Cali Beer Fest- the only place you'll get served beer by a bear

As if I didn’t defame myself enough among Google-happy potential employers with my first article about beer, I decided to attend Claremont’s 2nd annual California Beer Festival in order to enlighten the Claremont McKenna College community about the wonders of communal drinking. I know, choosing among 60 craft brews was quite the journalistic sacrifice, but I like to think that I’m a pretty selfless person.

This year, the California Beer Festival took place in Santa Cruz, Ventura, and our very own Claremont Village. I was told by a “Heroes and Legends” beer-pourer that last year, more than 1,200 people attended the event, and that they suspected that an even greater number partook in the festivities this year. Indeed, almost every corner of the Packing House streets were filled with beer-loving adults of all ages, races, and genders. Throughout the day, cover bands supplied the greatest in sing-along hits, from Guns ‘n Roses to Sublime. Though the festival was lined with a few local food vendors selling taquitos, hot dogs, and BBQ sandwiches, it goes without saying that beer was the main attraction. Upon entrance, every visitor is provided a small sampling cup. After that point, your festival experience is up to you.

An enthusiastic attendee dons the latest in beerfest fashion

Personally, I was excited to dive right in and sample. A beer festival is a unique environment for aspiring craft brew connoisseurs because it allows you to try interesting styles that you normally wouldn’t buy on your own. Some forward-thinking festival-goers donned strings of pretzels around their necks to nibble on as a palette cleanser between drinks. Beer festivals are also a great place to learn more about different breweries by chatting up brewery representatives: they’re just as excited as you are, talking about beer and giving out samples with enthusiasm and generosity (in the pouring department). Of course, there comes a point in the day where most beers you drink will start to taste the same, so don’t expect to leave the festival having tried every beer in sight.

Although there are a lot of taps available, the lines are comparable to the 6 o’clock cookie queue at Scripps dinner. But don’t let that discourage you- half the fun of this festival is meeting locals. Free-flowing beer means that everyone is socially lubricated enough to be your friend. Strike up a conversation with the nearest person in line, and you may just be surprised by whom you meet. For instance, I met a man who biked from DC to Key West in the ‘80s, and later found myself discussing national beer festivals with the writers of the Official Beer Blog. At the California Beer Festival, there’s no shortage of interesting, fun, and friendly people to meet.

Bottle caps from Tibetan beer company Lhasa

So are you dying to go to the California Beer Festival next year, but unable to pony up the $40 entrance fee? As a broke college student, I can sympathize. However, there were a good number of 5C students taking part in the festivities. For a limited time, discounted tickets were available for $30, but those sold out quickly. Some were fortunate enough to get their tickets subsidized by their press organization, while other students volunteered at the beer serving booths and got in for free. I can conclusively say that it is worth the money. Though you aren’t necessarily paying for $40 worth of beer, the pricing follows the same logic as attending a $40 concert- part of the cost comes from the priceless experience of having fun and meeting new people. Luckily, LA Beer Week takes place October 10-23, so if you couldn’t make it out to the Village this Saturday or are just hankering for more beer, those events are certainly worth a visit.

"Haha! See! Braces can be fun, right?!" No, never. But ordering drinks can be!

Unwilling to settle for my paltry knowledge of alcoholic beverages—which was limited to knowing to never drink red wine after that mortifying teeth-stain incident—I decided I’d do some field research to remedy my lack of wisdom. Let’s face it: nursing a red Solo cupful of Natty Light only gets you so far in life… and that place is usually tasteless.

By no means do I intend this to be a comprehensive guide to every type of drink.  For both of our sakes, this article only serves as the most basic overview to choosing your next beer, specifically of the craft variety.

I began my research at Delray Beach, Florida’s Coffee District. With 18 draft selections and over 150 types of bottles, it’s hard to find a craft beer selection in South Florida that can match this joint’s. I couldn’t have chosen a better, more open environment to learn about craft brews.  In fact, I’d give Coffee District a 0 PBV (0 pretension by volume). With the assistance of Chung, the bartender and my personal sensei for the afternoon, I tasted my way to enlightenment.

Chung indicated the beers on tap listed on the nearby chalkboard. Boasting curious names like Blue Point RastafaRye and Sweaty Betty Blond Wheat, the list was a far cry from the usual TNC selection. I read a few of the menu descriptions and settled on Anderson Valley Summer Solstice, a beer advertised as a creamy, refreshing summer drink with notes of caramel. “I’m going to warn you,” Chung began, “it’s a very tart beer.” He pulled me a sample from the tap, and was spot-on with his warning. No way could I have consumed a full glass of that. “Some people like tart beers, but I’m not one of them,” he said with a grin. I decided that Chung was just the bartender to educate me.

So, when your bartender hands you an intimidatingly extensive beer list, what’s your first step? Do you inquire as to what they recommend, like at a restaurant? Really, don’t do this. The beer that he or she prefers may be too bitter, too fruity, or too heavy for your taste. Bartenders recognize this unsavory possibility, so they’ll likely answer with another question: “What beers do you like?”

Since no one wants to end up  with 12 oz of a beer you hate, tell the  bartender the types of beers you have enjoyed. Since beer menus are usually organized by type, Chung recommends to begin by assessing which style of beer you like best. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification, or a brief description of each variety.  These include (but are definitely not limited to) ales (India Pale Ale, stout, Lambic, and wheat beer) and lagers (including Pilsner, Bock, Dunkel, etc.).

But how do you know which style you like best? Experiment! Start by trying each of the basics, which usually includes the beers we’re most familiar with, such as Bud Light (pale lager), Blue Moon (Belgian wheat beer), and Corona (pale lager). Tip: Many craft beer beginners start with the wheat/lager/Pilsner beers.  Consider these the gateway beers that will eventually lead you to connoisseur status. Soon you’ll be indulging in more obscure ales, like brews made by monks (for real: Trappist beers).

Chung encourages everyone to explore, keep an open mind, and “find your palate” in the process. (Didn’t I say he was a sensei?) He assured me that there is a beer for everyone, even for those self-professed beer-haters. For them, he recommends the lesser carbonated fruity ales, Lambics, and Framboise. If you’re a whiskey-lover, there are even beers that have hints of whiskey. Which leads me to my next point.

It’s important, Chung informed me, to talk to your bartender and to tell them what beers you like and what you don’t like.  The odds are favorable that he or she will let you sample a few beers before your make a final choice. Don’t be afraid to speak up; this will make their job easier, and your experience better.

Before I left Coffee District, Chung handed me the check, along with a sample of Belgian Tripel. “I think you’ll like this one,” he said coyly, as he slid the glass towards me. And the beer-sensei was right.  Apparently I wasn’t the only one learning about my drinking tastes that day. When it comes to deciding on your next craft beer, your bartender is your friend.

If you enjoyed this piece, you should also read Alcohol Policy Controversy, Circa 1992, Eureka!: Watch Out Back Abbey or With Alcohol Policy, Tradition Succumbs to Ebb and Flow.

Delicious California craft beer

When you walk in the front door at Eureka, it’s hard not to stare at the wall behind the bar.  It’s covered with a tantalizing menagerie of beer taps from all over the American West.  The décor is distinctly Californian: modern, wood-paneled, and laid back.  In keeping with the beer and atmosphere, the cuisine is Californian as well.  Innovative burgers and sandwiches dominate the menu, complemented by a variety of mostly meat-based starters and salads.  Prices are very reasonable: beer on tap goes for five or six dollars a pint; entrees are between nine and twelve dollars.

The service is excellent.  Our host and servers were friendly, prompt, and attentive, and the bartender was a first class beer geek – in the best sense possible.  The beer on the menu is organized into groups with fun names like “Hopocalypse,” for bitter beer, “Brunettes and Redheads” for brown and amber ales, and “Motor oil” for porter and stout.  It’s an eccentric, but effective way to help you get a feel for what you order.  There is a selection of bottled specialty beers behind the bar as well.  Feel free to ask for help with your selection of beer; there is something to complement every dish on the menu.

The portions are large enough that you don’t need an appetizer before your entrée, but the Eureka Truffle Fries sounded worth a try.  The plate came out quickly and well-presented.  To my disappointment, the fries were not as crispy as I like and tasted plain, but the sauce was delicious.  Truffle and gruyere work together to make a complex earthy richness in balance with a pleasant, ever so slightly spicy finish.

The Fig Marmalade Burger

The fries hadn’t been out ten minutes when our burgers came.  The plates came out looking like the cover of an issue of Bon Appétit. Burgers come with a side of fries, or for a little extra, salad, onion rings, cole slaw, or “sweet honey cinnamon potato fries.”  The onion rings were crispy and delicious.  Unfortunately, the fries remained unimpressive, but both thick handcrafted patties were cooked to perfection: crispy on the outside and tender medium rare on the inside.  The buns were perfect: flavorful, well-textured, and sturdy enough to stand up to the burgers.  In the Fig Marmalade burger, marmalade makes a sweet offset to an otherwise smoky burger piled with thick flavorful bacon, bitter arugula, and melted goat cheese.  The Cowboy Burger’s explosive trifecta of flavor from house-made beer barbeque sauce, shoestring onion rings, and more thick smoky bacon overwhelms the cheese, but you won’t mind.  The burgers at Eureka! are the best you will find in Claremont.

The Cowboy Burger

Although I was about ready to burst, I had to try dessert: Fried Ice Cream Sundae.  All in all, it wasn’t worth the effort.  The flavor was fine, but the fried caramel exterior got soggy quickly in the whipped cream and, though the menu mentioned mint, the flavor was nowhere to be found.

Should the Back Abbey be afraid?  I don’t think so.  Eureka! still has some dishes to improve before it can call itself a better restaurant.  Pommes frites and funnel cakes over at the Back Abbey are doubtlessly better than the fries and dessert at Eureka! Burger.  Nevertheless, It replaces the Back Abbey as my go-to beer and burger spot in Claremont.  The service is better, there is a larger selection of burgers and, though the beer menu isn’t as diverse as the Back Abbey’s, it’s large enough to keep my attention and is less expensive.  When it comes down to it, Eureka! serves better burgers and bargain pints.  And at Eureka!, a burger is all you need.

The low down: This place has got it going on.  Stick to an entrée, swap out the fries for another side, and buy a craft beer to match.  You won’t need more food.

It tends to be busy, so call ahead for a reservation.

Eureka! Burger

580 W. First St.

Claremont, CA 91711

909.445.8875

The dominant social status game at every college in the US is partying. Partying lets us judge how fun other people are to be around, how much other people seem to like them and what sort of sexual partners they attract. On its face it makes little sense that our nation’s best and brightest youth are so willing to drink; alcohol use kills brain cells, hurts academic and athletic performance, makes us more aggressive/more prone to engage in risky behavior, and has severe long-term health effects.

But drinking gives us higher status, because it’s a credible signal of commitment; by drinking, we show our peers that we’re willing to take risks and hurt ourselves for the benefit of the group. Drinking also gives us high status because it’s wasteful – it kills brain cells, makes the drinker feel sick, and makes schoolwork impossible, so it’s notable if you can party hard and still get good grades. When you see studies showing that drinkers earn more money than nondrinkers, it’s not because alcohol opens pathways in the brain – it’s because people who drink have higher status than nondrinkers, and thus are more likely to get paid more, compete in the workplace, and get bonuses.

CMC is the hardest partying school of any of the 5C’s, due mainly to our cultural legacy as a men’s only college, and the high proportion of athletes here. Because of our reputation and culture, not only do we attract students who are more likely to engage in hard partying, but we also train each incoming class to value partying as well. We assign social status to other CMC students based on how fun they are to be around and the status of their sexual partners, both of which are facilitated by partying and alcohol.

As long as drinking gives students higher status, then any attempts by the school to reduce the amount of drinking, either through more restrictive policy or through admitting more introverted students, will fail. Partying will get pushed inside dorm rooms, to the other colleges, Claremont bars or College Park. But people will continue partying; they have to, to preserve their status. High status people could announce that they’re playing a different game, but they earned their high status by being good at partying, so they have little incentive to change the game, just like you wouldn’t want CMC to suddenly begin admitting students with low SAT scores.

To be alcohol-free is to risk being judged harshly by one’s peers and not invited along the next time everyone goes out. While Kenley Turville works her tail off for SLC, dry events will never be a big draw, because everyone worries that they’ll be assigned low status for choosing not to drink. We assert that we can have good time without drinking, or we know someone who’s fun and doesn’t drink, but we’re still there on a Saturday night taking pulls from a handle of Captain Morgan and bragging about how drunk we were the next morning at Collins. While the administration thinks the problem is simply about alcohol, for students, the stakes are far higher than a few shots.

(with thanks to Andy McKenzie and Charlie Sprague for discussion, and Katie Walker for the photo)

Should CMC change its alcohol policy?  Come listen to the discussion on Tuesday, November 17 at Debate Night at the Ath.  Sign up here.

#16 Best Campus Food (+1)
#7 Best Career Services (-5)
#11 Dorms Like Palaces (no change)
#3 Happiest Students (+1)
#15 Lots of Race/Class Interaction (+3)
#11 Most Popular Study Abroad Program (not ranked last year)
#10 Most Politically Active Students (+1)
#13 Professors Get High Marks (not ranked last year)
#10 Most Accessible Professors (+1)
#3 School Runs Like Butter (+2)
#13 Great Financial Aid (-3)
#1 Easiest Campus to Get Around (not ranked last year)
#3 Best Quality of Life (+2)

And lastly, the ranking that CMC Public Affairs left off in their annual self-congratulatory mass e-mail…
Lots of Beer #5 (+8)

You can bet your Icehouse keg that President Gann is getting angry phone calls from alumni and parents about that one.  It’s not surprising that Public Affairs left it out in the e-mail, but it is strange that the e-mail is from “Public Affairs Office,” as if someone (Richard Rodner?) doesn’t want to stand behind it.

Anyway, expect to see some backlash against ASCMC in the form of increased security at parties, RA narc-ing, and difficulty when registering kegs.  In addition, Dean of Students will get some heat, and Trustee committee meetings will dwell on the issue for far too long.  Last year I wrote a post on the topic of beer at CMC, but it goes without saying that this ranking is based on widely-held misconceptions about CMC parties.  (On a side note, Preston Waserman ’11 thinks we can do better: “I really think with the right attitude we can get to top three,” Waserman said in his most recent Twitter.)

As for the rankings as a whole, they seem to indicate that not only did we drink more, but we admitted three or four more minorities and international students, got rejected from lots of jobs, fired a housing coordinator, and had slightly better weather.  Not a bad year.

Overall, I would say that Princeton Review does a good job of ranking the Claremont Colleges within the Claremont Colleges.  Yes, CMCers might drink more than Pitzer and the other 5Cs, but we’re pretty comparable to Pomona and pale in comparison to most state schools.  And yes, Pitzer has lot more “Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians” who happen to smoke pot than the other 5Cs.  But I wouldn’t say Harvey Mudd is truly among the least beautiful campuses in the country or that CMC’s beer consumption per capita is anywhere close to that of some Ivy League schools.

Here’s how the other 5Cs fared:

Scripps:
#4 Dorms Like Palaces
#4 Most Beautiful Campus
#19 Easiest Campus to Get Around

Pomona:
#14 Dorms Like Palaces
#7 School Runs Like Butter
#5 Great Financial Aid
#13 Least Religious Students
#1 Best Classroom Experience
#19 Best Quality of Life

Pitzer:
#10 Most Popular Study Abroad Program
#12 Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians
#19 Gay Community Accepted
#7 Lots of Race/Class Interaction
#14 Reefer Madness
#11 Least Religious Students
#11 Most Liberal Students

Harvey Mudd:
#7 Least Beautiful Campus
#17 Intercollegiate Sports Unpopular or Nonexistent
#15 Professors Get High Marks
#12 Most Accessible Professors
#18 Students Study the Most

Last week, Boswell and the Environmental Crusaders teamed up for Save the Ales TNC, complete with local beer made from 100% certified organic barley and biodegradable corn cups.  To celebrate Earth Day (today, fools!), we bring you the photo petition they collected during the party.  Click the bottom right to watch in full screen and see if your friends got caught on camera holding embarrassing signs (“Get me laid: save the ales!”).

What’s a photo petition, you ask??  Instead of collection a bunch of signatures (boringggggg), they took pictures of people with signs saying why they supported climate change legislation and “saving the ales.”

Save the Ales parties have been happening at colleges all over the country as part of the Sierra Student Coalition’s climate change awareness efforts.  Climate change is having a negative effect on many crops, including hops in the Pacific Northwest (where most US breweries get their supply).  When hops crops fail, the price of beer rises and college kids with tight wallets all over the nation suffer anguish and injustice.

Did you appreciate having really nice beer at TNC and drinking out of a cup that wasn’t going to spend the next 400 years sitting in a garbage dump? (I have no idea how long it takes a red cup to deteriorate…) You’re in luck then, because the Crusaders hope to have at least 2 green TNCs next year.

(Full disclosure:  Yes, I used to be in charge of the Environmental Crusaders.  I still help them with some stuff, but I don’t hold an officer position anymore.  If you are part of a club and would like to see your events featured on the Forum, drop us a line and tell us how awesome your events are.  If they’re cool, maybe, just maybe, we’ll write them up.)

To be honest, I don’t think anyone in the history of the world has ever had a problem entertaining themselves when they were wasted. Frankly, I’d rather ASCMC focus on things that Jack Daniels and Jim Bean can’t already provide for me. For example, what if they tried bring more employers to our campus. With the economy tanking, we need CMC’s help finding internships and post-graduation employment more than ever.  If ASCMC and the rest of our student government is to ever be anything more than fodder for the resumes of the over-ambitious it has to break the mold. Right now it is nothing more than a glorified party planning agency.

However, as long as these positions continue to be democratically elected, this is never going to happen. The only thing cool in our frat boy culture is those events associated with the killing of brain cells.  Sadly, the only way to get our votes is to pretend like Sunday-Wednesday is an inconsequential portion of the week.

So in a sentence: the voters are idiots. Yeah I’m talking about you.  It’s not the candidate’s fault that the only thing ever mentioned is alcohol; it’s our own damn fault.  A democratic election is only as valuable as its constituent voters. A populace that is uniformly biased in one direction—in our case towards electing the most John Belushiesque candidate—cannot help but produce flawed results.

The only solution to this seemingly insoluble problem is to get rid of the democratic process all together.  Let’s have an “elite” council of Guardians within ASCMC appoint the various positions. Those are the people who most understand the rigors of the job and who are best positioned to find the most qualified applicant.

Now, if this was instituted, I’m sure lots of people would bitch and moan. I got that covered don’t worry. All we would need is sham elections. ASCMC could just “count” the votes in such a way as to make sure their candidate wins. That way everyone ends up happy. We get the warm fuzzy feeling that our vote made a difference, while still electing those most qualified to lead our campus. Damn…this doesn’t even sound that bad. I am not so sure I am even joking anymore.

(Corrected: John, not Jim Belushi)

Claremont McKenna College
Rank List
#15      Best Campus Food
#2        Best Career/Job Placement Services
#11      Dorms Like Palaces
#4        Happiest Students
#13      Lots of Beer
#18      Lots of Race/Class Interaction
#11      Most Politically Active Students
#11      Most Accessible Professors
#5        School Runs Like Butter
#10      Students Happy with Financial Aid
#15      Best Classroom Experience
#5        Best Quality of Life

Why are we on the race/class interaction list?  See our humble neighbors below…  (couldn’t ask for more appropriate from Scripps or Pitzer)

Pomona
Rank List
#12     Dorms Like Palaces
#14     Happiest Students
#1       School Runs Like Butter
#3       Students Happy with Financial Aid
#14     Least Religious Students
#3       Best Classroom Experience
#10     Best Quality of Life

Pitzer
Rank List
#1      Lots of Race/Class Interaction
#12    Reefer Madness
#12    Least Religious Students
#16    Most Liberal Students

Harvey Mudd
Rank List
#6      Least Beautiful Campus
#17    Intercollegiate Sports Unpopular or Nonexistent
#8      Professors Get High Marks
#13    Most Accessible Professors
#5      Students Study the Most

Scripps
Rank List
#13    Best Campus Food
#4      Dorms Like Palaces
#6      Most Beautiful Campus

Update 7/31/08:
CMC.edu has a press release on this here.