the weekend be sure to stop in for a pint.

When: Friday & Saturday (10/31 & 11/1)
Where: Rubicon Brewing Company
2004 Capitol
Cost: Admission is free, you just have to buy your beer.
What's On Tap? Well, check it out below.

• Rubicon Pilsner
• Rubicon IPA
• Rubicon Amber
• Rubicon Stout
• Rubicon Monkey Knife Fight
• Rubicon Hop Sauce
• Rubicon Rosebud
• Firestone Walker Union Jack
• Russian River Pliny the Elder
• Elk Grove Brewing Company Hop Head Red
• Triple Rock IPAX IPA
• Sierra Nevada Torpedo
• Sierra Nevada Celebration
• Green Flash West Coast IPA
• Auburn Ale House Isotope
• Auburn Ale House Gold Digger IPA
• Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA
• Bear Republic Apex IPA
• 21st Amendment Fresh Hop IPA
• Great Basin Brewing Co. Ichthyosaur Pale Ale
• Santa Cruz Ale Works Hoppy Saison
• Sacramento Brewing Company Imperial Red
• Mt Shasta Brewing Mountain High IPA
• Moylans Brewing Company Moylander XX IPA
• Moylans Brewing Company IPA
• Marin Brewing Company IPA
• Marin Brewing Company Mt. Tam Pale Ale
• Lagunitas IPA
• Anchor Liberty Ale

Tempting, isn't it?

NPR, LDA, UVA, BAC, HooFest and More

What's with all the acronyms? I don't know, but I heard on the radio this morning a story on NPR that was interesting and wanted to pass it along to you, my beer-loving friends. It's a story about Social Normalization and on-campus drinking at University of Virginia. It's an interesting program they have going on, and I'd love to know what some of you think about this. The story is about nine minutes long to listen to, but is more complete than the text. Check it out.

Things that interest me? The fact that UVA tries to teach students what alcohol poisoning looks like and what to do. The fact that DUIs are down. Education, not just policing kids underground. The fact that the university is trying.

Rick on WNPR's Faith Middleton Show

Friday I was fortunate to be invited onto WNPR's Faith Middleton show, one of New England's most popular radio shows, to talk about all things craft beer. While on-air folks like Garrett Oliver and Sam Caglione called in while we sampled some fine beers from around the country. In NPR style the show is now online in mp3 format for stream and download listening. To hear it, check out this link.

It was a great time and I was honored to be part of the hour-long show.

Octoberfest in Sacramento

I can't tell you how far behind in life I am, but a good hint is that I am typing this in Philadelphia. Tomorrow (Saturday 10/18) Sacramento Brewing Company is hosting their Octoberfest party at their Fulton/Marconi location. Here you'll be able to sample EIGHT German-inspired beers brewed by the award-winning SBC, along with brats, face paintings and everything needed to make O-fest all it can be. Stop in, sample the special brews and enjoy the day. Admission is free, you just pay for the beers/food. Brews start flowing at 11:00Am and the tents outside stop pouring at 7:30. If you haven't had your fill, you can then take the party inside.

I hope to see you there.

GABF Coverage

Hey everyone. To begin, I simply MUST say thank you for all the kind words said to me during the GABF this week. Next, you've noticed I didn't cover it here. Instead I kept a running blog on the DRAFT website and did a walking tour of the event with James Spencer of Basic Brewing. You can view the goods at the following locations.

• GABF Video: Basic Brewing
  
• GABF Blog: Getting There
• GABF Blog: Day One
• GABF Blog: Day Two
• GABF Blog: Day Three
• GABF Blog: The Morning After

In addition, DRAFT has created a series of brewer interview videos from the event, check these out too!

• Sean, the Homebrew Chef
• Mike, of Dark Horse Brewing
• Patrick, of The Bruery
• Rob, of Widmer Bros.
• Brian, of Mad River Brewing
• Jeff, of Tall Grass Brewing
• Peter, of Sacramento Brewing
• Matt, of Firestone Walker
• Tess, of Boulder Beer Co.
  

Update on Elk Grove Brewer

I read today that the long-time brewer at Elk Grove Brewery, Bill Wood, is now on the brewer's deck at Auburn Alehouse helping out with Brian Ford. This is good for everyone in the area because Wood is an accomplished brewer we didn't want to lose and Brian could use a hand - the guy works his ass off.

Oh, how good is Wood? He recently brought home a gold medal from this year's World Beer Cup. Not a shabby pick-up for Auburn Alehouse. This may not be the most comforting news for those in Elk Grove, but hopefully you all can come up sometime and enjoy a pint of something brewed by someone familiar.

So Long Elk Grove Brewery

I've known the business was struggling for some time, but in today's Sacramento Bee I see that Elk Grove Brewery has officially folded. This place made several great beers and the brewer there is a top-notch guy. We wish him and the staff at EGB the best.

From the Bee

In Elk Grove, one of the hardest-hit communities in the region, a longtime business folded over the weekend: Elk Grove Brewery & Restaurant in the Old Town business district.

While the brewpub was hurt initially by extensive construction in the neighborhood, which curbed access to the site, ultimately the economy put the business under.

The Correa family, which bought Elk Grove Brewery & Restaurant in 2003, had to "turn it over to the bank and walk away, unfortunately," said the brewpub's attorney Matthew Eason.

The brewpub was hurting long before the credit crunch became front-page news. But the lack of financing is crippling those businesses that are trying to get off the ground.

Unibroue Night @ BJ's Brea

I got this in my email tonight and wanted to pass it on. If you're in SoCal you may want to figure out a good way to get here for this event.

BJ's BEER APPRECIATION NIGHT:
THE BEERS OF UNIBROUE

Our topic for next Tuesday’s Beer Appreciation Night in Brea was originally “Great Craft Beers of Canada”. My plan was to feature the beers of Unibroue, which I consider to be the best brewer of Belgian-style ales outside of Belgium. This craft brewery located in Chambly, Quebec, is dedicated to traditional Belgian brewing methods and brews a range of unique and creative beers. I had some concerns about what else from Canada to pour because I figured they would pale in comparison to the wonderful beers of Unibroue. But my concerns went away when Unibroue’s sales rep Michael Smith told me how many beers he could secure for our event. More than enough to make it an All-Unibroue Beer Appreciation Night! Thanks to Michael, we’ll even be lucky enough to taste several vintage Unibroue Anniversary Beers from his personal stash and the brand new commemorative beer Quatre-Centienne!

Here's the delectable Unibroue lineup:

• Blanche de Chambly
• Don de Dieu
• Ephemere Apple
• Maudite
• La Fin du Monde
• Chambly Noire
• Trois Pistoles
• Terrible
• Quatre-Centieme

…and FOUR Anniversary Beers (we’ll keep the vintages a surprise)!

BJ's Brea
600 Brea Mall
Brea, CA 92821
(714) 990-2095

When: Tuesday, October 7, 7:30pm
Cost: $18 per person (pay at the door).

• Includes all beer samples, handouts and a souvenir glass. Yes, everyone gets a collectible Unibroue beer glass to take home! Must be 21 years of age.
  
• Designated drivers welcome at no charge.

Toronado Wet Hop Harvest Beer Night '08

Just a quick head's up. Toronado, San Francisco's legendary beer bar, is hosting its annual Wet Hopped Harvest Beer Night on October 15th. This event features an array of beers made from the freshest hops harvested in 2008, including several "estate" hop brews made with hops grown on the brewery property.

When: October 15 at 6:00 PM
Cost: Admission is free, just pay for the drinks
Where: Toronado in San Francisco (Haight and Filmore)
www.toronado.com

Vote

Stepping away from beer for a moment to pass on something a lot more important. According to this, some states in the USA have a Voters Registration Deadline as early as October 4th. Please, register and vote.