(San Francisco) January 27, 2012 - In 1971, Electronic News published a series entitled “Silicon Valley in the USA,” a weekly tabloid dedicated to news about the growing tech companies in the valley between San Francisco and San Jose. The phrase “Silicon Valley” became synonymous with Santa Clara Valley as more and more tech companies built their roots in the area; and with the internet boom in the early 90’s, the entire world turned their eye to the innovative region. With companies like Apple Inc., Google, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and Facebook still headquartered in Silicon Valley, it is hard for other local businesses to compete for national attention. But with the sudden explosion of craft brewing in the Peninsula, and throughout Santa Clara Valley, I welcome “Hop Valley” as a more suitable moniker as we bring in 2012.
Beer has reinstated its popularity again in the U.S., and according to the Brewers Association, 1,927 breweries were operating for some or all of 2011 (the highest total since the 1800’s). That number seems to be growing by the month as new microbreweries and home brewers pop up throughout California, especially in the Peninsula. With so many experienced brewers leading the way, and an unprecedented amount of connoisseurs who are eager to learn, it is only a matter of time until a “Hop Valley” brewer is seen featured in Super Bowl ad alongside Anhueser Busch or MillerCoors LLC. Like the pioneers of the tech industry “Hop Valley” shows promise and innovation that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
The second weekend in February will display this promise and innovation through the ever popular SF Beer Week, hosted by the San Francisco Brewers Guild, and although the event is centered in San Francisco, many “Hop Valley” beer enthusiasts will be excited to hear that the annual event has extended its reach out of San Francisco and into the Peninsula. SF Beer Week will feature over 19 events in the South Bay, including tours, tastings, brewing classes, and food pairings with big name participants like Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company and Gordon Biersch Brewing Company, as well as highly anticipated newcomers High Water Brewing Inc., and Strike Brewing Co. As this popular event unfolds the Peninsula is certain to assert itself as a region respected by cicerones and home brewers alike for its world class beers and its ever-growing population of micro-breweries.
In the epicenter of “Hop Valley” there is one man whose passion for food and beer far surpasses mere career aspirations. According to Peter Estaniel, author of betterbeerblog.com, “Mark Pettyjohn is one of the few chefs I’ve seen who really gets it…and it shows in his pairings and in his cuisine.” As Executive Chef of California Café in Palo Alto, Chef Mark has created pairing menus featuring such heavyweights as 21st Amendment Brewery, Anchor Brewing, and Stone Brewing Co. But for the first Brewmaster’s Dinner of 2012, in conjunction with SF Beer Week, Chef Mark wanted to do something special, something that no other restaurant in “Hop Valley” would: feature an exclusive, entirely South Bay Brewer oriented pairing dinner. On Thursday February 16th, California Café in Palo Alto will do just that by offering a 5 course meal paired with 2 different beers per course from 5 different breweries (including Tied House Brewery, Firehouse Brewery, Los Gatos Brewing Company, Strike Brewing Co., and Palo Alto Brewing Company.) With the experience of last year’s similar event hosted at California Café in Palo Alto, and the unmatched passion for food and beer Chef Mark displays in his pairings, this year’s dinner will certainly be an experience to remember.
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