Volcan Mountain Foundation

Saturday evening, July 9th, come celebrate the tapping of VMF’s original beer, 'Take A Hike' made weeks earlier by our Brew Day participants (read all about it below) and check out the fun pix--including Tom Nickel as the Evil Genius!

Includes: light appetizers, two glasses of your choice of beer and door prizes.

AND....a fitting way to celebrate the birth of a custom craft beer called 'Take A Hike'? By taking a hike, of course! And also a great way to work up a thirst for some chilly brews.

Before the Release Party, registered participants are invited to take a guided hike up to the Banner Canyon Overlook of the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve's (VMWP) Five Oaks Trail. VMF board member and heck-of-a-fun adventurer, Eric Jones, will lead the moderate to strenuous 3+ mile round trip hike that goes from approximately 4,100 to 5,000 feet. From the overlook, you peer down along Banner Canyon and the Elsinore Fault, and also peek back to the Nickel Beer Company in Julian.

The hike leaves the Hubbell Gateway of the VMWP at 2pm, leaving plenty of time to take a hike before enjoying 'Take A Hike'! Directions and details will be emailed with registration confirmation.

Date: Saturday, July 9, 2016 from 5pm-7pm. Available for 40 guests at $30 per person.

Register and pay here:

You are invited to come out and try a great new Extra Pale Ale -- "Take A Hike" -- at its VIP Release Party on Saturday, July 9th from 5pm-7pm in Julian at the Nickel Beer Company.  All proceeds benefit the Volcan Mountain Foundation (VMF).

For $30 you can enjoy two glasses of ANY of the Nickel beers (maybe Extra Pale Ale isn't your thing), light appetizers, and socializing with other really cool people that like good beer for a good cause. There will also be drawings for door prizes!

While many of you may still have been sleeping in, on a Sunday morning in early June, eight 'citizen' brewers were sampling some of master brewer Tom Nickel's award-winning creations. Beer for breakfast? It was, uh, research. REALLY, it was!

The eight citizen brewers had paid for the rare opportunity to learn from a true brewmaster, and collaborate on a unique creation. They decided on ingredients and dubbed it 'Take A Hike' -- credit to Tom's wife, Lindsey, for suggesting the name!

It was all part of Nickel's 2016 charity brew in support of  VMF's critical conservation efforts.  Many thanks to Tom and the Nickel Beer Company. Thank you also to our citizen brewers: Lori & Mark Barker, Mark Camp, George Garvey, Ted Hromadka, Ray Ravare, Cameron Smith and John Spratley.

Tickets are limited for this special event, so get yours today! Go to: volcanmt.org/ReleaseParty. You can also phone the VMF office at 760-765-2300 with questions or for more information.

Visit the Volcan Mountain Foundation's website at VolcanMt.org for ongoing updates of events and activities on and around the Volcan Mountain Range.

Evil Genius/Brewmaster, Tom Nickel, delights in his sneaky plan to get the students to do the clean-up work.

Adding Hops                                                                   Cleaning Out Spent Grain

Tom gives instructions to Ray, while Cameron & George are working hard