For as congenial and laden with heartfelt camaraderie as the brewing industry is, it is also extremely competitive. Proof of that is provided in the form of the World Beer Cup and other professional brewing competitions. Dubbed the “Olympics of Beer”, the World Beer Cup pits breweries from across the globe against each other for bragging rights where to-style brewing prowess is concerned. It’s one of the few times you really see brewers tense up in their open and fervent yen for recognition. Rather than subject their colleagues to this intense brand of stress, Societe Brewing Company (8262 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Kearny Mesa) is getting brewers together in a much more fun environment as part of its annual anniversary festivities. Enter, Societe Four.
Scheduled for noon on Saturday, June 11, Societe Four will feature teams of brewers from a variety of local and far-off craft breweries competing in a septet of beer-themed events. Confirmed teams thus include “ale-theletes” from AleSmith Brewing Company, Benchmark Brewing Company, Bitter Brothers Brewing Company, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, Mikkeller Brewing San Diego, Modern Times Beer Company, Pizza Port, The Rare Barrel and Second Chance Beer Company. The events they will participate in are as follows:
Stein Hold: A test of strength and will to see who can hold up a one-liter stein the longest.- Stein Chug: A test of fortitude to see who can consume the beer in that one-liter stein the fastest.
- Yeast Water Balloon Toss: Coordination will be key when the ale-theletes toss and catch balloons filled with active yeast at continually expanding distances.
- Wine Barrel Toss: Who can toss a used oak storage vessel the furthest? Let’s find out!
- Washers: Described as “the traditional washer-toss brewer’s game.”
- Tri-Clamp Puzzle Challenge: Brewers will use equipment provided to assemble a rig to see who can move water from one point to another the fastest.
- Malt Pallet Down-Stack and Re-Stack plus Nut-Roll Eating Challenge: Teams of two will destack and restack a pallet of malt then consume one nut-roll each.
Gold, silver and bronze medals will be presented to winners in each event. All are welcomed to attend the event. Tickets can be purchased online, and include anniversary glassware. Every tap line at Societe’s tasting room will have a different beer pouring out of it and, while no beer was brewed specifically for the company’s anniversary, guests can expect some sudsy surprises to go with a day of outlandish (and no doubt very fun) competition.