June 19, 2012 > Bats & brews Bats & brews Submitted By Nicole McGinnis Take a taste-bud tour of the world of beer and meet some Bay Area bats. Could beer be responsible for civilization as we know it? Join Tastemaster, Ira Bletz, as he looks at the history, lore and mythology surrounding beer and brewing. Learn while tasting classic varieties such as lagers, pilsners, ale, malt and wheat beers. What do bats have to do with beer? They are, in fact, some of the world's most important living crop dusters. These winged wonders scour the evening skies, searching and consuming the billions of insects that would otherwise devour the very crops that go into making one of our planet's most-consumed beverages - beer! For $30 per person (HARD residents - Castro Valley, Hayward, San Lorenzo) or $40 per person (non-HARD residents), learn about California's amazing flying mammals, while sampling local beers. Register online at www.HaywardRec.org (class #18081). Participation is limited to 40 adults, aged 21 and over. For more information, contact Wendy Winsted, Sulphur Creek Coordinator, at (510) 881-6747. Bats & Brews Saturday, June 30 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Sulphur Creek Nature Center 1801 D Street, Hayward (510) 881-6747 www.HaywardRec.org