We’ve been getting a lot of inquiries these past few weeks regarding what’s going on here at the Elizabeth Street Brewery. The short answer is, “not a lot” to be honest. But that would be selling our efforts a bit short.

Since we invested in the 20-gallon tippy dump system and conical fermenter last Summer, we haven’t done much brewing to be frank. In addition to heightened activity at my day job, the system is currently getting a few minor adjustments to help optimize brewing efficiency moving forward so, as a result, I’ve only brewed three times in the past 6 months.

Like most things I’ve tackled in my life, I’ve always said that the growth of the Elizabeth Street Brewery would be a natural progression. Nothing forced. I need to keep reminding myself of this fact when I worry that we’re not as involved in the “beer community” as we were just 12 months ago. I’ve had to make some difficult decisions to start the year with regard to the work around the ESB. I will not be participating in SF Beer Week in 2012. We’re not throwing our annual Super Bowl Extravaganza here at the ESB next month (for the first time in a decade), and I think I’m also going to take a year off from traveling to the Craft Brewer’s Conference. I don’t take any of these decisions lightly.

It’s not all doom and gloom here though and the new brewery wasn’t the only milestone we hit in 2011. We’re an officially licensed business of California and the business plan has undertaken three major adaptations over the past 12 months also. There are a lot of positives ahead for us in 2012 too. When we do have “Molly” back up and running, we are going to brew. We are going to brew some of the best beers we’ve ever brewed. And we’re hoping you’re going to help us. This Spring, I’ve committed to brewing three beers with people that have never brewed before – tackling recipes of their choosing – and really experimenting with styles and advanced brewing. I hope to carry that into the rest of the year; inviting groups of people interested in the brewing process but not sure where to start. We’ve always said we were a “brewery for the people, by the people” – now we’re committed to being exactly that.

The ultimate goal is still the same – and we’ll never waiver in our commitment – to introduce a craft beer establishment to our good friends and neighbors of Noe Valley. Everything we do has that prize in mind… but until then, we’re determined to enjoy every step of the way. This is definitely a case of the journey being just as important and rewarding as the destination.

So, thanks for sticking with us and we can’t wait to get back to brewing and pouring frothy goodness for you over the months ahead. Until then… Cheers!

Richard, Allie, Addison & Quincy.

From the ESC website:
Elizabeth Street Cosmetics is a boutique collection of lipsticks and glosses that pays tribute to San Francisco’s charming Noe Valley district. As a twelve year resident of Elizabeth Street, nestled just off the business corridor of 24th Street, I continue to be inspired everyday by my beloved Victorian neighborhood. All lip products are named for streets in Noe Valley. – Kelly Crispen

My wife, Allie, is a big fan so go check it out. Maybe we should work with Kelly on some ESB-themed shades in the future.

Be sure to follow them on Twitter @elizstcosmetics and become a fan on Facebook.

Cheers,
Richard.

We’ve been hard at work brewing up some special batches of Daddy’s Chocolate Milk and this coming weekend we’ll be pouring our beer somewhere other than “just some f&*king room is some guy’s f&*king house.”

First up is the “Small Batch / Big Thirst” event on Saturday, February 12.

Event: SMALL BATCH / BIG THIRST
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 12th 2pm – 6pm
Location: Truc Stop, 246 Ritch Street, SF
Breweries (beers):
Pac Brew Lab (Hibiscus Saison, TBD);
Elizabeth Street Brewery (Daddy’s Chocolate Milk);
Mill Valley Beerworks (Botanical, TBD);
SFBG (Imperial Common);
Speakeasy (Imperial Coffee Porter);
Lagunitas (Hop High);
Muddy Puddle (Squirrel’s Blood, Belgique RyePA, TBD), more brewers to come!
Admission: 21 and over only; drink tickets for sale with all proceeds going to charity. Donations encouraged!

We’re really excited to see new folks out and about all celebrating craft beer!

7×7 Magazine has even made it one of their “top picks” for SF Beer Week.

See you Saturday afternoon!

Cheers!
Richard.

Cheers!
Richard.

A Tall, Cold Pint of NightLife
All about how beer is brewed with music by DJ Kramer and Tamo
July 15th, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

There’s nothing better on a summer night than a tall, cold glass of beer. Have you ever wondered how beer is brewed? What ‘hops’ are? What the difference between a lager and a pilsner is? Join some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s best microbreweries and beer experts, including San Francisco Brewcraft, MateVeza, Bison Brewing, Social Kitchen and Brewery, Elizabeth Street Brewery and others, to learn all about the art of brewing beer. All of these great beers will be available for sale tonight at NightLife.

Full details regarding the event can be found HERE. Hope to see you there!

Cheers,
Richard.

Doors will open at 7am on Saturday for the Argentina v Germany match. We’ll stay open until the conclusion of the second match between Paraguay and the winner of the Spain v Portugal match later today.

Hope to see you at the ESB on Saturday! 7am – 3pm. (We’ll be closed on Sunday, July 4 to celebrate Addison’s 4th birthday).

Cheers,
Richard.

Apparently not…

That’s right folks, our little homebrewpub in our basement managed to snag Best Microbrewery of 2010 in SF Weekly. A true honor for us considering we’re not selling any beer yet.

Best Microbrewery – 2010
Elizabeth Street Brewery

Every month or so, Richard and Alyson Brewer-Hay invite friends, neighbors, and beer lovers in general to drop by their Noe Valley home and sample the brews they’ve been cooking up in 5- and 10-gallon batches since 2003. A few years back, their rumpus room was converted into a pub for the reality program. This friendly wood-and-brick nook, decorated with framed photos, armchairs, a dartboard, and many many beer bottles, is the ideal setting to enjoy free samples of Quincy’s Winter Warmer porter; Auntie Ben’s unfiltered, ultrahoppy IPA; Mummy’s Double Honey ale; or Daddy’s Chocolate Milk, a rich and creamy stout crafted from four varieties of malt, including chocolate. Brewing updates and information on the next open house are available via the ESB Web site or Twitter: @ESBale.

2010 has truly been a surreal year for the ESB. The 21st Amendment collaboration brew we made that took gold at World Beer Cup and now this.

My commitment and promise to all the folks that have enjoyed a beer at ESB over the past few years is that this will not be distracting, nor will it take away from the ultimate goal: a true family brewpub in San Francisco.

Thanks for your continued support and we can’t wait to welcome you into our wee homebrewpub over the Summer.

Cheers!
Richard.

Cheers!
Richard.

All,
Well, I’m still feeling numb from the whole experience in Chicago last week but the capper to it all was that the Imperial ESB called “Imperial Jack” named after my late Grandfather, that I brewed with the good folks at 21st Amendment Brewery, won Gold in the Other Strong Beer category at the World Beer Cup 2010 Awards Dinner. You can see the brew day report HERE.

It was such a shock at the time that neither Allie nor I were able to fumble the video camera quickly enough to capture the moment on film. However, you can check out pictures from the evening here.

I am traveling for work this week but have a number of other videos I can share with you soon. For now, enjoy the pics. You can read the 21st Amendment blog post, HERE. The plan is to brew it again during the week of April 26, so look for it in May at the 21st Amendment in San Francisco.

Cheers!
RIchard.

Shaun and Richard brewing the Imperial Jack, January 14, 2010:

Shaun and Richard back home with the Gold:

Enjoy and Cheers!
Richard