2008 Pubcrawl

I could not have asked for a better pub-crawl. I could not have asked for the brewers to do any more for us than they did on this event. In fact, the brewers went beyond my expectations this year.
Before anyone got on the bus, each attendant received a goody bag. Each destination was not more than 30 min apart so Kevin Pratt and my lovely pourers Chuck and Bill barely had time to pour all the beers before we got to each destination. Town Lounge, Brewmiester Homebrew shop, and Manderes generously donated these beers. They toughed it out and kept up the pace, though! Kimberly did a great job handling the microphone when she called raffle numbers.
The first destination was at Sudwerk’s. Jay Prahl is the brewer there and he greeted us with a stack of beer for all to help themselves to. He talked about the brewing process. history of the Sudwerk brewery, and original owners. He led the group into the brewery for a question and answer session.
We learned much about his personal history in the brewing industry. Sudwerk’s is a teaching brewery for the University of Davis Brewing School that is renowned throughout the world. It has close connections with Anhauser Busch and our group could not resist making a comment about AB to which Jay graciously answered.
We also learned that Sudwerk’s is doing contract brewing for Moylan’s 12oz bottles of Kilt lifter. Before sending us on our way, Jay poured for us an example of Keller bier,. The applause from the crowd proved that this event was off to a great start.
The next destination was Blue Frog. Nick Campbell warmly received us in a great room already set with our own taps. The tables were ready with the food that Blue Frog is known for.
Because the group already had over eight different beers in various untold quantities the large crowd was very quiet as all sat and hungrily ate the yummy assorted pizzas that kept coming to us fresh out of the oven.
Once Nick could see that we had our fill, he took groups of people to show off his brewery. After the tour of the brewery was complete, he talked with us about some of the issues with labeling laws that he had been having. As a result of these labeling laws, he had been forced to sit on two different oak-aged beer. He generously shared theses with the group.
Nick hung out with the group after the pouring. Everyone had an opportunity to have a personal discussion with him. Nick was very gracious and very impressed with the group.
Finishing up with our second brewery, we boarded the bus for more beer. We had to because Kevin Pratt our MC asked everyone if they wanted more beer and unanimously the response was yes (no kiddin!).
We were having a great time and even a little ahead of schedule, so Kevin commandeered the bus for a little out of route beer action. Monument Liquors in Concord has a great selection of beer and it was a treat to have the time to stop there. Everyone came out with some sort of booty. I snagged a Wit Bier, which I had the privilege of evaluating several years ago for the Celebrator. I could never find it in the Sacramento area but I did find it there. Kimberly scored big time and generously donated a magnum of Stone Brewing Co. ale for the raffle. A lucky dog that was not a club member scored that one.
Back on route for next scheduled stop, we headed to Black Diamond Brewing Co. I included Black Diamond Brewing Co. because I was surprised at the fact that while Sacramento only has two beers in the area they make six. I thought it would be a great way for people to become more familiar with the beer and create a demand for the product in the area.
Derek is the brewer there now. He was introduced to the brewery by way of Grant Johnston when they met while both were brewing in Europe.
Black Diamond is a production brewery that features a beautiful taproom. Again the taps were opened for us. There is Elf Ale (not available in the Sacramento area), a dubbel style beer, which was my personal favorite.
While Derek took the group in to tour the brewery, General Manager Tom made sure that everyone had every style of beer they had in the taproom. Really, he insisted on us having all those good beers! After the tours were completed, Derek came out with a pitcher of stout, (more beer) which was straight from the conditioning tank. It is a new beer for Black Diamond and a special surprise for us! Black Diamond had still more surprises as General Manager Tom came out and presented us with neat-o parting gifts of pint glasses and bottle openers.
Our last stop was Schooner’s. I was really looking forward to Schooner’s! Craig Cauwels was waiting with several special beers including a lambic for us. And the Delta Homebrew Club would be there to hang out with us.
Schooner’s has a large banquet room toward the back of the restaurant where the homebrew club was waiting. It was great to see some familiar faces and meet new ones with their club. Once seated the servers immediately took our dinner orders and Craig brought out many different beers for us to try. Most of the beers we tried were awarded Gold, Silver medals from various competitions.
In addition to all the fabulous food and beer that was served to us, Schooner’s had a dessert prepared with stout. I had to have it! And forced everyone at my table to at least have a spoonful (Mud Pie cake with stout and chocolate syrup and whipped cream, yeah they were “forced”). When every one was done with their meal Craig took all who was interested (and still able to walk) to the brewery and had a personalized tour for all who went. The day ended for us with the usual mindless movie to ignore, projected throughout the many screens on the bus. With over 16 different beers that had been sampled during the bus ride and the 22 on brewery tours, everyone was finally ready to take a break from it all and relax for the rest of the ride home. We arrived back at about 9pm to Hoppy brewing, feeling dizzy from all the education we had and nobody hurled. Now, that's a successful pubcrawl>