Scenes from Bacon and Beer Classic at San Jose’s Municipal Stadium, Nov. 2015
I’ll just get right to it. Below are some of the sights from the Bacon and Beer Classic – the evening session – held this past Saturday at Municipal Stadium in San Jose.
It’s always a pleasure catching up with Santa Clara Valley Brewing’s Peter Estaniel.
Lagunitas Born Yesterday Pale Ale – such a fresh, bright beer.
New Belgium Brewing Company’s Ross Larkin.
Stone Brewing’s Kory Snider (left).
Ballast Point’s Kevin Leonard (right).
Sweet, delectable treats from Psycho Donuts.
Hanging out with Gigante.
Derrick Peterman of Ramblings of a Beer Runner.
I couldn’t resist one of these churros.
All smiles with Wine Warehouse’s Bobby Favela.
Stephanie and Seth Hendrickson of Golden State Brewery.
DBI’s Carlos Laurenco.
Heretic Brewing Company’s Nick Bustamante.
Strike Brewing Co.’s Rick Esparza gives the thumbs up.
I was very, very grateful to be invited to join a judging panel to help select winners in a variety of bacon and beer categories.
WINNING BRUNCH DISHES
- Best Sweet: Roots & Rye Monkey Bread with Bacon Cream Frosting
- Best Savory: The Village Bacon-Wrapped Scallops with Reboso Sauce
- Best Pure Bacon: Stanley’s Sports Bar Candied Spiked Apple Bacon
- People’s Choice: Grub Shack Kalua Pork & Bacon Croquette
WINNING EVENING DISHES
- Best Sweet: Sweet Tooth Confections Bacon Popcorn, Cupcakes and Cheesecakes
- Best Savory: Firehouse No.1 Gastropub Bacon Sausage
- Best Pure Bacon: Stanley’s Sports Bar Candied Spiked Apple Bacon
- People’s Choice: Grub Shack Kalua Pork & Bacon Croquette
- Best Overall: Grub Shack Kalua Pork & Bacon Croquette
WINNING BEERS
- Best Summery Sud: Mother Earth Cali Creamin’ Vanilla Cream Ale
- Best Bold Brew: Drake’s Brewing Jolly Rodger
- Best IPA: Heretic Brewing Evil Twin
- Best Cider/Beer Alternative: Vermont Hard Cider Winter
The event was simply awesome. Great food. Great beers. Great organization. It was great to bump into – and catch up with – a bunch of friends as well. Wifey and I enjoyed every moment.
And good news for fans of this event. I got word from event organizers that the Bacon and Beer Classic will return to the South Bay in February, to take place in Santa Clara at Levi’s Stadium.
Cheers! Prost! Gunbae!
~Andy