SF Beer Week | Lori Schafer's Short Subjects I Feel Like Writing About

Back in February – you know, a lifetime ago! – I had my first live performance with Vasco Road Band at Shadow Puppet Brewing Company in Livermore. The theme of this SF Beer Week party was Woodstock, and the band really wanted to perform the classic “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane. Problem was, they needed a female singer. Somehow my name was mentioned, and before I’d even finished my beer, I found myself agreeing to give a guest performance. Sounds fun, right? Well, truth be told, I’m really more of a choir singer than a soloist, and I was so terrified of having to sing by myself in front of all those people that my knees were knocking together like I was Shaggy or Scooby and the whole place was haunted. I survived, however, with only minor cardiac damage… How do you think I did?

https://youtu.be/YkxLXAUHj7c

Find Vasco Road Band on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vascoroadband/

Just in time for San Francisco Beer Week, I am proud to announce the grand opening of Shadow Puppet Brewing Company in Livermore, California, happening TODAY from 11 am to 11 pm. Shadow Puppet is currently one of four craft breweries in the city of Livermore, which is well on its way to becoming a destination for beer drinkers as well as for wine tasters. Shadow Puppet features an amazing variety of beers, and a beautiful, family-friendly tasting room.

The brewery is family-owned and operated by founder Brian Blackburn and by Brewmaster and Master Builder Craig Danielson. Ordinarily I would say you can recognize Craig by the big beard, but since it’s a brewery, half the guys in there will have one ;) Here’s a picture instead:

Shadow Puppet Brewing Co. brewmaster Craig Danielson, left, and owner Brian Blackburn, right, pose for a photograph at their brewery in Livermore, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group -East Bay Times, February 2, 2017. )

Craig loves to talk beer, so feel free to accost him with your questions and comments.

The Grand Opening event promises to be a great time, with the ribbon-cutting taking place at 11:30, a live band from 3:30 to 6:30, and a massive selection of 14 beers on tap, including a just-released Golden Sour Ale. If you can’t make the opening, don’t worry – the taproom is open Thursday through Sunday; visit the brewery’s website for the current menu and hours: www.shadowpuppetbrewing.com.

Hope to see you there!