It’s not everyday we get to drink a beer that’s older than Justin Bieber. We met with Woodshop Classix organizer, Chris Quiroga for a drink and as he shared a couple bottles of vintage beer, he revealed that he had been aging them in his personal cellar for decades. Chris gave us a sneak peek of what’s to come at the Woodshop Classix, an event we dare to label, “for the nerdiest of all beer nerds.”

Legendary Beer

Chris introduced us to a bottle of Thomas Hardy’s Ale, an English style barleywine of considerable history. It’s also a beer he calls “legendary”, originally brewed in 1968 by a company called Eldridge Pope and discontinued in 1999. In 2003, another English brewery, O’Hanlon’s Brewing Co., took on the task of recreating the beer. However, due to being too costly to brew, O’Hanlon’s Brewing Co. discontinued it in 2008. “This beer is one of the first collectible beers among beer geeks. People usually have different opinions about what the proper age is for this beer, but it’s one of those beers that can age indefinitely. It’s not like any beer you would find on draft at bars,” Chris tells us.

Chris Quiroga Talks About Thomas Hardy’s Ale

Drinking in a Woodshop

Woodshop beer tasting was started by Chris six years ago. “I had a group of friends that met up regularly at this big beer bar, Stuffed Sandwich, in the San Gabriel Valley. Subsequently from that, I was driven to discover every type of beer I could get from the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles, San Diego and beyond,” Chris says. Eventually, he accumulated a large collection of beers from all over the world. Chris threw his first event at a friend’s wood shop in an industrial area in Temple City. He’s been calling the event Woodshop ever since. “It started out the ten of us, but 30 people showed up and the next year was 45, and then the year after that was 60, then 90 and last year was 225,” Chris says. For him the event was about embracing a community and encouraging people to share and drink new beers.

What to Expect at the Woodshop

Now at it’s sixth year, Chris is opening it up to the public (yes, you can buy tickets!) and it’s Thomas Hardy’s Ale representing the type of beers that will be poured at the Woodshop Classix. This year’s theme is “World Classics,” meaning influential beers in history. Additionally, Chris is including the theme “New Classics,” embodying rare and experimental beers. Attendees are encouraged to bring beers that fit the theme. “It’s a communal, bottle share beer tasting at it’s core. Fundamentally, all the guests bring bottles of beers they want to share that they’ve been saving for a special occasion. And we make a special occasion out of it,” Chris says.

Woodshop Classix is not just about bottles. Chris will have keg pours for the attendees. He says, “I make sure we have enough beers, so even if no one brought anything we would still have enough.” We don’t know what kegs Chris has in store but he did give us a list of last year’s pours: AleSmith Kopi Luwak Speedway Stout, The Bruery Melange #6, Lost Abbey Red Poppy, Alpine Duet IPA and Valley Brewing Bill Brand-bic. Chris wants to make sure there are enough beers for everybody. “If a bottle is 12 oz., there is no way all 200 people are going to get a taste. But the way I manage it is to have enough ridiculous beers so you wouldn’t care if you missed out on that one.”

Besides the beers, food will be provided by Blue Palms Brewhouse, Beachwood BBQ and Club Bravo. Which is included with your admission.

The secret is out.

Cost?
$40

When?
Saturday, August 27 from 12 PM – 8 PM

Where?
Bravo Night Club
1490 South Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805

Additional Information
Buy tickets!
http://www.woodshopclassix.com