OMG the 12th annual Stumptown Beer & BBQ Revival 2014!

Yesterday I thought I’d died and gone to heaven… HOG & HOPS HEAVEN!

 

http://www.stumptown.com/revival/

As we took the freeway exit off of 101 north and drove down into the lush green cascades of wine vineyards along the scenic River Road into Guerneville, California, you get a feel that you are in for a beautiful adventure. I was fortunate enough to get to be on the sound crew at the 12^th annual Stumptown Beer & BBQ Revival. The fact that I’m a home brewer and a BBQ nut was just a secret.  I was a guest of the MC and DJ.  Talk about epic gigs to get!  This is his 4^th year there. 

Steven & Grego at the sound tent.

Stumptown Brewery looks like a small place from the main road, but when you enter it is a large rustic restaurant and bar with one huge wooden outdoor patio and deck overlooking the Russian River. There is a large event space down at the river where they set up the Beer & BBQ revival, tents, a stage for live music and it’s a BBQ competition, so top local Pit Masters and their team’s journey to this event and camp the night before to get ready.

We got there around 10:00am and the smell of smoked hickory, cherry and apple wood filled the air.  30 Breweries and 30 BBQ teams participate! 

Breweries:

21st Amendment, 101 North Brewing, Anderson Valley Brewing, Baeltane Brewing, Beach Chalet, Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, Boonville Cider House, Bear Republic Brewing, Berryessa Brewing, Blue Frog brewery, Brewbakers Brewing, Crabbies Ginger Beer, Crispin Cider, Deschutes Brewery, Drake's Brewing, Eel River Brewing, El Toro Brewing, Faction Brewing, Firestone Walker Brewing, Fog Belt, Fort Point, Grand Teton Brewing, Iron Springs Brewing, Karl Straus Brewing, Lagunitus Brewing, Lost Coast Brewing, Mad River Brewing, Marin Brewing, Mendocino Brewing, Moonlight Brewing, Moylan's, Napa Smith Brewery, Noble Ale Works, North Coast Brewing, Pine St. Brewery, Rubicon Brewing, Russian River Brewing, Ruth McGowan's Brew Pub, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Seabright Brewing, Snake Bite, Sonoma Cider, South Paw, Speakeasy Ales, Strike Brewing, Stumptown Brewery, Third Street Aleworks, Triple Rock Brewing, Trumer Brauerei, Two Rivers Cider, Uncommon Brewers. Warped Brewing, Woodfour Brewing.

BBQ Teams:

21st Amendment, Asiens's Appliance (Wine Country Eggheads), Bender's Bar & Grill, Black Hole BBQ, Bushgen's Boys' BBQ, Clear Cut To The Coast BBQ, Code 3 BBQ, Crown Fire Q, D & D Whole Hog BBQ, The Elecrified Pumacorns, Fat Daddy's Catering, Four Brothers Smoking, Hella Grubbin', Hop Rods, Inlaws n' Outlaws, Latch Key Grillers (Costeaux Bakery), The Mad Scientist, The Master Basters, Northwood Restaurant, P.E.T.A. (People Eating Tasty Animals), Pokers and Smokers, Ridiculously Raunchy Ribs, Seabright Brewery, Sir Smokesalot, Smoke on the Water, Smokin' Daddy's Catering, Sonoma County Brew Crew, South of the Porter, Swami Tommy's BBQ Experience, Tempest S.F., Triple Rock BBQ, Two Fat Jacks, Two Rivers, ...

Cute boys rolling up with a truck load of smokers.

That's his Grandfather, a family of BBQ masters!

 

A table full of chicken wings marinating in dry rub love getting ready for the smoker!

We had a couple hours before the doors opened to set up and do sound checks with the bands.  There is a 500 person limit for this event, it’s just the perfect number of people for the space.  You don’t feel crowded and there is plenty of EVERYTHING for EVERYONE.  No Tickets at the Door / Pre Sale Only - Tickets are $75 per person and sell out within hours when they go online –not exaggerating. It's all you can eat and drink all day! Proceeds go to the Guerneville Senior Center!

All of your favorite Micro-breweries in one place with ice cold kegs of their finest hand crafted beer & ciders were setting up!  The wafting smell of REAL BBQ in the air on a perfect summer day on the river. I kept pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming!   

I had my beer goggles on and was ready to try EVERYTHING!  I met so many fabulous brewers, bbqers, musicians, and awesome foodies galore - even ELVIS!  It was fun to be a part of the crew.  I got some great shots with the old iphone of peeps before the masses arrived.  We started partying early.

I had a TOTAL BLAST with the Speakeasy folks!

One of my favorite local breweries was there!!

It felt like home when I saw the surfboard river paddle guy. 
 (I live in surfer central on the ocean in Pacifica, CA)

 

 

I met so many amazing people!  The makers and lovers of fine beer are a special breed of individual.  When they all get together, brewers and BBQers are like family.  I sampled some outstanding BBQ pork ribs and chicken wings, but the ultimate was the beer.  OH THE BEER!  Thank God they give you one of those smaller sized beer glasses because there are so many to try, you need to pace yourself, and try I did – I TRIED THEM ALL!  I was proudly and happily hammered by sundown.   

 

I learned so much about smoking meat, better ways to clarify home brew, and what I like and don't like.  They had a peoples choice award and a best in show award for BBQ.  I was so wasted by the time they made the announcements, I'll have to get back to on who won.

Then came the after party up at the brewery with the hilarious Elvis impersonator band.  OH YEA!  I got some great funny video of my housemate Lisa with him.

BEST EVENT EVER!!!!!  

As soon as I recover from this blissful hangover, I’ll update this page with more details, and the winners and highlights, I need a nap.