Posts Tagged ‘Bay Area’
Friday, August 31st, 2012
We are closing in on our deadline of August 31st to get our brews on the wagon headed toward the 2012 Great American Beer Festival for the festing and the judging. To meet this deadline we needed to have all of our GABF entry beers brewed and ready to go by the end of this week.
Our smallest batch at Drake’s is 15bbls, so once all the requisite kegs and cases for Denver are filled, we will have a little extra. So, for our loyal fans in our neck of the woods in the next few weeks you will be seeing some specialty brews from us made specifically for GABF. Here’s the list of our GABF entries, starting with the one-offs.
1. Drake’s Occu-Rye- 6.1%, 32 IBUs- a light amber rye ale redolent of spicy, herbaceous flavors and aromas with a light toasted malt character and a clean spicy rye finish. Created and brewed by our Cellar Master John Gillooly, this is the one beer that he says he’s been chasing his entire brewing career. We think he nailed it.
Subverting dominant Barley Grain privilege, Drake’s Occu-Rye demands equal status for long oppressed Rye grain. Further, we have ended the patriarchal dominance of Craft Brewers who insist on hiding Rye’s light under a bushel (of hops) by presenting a beer brewed with an eye-watering amount of Rye. Barley Dominance Must Die! Hella Hella Occu-Rye!
2. Scorched Earth- 10.2% ABV- Beech smoked Imperial stout. **
Last January we got together with Beer Revolution co-owner Fraggle to brew a specialty beer for the Oakland Beer Bar’s 2nd Anniversary. Given the Beer Revolutionaries’ penchant for German Rauschbiers and smoked beers of all types, we made Moscow’s Burning smoked Imperial Stout- a delicious lightly smoked, rich dark imperial stout. We found it to be pretty delicious, so when it came time to decide on a couple special ideas for our GABF entries we thought that a slightly smokier version would be right on target. Moscow’s Burned, so now we have Scorched Earth.
OTHER ENTRANTS
3. Barrel House Sour- Light Belgian ale aged in used French oak red wine barrels, and inoculated with a blend of brettanomyces and lactobacillus. Category: 24A; Wood and Barrel Aged Sour Beer; ABV 6.5% **
4. 1500- dry-hopped American Pale Ale; ABV- 5.5% **
5. Aroma Coma- double-dry-hopped American IPA; Category: 52; American IPA; ABV- 6.75% **
6. Denogginizer- Imperial IPA; Category 53; Imperial India Pale Ale; ABV- 9.75 **
7. Drake’s Gold Ale; Category 46; English Summer Ale; ABV 5.2%
8. Drake’s IPA; Category 51; American Style Strong Pale Ale; ABV 7%
9. Drake’s Amber; Category 58B; Extra Special Bitter
10. Black Robusto Porter; Category 75; Robust Porter; ABV 6.3%
** Indicates beers that will be judged and poured at GABF.
Tags: Ale, Alexandra Nowell, Amber, Aroma Coma, Bay Area, Beer Competition, Beer Festival, Craft Beer, Denver, Drake's Brewing Company, GABF, Great American Beer Festival, IPA, John Gillooly, Occu-Rye, Porter, Rye Ale, San Leandro, Scorched Earth
Posted in beer, Brewers, Brewery, Drake's Staff | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012
If we had to name the common ground that every single person on the crew shares, there’s no doubt that it would be an intense fascination with the process of making craft beer, tasting it, and sharing it with others.
Kelsey's manning the camera as Alex pulls from a wine barrel
Today, we got members of the whole crew involved round the brewery in various tasks. Early on in the day, Lead Brewer Alex grabbed the wine thief tool to check on the sour barrels with tasting and barrel climbing help from our Community Manager Kelsey. Then, Barrel House Manager Gabbi and DBH Bartender Antonio ascended the catwalk to help John Gillooly dry hop a 60 bbl batch of IPA. Afterwards, Tony went behind the mashtun to give Chris Dunstan a hand in graining out today’s batch of Hefe.
Having earned the brewer/kinda for a day badges. It was then time for a toast at the Barrel House for a job well done. Teamwork kids. That’s what’s up. Cheers.
Tags: Alexandra Nowell, Antonio Sarinana, Barrel-aged, Bay Area, Craft Beer, Drake's Brewery, Drake's Brewing, Dry-hopping, Gabrielle Chan, Kelsey Williams, San Leandro, Teamwork
Posted in beer, Brewers, Brewery, Drake's Staff | 1 Comment »
Monday, June 18th, 2012
Aroma Coma fans, it’s time to get happy. Not only are we planning to release Aroma Coma again in 22oz bottles in a larger run than last year, but this year, we are also releasing Aroma Coma’s sister beer, Aroma Prieta in bottles and on draft.
Aroma Prieta will be, like Aroma Coma, 6.75% ABV and 75 IBUs. Check out the label description:
“Shake out from Aroma Coma with Aroma Prieta. Aroma Coma’s sister beer mirrors its twin starting with primarily American 2-row barley malt and a touch Caramalt for body. From there, we turn things upside down. This time, Prieta leaves behind Coma’s North American hops for some Southern Hemisphere hop action. New Zealand hops Nelson Sauvin, Pacific Jade, and Motueka and Aussie hop Helga in the double dry-hop give Aroma Prieta huge notes of tropical fruit, gooseberries, and grapefruit. Like Coma but different: breathe in these hops and enjoy.”
Aroma Prieta will be released alongside Aroma Coma on July 28th with a release event here at Drake’s Barrel House (details TBA). Afterwards, both beers will be available out in the market, with Aroma Coma more widely distributed.
Our long-time fans will remember Aroma Prieta as a beer we have done in the past (last brewed in 2010), but not with NZ hops. Essentially, its original concept was to be a twin beer with different hops. So, this time around for a large scale release we decided to go for more fruit-forward NZ hops as a cool contrast with the piney, resinous hop character of Aroma Coma. Breathe in the hops and enjoy.
Tags: Aroma Coma, Aroma Prieta, Bay Area, Craft Beer, Double-dry hop, Drake's Beer, Drake's Brewery, Helga, Hops, India Pale Ale, IPA Festival, Motueka, Nelson Sauvin, New Zealand, Northern California, Pacific Jade, San Francisco, San Leandro, Sister Beer
Posted in beer, craft beer, Drake's Brewing, Release, Seasonal | 3 Comments »
Monday, June 4th, 2012
We can hardly believe it, but we are coming up on the one year anniversary of the Drake’s Barrel House this month. One year of pints, pitchers, and tasters with Gabbi and the rest of the DBH staff. One full year of proving to the world just how awesome hangin out in a warehouse behind a Walmart and Sports Authority can be.
It’s been pretty cool to have a place to host our friends, fans, and beer community, and they have given us and our humble beer-haven more support than we could have ever imagined. So, basically, what we’re sayin’ is… Thanks guys! It’s time to party.
Come out Saturday, June 23 starting at 12pm and lasting all day til 9pm to help us celebrate one full year at the DBH. For the occasion, our brewers are releasing a special, limited release, the DBH Anniversary Sour- a blend of two barrels of sour Cabernet Barrel-Aged Belgian Single. Tart and sour with hints of oak and cabernet and a touch of funk, this beer is a sour beer lover’s dream. For all the non-sour fans, we will have the full line-up of Drake’s ales flowing from Blonde all the way to Drakonic and everything in between.
Food including Filipino fare from our friends Yumsilog food truck and others will be available throughout the day, and we are happy to have local band Clangin’ and Bangin’ (who killed it during Sau & Brau) back again for seconds from 6-9pm.
So BART, bus, or get a ride and come on down for a few beers with us as we raise our glass to one great year and hopefully many, many more.
Tags: Anniversary, Bay Area, Clangin' and Bangin', Craft Beer, DBH, Drake's Barrel House, Drake's Brewing, event, San Leandro, Tap Room
Posted in Barrel House, craft beer, Drake's Brewing, The new Drake's Barrel House | 10 Comments »
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
We’re guessing at least a few of you out there have met Doug Ashcraft. As an avid homebrewer and certified BJCP judge, Doug has been a staple of the Bay Area beer and homebrewing for a long long time.
Well, in late November, we were lucky enough to bring Doug into the Drake’s fray as our sales rep for the North Bay and Sacramento, and his knowledge of the area’s beer scene and well-honed palette have definitely helped us bring up our game.
Still, even as Doug now traverses from Sacramento to Santa Rosa and back to San Leandro on a normal basis, he still finds the time to get his own brewing in. A few weeks ago, Doug dropped off a couple bottles of his Belgian Golden Strong ale at the brewery for Brian and the rest of the brewers to try, and needless to say, it was a resounding hit.
Sooo… We decided to make some more.
Brian worked with Doug to scale up the recipe for our tanks, and this past Saturday they mounted the brew deck and made it happen.
According to Brian and Doug the beer, the B.D. Golden Peril as they call it, will be hugely effervescent champagne-like ale with touches of spice and peach esters from its Belgian golden strong yeast strain hailing from Brasserie d’ Achouffe in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes. Noble hops, Saaz and German Spalt, will accent the beer with a spicy, earthy character, and the finish will be dry with a pleasantly, lingering floral undertones. Golden, aromatic, delicious, and as the name suggests, perilous at an expected 9% ABV.
Brian already has a few barrels set aside for some of this batch for aging, but the limited release of the young version will be making an appearance likely by the end of this glorious beer month. Can’t wait to try it. Cheers.
Grabbing a post, grain out glass of Hopocalypse.
Hand's lookin' much better. Stir that mash!
Tags: Bay Area, BJCP Certified, Brian Thorson, Craft Beer, Doug Ashcraft, Drake's, Drake's Brewing Co., homebrew, Homebrewer, San Leandro
Posted in beer, Brewers, Brewery, Drake's Staff | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
We can’t tell you whether you need to worry about the Apocalypse in 2012, but we can say definitively that the Hopocalypse is imminent. Clear room in your fridge; designate your driver; and prepare your tastebuds. On Saturday, Feb. 4th, the End is Beer.
Yes, the Hopocalypse hit the tanks today. Jeff stirred the mash of batch number two as Chris gleefully added the last of four massive hits of hops to the batch number one, and the whole brewery buzzed with an energy that comes from brewing this beer.
This seasonal orange beast boasts a hop arsenal of Magnum, Chinook, Simcoe, Citra, and CTZ and a three-hop dry-hop that will convert all who drink it into hop-heads and send its devotees into the beer rapture with its tantalizing, heady aroma and crisp slap of citrus and pine… Alright, so maybe we’re waxing poetic a little… we get that way about this beer.
The Hopocalypse is one of our favorite brews each year, and this year’s batch will the biggest yet. We are set to brew more of the Hopocalypse than ever before, and for the first time we have brewed what we have christened the Hopocalypse Black Label- a Triple IPA at 12.5% ABV with huge amounts of 5 different hops that will be available on draft and in a limited release of 22oz bottles only at Drake’s Barrel House.
Alex brewed the Black Label just before the New Year filling the mash tun to the hilt, but only filling the boil kettle two-thirds full to reach the level of Plato needed to hit the 12.5% ABV mark. Now the Black Label is tucked safely in its fermenter where it will be for the next month slowly transforming into a dangerously, delicious beer.
The Hopocalypse and the Black Label will burst forth from the brewery with force February 4 to greet all you patiently waiting hop-heads with a special all day release at Drake’s Barrel House. Mark your calendar. The Hopocalypse approaches.
Tags: Bay Area, Beer Release, Black Label, Brewer, Brewery, California, Craft Beer, Double India Pale Ale, Double IPA, Drake's Barrel House, Drake's Brewery, Drake's Brewing Co., East Bay, Hopocalypse, Hoppy Beers, Hops, Imperial India Pale Ale, Imperial IPA, John Martin, San Leandro, Seasonal
Posted in Barrel House, beer, Brewers, Brewery, craft beer, Event, Hopocalypse, Release, Seasonal | 2 Comments »
Friday, December 23rd, 2011
Our boil kettle, old faithful, the lady of San Leandro, the keeper of the Drake’s hoppy place, has been churning out 15 barrel batches of excellent beer here for over twenty years, and she’s tired. She’s ready to head to the land of long-loved brewing equipment.
We have her replacement standing in the wings. He’s warmed up and ready with 20 barrels of boil capacity and raring to take his turn at the helm of the Drake’s brewhouse. There is only one problem.
There’s no room for him… yet.
Our solution? We are moving some of fermenters out of the way. Today, five 20 barrel tanks will be migrating just next door into our new cellar-room to join those 60 barrel beauties that arrived at the end of September.
There are still several more fermentors that need to move to make room, but by the end of today we will be one step closer to retiring our old kettle and bringing in the big dog.
Slowly but surely making space.
The Gist: Tank Moving= More Space = New Boil Kettle = More Beer. It’s a Festivus miracle. Cheers.
Tags: Bay Area, Boil Kettle, Craft Beer, Drake's Brewery, Drake's Brewing Co., Expansion, Fermentation, San Leandro, Tanks
Posted in beer, Brewery, Drake's Brewing | 1 Comment »
1. Drake’s Occu-Rye- 6.1%, 32 IBUs- a light amber rye ale redolent of spicy, herbaceous flavors and aromas with a light toasted malt character and a clean spicy rye finish. Created and brewed by our Cellar Master John Gillooly, this is the one beer that he says he’s been chasing his entire brewing career. We think he nailed it.
