What's brewing at seven late-summer beer events around the region
For all the hopheads, ale aficionados, IPA enthusiasts and lager lovers out there, here are seven upcoming beer-centric events throughout the region. Cheers!
Dawson’s Beer Dinner
Aug. 14
Dawson’s executive chef Jason Poole will partner with Track 7 Brewing Co. for this beer-pairing banquet. Poole’s dinner menu will feature a first course of smoked Arctic char with Manila clams and a chorizo ciabatta, which will be paired with the citrusy Left Eye Right Eye IPA; a grilled flat iron steak for the second course, nestled on duck fat fingerling confit and Tuscan kale, which will be served with the slightly bitter Daylight Amber; and a dessert of beehive cake—a layered praline, custard and sponge cake made with the Bee Line Blonde (which will also be poured) and smothered in vanilla cream and bourbon caramel. $55. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Hyatt Regency Sacramento. 1209 L St. 321-3600. sacramento.hyatt.com
Davis Bike & Brewfest
Aug. 15 Hopheads will get their fill at Davis’ third annual Bike and Brewfest, which benefits the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame and the Northern California Brewers Guild. The event will feature an impressive lineup of craft brewers, including local faves like Auburn Alehouse, KneeDeep Brewing, New Glory Brewing Company and Sudwerk, as well as out-of-town and out-of-state breweries like Anderson Valley Brewing Co., Firestone Walker, Alaskan and New Belgium, plus cideries (Common Cider, Two Rivers Cider) and even a meaderie (Nectar Creek). Attendees can geek out on brews while listening to live music from The Stone Foxes and chowing down on eats from food trucks like The Hotdogger, Woodstock’s Pizza and Brunch Boys. $45; $35 in advance ($10 for designated driver). 5-8 p.m. Central Park. Davis. bikebrewfest.com
Hop Harvest Party
Aug. 22 This all-day, hands-on affair, which will take place at Ruhstaller’s hop farm in Dixon, will start at 6:30 a.m. with the brewery’s hop school. Late-risers need not worry, however: Folks can join activities throughout the day, such as sorting hops, feeding vines into the mechanized picker or taking the hops to the kiln to dry. Afterward, rehydrate with a pint of the brewery’s Exquisite Kolsch or 1881 Red Ale and soak in the sounds of local bluegrass-folk duo Manzanita. Locally based Cali Love food truck will be serving up pub-friendly fare like beer-battered-fried pickles and fried-to-order pork rinds, as well as the self-proclaimed “Sacramento’s Best Reuben” with smoked corned beef and sauerkraut. Free ($30 for hop school). 6:30 a.m.-sunset. Ruhstaller’s Farm + Yard. 8959 Olmo Ln. Dixon. 447-1881.ruhstallerbeer.com
Yolo Micro Brewfest
Aug. 29 This pint party will highlight the best of the area’s microbreweries (which typically only brew a limited amount of beers and concentrate on specialty types like saisons), with tastes from River City Brewing Co., Rogue Brewing, Sudwerk, Blue Note Brewing Company and more. The festival will also host a home-brewer competition, in which attendees can vote for their favorite homemade suds. And make sure to stay for the raffle prize drawing: The winner will receive a four-hour limousine tour of breweries around the Sacramento region. $40; $35 in advance ($15 designated driver). 3-7 p.m. Yolo County Fairgrounds. 1250 E. Gum Ave. Woodland. 530-402-2222. yolomicrobrewfest.com
California Craft Beer Summit
Sept. 11-12 This first-ever gathering will take place at the Sacramento Convention Center and include a program of events and seminars with leaders in the craft beer movement. Beer enthusiasts, home brewers and industry vets can sit in on discussions featuring brewmasters like Ken Grossman (owner and founder of Chico’s Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.), Dr. Charlie Bamforth (professor of brewing science at UC Davis, aka "the Pope of Foam") and Greg Koch (CEO and co-founder of San Diego’s Stone Brewing Co.). Plus, view interactive exhibits that display ingredients like grain, wheat and hops, and taste specialty suds from over 150 brewers across the state, such as Societe Brewing Company (San Diego), Sante Adairius Rustic Ales (Capitola) and Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa) at Saturday’s Brewers Showcase at Capitol Mall. $49-$119. $239-$289 for full weekend pass. $60 for Brewers Showcase only ($70 after Sept. 3). Hours vary by event. Sacramento Convention Center. 1400 J St. (Capitol Mall at 10th and L streets for Brewers Showcase). 228-4260. cacraftbeersummit.com
Friends on the Farm Dinner
Sept. 12 Track 7 Brewing Co. is collaborating with Oliver Ridgeway, executive chef of Grange, to prepare a multicourse meal. The food will be paired with specialty Track 7 beers—two of which (Hoppy Palm Pale Ale and the Delta King Saison) were brewed specifically for the event using fresh hops from Hood Hops Ranch, where the dinner will be held. The menu is still in development, but one course will spotlight Bledsoe Ranch pork that has been fed with Track 7’s leftover beer grain. Rare Track 7 brews, like the Bruxy Lady (a Belgian-style blonde ale aged in Chardonnay barrels) and the Unrelenting (a Belgian chocolate stout aged in bourbon barrels) will also be poured, as will vino from Revolution Wines. $85. 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Track 7 locations at 3747 W. Pacific Ave. and 826 Professor Ln. 520-4677. track7brewing.com
California Brewers Festival
Sept. 19 Sip suds to the tunes of local reggae-rock trio Arden Park Roots or play some cornhole at this 21st annual celebration that benefits WEAVE, Inc. and the Point West Rotary Foundation. Beer buffs can sample pints from nearly 100 breweries, cideries and mead makers from across the country, like West Sacramento’s Bike Dog Brewing Company, Rocklin’s Out of Bounds Brewing Company, Maine-based Shipyard Brewing and Boulder Beer (touted as Colorado’s first craft brewery). Hungry attendees can nosh on fare from any of the 14 on-site food trucks like Culinerdy Cruzer and Smokers Wild BBQ. And save room for dessert: The Sweet Spot will be scooping Gunther’s ice cream onto freshly baked cookies. $55-$60 VIP; $35-$40 general admission. 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m. (11:30 a.m. VIP entry). Discovery Park. 1000 Garden Hwy. calbrewfest.com
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