Alameda Point, CA — Thursday, October 3, 2019 — Alameda Island has become a haven for craft beer, spirits, wine, and world-class foods. This fall, neighbors Almanac Beer Co. and Admiral Maltings team up to host a weekend-long showcase of the island’s bounty. The inaugural Alameda Harvest Celebration will feature a wide range of delicious artisanal foods and beverages from more than a dozen Alameda-based companies and purveyors. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Alameda Point Collaborative, a local nonprofit working to end homelessness in the Bay Area.
The Alameda Harvest Celebration is free for the public to attend, kid and dog friendly, and wheelchair accessible. Food and beverages are pay-as-you-go. The Alameda Harvest Celebration will be located onsite in and around Almanac Beer Co. and Admiral Maltings at 651 W. Tower Ave., in Alameda, CA. The event runs from 12pm – 9pm on Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27, 2019.
Featuring Libations & Artisanal Foods From Alameda’s Finest Purveyors:
Alameda Island Brewing, Alameda Point Craft Soda Company, Almanac Beer Company, Building 43 Winery, Burnt Ends BBQ, Devout Coffee, Faction Brewing, Hangar 1 Vodka, Next Door Baker, Rock Wall Wine Company, Scolari’s Good Eats, Squabisch Pretzels, St. George Spirits, and Urban Legend Cellars
Get Updates:
RSVP on Facebook here and follow #alamedaharvest on Instagram.
For Detailed Information Regarding the Alameda Purveyors, Please See Below:
Admiral Maltings
Admiral Maltings produces premium quality malt using unique barley, wheat, rye and oat varieties, traditional floor-malting methods and sustainably grown, locally sourced grain. With our emphasis on process, terroir, grain variety, and freshly kilned malt, Admiral Maltings seeks to meet the changing demands of a growing craft beer and spirits industry by offering California based creativity, choice, innovation and freshness to craft brewers and distillers. Admiral Maltings fosters a robust connection between craft brewers and distillers and their local agricultural community. Admiral Maltings supports sustainable farming including No-Till, CCOF Organic, and dry farmed grains. Admiral Maltings’ facility has a grey water system and its malt bags are 100% recyclable.
Almanac Beer Company
Almanac was launched in 2011 by Damian Fagan and Jesse Friedman, two avid home brewers who bonded over their mutual appreciation for California farmers markets. They set out to brew beers inspired by California’s rich agricultural bounty, and brewed their first beer — a Belgian-style golden ale aged in Sonoma County Zinfandel barrels with Sonoma County blackberries.
Our name, Almanac, refers to the Farmer’s Almanac, a reference guide for farmers that has been published every year since 1818. Our motto, Farm to Barrel, was adopted to reflect our passion for brewing barrel-aged beers that showcase ingredients from California farms. All of our beers are brewed, aged and packaged at our new 30,000 square foot home on the former Alameda Point Naval Airbase on beautiful Alameda Island. 100% of our portfolio of beers utilizes California ingredients and spans the gamut from delicate oak-aged lagers, to nuanced barrel-aged sours, decadent stouts, and of course, hazy IPAs.
Alameda Point Collaborative
The Alameda Point Collaborative’s mission is working to end homelessness by providing housing and services to create communities where formerly homeless families and individuals can flourish. In 1999, APC transformed vacant military housing on the former Alameda Naval Air Station into a supportive housing community. APC now provides over 500 formerly homeless residents with the safety and stability of a place to call home. APC has also created social enterprise businesses including Farm2Market and Ploughshares Nursery.
Alameda Island Brewing
Alameda Island Brewing Company was founded by Matthew Fox and Bill Phua. Stationed here in the Coast Guard from 1998-2000, Matt immediately fell in love with the island. He met his wife (a fourth generation Alamedan) here in 1999. After home brewing for eight years, Matt pursued turning his love of brewing into a career. The beer loving Bill Phua, having the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of brewing beer, stepped in as partner and investor. A two-year process followed working with the State, the City and the Federal Government to get the brewery up and running. During the building of the brewery, Matt interned at a brewery in Southern California, Inland Empire Brewing Company, and was able to learn about brewing on a larger scale, while Bill used his extensive engineering background to build the brewery from the ground up.
The name was decided on to show pride in the City they are a part of and love. Matt having been stationed here and spending a great deal of time here with his family, wanted to become part of the community. What better way than to be Alameda Island Brewing Company?
Alameda Point Craft Soda Company
In 2016 we were given a unique opportunity to support local independent bars and restaurants with beverage and service. We said, “hell yes!” We’ve heard the complaints coming from the bar and restaurant business. As a small private company, we would be agile and smart enough to ease their burdens. Yet there was a bigger vision. From that moment on, we felt a responsibility in our community to provide a better beverage. We believe in offering bars and restaurants a local craft soda alternative to “Big Soda.”
To start, it was clear we could drop High Fructose Corn Syrup for Pure Cane and formulate a better tasting beverage. Next, we wanted to connect with the pride we feel for our community. So we branded our beverages to the unique Bay Area locations we love. We would make soda the ‘good guy’ again and give it the same respect as micro brewers show their brands. From those commitments arose Alameda Point Craft Soda Co.
Building 43 Winery
Building 43 Winery specializes in handcrafted, sustainable, small-batch varietals from the Sierra Foothills. Our tasting room is a refurbished historic Naval Aviation EOD Locker adorned with custom metal works, wine barrels, and military memorabilia. Sip wine from the comfort of our tasting room or mosey outside to our garden patio — complete with fireplace and steps away from stunning panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay skyline.
Burnt Ends BBQ
Burnt Ends BBQ Food Truck specializes in delivering quality BBQ with a modern twist. Traditionally, BBQ restaurants have served BBQ plates consisting of a choice of meat or meats with an option of sides. Burnt Ends BBQ keeps within tradition by providing customers with smoked meats cooked “low and slow” but has traded the traditional concept of sitting and eating into a faster casual dining experience. Cooking meat “low and slow” is a technique used by Pit Masters. Burnt Ends BBQ’s brisket, pork, and chicken are all smoked at a very low temperature ensuring the meat is “fall off the bone” tender and filled with rich smoky flavor. Stepping away from the traditional BBQ plates and sides, Burnt Ends BBQ places our meat of a fresh, daily baked roll and tops it with a signature sauce and house slaw. The house slaw, unlike traditional coleslaw, is vinegar not mayonnaise based. The warm juicy meat accompanied with a signature smoky BBQ sauce and house slaw, provides a perfect combination of traditional BBQ flavors with a modern presentation.
Devout Coffee
Devout Coffee was once just two brothers in the garage, with a bbq converted into a coffee roaster. Fascinated by specialty coffee and the flavors that can be produced solely from the bean, they began to search out how to recreate that explosion of flavor they had experienced in specialty shops in the bay area. As they began to show friends and family what coffee could, (and in our opinion, should) taste like they realized that people really loved it! Unless these friends wanted to drive 30min to the cities surrounding (or visit the garage…) there was just no place like it in their town of Fremont, CA.
After much consideration Jon + Stevie decided to give Devout Coffee their best shot. They were gifted a Slayer Espresso machine, purchased a 2kilo roaster and started selling their beans to friends and family. In Dec. of 2013 a location opened up on the Historic Niles Blvd. the home of the ‘first hollywood’ of the 1900’s where dreams and passion drove people to create and innovate what is has become common core of our culture today. They made 37323 Niles blvd. the home base of Devout Coffee. Together with a few of their friends, they set out to change the culture of coffee in Fremont and bridge the gap between coffee cultures in Oakland and San Jose.
Faction Brewing
Rodger Davis and Claudia Pamparana opened Faction Brewing in September of 2013. Rodger has been a part of the West Coast Craft Beer scene for over 20 years. Originally a Southern California native, Rodger received his certificate in Brewing Science from Siebel Institute of Technology and World Brewing Academy in Chicago. Before opening Faction he was the Head Brewer at Drake’s Brewing in San Leandro and Triple Rock Brewery in Berkeley. Rodger enjoys drinking Underbergs, listening to Africa by Toto on repeat, and giving people the middle finger. Claudia grew up in Southern California and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Boston University. She spent many years as the face behind the bar and manager at 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco. Claudia enjoys landscaping, drinking Penske, and telling Rodger to knock it off.
Hangar 1 Vodka
Head Distiller Caley Shoemaker oversees all phases of production. Not to mention, she is one of only a handful of female distillers to lead operations for a major American spirit brand. Caley got her start in craft spirits distilling at Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey, where she immersed herself in every aspect of the production process, from the sourcing of raw ingredients to distillation and bottling. Caley describes herself as a “spirits nerd” and is fascinated by how the chemistry of distilling affects the quality, texture and flavor of the final product. She is endlessly inspired by the areas abundant seasonal ingredients. When she’s not visiting local farmers’ markets, Caley can be found honing her photography skills or experimenting with new recipes.
Rock Wall Wine Company
Rock Wall Wine Company is located on the former Alameda Naval Air Base which was decommissioned in 1997 and turned over to the community and is slowly being converted to civilian use. The name Rock Wall refers to the defensive perimeter wall built during WWII in the San Francisco Bay to protect the base from Japanese air to sea torpedoes. The Rock Wall Wine Company represents a new chapter in the East Bay winemaking scene. The winery offers wine lovers one of the most unique experiences in the wine world. Shauna Rosenblum is the winemaker for Rock Wall Wine Company. She learned everything she knows about winemaking from her father Kent Rosenblum who was known as the “King of Zin.”
Ideally situated in Alameda, California, the winery boasts spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, and more importantly its locale allows the winemaking team to be regionally centralized — ensuring that whether Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, Zinfandel from Sonoma County, Petite Sirah from Contra Costa County or Chardonnay from the Santa Lucia Highlands, the winemaking team is able to handle the fruit soon after it is picked.
Scolari’s Good Eats
Since opening in 2010, Scolari’s has offered a wide selection of “Good Eats” utilizing ingredients sourced both locally and globally. Our focus on the tasty rather than the territory and the delectable over the dramatic enables us to bring a diverse array of cuisines to your table without the extended pinky finger.
Squabisch Pretzels
“Schwäbische Pretzels with a California twist.” Squabisch is my pretzel business. I make pretzels by hand and offer them for sale in or around Berkeley, CA at various events & locations. I also teach pretzel making classes.
St. George Spirits
Welcome to America’s Original Craft Distillery. Proudly independent. Passionate about innovation. Committed to craft. Over nearly four decades at the vanguard of the American craft spirits revolution, we have been distilling exceptional artisanal spirits with integrity. Our family of spirits includes single malt whiskey, absinthe, and several gins, vodkas, brandies, and liqueurs. Since 1982, we have been an American original. Taste our spirits and you’ll understand.
Urban Legend Cellars
Urban Legend is a winery in a city — almost an apocryphal story in itself — that makes remarkable wines. Throughout our careers, we’ve introduced technologies that no one ever thought would work — and changed the world. When we wanted to drink wines that were perfect complements to our local fooddiverse flavors, honest ingredients, a sophisticated yet approachable style — we said: “We’ll have to make them ourselves; we’ll make them where the food is created — in the city; and we’ll do it together!” It’s not a traditional strategy — just a very American one. Today, we hand craft more than a dozen Urban Legend wines that each, uniquely, salutes the varied flavors of California and our home: Oakland, America’s most diverse city.
Media Contacts:
Jesse P. Cutler, JP Cutler Media, 510.658.3236, jesse@jpcutlermedia.com
Annalena Barrett, Almanac Brewing Co., annalena@almanacbeer.com