For those who were fans of the television show Chips that aired on NBC from 1973 to 1983 and continues to be broadcast on demand in reruns then a brewery in Folsom may have just the special event for you. Red Bus Brewing Company of Folsom recently announced a unique opportunity for fans of the long running action crime drama as on June 8, Erik Estrada will be at the brewery promoting the upcoming release of the Erik-E-Strata, a West Coast-style IPA.
Estrada is best known for his role as Officer Frank “Ponch” Poncherello in the series that included 139 episodes in its day. The brewery is offering tickets for two interview meet-and-greet sessions in the morning and early afternoon, and a drop-in autograph session in the afternoon on the day of the event. All packages include a 4-pack of beer, an autograph, and a picture with Estrada.
Attendees can gain access to this exclusive event for as $45 but the brewery wants to note that attendees must be 21+ years old.
“In 2022, we brewed a 100% Strata hopped beer,” said owner Erik Schmid. “We called it ERIK-E-STRATA West Coast IPA by combining my first name with the hop name as an homage to CHiPs star (Erik Estrada).”
In the fall of 2023, Red Bus Owner Erik Schmid attended an event at the California Auto Museum and met John D’Agostino, a custom car builder. D’Agostino mentioned he was friends with Erik Estrada, so Schmid showed him the beer label on his phone. Thirty seconds later, D’Agostino had “Ponch” on speakerphone.
“This chance meeting set in motion a series of phone calls that have led to this event, when we will release our next batch of ERIK-E-STRATA, with THE Erik Estrada here to help us celebrate,” Schmid added.
To learn more about the event and to secure one of the limited tickets visit www.redbusbrew.com.