Hand Picked: Auburn native brews official beer of Gold Country Fair

For Auburn native Zack Frasher, brewing the official beer for the Gold Country Fair is more than just a professional milestone. Frasher, an Auburn native, has been attending the fair since he was a kid and now, as the owner and brewer at Rocklin's Shred Beer Company, he's bringing his product to his hometown fair. Frasher and his wife, Amy, have owned Shred for two years and this year, they were tapped to create "Hand Picked," a hazy IPA that will be poured exclusively at the fair from Sept. 5-8. "We decided to do a hazy IPA and emphasize on it being a very tropical, approachable beer that's good for the general audience at the fair," said Frasher. "It's going to be very soft and palatable, very easy drinking, very hoppy and aromatic." The collaboration came about through a longstanding relationship with Gold Country Fair CEO Don Ales. Frasher brewed the fair's official beer twice before while working for another brewery, and both releases proved popular. "I think we have a pretty good pulse on beer styles and what will do good with a broad audience," said Frasher. "I think based on our experience and brewing and kind of knowing what works in the market and what's got good traction for a large audience that a hazy IPA will do well." Shred is producing a 45-barrel batch of Hand Picked, which will debut on tap at the fairgrounds. Its release will be exclusive to the fair, as Hand Picked won't even be in Shred's taproom until the following week, when it will be released in cans and kegs for the wider public. The name "Hand Picked" comes from the brewing imagery itself, as the label features a hand squeezing a fresh hop cone with golden lupulin bursting out. The Frashers are excited to give back to the same fair they grew up going to and hope the community receives their beer well. Said Amy, "We live in Auburn, we take our kids to the fair every year, and we're really excited to be involved in this way. We hope people discover us at the fair and come visit our taproom." Zack echoed the statement, saying, "To now be part of it in such a big way means a lot."