Ferment, Sip & Socialize

🥂 A fermentation class where you bring your own fermented beverage? Yes, please! 🍷 Crack open your favorite bottle of wine, mead, beer, or homemade brew and get ready for a night of hands-on fun! These evening workshops at the Benicia Senior Center are all about fermenting, sipping, and socializing.

Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned fermenter, this is your chance to explore bold flavors, create your own delicious ferments, and connect with like-minded food and beverage lovers. Bring your favorite wine, beer, mead, or other fermented beverage (21+) to sip and share!

Summer 2025 Class Schedule

📍 Location: Benicia Senior Center, Benicia, CA
🕕 Time: 6:00 – 8:30 PM
💰 Cost: $125 per class or $325 for all three classes
🫙Includes all supplies & take-home equipment

June Class – Mastering Vegetable Fermentation

Discover the fundamentals of vegetable fermentation and gain the confidence to ferment almost any vegetable at home. By the end of this class, you’ll understand the fermentation process, key techniques, and best practices for success. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll craft two probiotic-rich ferments to take home:

• German Sauerkraut – Crisp, tangy, and endlessly customizable
• Fermented Pickles – Naturally brined for the perfect crunch

Take-Home Kit: Glass jars, fermentation lids, and handmade fermentation weights from Happy Life Pottery—plus your own freshly made sauerkraut and fermented pickles!

July Class – Sugar Ferments: Naturally Fizzy & Probiotic Drinks

Dive into the world of sugar ferments and learn how to create naturally fizzy, probiotic-packed beverages at home. This class covers everything you need to know about fermenting with sugar to craft delicious, health-boosting drinks.

You’ll make and take home:

• Kombucha – Start your own endless supply! You’ll receive a SCOBY and starter tea, allowing you to brew kombucha for life—saving money while enjoying homemade probiotic tea.
• Ginger Beer – A refreshing, naturally carbonated drink with a fiery kick. You’ll take home a jar with the beginning stages of a ginger beer ferment.
• Tepache – A lightly alcoholic, pineapple-based Mexican ferment. You’ll leave with a jar of tepache in the early stages of fermentation, ready to transform into a delicious, naturally fizzy drink at home.

Take-Home Kit: Glass jars, cloth lids, and all the fermentation starters needed to continue brewing these drinks at home!

August Class – Fermented Condiments & Garnishes

Unlock the secret weapon of great cooks—fermented condiments! These bold, probiotic-packed additions bring depth, tang, and umami to any dish, making them a fun and flavorful way to incorporate gut-friendly ferments into your meals.

You’ll make and take home:

• Fermented Salsa – A bright, complex salsa with natural probiotic benefits that deepen its flavor over time.
• Fermented Sour Cream– A rich, tangy, and probiotic dipping suace, perfect for dolloping on tacos, potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
• Moroccan Salt-Preserved Lemons – Intensely flavorful, these citrusy gems add a burst of umami to stews, dressings, and marinades.

Take-Home Kit: Glass jars, fermentation lids, and instructions to continue experimenting at home!

✨ Bonus (Optional Ferment Swap—Just for Fun!): If you already have a ferment you’d like to share, bring it along to taste and trade during class! No pressure, just a fun way to connect. 😊

Why Join?

• Hands-On Learning – Gain practical fermentation skills you can use for a lifetime.
• Fresh, Homemade Ferments – Take home jars of probiotic-rich foods made with fresh ingredients.
• Take-Home Equipment – Start fermenting at home right away with essential tools.
• A Social Experience – Sip, ferment, and connect with fellow fermentation enthusiasts.

📣 The only fermentation workshop in Benicia that mixes hands-on learning with a social, bring-your-own beverage experience!

🔹 Meet Your Host: Led by Kelsey Bye, a passionate fermentation enthusiast dedicated to sharing the joys of home fermentation. Not an expert—just someone who loves experimenting, learning, and bringing people together through food and drink. Together, let’s grow, ferment and thrive!

📩 Questions? Contact Kelsey Bye: [email protected]