My apologies for the lack of beer blogs as of late. In addition to my beer blogging responsibilities I am one of the organizers for the upcoming NorCal Beer Geeks Beer Festival presented by Palooza Gastropub. Fellow organizer, Ed Hops and I have been hard at work organizing the festival that will help raise money for a local Veterans group, Sonoma County Vet Connect. Vet Connect is a Veterans helping Veterans organization formed to assist Veterans in locating the services they have earned during their military service.

In addition to receiving a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales, Vet Connect will receive 100% of the raffle ticket sales the day of the event. To further help at-risk and homeless Veterans going into the cold weather months a coat drive will take place on Friday, November 21st from 3pm to 7pm at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building. Anyone willing to donate a lightly used coat, blanket or tarp will receive a beer festival t-shirt in exchange. There are shirt sponsors that will also be offering the beer festival t-shirts in exchange during the days leading to the event. You can see the website for more details.

As for the festival itself, it will take place on Saturday, November 22nd from 1pm to 5pm. The festival will take place 11 days after Veteran’s Day and will raise money for a Veterans group, so it’s fitting that it will take place at the Santa Rosa Veterans Building located at 1351 Maple Ave.

Twenty three breweries/cider companies will be participating and the Pat Jordan Band will be playing live music. The list of breweries is exceptional and includes local favorites Bear Republic, Lagunitas, 101 North, Baeltane, Carneros Brewing, Dempsey’s, Henhouse, Warped, Ruth McGowan’s, Petaluma Hills and Devoto Orchard Ciders. Other participating breweries include Knee Deep, Firestone, Hangar 24, Track 7, Sierra Nevada, Ninkasi, Cider Brothers, Out of Bounds, Uncommon Brewers, Anderson Valley, Stone and of course Faction Brewing who will be debuting the NorCal Beer Geeks IPA at the festival. In all 40 barrels of the IPA were made and will be distributed throughout northern California after being poured at the festival for the first time.

The price of admission is $35 and includes unlimited beer tastings, tasting glass and an automatic entry into a raffle. The ticket price goes up to $45 at the door if available. Palooza Gastropub will be providing food at an additional cost.

For more information regarding Sonoma County Vet Connect, the beer festival and ticket sales go to http://www.norcalbeergeeks.com/events.html