Grape and Gourmet

For the past 13 years, the California State Fair has organized the best that California has to offer at an event called the Grape and Gourmet. Fast forward past the grape and let’s get to the gourmet!!!

This is the category that we find Northern California’s best beer and best breweries, as awarded by a panel of judges in the Northern California area. These judges volunteer their time and their taste buds to evaluate flights of up to 8 or more beers entered in any given category.
This is a double blind competition. It is one of the largest competitions in the Northern California area.

The Beer Judge Certification Program certifies judges participating in the event. The BJCP is a national program that creates a cohesive manner of sensory evaluation and beer education. Judges who participate on the certification process under go a grueling 3-hour long testing which consists of essay and tasting.

Breweries through out the Northern California area receiving awards this year include:
Sudwerk's, BJ’s, Bear Republic, Blue Frog, Etna’s, Santa Cruz Mountain, Fault Line, Valley Brewing, San Francisco, Sacramento, Hoppy, River City, Brew It Up, Elk Grove, River City, Beerman’s Beerwork’s, Fox Barrel Cider Co., Auburn Ale House for their Old Prospector Barley Wine (a panel which I sat on. You can thank me later Brian Ford.), Fifty Fifty, Napa Valley, (yes, there is beer in the wine country), Mammoth, Mendocino, Anderson Valley, Marin, Moylan’s, Eel River, Lost Coast, Gold Hill, Jack Russell, Black Diamond, Schooner’s, Sierra Nevada, Bison Brewing, Drake’s Brewing, Pyramid, Trumer,

This certainly is not a reflection of all the breweries in the Northern California area. Many did not submit their beer for competition. I would like to see all breweries in the area participate in this event. Missed was Russian River Brewing Company, Third Street Aleworks, Gordon Biersch, Anchor Brewing Company, Lagunita’s Brewing Company, Dempsey’s Brewing Co., Downtown Joe’s, which is another brewing company in the heart of Napa City. Silverado Brewing Company just to name a few. Hopefully we can get them to participate next year to make a strong showing of the micro brewing community in the area.

The event is not limited to small breweries. Anhauser Busch and Miller were represented at the event by having their booth there. The beers available to try were a Belgian Style wheat beer to target Blue Moon Drinkers and the Lime lager that is targeted to the Corona Beer drinkers.

Often times one can meet the brewer pouring his own beer at these events. I was able to visit with Craig Cauwel of Schooner’s, Shaun of Marin Brewing Co., and Roger, whom I judge with occasionally with formerly of Drake’s Brewing Co. who informed me that he is now with Triple Rock in the bay area. Hopefully we will see Triple Rock on the list of awards for next year.
I was also able to talk with Bruce of Fox Barrel Cider Co. who always manages to be there. Missed in the category of ciders was Two Rivers who produces a very popular Pomegranate Cider. Another Cider company that was missed this year was Aces Cider Company.
I have yet to see a commercial mead category.

When the brewer cannot be there you will find either a distributor or a rep pouring the beer. If a distributor or a rep is not available, J.J. Jackson, the man behind the scenes, who works tirelessly to organize the event for the commercial and homebrew competition will volunteer his judges to pour. This way there is always some one to represent the winning brewery at the event.
This event sponsors the Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program in collaboration with Agricultural Advisory Council. State Fair Gala Committee, and the Friends of the California State Fair. This year a total of $ 24,500.oo in scholarships was awarded to aspiring young students looking to better themselves by pursuing degrees.

In addition to the Grape and Gourmet, the State Fair organizes a tasting of the entire award winning beers. This is a one-day event that has grown in popularity and has been moved from the Blues and Brews Stage to the Grandstands at the Race Track. This event takes place August 22 at Cal Expo. For tickets and information go to http://www.bigfun.org/.