NCHF 15: Founding Fathers

Four Score and seven years ago... wait, that's was later. This year we return to the beginning of... Our great nation? Our great brewing traditions? See what you can do with home brewing around this idea!

What better way to kick off the festival than "Hoppy Hour"?

Enjoy appetizers and many different homebrews with old friends and new, surrounded by the beautiful redwoods at Lake Francis Resort.

Camping under the trees and stars

Only a short walk from the festival grounds, including a beautiful lake for boating, swimming and fishing.

Fantastic Raffle Prizes!

Last years grand prize: a new 14.4 gal Conical Fermenter from More Beer! Grain, hops, hats, brewing hardware are just a few items we raffle off during the festival. The more tickets you buy, the more you can win!

Hear from the best brewers in the craft brewing industry!

Sampling, critiques, techniques and brewing trends are some of the topics covered by our panel of invited experts.

Friday Night Brewers Dinner

Sean Paxton, the fabulous "Homebrew Chef" is back! He'll once again dazzle us with a gastronomic/zymurgistic experience few others will ever taste. Tickets for this event go fast, so once sales start, don't be late!

The main festivities are on Saturday

The festival takes place on the beautiful Lake Francis fest grounds on a natural grass field, surrounded by pines and redwoods in the lower Sierra foothills.

NCHO Board Members

David Brattstrom

Home Club: HAZE

I have been involved with NCHF from the beginning. I have been in charge of lining up the speakers, making announcements. I have been to every Fest but one, sometimes family gets in the way of beer, and I still lined up the speakers for that year. I was one of several people that stepped up when the MALTS decided to stop running the California State Comp aka Stern Grove and brought it in to the NCHO fold. NCHO is a great organization and I am proud to be part of it. Homwbrewers are a wonderful group of people to hang out with.

Jim Fortes

Home Club: Hetch Hetchy Hop Heads

Board member since 1999. Jim has attended every Northern California Homebrewers Festival. He works on getting the great raffle prizes that we have each year and works at the Raffle booth on Saturday.

Bryan Gros

Home Club: Draught Board

Board member since 2010. Has worked behind the scenes with Lisa on all aspect of the festival. Recently has been working on the website and shopping cart for NCHF. This is all the info I have.

Paul Keefer

Home Club: H.O.M.E

Board member since 2007. Has never missed a festival and is willing to fight with anyone who says he has. Paul is responsible for registration.

Sean Paxton

Home Club: Bay Area Brew Crew

Board member since the beginning. Never missed a fest and has a glass collection to prove it. Sean's primary responsibility is to deliver a multi-course meal at the Friday's Brewers Dinner that reflects the theme of the festival.

Michael Frenn

Home Club: HAZE

Board member since 2006. Has attended six festivals "I got here as soon as I could"
Michael manages the communications for the organization and is the proud owner of the 1985 Chevrolet "Ale" Camino, the original BUV (Beer Utility Vehicle)!

Lisa Fortes

Home Club: Hetch Hetchy Hop Heads

Board member since 2001. Lisa has not missed a single Northern California Homebrewers Festival and doesn't plan on doing so in the future. She handles many administrative tasks such as paying the bills, creating the schedules and ballots and works at the Raffle booth.

Lisa Gros

Home Club: Draught Board

Board member since the beginning. Never missed a fest. Lisa was sous chef for several of the early fests and then ran the registration for many years. She also coordinates the commemoratives (glassware and shirts) and facilities (Lake Francis) management.

Jim Livingston

Home Club: Chico Homebrew Club

New Board Member. Jim has never missed a fest, even after 2 heart attacks. Jim attended 4 SOCAL fest before moving to NORCAL, Jim saw in  Brewing Techniques magazine we were having a fest in NORCAL and had to join The Shasta Sudders for the first year and went to two fests that year. Went back  to Chico and helped Organized the Chico Homebrew Club. Duties: Hoppy Hour and misc tasks.

Erich Schmidt

Home Club: Hetch Hetchy Hop Heads

Board Member since 2008. Has never missed a festival since his first (2007). Brewing since 1992. Erich is trying to ensure high visual standards for the festival. Perception, perception, perception. He will be taking on more roles regarding the website and marketing for future festivals.