Anchor Brewing launches membership drive for California State Parks Foundation

Announcement from Anchor Brewing:

Anchor Brewing Company Extends Partnership with

California State Parks Foundation

San Francisco, CA (August 24, 2016) – In a continued effort to preserve and protect California’s natural heritage, Anchor Brewing Company launches a membership drive for the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF). In February of 2013, Anchor Brewing initiated a partnership with CSPF in conjunction with the release of Anchor California Lager®. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Anchor California Lager supports conservation projects in California State Parks that help enrich the state’s innate natural beauty. In the past year, Anchor Brewing has funded three important grants distributed by California State Parks Foundation.

“Enjoying our state’s natural beauty is a fundamental part of the California lifestyle,” said CEO and President of Anchor Brewing, Matt Davenport. “Here at Anchor we embrace and celebrate that lifestyle, making beer to be enjoyed in valleys and on peaks, taking in the landscape with a cold brew in-hand. We strive to make beer that inspires people to go outdoors and Anchor California Lager is a perfect example of that, given our partnership with the California State Parks Foundation. Anchor Brewing is dedicated to its role as a steward for environmental conservation, preserving California’s natural heritage and outdoor lifestyle for generations to come.”

 

Expanding on this, Anchor is now hosting a membership drive for CSPF, encouraging the public to visit California State Parks and become a member of CSPF, helping their efforts to preserve and protect state parks. Anchor has also recently funded three important CSPF grants, benefiting Citizens for East Shore Parks, Jack London Park Partners and Santa Barbara County Trails Council.

 

Citizens for East Shore Parks is funding a study on land birds and their habitat in the Albany Bulb, a historically and geographically significant parcel on the East Bay shoreline. The study will advise and guide the Albany Bulb Transition Plan's habitat and wildlife conservation and restoration goals as the area becomes part of McLaughlin East Shore State Park. It is expected to be completed by late summer 2016.

The Jack London Park Partners grant will help update and modernize The House of Happy Walls Museum, which serves as the main visitor center and museum for the park. It was built by Charmian London, as a memorial to Jack London and contains artifacts and mementos attesting to this world famous author's literary success and adventurous lifestyle. The project is anticipated to be completed by November 2016.

Finally, the Santa Barbara County Trails Council will add an entrance sign, kiosk, trail markers, and maps for a significantly underutilized area of El Capitán State Beach, improving access to the land. The grant will have a direct impact on visitors’ experience and as it was just awarded work is expected to begin immediately.

In addition to fundraising efforts, Anchor employees have joined CSPF staff for Anchor volunteer days at California State Parks, which have helped to support conservation projects at Fort Ross, Half Moon Bay, Candlestick Point and China Camp State Parks, with additional projects planned in the future.

Actively embracing California’s brewing traditions, Anchor California Lager is a re-creation of a historic beer; the first genuine lager brewed in California.  The label features a California Grizzly Bear, an icon for the state, as well as California State Parks. CSPF works to provide care for the state’s 279 parks and ensure that everyone is able to enjoy these national treasures. In this way, California’s enduring natural heritage is celebrated and protected.

Join Anchor Brewing in supporting the California State Parks Foundation by becoming a member today. The drive runs through September 30, 2016.

1      Visit calparks.org/anchor

2      Save $5 on your Membership Fee

3      Receive a FREE hiker’s guide to California’s State Parks

Anchor  will be also hosting "Party for the Parks", a membership-drive event for the California State Parks Foundation:

Location: Anchor Beer Garden at The Yard --100 Terry A Francois Blvd., San Francisco

Date: Thursday, September 15th

Hours: from 5 pm 'til 7 pm

The CSPF will be onsite to sign up new members.  Sign up and receive $5 off of membership, and a free copy of the CA State Parks Hiker's Guide.  Anchor Brewing will also be offering deals on pints and growlers of Anchor California Lager, and will donate $1 to the CSPF for every pint of Anchor California Lager sold at the event.

Another opening: Loma Brewing in Los Gatos (CA)

Loma Brewing Co. has announced the opening of its brewery and pub in downtown Los Gatos on Thursday, August 18th.

Details can be found at  the brewery's website: www.lomabrew.com

Farm Creek Brewing opens in Walnut Creek (CA).

After a three-year effort, Randy Janinda and family have opened their brewery and taproom in downtown Walnut Creek. 

The Janinda's opened the place up on Thursday, August 4th, and Friday, August 5th, for special soft-opening events for friends and supporters, before launching the taproom to the general public on Saturday.

Farm Creek is determined to not be "another IPA mill", and plans to produce a variety of brews.  To this end, Randy has hired award-winning brewer Winn Whisenhunt (formerly brewer at San Francisco's Bartlett Hall) to assist.

At the moment, they have three brews on tap: Southern Smile, a pale ale (5.5% abv); an American lager amusingly- and appropriately-named, #Beer (4.5% abv); and Favorite Daughter, a flavorful 3.7% abv beer labeled an "amber", but which, as Randy readily admits, is somewhat defiant of categorization -brewed with the addition of rye and smoked malt; too dark for an amber, but not quite fitting the profile of a brown ale.

All three are available in tasters and pints, but -most fun of all- you can get them to go in a 32-oz aluminum "crowler" (can + growler) which is filled and sealed right before your eyes when you place your order.

Visitors are greeted by two large copper-clad brewing vessels, and are able to partake of Farm Creek's brews just feet or inches from where they were made.

That proximity, and the care and love invested by the Janindas, make the taproom's vibe a friendly and intimate one.  

Seating is mostly spread between a couple of communal tables, but if you get there at the right moment you might be able to score one of the corner rocking chairs!

Farm Creek Brewing Co.
1415 Pine St
Walnut Creek, CA

www.farmcreekbrewing.com

Watch these spaces...

2115 Pacheco St, Concord, future home of Hop Heavy Brewing Co.

Recent surveys by the Brewer's Association indicate that in the US new craft breweries open at about one every two weeks.  Our area is certainly part of that trend, with several breweries opening or due to open in the near future.

Calicraft just opened its taproom in Walnut Creel last week, after a four year effort, and the much-awaited Farm Creek Brewing's brewery and taproom is set to open to the public on August 6th, under the direction of founder/owner Randy Janinda and new head brewer Winn Whisenhnut (formerly of Bartlett Hall in San Francisco).

Danville Brewing Co., meanwhile, is in the final stages of preparation, with estimates of an end-of-summer or early fall opening of its taproom on Railroad Ave, in Danville, with Matt Sager as head brewer. Matt is an award-wining homebrewer and until recently head brewer at Rock Steady Brewing in Martinez.

Also nearing final stages is Livermore's Shadow Puppet Brewing's brewery and taproom with Craig Danielson at the helm, in his first foray as a professional brewer. Craig is also an award-wining homebrewer with years of experience under his belt.

Another accomplished homebrewer going pro is Max Brown, who is steadily working away at getting his taproom ready to open in downtown Concord. Hop Heavy Brewing will be located on Pachecho Street, just a block from Todos Santos Plaza.  Max is expecting to open within the next six months.