A Very Important Message from James Wood & The Bruery

Check out The Bruery's first Vlog!   James did an awesome job delivering this message.  

For more details on the Contest, you can email stef@thebruery.com  We're looking forward to seeing what you come up with!!!

Batch No. 50 -- Grand Funk Aleroad

I just heard from the Best of Show winner, Al Buck, who brewed the marvelous Grand Funk Aleroad, a Gueuze. I eMailed him last night to let him know and his wife Nina read it this morning. He was brewing up a batch at the time and was reportedly jumping around his kitchen when we received word. Congrats Al, you deserve it!

This beer reminds me a lot of Drie Fonteinen Oude Gueuze. It's sour for sure, but there's so much finesse in the layered flavors of leather, barnyard funk, citrus / lemon, and indescribable qualities that make this so wonderful. Al told me this is a blend of a 1 year old lambic and a 2 year old lambic. We'll brew this in mid-February of this year, and the 2nd batch in February of 2010. At the proper aging rate, this beer will be released in the Spring of 2011. Based on my growth projections, we'll be somewhere around Batch 300 when this beer is released (or at l hope!).

I wonder where Al got the name from. We'll most certainly be calling it this-- it's a damn funny name. Al is looking into traveling to our brewery to brew this with us. I hope he does.

Batch No. 50 Competition Results

The judges all had a fantastic time judging the 62 entries that came in for our second homebrew competition, the Batch No. 50 Competition. Thanks to all who entered. There is clearly some amazing talent in homebrewing community when it comes to Belgian-style and experimental beers, and we're honored to have sampled these beers.

The results:

Category 16 - Belgian & French Style Ales

First: Oaked Strong Saison Hybrid, Kyle Manns, La Habra, CA

Second: Saison 566, Sean White, Brooklyn, NY

Third: De Dolle Clone, Rick Adams, Lakewood, CA

Category 17 - Sour Ale

First: Grand Funk Aleroad, Al Buck, Hillsborough, NJ

Second: Flanders Red, Bryan Smith, Torrance, CA

Third: Ich bin ein Berliner Weiss, Blair Howard, Rumsey, CA

Category 18 - Belgian Strong Ale

First: Mr. T's 30 lb. Necklace, Sean White, Brooklyn, NY

Second: LT, Patrick Duke, Orange, CA

Third: Pleasuretrip, Todd Peterson, San Dimas, CA

Honorable Mention: Harvest Tripel, Patrick Miller, Portland, OR

Category 23 - Specialty Beer

First: Sourfest, Todd Peterson, San Dimas, CA

Second: Liquid Whole Wheat, Bryan Smith, Torrence, CA

Third: Wheat Chocolate, Jim Schmalzried, Garden Grove, CA

Honorable Mention: Citrus Blossom, Brent Brubaker, Riverside, CA

Best of Show (our 50th Batch of Beer): Grand Funk Aleroad, Al Buck, Hillsborough, NJ

Congratulations to all of the winners! We're looking forward to brewing Batch No. 50 - Grand Funk Aleroad, it's an amazing sour beer.

Thanks to the judges and the stewards (not in any particular order):

Mark Harris

Tyler King, The Bruery

Jonas Nemura, The Bruery

Cristian Sierra

Dave Moody, Backstreet Brewery

Andy Marshall, Black Market Brewery

Evan Price, Hangar 24 Brewery

Lyn Davidson

Brent Rahn

Jim Wilson

Brent Brubaker

Brad Nixon

Mitch Steele, Stone Brewing Co.

Jake Ratzke, Stone Brewing Co.

Hal Ward

Pete Bakulic

Brian Cockle

Bryan Tetzlaff

Jay Goodwin

Matt Staley

Ben Weiss

Thanks to Joan and Dennis Paul (my parents in law), who brought the food for the judges.

And a big thank you to Rachel Rue, who pretty much did everything. Cheers!

LA County Fair Beer Competition

Last weekend Tyler and I judged some fantastic beers at the LA County Fair Commercial Beer Competition.  I entered several of our beers with the hope that we might be able to gain some recognition for The Bruery, and I'm very happy to report we did earn a few medals!

- Experimental Beers: Gold, Humulus Bruin

- American-Style or German-Style Sour Ales: Gold, Hottenroth Berliner Weisse

- French-Belgian Style Saison: Gold, Saison Rue

- Belgian and French-Style Ale: Gold, Black Orchard

- Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beers: Bronze, Levud's on Oak (more commonly known as Bourbon Barrel Aged Batch No. 1 - Levud's)

Full results are available at http://www.calferm.org/news/2008results.htm