Vachabrew

Vachabrew is an invitation only page set up for dedicated fans of our craft.

Beer could help you survive a heatwave, doctor says 07/23/2022

The consumption of alcohol on a hot day isn’t generally recommended by doctors, but it is recommended by brewers. In the midst of an international heat wave, it can help with hydration..... and beer sales. :)

Beer could help you survive a heatwave, doctor says To combat dehydration, start with a pint of beer, followed by water or a sports drink, to help the body retain water better than drinking water alone.

US Best Beer Festivals 2022 06/22/2022

Dont let your summer be wasted! Plan ahead to hit these popular beer festivals.

US Best Beer Festivals 2022 These are the Best Beer Festivals in the US that preserve great popularity and reviews. These beer festivals are the ones preferred by brewers and beer lovers serving as great travel destinations to discover wonderful places, meet new people while you enjoy great beer.

2022 World Beer Cup Winners List 06/04/2022

Congratulations to Pizza Port Brewing Co. for winning in 5 different categories at world's largest beer competition!! I have said for a long time that (despite Stone, Ballast Point, and Alesmith all being here in SD) the best kept secret in San Diego is Pizza Port! I think their beers are excellent. And the World Beer Cup agrees. Pizza Port is the only brewery winning 5 or more medals.

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GOLD MEDALS (1st place)
Dieguito [American-Style Pilsener]
Dusk til Dawn [Coffee Stout or Porter]

SILVERS (2nd Place)
Cruisin' [American-Style Pale Ale]
Locals Only [International Pale Ale]

BRONZE (3rd Place)
Guillaume [Belgian-Style Session Ale]

2022 World Beer Cup Winners List The 2022 World Beer Cup was the largest competition to date, with 10,542 entries from 2,493 breweries representing 57 countries.

National Donut Day 06/03/2022

I knew it felt like something was missing....! I forgot to wish you all "Happy National Donut Day!"

Remember, Sprinkles are for winners.

National Donut Day Want to celebrate National Donut Day in style? We’ve got the best activities, ideas, discounts, and deals to make your day super sweet!

Mapped: Beer Consumption in the U.S. 05/26/2022

I cant tell you how depressing it is to see "Most Consumed Beer" to be garbage.... but the positive is "Number of Beer Breweries!" Clearly these places stay in business because they offer a good alternative, and people appreciate what they offer.

Party on, Wayne!

Mapped: Beer Consumption in the U.S. Which states drink the most beer, and what beers do people prefer? This visualization maps the consumption of beer by gallon across the U.S.

05/20/2022

Ready for a Road Trip? Summer is coming and there is a wonderful world of parks and beaches out there ready to explore. This light clean beer is 'road ready' and dry-hopped with Azacca and Comet.

Cheers!

05/18/2022

Incredibly Sad Day!!! Yesterday I found out that the place that I get all my beer supplies from is CLOSING!

Back in 2013, my wife worked at an elementary school about 2 miles from our home. Right in between, The Homebrewer opened up. So on my wife's standard route to and from work, she passed by this new beer making store and thought, "There is a gift I can get my husband who is always complaining about not having a hobby." So she bought me a 1-gallon brewing kit. Thus the inception of Vachabrew in 2013...

George Thornton and Chris Manzi not only were my new best friends, but invaluable resources over the years for someone that just didnt know what he was doing but had tons of questions. Over the years, The Homebrewer doubled their space and added brewing equipment and a tasting room. There have been MANY "graduates," people who started out stocking, then brewing, then leaving for many great brewing jobs throughout San Diego. They also gave back. Tasting others beers, collaborating with local breweries, and their Sunday Neighborhood Clean-ups. they even added a national award, the very first ever "Homebrew Shop of the Year Award" from AHA!

I cannot tell you how much these guys will be missed!!! This is all my supplies.... ALL of it! It is literally my whole fantasy beer company. But its also them. Jason, Sean, Graham, etc etc etc. I cant tell you how many times a 10 minute supply run turned into 1-hour long+ conversations. Of course I will find another store, but you cant replace people like that. You just cant...

So long, my friends...

The Homebrewer 2018 AHA Homebrew Store of the Year inside an award winning Brewery and Taproom.

05/13/2022

If you are into the craft beer scene at all, chances are you’ve heard of the Azacca hop variety. It made quite the splash when first released to the market back in 2013.

Azacca is a dual purpose hop that leans toward late additions and dry-hopping. Its intensely tropical fruit aroma’s make it an exceptional choice for a single hopped beer, sometimes bringing the malt flavors forward.

In order to try and experience this unique hop, I brewed this as a SMaSH beer using only Vienna for the malt.

Cheers!

05/11/2022

3 GLASSWARE: Pouring & Storing
Cans, bottles, and kegs are just 'transport devices,' not drinking vessels. Understand this-- ALL BEER SHOULD BE POURED!

One of the best things about beer – especially quality craft beer – is the smell. The tongue and nose are inseparable in distinguishing flavor. Your enjoyment of a great glass of beer involves taking in that delicious aroma, encapsulated in that head. As each of these bubbles pop, they release delicious scents – everything from caramels to peppers, and spices to pineapple.

These bubbles, which cling to each other, make up the beer’s head – what we know as beer foam. It also visually tells us something about the brew. A good stout should have a nice thick head on it with tiny bubbles. A weizzen should be frothy and effervescent. A lager dissipates quickly after pouring. Like aroma, it provides a prelude in anticipation to enjoyment or a warning that something might be off.

Generally with most styles, you pour half the beer with glass tilted, then the second half directly down the middle. But not always. If it is over-foaming, you angle more; if it is failing to froth, turn the glass upright. The key really is to pay attention! Anyone who watches a "proper pour" on a Guiness knows that sometimes patience is important as well.

Glasses are not stored upright simply because it collects dust, and thus is not ready when you are. But storing it on the rim increases the chances of damaging that rim. For Vases and Flutes, we are stuck storing them upright and washing prior to drinking. Tulips and Snifters are stored by hanging them upside down. And Nonics are stored upright, but typically stacked, which is how they best protect both rim and keep out dust.

Lastly, as much as it pains me to write this, glassware should NOT be chilled. A chilled glass will over-foam a beer and introduce off-flavors from the icing. In short, beer is expected to be poured into a room temperature glass so that the beer is doing all the work and the glassware is not working against it.
(short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRW-0pZEAoc)

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Hope you have enjoyed these couple posts. When you head out to happy hour, notice which glass you are provided. Even if it is poured in the "wrong glass," take the time to notice what your glassware provides to your experience.

Cheers!

Libbey Craft Brews Assorted Beer Glasses, Set of 6 05/10/2022

2 GLASSWARE: Pairings
Yesterday we got a quick introduction to the importance of drinking from a glass instead of a bottle or can, so that the beer has an opportunity to be truly appreciated. And the shape is integral to that experience.

Their are 5 main glass styles: the Flute, Vase, Nonic, Snifter, and Tulip. And each glass is really sort of tailored to a style (or vice versa) as a compliment to the sensory experience.

THE FLUTE (also known as a pilsner glass) is all about presentation. It is tall and thin to best display clarity and color of pilsners and pales, allowing the carbonation to "blow off" before consuming.

THE VASE, also being tall and thin, is similarly about presentation, while the flare at the top supports the voluminous, fluffy head that the wheat beers are prized for. And it is also well suited to display the clarity of ambers without loss of a good top froth.

THE NONIC is the iconic pub glass. Unlike the other glasses, the Nonic's shape is one of utility, not taste. While the sides of a standard pint glass (or shaker) are straight, the nonic's sides are interrupted by a bump around an inch below the lip. This gives the drinker a place to securely hold their beverage so the glass doesn't slip from their grip. Additionally, the ridge acts as a 'bumper' if the glass is tipped over and preventing damage to the rim – hence the nonic name, a play on "no-nick."

THE SNIFTER is a short squatty little bu**er that turns inward at the rim to hold in aromas produced as the beer slowly warms in the hand. It is great for the high-alcohol, sipping brews like barleywines and imperial stouts. But in recent times has become the perfect glass for tastings.

Last but not least...

THE TULIP glass, with its inward turn and flared rim, is perhaps the most versatile of them all. In addition to the Belgian ales it was designed for, it makes a great vessel for everything from IPAs to stouts. The flare supports a healthy head, while the narrow waist helps hold in aromas. The stem and foot make for an easy grip and facilitate swirling to release more aromas. If you are only going to buy one beer glass, this is it. Not the pilsner or the pint. The Tulip.

Libby makes a great beer lovers starter pack located here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KIG3V3E/ref=as_li_tf_tl

Cheers!

Libbey Craft Brews Assorted Beer Glasses, Set of 6 Show some love for your favorite beer enthusiast! The Libbey Craft Brews 6-piece Assorted Beer Drinkware Glass Set provides a pilsner glass, an English pub glass, a Belgian ale glass, a porter/stout glass, a wheat glass, and a craft pub glass to bring out all your brews' best qualities. Cheers!

05/09/2022

Glassware a very important factor in just about every sensory aspect of enjoying beer. From the obvious aesthetic and aromatic enhancement all the way to foam retention and temperature control, glassware completely transforms a drinker’s experience.

This 3 post guide will highlight some of the most popular glass shapes and what beer styles benefit most from each style.

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1 GLASSWARE: Keeping It Glassy
Drinking beer out of a bottle is a very iconic, blue-collar, American way of drinking a brew. While it’s a lot easier drinking out of a bottle or can, you really aren’t doing the beer, or your tastebuds, any justice.

Different glass designs help present a beer to the drinker in a manner that best suits the beer. A concave top traps aroma and beer foam, retaining both for when the drinker presents the brew to their palette. However a more open top is more of a fireworks display, allowing the beer to 'release' itself and 'calm down' before drinking.

05/05/2022

Hola, Mis Amigos! And say hello to my little friend. I am trying my hand at a Mexican lager. So grab some salsa, guacamole, chips and an Uber and we will see you in the Vachabrew Beer Garden tonight :)

Cheers!

05/02/2022

Why do your bottles have numbers on the bottom?

Good question, fake FB person! There are 2 ways to get the carbonation into the beer. First is called 'forced carbonation.' This is where a machine adds the carbonation to the liquid before it is bottled.

The second way is what I do, which is called 'bottle conditioning.' It is very difficult to separate the liquid from the yeast when the beer is fermenting. So when the beer is removed from the yeast, it is alcoholic but not carbonated. A tiny amount of sugar is then added to the liquid in each bottle, so that when sealed, the yeast carbonates each bottle from within. This is the historic method. And this is what makes me cool.

Bottle conditioning generally takes about 2 weeks. So the date represents when the beer was bottled so that I have a good idea when it is read to drink.

04/29/2022

Vachabrew's American Brown Ale is a smooth, easy drinking brown. A great transition from cold winters to warmer days, this brew sheds most of the heaviness of darker brews while retaining the color, making it a nice drinkable transition to brighter days.

Cheers!

Beef and Guinness® Stew 04/26/2022

Beef as a stew is really easy to make! The maltiness of dark beer really does amazing things for this gravy. It's a very simple dish, but at the same time it has a deep, complex, rich flavor. Serve this puppy in a nice ring of green onion-mashed potatoes and BLAMO! Rock Star!

Cheers!

Beef and Guinness® Stew Beer, beef, and bacon add deep, complex flavors to this Irish-inspired stew that's at its best when served with mashed potatoes.

04/21/2022

What is a SMaSH beer?

A SMaSH stands for "Single Malt and Single Hops." Thus it is quite an easy beer to make. As someone who is not too into IPAs, I enjoy making this brew because all the hops are introduced towards the end of the boil. This produces a lot of flavor and aroma, but significantly reduces the amount of bitterness.

Cheers!

04/08/2022

Boy have I been buuuusy!!! Good problem. Been asked to create a Mexican Lager and my beer will be offered for a Hollywood fundraiser! How cool is that!?

(well,..... a fundraiser for a film.... the other just sounds impressive :). Cheers everyone!

01/14/2022

An alternative to porters and stouts, this wheat beer offers blend of barley & wheat malts, anchored by Midnight Wheat Malt. The Midnight Wheat offers a really smooth, rich mouthfeel, with subtle roasted flavors. Very nice break from the typical styles of the season.

01/06/2022

In 567, the Council of Tours "proclaimed the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany as a sacred and festive season, and established the duty of Advent fasting in preparation for the feast." Thus the beginning of Advent and 12 days of Christmas were established!

Twelfth Night came to signal the end of Christmastide (the name of the Christmas Season). A popular Twelfth Night tradition was to have a bean and pea hidden inside a Twelfth-night cake; the "man who finds the bean in his slice of cake becomes King for the night while the lady who finds a pea in her slice of cake becomes Queen for the night."

"12Nights" is brewed in the style of the holiday to celebrate the close of Christmastide.

12/31/2021

Once a year, Vachabrew releases our heavily hopped NewYear Beer to help create new memories and maybe forget a few as well. HOPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

12/29/2021

Lots of people know how babies are made, but can you honestly say you know how beer is made?? This little info-graphic is taken from "The Beer Bible" and is a good quick into to those unfamiliar with the Hops and the B's.

https://www.workman.com/products/the-beer-bible-second-edition/paperback

12/24/2021

Wassail is a traditional, warm, alcoholic drink mixed with spices and made with either wine, beer, cider, brandy, or a combination of more than one. Enjoyed during the week of Christmas, it accompanied carolers as they went from house to house wishing good tidings.

This Vachabrew variation is a spiced beer, bottled with cider and Madeira. Whether you’re wassailing from house to house or just spending time with family this holiday, consider add this to your yuletide traditions. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

12/17/2021

'Noël' originates from Old French Nael (Deu), which derived from from Latin 'natalis' or 'natal,' both meaning 'birth.' Thus "Joyeux Nael Deu" meant "Happy Birth Day."

Today, Noels are understood to be "carols" and were sung in Latin or French for centuries before the word ever found its way into English in the 1800s.

Biere de Noel is yet another concoction of celebration helping to make sure the Twelve Days of Christmas are warm and memorable.

Joyeux Noël!

The Best 20 Beers in 2021 12/15/2021

Perfect Timing!! Now that you are all shopped out and craving a brew, here is what Craft Beer & Brewing rated as the Best Beers of 2021! Then after a quick read, it magically turns into its own scavenger hunt as you can seek them out. How cool is that?!

The Best 20 Beers in 2021 Amid the ups and downs and gradual, stutter-step return to social life, we experienced some transcendent beers—beers that shone, beers that enlightened, beers that made us stop and remember what it’s all about. Here are the pinnacles of the craft.

All-Day Brisket with Potatoes 12/13/2021

As weather is getting cold and there is still so much to do, this sweet and savory version is perfection itself because it melts in your mouth. It's very important to buy "first-cut" or "flat-cut" brisket, which has far less fat than other cuts. Then find a bottle of your favorite Pale Ale. Best of all is that you set it up early and have dinner done later.

All-Day Brisket with Potatoes I think the slow cooker was invented with brisket in mind. This sweet and savory version is perfection itself because it melts in your mouth. It's very important to buy "first-cut" or "flat-cut" brisket, which has far less fat than other cuts. —Lana Gryga, Glen Flora, Wisconsin

12/10/2021

This dark, piney beer is inspired by Franklin, Jefferson, & Washington, who among other colonial Americans, brewed beer. One recipe reportedly shows them using molasses and spruce. What better way to enjoy the Season than a beer brewed with a sprig of spruce!

The Best Summer Beers for Any Summer Activity 12/08/2021

2021 was such a great year.... NOT! So dont dwell on the negative. See what hidden gems these beer experts, not only enjoyed, but outshined their peers.

The Best Summer Beers for Any Summer Activity Whatever you're planning this summer, there is a perfect beer to bring along.

Baking with Beer: Chocolate Stout Brownies 12/06/2021

A bit of work, this one. But when you enjoy beer, brownies, and baking, the time is worth the effort! A good chocolaty stout is more important here than an imperial or highly bitter stout. And dont go weak on the ABV. Best Wishes!!

Baking with Beer: Chocolate Stout Brownies Last summer, I took a cooking with beer class at my local community college. In this class, we learn...

12/03/2021

Yippee Ki Yay, Santa!! A Yuletide’s worth of holiday spices and sweet honey to keep you a-wassailing all season long. A gift for your taste-buds worth sharing with family and friends. Pears best with roast duck, spiced desserts, and ugly Christmas sweaters.

Cheers!

Top 20 Christmas and Holiday Beers 11/30/2021

Now that you are all shopped out, its time to start turn your attention to the beer fridge. This is a repost of a list 4 years ago, but it is still as relevant as ever. Hoppy Shopping, Everyone!

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[ps, the way you know you have a good Christmas beer list is if it has Christmas Ales from Great Lakes Brewing and Anchor Steam. If either is missing, its not a real Christmas list.]

Top 20 Christmas and Holiday Beers Fortunately for those of us who love changing seasons and the seasonal beers they bring, there are plenty of sippers to warm us during this festive time.

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