A wise person once said, “Beervana isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind, a sense of pure bliss and knowledge. It also happens to be held on the 5th St. Bridge.”
We here at SacFoodies had a great time getting to know more about local breweries and brewers in the month leading up to Sac Beer Week and Capitol Beer Fest, and on Sunday, March 12, we pulled into the final stop on “The Road to Beervana.” We slathered on our sunscreen, grabbed our tickets and made our way CBF!
Laurel: “I had a SUPERB time at Capitol Beer Fest. I was really excited to try a few of my favorite breweries, enjoy the warm weather, and explore new beers with the other SacFoodies. The fact that I could do this all within 10 minutes of my house was a huge plus for me, and my wallet!”
Favorite Beer: 21st Amendment – Blood Orange Brew Free! Or Die IPA
“I like blood orange in most beers (Anderson Valley Blood Orange Gose is also a favorite) because it’s refreshing and adds a nice tanginess. This IPA was refreshing but maintained its hoppiness, and I really enjoyed it.”
Favorite Food Truck: Bacon Mania
“To be fair, this was the only food truck I tried, BUT it was after careful consideration of all menus. We had the Bacon Mac n’ Cheese Loaded Fries – the perfect pre-beer food.”
Cheyenne: “Capitol Beer Fest was a blast! We’ve been excited about attending Capitol Beer Fest since we got our tickets in January, so going into it I wondered if I had built it up too much in my mind. Once we got there, though, it was just as fun as I imagined it would be! I’m not a huge beer drinker, so I was very happy that there were so many cider options. I had a great time!”
Favorite Cider: 2 Towns Ciderhouse– Made Marion
“I loved this cider so much! I’m very into ciders that stray away from the classic apple flavor, so this was a great experience. It is made from marionberries, which are basically an ultra-classy member of the blackberry family. It was light and crisp, and the sweetness came through without being overpowering.”
Favorite Food Truck: Bacon Mania
“As Laurel said, we only tried one food spot after a decent amount of menu research. I think that even if we had tried multiple places this still would have been my favorite. Bacon, mac n’ cheese, AND french fries! What’s not to love? This dish was seriously delicious and very filling. We could not finish the order between the two of us and it kept us going throughout the whole event!”
The food trucks were delish, the beer was blissful, and there were even cider options for the non-beer enthusiasts in the group. What more could you ask for?
This year’s Capitol Beer Fest hosted 120 craft brewers and saw a crowd of over 6,500 people. The funds from this event benefited the Runnin’ for Rhett Youth Fitness Program, and will allow over 5,770 children to participate in the program. We love drinking great beer, but nothing beats drinking great beer for a good cause. We absolutely plan on returning to CBF next year, and we hope we see you there!
Sacramento Beer Week 2017 – The Brains Behind the Beer
By: Laurel Harrison
Join SacFoodies this week on “The Road to Beervana” (a.k.a. Capitol Beer Fest) with a peek into the brains behind the beer that we love so much!
Have you ever wondered what your local brewer sings in the car? Who their #1 beer pal would be? What beer of theirs you absolutely have to try? You’re in luck! Check out SacFoodies’ Q&A with some fabulously awesome fermenters below.
Bike Dog Brewing Co.
Sage Smith: Co-Founder
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
Maui Waui by Altamont. That beer opened my eyes to the amount of tropical flavors a beer could have.
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Liam Neeson—I ate dinner at a table next to his in NYC and figured it would be cool to have a beer with him since we’re practically best friends now.
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
It used to be “Angels” by Robbie Williams, mainly because I’m terrible with lyrics and I somehow mostly knew the lyrics by heart. Now, my go-to is “California” by Phantom Planet (the theme song from The O.C.) because you get to yell California for a long time. Also, I still can’t believe Marissa is dead.
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
Mosaic Pale Ale is our go-to suggestion because it’s the beer that showcases our brewing philosophy the best.
The Monk’s Cellar
Andy Klein: Founder
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
Local beer would probably be the classic Rubicon IPA or the Gold Country Pilsner from Auburn Alehouse. Non-local would be Saison Dupont from Brasserie Dupont in Belgium.
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Probably Michael Jackson (the beer writer, not the musician). He was so instrumental in developing our understanding of world beer styles in America, and because of that had a huge influence on the American Craft Beer revolution. He inspired many brewers.
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
You won’t see me doing a karaoke jam.
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
The Crooked Bridge English Style Pale Ale.
Oak Park Brewing Co.
Tom Karvonen: Owner
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
Space Dust by Elysian Brewing Co.
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Mick Jagger because he was a visionary musician that changed the course of music.
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
“Roxanne” – The Police
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
Honey Lime Gose & Brimstone Belgian Golden Strong.
Knee Deep Brewing Co.
Andrew Moore: Sales & Marketing Manager
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
If you don’t see me drinking Knee Deep you will most likely see me drinking something from Pizza Port.
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Ken Griffey Jr. Always has been my #1 idol and favorite baseball player.
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
Deltron 3030
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
Breaking Bud.
Big Stump Brewing Co.
Alex Larrabee: Owner
What is your favorite beer made by another brewery?
Blind Pig – Russian River Brewing Company
If you could share a beer with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Arthur Guinness – founder of Guinness Brewery. We’d really like to hear first-hand what brewing was like in the 1700s!
What’s your go-to car karaoke jam?
“99 Bottles of Beer”
What beer do people absolutely have to try when they come to your taproom?
Get a flight and decide for yourself! We love everything we make.
For a full list of Sac Beer Week events, click here!
For more information on Capitol Beer Fest, click here!
Wordless Wednesday: Ruhstaller
Specializing in farm to hops right here in Northern California, Ruhstaller is a delicious treat. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed. Luckily, you can try some for yourself on tap and on shelves at many locations in the Sacramento region, click here to see the full list!