Alameda’s Pacific Pinball Museum tapped in to beer week Sunday, February 11 as an outpouring of beer and pinball enthusiasts packed the venue for a five hour fest.
Ten Bay Area brewers provided scores of pours at the exclusive event for well over a hundred visitors who got to test their skills on the near 100 vintage games the museum sports.
This marked PPM’s third foray into hosting a party where the silver ball meets the golden pour.
The event is a brew of two histories, drawing on pinball’s early foothold in bars and beer halls and today’s micro brew surge, according to d’Arcie Bruno, PPM’s Interim Executive Director.
“The two grew together like cousins in the old days. Now, craft beer is so popular in the maker movement and we’re here to bring that time of simple fun back,” she said.
Ale Industries brew master of Oakland, Joseph Guidino says that the historical kinship traces to “the values and welfare of the common man. The history of beer and the history of pinball coalesce into a kindred story. It’s very fun to learn the history of pinball,” while advancing the art of an ancient beverage.
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“Pinheads” ply their pints just before entering the rooms of pinball games and more taps inside. 
Clutching his bevy of brews a fan of golden beers and silver balls displays a rosy glow amidst the lights and sounds of pinballs flying around as a friend takes the plunger in hand to launch another try. 
A Pinball and pints participant gazes at her partner to gently rub it in that she just bested him on Buckaroo as he looks on, holding the bag and the beers.
As to whether beer consumption actually helps or hinders one’s play, Alamedan Elisa Holt said, “ I don’t know if beer makes any difference in my game,” whereas her husband, Ben said, “I can’t get any worse” just before he narrowly beat her 647 to 589 on the classic 1965 rodeo themed Buckaroo game.
“ I love seeing when the clown gets kicked, by the horse, “ she added dryly, referring to the game’s moving diorama feature in the backglass .
For discriminating beer fans, the fest was a haven where you can “get some beer you can’t find anywhere else,” according to Jason Beck, a home brewer of Mercurius brewing, a homegrown company in the works of going commercial.
Among the diverse, fresh, scintillating offerings was a truly out of the box creation. Dr Hops brewing offered two, crisp, fruity Kombucha beers, blending organic, health food focused ingredients normally sold as alcohol free libations. This creation may portend a whole new trend in the world of micro brews.
Alameda Island Brewing Company was the sole, hometown enterprise pulling taps at the fund raiser accompanying a host of others, hailing from San Francisco, San Leandro, Oakland, Fairfax, and Belmont who all pitched in.
Pending permit particulars with City Hall, PPM hopes to return the experience next year at their much more spacious location in their Annex at the base, which boasts hundreds of games and can allow many more brewers and patrons sample their creations.
“It’s awesome to have it in this museum, but the demand for the event has outgrown the space,” said Bruno.
Guidiino was more to the point, referring to last year’s, much more expansive event at the base Annex. “ Overall, the vibe, the space, was much more welcoming. I would hope that the city will recognize what a valuable historical location it is., ” and move it back to where it belongs.
As for the event as a growing Alameda community hallmark, “You have a good game, a good beer and a good time,” said Bruno.
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