SFBW Day 4: An Alternative to San Francisco Beer Week

Today was to be my last full day in San Francisco. I wasn't planning to overdo it, considering my flight back East was departing at 6:00am Monday morning. Plus, the Celebrator Anniversary Party was going to inflict enough damage on me for one day.

I figured the day might start off nicely with Brunch over in Oakland at Barclay's with Beer Chef Bruce Paton. His dinners have a legacy that's rarely matched. Recently, he's been uprooted from the Cathedral Hotel (which was demolished) and he's in the process of looking for a new home for his beer dinners in the Bay Area. The menu and the beer selections looked incredible.

Then, I figured I might hop back to Humphry Slocumbe for some beer ice cream if I hadn't already been by there. Or the City Beer Store for some "to go" goodies for my friends back home...Vanberg & Dewulf is having an event there during the afternoon.

But, the biggie was going to be the SFBW 2010 finale, Celebrator's Anniversary Party at Trumer in Oakland. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are still heading there, I presume, with tickets they'd already purchased. I'm figuring to receive at least a picture that I can share with you all here. With most all of the expected breweries participating and magazine staff members in full party mode, this is one party that no one attending SFBW should miss. Alas...

My Sunday certainly won't be as big and crazy as it would have been out West. Patty and I rarely do anything too special for Valentine's Day. It's looking like we'll hunker down with a day of relaxation and home cooking.

Beers of choice will likely include The Abyss from Deschutes Brewery in Oregon (first time ever tasted was two years ago at Celebrator 20th Anniversary Party), Monk's Blood from 21st Amendment (still one of my favorites of the past several months), and Moylan's Old Blarney Barleywine (with fond remembrances of stopping in with Jay Brooks several years ago to meet Arne Johnson of Marin and James Costa at Moylan's).

All big beers, yes. But then again, tomorrow is a work holiday and after the last week of digging out from snow, I'd say that we're all due for a little r'n'r around here. (Plus, I hear that we've got another handful of snow inches coming our way???)

The one thing I actually do like about cross country plane travel is the ability to disconnect. No phones, internets, household chores, or other distractions. It means that I can take the 5-6 hours to catch up on reading and listening to podcasts. Maybe I can carve out an hour or two at home today to get some of this reading stack conquered.

Well, my friends. I'm not sure how many of you are checking in from California this week, given your preoccupation with SFBW '10. But, I do really appreciate the hospitality that was being offered to me in advance and the ability to plan an event with you and the knowledge that the SF Beer Community is one of the best in the country that really knows how to come together for a solid 10 days of Beer Week. See you in Philly in June. Cheers!

SFBW Day 3: An Alternative to San Francisco Beer Week

(A bit colder here in Philadelphia than San Francisco) After weeks of working with Brian Yaeger and Derrick Peterman, we finally got a Beer Run organized to start at Magnolia Brewery in San Francisco's Haight District. The Haight is a fun neighborhood, in some ways still oozing the same vibe as 40 years ago and in some ways moving on. With the incredibly wonderful beers (especially cask-conditioned beers) that Dave McLean, Ben Spencer, and the crew are pouring (not to mention the new kitchen's endeavors), it was a no-brainer.

Dave was particularly accommodating, Beach/Park Chalet not as much so. We'd envisioned a run that would end at the ocean in the "back yard" of Beach Chalet brewery and restaurant. This didn't work out, so I'm anxious to hear back from Brian and Derrick how the run from Magnolia through Golden Gate Park and back to Magnolia went.

To continue my weekend of not being in San Francisco, I'll do likewise and join my fellow runners in spirit. I went out for a run today. It was close to 4 miles; I believe they did around the same. They had some beer afterwards; I did the same. They wore light clothing; I, on the other hand, did not. The temperature in SF was around 60f and here in the Philly area it was 30 degrees, or so, colder. Their choice of beers at Magnolia ranged from Strong Beers (Month) to Saison de Lilly (the one I was gonna be huntin' down) to California Kölsch (Derrick's choice). Here, on the sunporch, I had some thirst-quenching Victory Prima Pils. So, I dunno, I guess it was pretty close to a tie, except that I ran solo here at home.

The remainder of my day was going to be spent down the street from Magnolia at Toronado where I would sop up the atmosphere of barleywine, hundreds of kindreds, and maybe sausage or pizza from either neighbor of Toronado's.

After getting a proper shower, I'd planned to head out for the night with no particular plan except knowing that Elysian's Dave Buhler is going to be at ChurchKey, which is not from the Rogue Ales Public House and La Trappe. Over in Oakland at The Trappist, Vanberg & Dewulf is pouring such tasties as Saison Dupont, Foret, Avec Les Bons Voeux, and Witkaps. And, if the big beers of Toronado's Barleywine Festival didn't completely blow my mind and palate, then heading over to 21st Amendment for a taste of Strong Beer Month might have been in order.

Today back here in Philly Town will be a bit more lowkey for me, I'm thinking. Not sure exactly what this night will bring for me, but it will probably involve cooking a nice meal and having a few good beers and trying to let my body heal. After a week of shoveling, sledding, traveling, sitting (at work), and running....my quads, calves, hammies, glutes, delts, tris, bis, lats, and heck my brain all are fatigued.

Last day of SF Beer Week tomorrow. Let's see how I can match things here on the East Coast.

(Just rewards after a good run)

SFBW '10: My friends really are missing me!

The soothing healing has begun, but as if the letdown wasn't enough, I get this ever-so-kind message from Steve Shapiro (Beer by BART) in San Francisco. Steve was going to be on of my main wing men while out there for SFBW; obviously that didn't work out this time.

So, he sent along a little picture here of some of his friends that will apparently miss me! I haven't told him which of "my friends" he won't be seeing and will stay in my cooler until next time :-p

SFBW Day 2: An Alternative to San Francisco Beer Week

(the Locals Only board at TJs continues to grow) (Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA-cask conditioned)As I mentioned yesterday, in lieu of being in SF Proper, I'm embarking on an East Coast version of San Francisco Beer Week. In some ways, I'll try to mimic some of the events and beer drinking that I would have done on the Left Coast.

Today in SF, my plans had me careening around the city from Humphry Slocumbe where Jesse Friedman was collaborating with them on beer, ice cream, and photography to The Front Porch for Drake's Belgian Trippel release to a late night rendezvous at Triple Rock over in Berkeley for some IIMAX.

In between, I was going to hop on BART to San Leandro where Drake's is hosting a Tribute to (journalist) Bill Brand. I shared a table and dinner with Bill Brand the night of his fateful accident last year during SF Beer Week and I was really looking forward to some of his favorite beers and the Tribute Beers that were brewed in his honor/memory and the gathering of friends and family that are sure to show up.

So I'm thinking that since I was going to be hitting up some of the Bay Area's finest establishments and drinking some of their great beers, that I would head to one of the Philly Area's finest in Paoli...TJs. Have a dinner and drink a mix of beers. I'm thinking the night will begin with Sierra Nevada Glissade, since I was hoping to meet up with Terence Sullivan and others from Sierra Nevada. Then, some other beers from California like Lost Abbey's Angel's Share and a great cask-conditioned Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA.

Since there was a double IPA festival last weekend at The Bistro in Hayward, the Brooklyn Blast (DIPA) makes sense to also dip into tonight as well as Cantillon's Vigneronne (think: Sour Fest at Triple Rock) and Yards Olde Bartholomew (think: Toronado Barleywine Festival).

That should get me through tonight and I'm sure make all you SFers jealous....y'think?

(Yards Olde Bartholomew at TJs) (Polishing the night off with Russian River's 10% Consecration is best done in the safe confines of home)

SFBW Day 1: An Alternative to San Francisco Beer Week

In the past 24 hours, I've been asked many times if I'm mad or upset about the San Francisco Beer Week trip falling apart due to Mother Nature's folly here in the mid-Atlantic. Funny how I've convinced hardly anyone that, while a bit let down, I'm really not upset about it. Don't get me wrong, all of the build up, the planning, and especially the Beer Run event that I co-planned to occur on Saturday at Magnolia Brewery has caused me to feel really disappointed and let down...yet not mad. Life is full of this sort of thing; to be mad would be wasted emotion.

So, what am I gonna do instead? Well, let's see. I'm going to find a way to celebrate SF Beer Week here in the Philly Metro area over the next four days. I was expected to be out in SF last night enjoying perhaps a taste of Anchor at Pi Bar, Lagunitas at Toronado, or some leftover beer from the Beer Dinner at Monk's Kettle. They were featuring the SFBW Collaborative Brew called Imperial Common, one that I was really, really looking forward to trying.

Today, I was hoping to bop around the city getting some good tastes from Pi Bar again, this time with a 5-year vertical of Drake's Jolly Roger Holiday Ale. Then, a quick stop for a sampling from Bear Republic at Zeitgeist before heading off to dinner.

Tonight, the plan was to partake in yet another decadent dinner with The Home Brew Chef, Sean Paxton, and Alan Shapiro of SBS-Imports. He had 8 courses of food planned to go with 9 beers from the De Proef Brewmaster Collection as well as Firestone Walker...a dinner that was to be capped with the FW XIII Anniversary Beer. If I had any energy left over after dinner, I was hoping to check out Beerlesque at Paradise Lounge (you just know Shmaltz Brewing had to be involved with this one!).

This, instead, is how I'm celebrating my first day of SFBW. I stopped off at The Drafting Room in Exton for a growler fillup of Blind Pig IPA from Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, CA. If you haven't followed closely enough, then you don't know that this is one of my favorite straight-ahead (west coast) IPAs in this country. It's a beer that's been around for quite a while and at 6.0% ABV and 72 IBUs, it's such a tasty beer that doesn't blow your palate and that you can drink most of the night long. In fact, I'm sure that Patty and I will have no problem polishing this off tonight.

Otherwise, it will be a low-key night as we recover from all of the bailing out of our house we've done over the past week. 42 inches of snow has a way of wearing down the body, but not the spirit. We won't eat as extravagantly as I would have tonight in SF, but perhaps will save that for tomorrow night or Saturday.

Leaving for SFBW: 2nd verse same as the 1st

Just days before leaving for SFBW '09, I had to deal with what you see in the picture above.

This year, SFBW '10? Not much different...except more. Last February had nothing on this year's. 20 inches this past weekend and forecast for another 12-16 inches tonight into tomorrow. Perfect conditions for cancelling my Wednesday flight. Now, I'm tentatively scheduled to get out of PA and into CA just an hour before Mr. Paxton kicks of his killer dinner...menu of which can be found at Mr. Brooks site.

Let's see how this all goes....

More San Francisco Beer Week: It's On

Some of you friends of mine here on the East Coast may get tired of hearing me blather on (and on, sometimes) about other places across the country where I pull up a bar stool or a tap handle. Especially, where my day job travels and family take me occasionally to the San Francisco Bay Area.

I've known at least several of you to take me up on advice that I've past along from my northern California beer trippin', so I continue to imagine that many of you do, in fact, care. So, ramble on I shall. Plus there's a good number, of followers/readers/whatever we're calling ourselves these days, that come to this here Brew Lounge from west of the Rockies.

As I prepare to head to the second half of San Francisco's Beer Week, the excitement is palpable across the Intertubes. I've always considered the eastern part of Pennsylvania to have a goodly number of beer writers, bloggers, pontificators, and the like.

The SF Bay Area, though, is right up there. Take, for example, the solid list of sites below maintained by folks around the Bay Area. Wanna know what's going on during SFBW, or any other time of the year? Hit up any of these sites, and your sure to get a pretty good idea. Some of them are damn good photographers as well.

The wonderfully thorough Jay Brooks

Beer, Food, Pictures of Jesse Friedman

The forever odyssey-seeking Brian Yaeger

The less-of-a-curmudgeon-in-2010 Jay Hinman

Derrick Peterman, of things beer and run related (sounds familiar!)

How to get around Beer Week by Bart with Steve Shapiro and Gail Williams

Creative food paired creatively with creative beer, Sean Paxton's creative isn't he?!

Finally, what am I looking at on my agenda? First, it will be focused almost exclusively on the City Proper. With limited time, there's so much to do between San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley that I don't need to be venturing farther out. Would I like to get to Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Calistoga, and Petaluma to name a few? Of course. But, as they say, there's always next time.

So, wherever my feet and BART can take me, I'll be there....including some or all of the following---okay, maybe just some:

(in no particular order)
~ Humprhy Slocumbe (beer and ice cream)
~ Toronado (barleywine)
~ 21st Amendment & Magnolia (Strong Beer Month)
~ Trumer (Celebrator anniversary party)
~ Home Brew Chef dinner with Sean Paxton and Mercedes restaurant
~ A Beer Run with me and at least two other people
~ BeerLesque at Paradise Lounge
~ Bill Brand Tribute at Drake's
~ something at Pi Bar
~ something, like Drake's release of Trippel, at The Front Porch
~ something at Triple Rock/Jupiter, maybe Barclay's too
~ a firkin at Speakeasy
~ Sunday Flamenco at Thirsty Bear
~ something at Zeitgeist, Beach/Park Chalet (homebrew event)
~ a Belgian Triple Play at La Trappe, Monk's Kettle, and The Trappist

***Sleep?

San Francisco Beer Run 2010-=-Come Join Me

I'm heading to San Francisco to join Brian Yaeger and Derrick Peterman for a San Francisco Beer Run on the next to last day of SFBW '10.

We've got a short course planned beginning from Magnolia Brewery in The Haight and on through Golden Gate Park. Afterward, there will be good drinks for "proper rehydration" and planning for the Toronado Barleywine Festival and the rest of the weekend.

For more information, drop a note to me....or Brian....or Derrick. This event will be rain or shine, except in the case of extreme weather.

Hope to see you on Haight Street!