Issue date: 11/29/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Patrick Trautfield Vice president Jeff Freitas and president Brad Hurvitz will display the beer-making process at the bookstore this week.

El Corral bookstore is a resource many students use to get their books and other Cal Poly related items, but this week the store will also be displaying something else - beer.

The Brew Crew, an Associated Students Inc. sponsored club, has set up two seven-gallon glass carboys where the beginning stages of the brewing process will take place.

"We want to educate people about the brewing process and we want to raise people's appreciation for beer," said Brad Hurvitz, the Brew Crew president and psychology senior.

Hurvitz and vice president Jeff Freitas began working on approval for the display a few weeks ago. Since Cal Poly is a dry campus, the crew had to write a mission statement explaining what they wanted to do, what the display would look like, why it would be beneficial to the campus and get a final approval from Cal Poly President Warren Baker.

"It's a zymurgy (the science of brewing) experiment," Hurvitz said.

"A lot of the beer that people drink nowadays is made in giant factories in huge kettles and very little attention is paid to them, especially to detail, and they don't turn out as good," Hurvitz said. "When people actually see what's going on in this carboy, when people see this process, part of our overall goal is for them to really appreciate and kind of be astounded by what goes into brewing. Then, they'll be able to have one or two great beers a night like us, instead of several shitty beers a night."

The two beers will be Champagne Supernova and Blonde Cal Poly Dolly, both named by Hurvitz and Freitas. The Champagne Supernova will include jalapeno peppers and champagne yeast, which gives it about a 12 percent alcohol level. "It's kind of crazy, but we're gonna give it a shot," Hurvitz said. Blonde Cal Poly Dolly is an ale and includes Cal Poly crops. The fruit, which was grown on campus, was donated by The Food Science Enterprise Project.

During the time the beer is displayed, the yeast will slowly eat the sugar at the bottom of the carboy and the fermentation process will begin. Each carboy contains five gallons of beer and will be displayed until Friday.

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