Is Brewing an Art? Do Your Own Research at Beervana Tonight

Craft beer is decidedly on the rise throughout most of the country, and nowhere more so than here in the Sonoma Valley – birthplace of the modern craft beer movement, with the 1976 founding of New Albion Brewery.

This Friday at the Veterans Memorial Building, more than two dozen regional breweries will showcase their deceptively simple yet complex creations in the third annual “Beervana,” or Nirvana for Beer Lovers, and the winners of this year’s homemade beer competition will be announced.

Tom Montan of the Sonoma Community Center says the event was initially an offshoot of their event programming, but it’s now become an officially sanctioned event of the BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) home brewing competition.

Beervana, brain child of former SCC Board Member David “Dange” Daniel, honors craft brewing in this casual Sonoma-style celebration.

“Three years ago we had maybe 10 entries from amateur beer makers,” said Montan. This year, 275 homemade beer submissions were entered for judging according to official BJCP guidelines, making it the biggest Beervana so far.

A panel of BJCP judges have been evaluating the homemade beer over the past several weekends, and the winners will be announced at Beervana on Friday. This year’s “best in show” winner will be brewed by Dempsey’s of Petaluma and served at all HopMonk Taverns in Sonoma, Sebastopol & Novoto.  The future sale of these pints will help support the Community Center.

“We’re hoping people take this opportunity to come down to the Veteran’s Hall and try a bunch of different styles of beer, side-by-side, and develop an appreciation  for the skill that goes into producing serious beer,” said Daniel.

As well as the amateur beer submitted, over 30 regional breweries are participating with several of their own beers offered for tasting. Participating breweries include Moylan's, Speakeasy, Drake's, Lagunitas, Lost Coast, Napa Smith, Gordon-Biersch and more. Boston Brewing will be on hand too, possibly with their "recreation" of the original New Albion Ale.

“There’ll be a lot of beers to try,” assured Montan.

To keep intrepid beer-tasters from fading, representatives from local restaurants and a coffee shop will be on hand to provide sustenance, and  the Jason Bodlovich Group and Ragtag Sullivan promise a mix of energetic music.

The event starts at 5:30 p.m., and of course it’s for 21 and over.

Beervana beer-tasting party tickets are $40 per person in advance, or $45 @ door), and include beer, and food tasting, live music, and a commemorative beer glass with official Beervana logo, designed by Chris Villalovoz. T-shirts with this year’s artwork will be for sale as well. All proceeds benefit Sonoma Community Center.

Tickets and more information can be found online at www.sonomacommunitycenter.org, by calling (707) 938-4626 x 1, or in person at 276 East Napa Street.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter