California State Fair Hoists Medals To Small San Jose Brewer

SAN JOSE, CA — It may be no surprise that Clandestine Brewing owner/brewer Adrian Kalaveshi is from Colorado — the beer capital of the nation. But it's California's heart that he and the other three owners stole when they entered the state fair's best commercial craft beer competition.

"Boycott," the English bitter, seized second place in the prestigious contest pitting beers from all over the state against each other. "V," the Vienna Lager, took third for the small brewer that appropriately in the Silicon Valley started out in a duplex shared garage for its home brew operation.

Kalaveshi and his partners — along with their eight employees of which two are full time — couldn't be more proud. It is after all the state fair, which every year brings out hundreds of entries.

Clandestine Brewing has a unique nature that goes beyond its "covert, secretive" name, Kalaveshi admitted to Patch.

First of all, one would think they were situated somewhere in Europe — notably since the the brewer is "a huge fan" of Belgian beers.

"With the four of us, we have a lot of different influences. But we as a brewery do authentic, international styles," he said.

There's something to be said for doing few things well — especially with the owners having other jobs but just love beer. They hope to expand outside the tap room on First Street near downtown San Jose and plan to start at local bars.

Kalaveshi and company describe their beers like they're subjects of poetry in literature.

Here's what a beer enthusiast would get out of a Boycott, derived as a special bitter:

"The verb ‘boycott’ came from Charles Boycott, an English landlord so disagreeable and disliked that he was shunned by an entire village thus originating the term ‘to boycott.' Our Boycott Special Bitter, though, is much more agreeable. Boycott is made with Scottish Golden Promise malt, dark English crystal malt, with additions of UK Target, UK Goldings, UK Jester and American Centennial hops."

In third place, think Negro Modelo.

"V" is an amber Vienna lager inspired by the love of a couple Mexican amber lagers. Vienna lagers all but disappeared from their European origins being replaced by the more popular lighter colored lagers (Pilsners) or richer lagers (Märzen, Dunkel). However, the Vienna lager tradition lives on in Mexico to this day.

Also on the Clandestine tasting agenda gaining state fair recognition:

As the People's Choice: "Matcha Man" crosses green tea with beer.

"Part of the "magic" of the NEIPA style happens through a process called biotransformation in which hop oils such as geraniol are transformed during fermentation into fruity and floral aroma compounds. Matcha is the finely ground powder of specially grown green tea leaves and, as it turns out, contains geraniol." Matcha Man is made with matcha, along with Bravo and Citra hops giving the beer a tea-like flavor.

Then, there's the Runner Up in "Five for Five."
"This hazy juicy double IPA was brewed on 5/5 for the fifth anniversary. Five out of Five features the majority of hops added for five consecutive days of dry hopping to add complex layers of flavor and aroma." The brew consists mainly of barley malt plus a healthy amount of wheat malt to complement Bravo, Loral, Simcoe and Mosaic hops.

Here's a tasting test to enthusiasts.

Clandestine Brewing is open at 980 S. First St., Suite B at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday; Fridays at 3 p.m.; and noon on the weekends.

Beer winners are listed here.

Check out the wine winners here.

The California State Fair starts July 12 at 1600 Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento.