Some how I volunteered to be in charge of our local homebrew club. This year has been spent trying to add real content to our meetings as well get some yearly events established. It's a lot of organizing work, which isn't too bad but we spent at least an hour and half at tonight's meeting discussing activities over the next 6 months various events to raise the profile of the club. Things we will do or organize to make sure we are better known in the Flagstaff community.

A lot of work coming and I hope a lot of fun. But I suspect more of the work...

I attended the 7th Annual Strong Ale Festival down in Mesa on February 17th. Overall it was a great experience and one of the better festivals I have attended. First a few minor issues and then on to the fun.

Entry into festival - We paid via paypal in advance to minimize the time in line. The day of festival pickup lines for the tickets were long which it would have been worth the trouble to pay on the day of a bit more, because their line was the shortest by far.

Food - Considering the strength of the beer more options for food and having them better mixed throughout the festival would have been more responsible and probably shortened the lines. Safer on the way home for everyone.

When I heard the Mesa Amphitheater was the location it seemed an odd choice with it's sloped bowl shape, but the steps and grass allowed for a relaxed environment where people could sit, relax, and have a good time. The steps allowed the brewers to have a more personalized touch than the trade show markup sometimes too common for such festivals.

On to the main attraction, the beers, the beers were excellent. There was a good diversity of the Southwest Region along with some other regional and international fare to round out the mix. Pointing out the best would be difficult but I'll mention a few favorites.

Oak Creek Brewing stepped up for Northern Arizona with probably the best beer at the festival. His Oak aged cask conditioned Scottish ale simply blows the socks off everyone. I have had it a few times now and it only seems to improve. Jim Strelau is in his element for this beer with a complexity I can't praise high enough. If you ever can con, I mean convince him to give you a sample you won't be disappointed.

Avery-Russian River had their Collaboration not Litigation Ale and it was good as well. But because they served it two and half hours into the festival I suspect that I enjoyed it more if I had sampled it when my taste buds were relatively fresh. Many brewers held off their beers for a particular time to sample which is a great concept, it just means I can't approach those beers as fresh as I'd prefer.

Next up Gordon a big, hoppy IPA in a can, but don't worry it's the same guys who make Dale's Pale ale and Old Chub so they know what they are doing. I think they tend to make the biggest flavor beers currently offered in a can and while Gordon was interesting I was in more of a malty mood for the festival so I would have been better served by Old Chub.

My malt preference is probably why I had and point my friends to Aventinus a Bavarian Wheat-Doppelbock. A great beer when delivered fresh, which it was for the festival, that demostrates when it comes to big beers few people can match a good German brewery.

Last and certainly not least the homebrew clubs stepped up. Both ASH and Brewmeisters Anonymous did a great job of representing the homebrewing community and showing that homebrewers can make beers that can stand proudly with the professionals.

I am missing out many other brewers that had great beers so I'll just say this, you need to check it out for yourself.
If you listen to Speaking of Beer you can get a better feel for what you missed out on. I had a good chat with Charlie the Beer Guy as he did with many people at the festival and you will be able to hear those interviews on his upcoming show. Maybe next time I'll take him up on his offer of following me around the festival with video camera consuming beer after beer. A race to see which will drop first my taste buds, my ability to speak clearly, or just my body (I am betting on the last one frankly).

8th Annual Strong Ale Festival is a year away and I think it's a safe bet to say I'll be there.