By: Laurel Harrison
“Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.” – Dave Barry
Beer and pizza, beer and tacos, beer and gyros . . . you get the picture! In case you missed it, the food truck list for Capitol Beer Fest is up, and here at SacFoodies we’ve already started plotting our beer and food pairings for the event. Until then, take a break from your beer-themed daydreams and bone up on your brewer knowledge with the final installment of our Road to Beervana series.
Read on for a Q&A with some brilliant brewers to find out what they drink, who they want to drink it with (Ben Franklin is a favorite), and, most importantly, what they think you should drink. Cheers!
Yolo Brewing Co.
Jim Schraith: Co-Owner
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
It’s impossible to pick just one. We have so many great breweries here.
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Michael Lewis and Charlie Bamforth at UC Davis! We are blessed to have such brewing talent right in our own backyard.
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
“99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall,” of course!
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
Orange Blossom Blonde is our all-time best seller and a must-try. Our Nutty Brown won first place at the California State Fair last year, so it’s also on the list. Our tap list changes weekly so there’s always guaranteed to be something new and fun to try.
Device Brewing Co.
Ken Anthony: Owner/Brewmaster
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
Supplication by Russian River.
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
My grandfather. He never got to know me beyond childhood. I think he’d be really proud of me.
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
“You Give Love a Bad Name” – Bon Jovi
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
Pincushion Pilsner. People think we’re an IPA house. While it’s true that we make great IPAs, and a lot of them, our Pilsner is a fantastic craft lager.
EDH Brewing Co.
Dennis Dovala: Owner/Brewmaster
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
120 Minute IPA by Dogfish Head.
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Benjamin Franklin, he was a home brewer himself. He said, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants to be happy.”
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
“She’s A Brick House” – The Commodores
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
Our Double IPA is smooth & well balanced. Even the non-lovers of IPA’s love this!
Mraz Brewing Co.
Michael Mraz: Brewmaster
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
Zombie Dust and Saison Dupont.
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I would share a beer with my grandfather who passed away many years back. He was a fighter pilot in WWII and was from the Czech Republic. His father, my great-grand father, used to be a brewer and they would sometimes brew beer together. I think it would be amazing to hear war stories and drink a great Czech pilsner together.
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
Anything reggae these days. I’ve been listening to everything from Iration to The Expendables to The Dirty Heads. Love it all!
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
At least one of our sour beers is a must-try! Although we love all of our styles, from our West Coast King Extra Pale Ale to our Coffee Pot Porter, we think our sour beers are really what set us apart and entice people to travel up the hill to see us.
Track 7 Brewing Co.
Ryan Graham: Brewmaster
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
My favorite beer from another brewery is Marble Brewing Co’s Red Ale. It was my “gateway” beer and continues to remind me of everything amazing about craft beer.
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
If I was able to sit down with anyone, I would pick Benjamin Franklin. One of history’s greatest inventors and the dude attributed with the saying “Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Someone that is a genius and down-to-earth seems like great conversation.
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
“Welcome to the Jungle” – Guns N’ Roses
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
For the hardcore beer geek, I recommend Mo’Suka when it is on. I think this example of a Northeast-inspired double IPA is among the best in the country, and I can’t personally get enough.
For the uninitiated, I would say our Panic IPA. It has become synonymous with craft beer in Sacramento and it’s easy to understand why. It is full of flavor, aroma and easily accessible – a truly worthy flagship beer.
Check out the full list of Sac Beer Week events here.
For more information on Capitol Beer Fest, go here.
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