14 • AUGUST 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


The Beer Boys Review: Great


Atmosphere! Quality People!


~Grav South Brew Co. ~ drag - you need to know where 


Great Sliders! Great Beer!!


By Barry O’Meara & Paul Doyle


Cotati, Ca. ~ Beer is in- “grained” into our society and so- cial consciousness; whether you are


conscious or unconscious!


Beer has been attributed to devel- oping civilizations. It provided a safe drinking source in an agrar- ian culture. This helped civiliza- tion form roots.


One of the biggest growing sec- tors in our economy has been the expansion of Micro- and Nano-


breweries. Popping-up in what has traditionally been more of the light industrial areas or ware- house districts, Sonoma County is following that trend with tap- rooms popping-up everywhere. This month the Beer Boys tapped into yet another Sonoma County gem: Grav South Brew Co. locat- ed at 7950 Redwood Drive, Suite 15, Cotati


This is not located on the main


find this place you will not be disappointed.


This is a brew pub where you can see the brewery. Open and invit- ing, you can sit at the bar, choose a table, or even sit at the counter that partitions the brewery. Grav South doesn’t do large produc- tions so don’t plan to fill your growlers, Greg is challenged enough to keep the taps flowing to meet his demand.


This is a


Nano-Brewery, so respect your brewer!


Grav South Brew Co. is owned and operated by Greg Rasmus- sen and partner Corinne Barclay. They have teamed up to create another Sonoma County gem. Greg has been a home- brewer for years winning many home- brewing competitions. He has set the bar high. In 2013 he won Sierra Nevada’s “Homebrewer of the Year” and in 2014 won


the Samuel Adams “Long Shot” competition with his Porter. For a homebrewer, these are presti- gious honors. I am a big fan of IPAs but beer has so many categories and styles, one needs to look beyond the pint. The Beer Judge Certification Pro- gram (BJCP) establishes styles and guidelines for judging beers. Greg has won awards in each cat- egory and if he has missed any, it was an oversight by the judges.


Loki is mix of Lab and German Short Hair and is very friendly. He comes in with owner Rett of Santa Rosa regularly because the service is always great and the selection is awesome. Loki arrived in California when he was 8 weeks old. Loki also likes to sing along with harmonica or any acoustic instrument and loves to fetch any toy!


Since 1967


we’ve been the favorite place to


shop for your pets & farm animals!


I LOVE IT HERE!


Your Dogs


will Love our Summer


water toys! Vaccination clinics every Sunday from 9:30am to 11:30 am


Western Farm Center 21 West 7th Street • Santa Rosa


(707) 545-0721 Mon-Sat 8am-5:30pm • Sun 9:30am-4pm 14 • AUGUST 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


If we were to say one man stands out as the most interesting brew- er, Greg Rasmussen would be that man. Whatever he brews, it will be to a style and category and award winning. Now that he is brewing professionally, watch for the awards.


The beers he had on tap the day we visited were outstanding. They sell flights of four, 5oz pours for $7. We started our first flight with their Classic Pale. This was smooth and crisp with an Interna- tional Bittering Units (IBU) of 36 and stands hands above any pale ale out there.


My favorite beer was his 7 Fig-


ure IPA. It was ranked with an IBU of 96. Any IPA will have a bit of a bite, but being able to balance the bite with a malty flavor will keep you sipping for more. The 7 Figure name came from their first choice for their brewery’s name.


The original


name was going to be 707 Brew- ing Co. But when they found out the name was taken, they tried to buy the name. They were told it would cost them 7 figures. So, a beer’s name was born.


“Life is too short for negativity. Focus all your energy to create happiness.” ~ Banani Ray www.westernfarmcenter.com


The next brew we tried was their Packing House Porter. This is similar to the Longshot recipe with an improved twist. The beer come in with a rich chocolate and coffee flavor and an IBU of 39. I don’t always choose a Porter but would enjoy another one of those - a complement to any meal. Besides the selection of beers, they have a seasonal menu that complements any of their beers. This is a place to add to your next venture into the Sonoma County gems. Greg and Corinne have put together a place well worth the search.


you are going. It is tucked in a sliver of Redwood Drive that butts up to the off ramp of 101 just where Redwood Drive “T’s” with Gravenstein Hwy in Cotati. It is in a little strip mall across the street from Lowe’s.


Once you


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