Barley's Biggest Little Beer Fest Delivered!

"How I Spent My Sunday Afternoon" by Li'l Marvy.

Here, with all these people and all those beers.
Barley's Seventh Annual Biggest Little Beer Fest delivered on all promises; some extraordinarily good beers were brought by breweries upping their game. My, my.

No way to choose a favorite from this unique bunch but couple stands outs for me that day:
Anderson Valley Rosé Gose, Lagunitas Rum BA Brown Shugga, Manlandia Meth Head Stole My V-Dub, a home brew saison, and Highland Brewing Company's Missing Pieces IPA made my day. And I haven't even mentioned the Belgians down at the Trappe! And a La Folie 2010 in the Library Room.

Look for them in the photos. What a day.

Darby Wilcox and Her Peep Show kept the energy levels up and Pizza slices fended off any hunger pangs that might have interfered with a tasting schedule. Behold the images:

Oscar Wong Likes It! Southern Sixer.

Enjoyed talking with Highland Brewery founder, Oscar Wong and noted craft beer journalist, Tony Kiss at Highland Brewing Company's Southern Sixer release party yesterday. I consider this a very special beer with a hop bill of six different varieties, well balanced to deliver the final hoppalicious flavor. At the moment it's a seasonal, hopefully with enough response, Hollie will make it again. Grab some while you can.

Cheers!!

 

Busy Beer Blogger's Life

Another mind-bogglingly busy day; first, need to chill, sample and write about the Highland Brewing Company Sixer that showed up yesterday; then relate the details about my visit to RJ Rockers Brewery for their Peachy King release, including a firkin full of PK with habaneros (alas, there is/was only one). Work, work, work. (Thanks to Taylor, Will and Kate for their hospitality.... and Jessica for pouring the beer!)

Cold Mountain, HIghland Brewing's Cult Favorite Ages Well

Well, surprise, surprise.... it came off as planned, announced to Leah Wong Ashburn, HBC President, that I had a bomber of 2015 Cold Mountain Winter Ale that had been overlooked in our beer fridge, was she willing to join me in a tasting? Of course she was up for it, and we are pleased to announce that the beer held up nicely, was very drinkable with the hazelnut/vanilla combination very evident. Lost a bit of carbonation, mellowed a bit with age, but still had the flavor characteristics that make this seasonal so desirable.

Now, to wait for the official release of the 2016 version. Gonna be a taste fest!! Some photos to document to occasion: (Thanks to Jason Uhrinek for taking some of the photos) The Community Tap.

Cheers!

Highland Brewing President, Leah Wong Ashburn Brings New Tastes to Town

Plans for the day:
Recover from last night's Hopoholic frenzy.
Begin research for upcoming visit to Raleigh, NC
Show up at 5:30 at The Community Tap for the Highland Brewing Company tasting. Remind Leah Wong Ashburn, President of HBC, that my first ever taste of Cold Mountain happened while interviewing her, back in 2014. This year's Cold Mountain has not been released yet (releases Nov 10) but I have a surprise for Leah. Highland has released several new beers so far this year and I anticipate most of them will be at the Tap for this tasting. Some photos from that interview, including my first glass of Cold Mountain. Ahhh, fond memories!

Cheers!

King McAlpin DIPA Returns to Taps Everywhere!

Well, maybe not everywhere, but certainly in the Upstate, WNC vicinity.

This is the second release of this particular beer in Highland Brewing's Warrior Series. It was one of the first brews Brewmaster Hollie Stephenson originated in her new position and Highland's first Double IPA. And I can say from considerable experience, it's a hop head's delight and beautifully crafted. The 10% abv is obviously a factor to be considered when drinking this big ale, but it certainly isn't evident in the taste and finish. It won't be around too much longer, each of the Warrior series is available only for one quarter of the year, since there are four releases annually. Get it while you can.

The release party featured Hollie doing a very rare tour, highlighting some of the pilot system where each recipe is tested before being committed to brewing. The tour ended with the group enjoying several pitchers of said King McAlpin. Molly McQuillian was the generous pourer.

Some pics of the event:

Cheers!!

Highland Brewing Release Two New Beers - Enjoyment Ensues

You just know it's going to be a good day when not one, but two new beers arrive to be sampled, evaluated and drunk (not necessarily in that order)!! Highland Brewing Company has just released two new beers, Lost Cove Kolsch (great timing for this easy-sipping seasonal) and their latest Warrior Series, Mosaic Rye IPL (India Pale Lager!) which abound with mosaic hops to complement the Australian Ella hops. Add to that Riverbend Malt House's malted rye and you've got a mouthful of flavor... and in a lager, at that! Currently chilling to appropriate temps, tasting notes and reactions will follow soon. Keep that dial right where it is.
Thanks again to Molly.

Cheers!

Hi-Wire Stout Bout 2015: For Stout Lovers and Non

Something for everyone is how I saw it, not just for stout-heads. Hi-Wire's first ever Stout Bout (featuring a blind tasting) certainly pleased hardcore stout drinkers (Narwhal, anyone?) but there was more than enough variety to entice folks to try something new. ABVs ranged from 5.% (Highland's entry) to 12.9% (Sierra Nevada) so it was possible to find one that agreed with your palate and safe driving obligations.

Despite the occasional rain showers, this event was well attended and the impression I got was that most folks there knew their stouts. I know there were some newbies but overheard conversations tended to discuss comparisons with favorites.

 I thought this whole concept was inspired (thanks to Marketing Director Abby Dickinson) and really made it a contest. I am partial to any brew with peppers or chiles in it so there were several to try my taste buds. But I also like chocolate and coffee so there was no shortage of any of those. The only one that really tested my tolerance was a sorghum based dry stout. Sorry, but an aftertaste just didn't work for me.

My favorite chile-infused brew was from Asheville's Twin Leaf, their MDXXI (or 1521 in English) which used arbol chiles, a new one for me. Enough heat to make an impression but not overpower and the chocolate-cinnamon combination was well balanced. The finish was lighter bodied than you might expect and I could see myself having a second pint, a criterion of mine when judging.


Their Instagram post lists the top three winners, voted on by participants:

hiwirebrewingAnd your winners of the Stout Bout 2015 are... 1st Place: @burialbeer | #burialbrewing - Piston Espresso Stout, 2nd Place: @highlandbrewing | #highlandbrewing - Black Mocha Stout w/ Cherries & Oak, 3rd Place: @sierranevada | #sierranevada - Barrel Aged Narwhal, Congratulations!! 

 

One small complaint was the serving temperatures. I and several others were vocal in our opinions that the jockey boxes were chilling the stouts way too much. I understand the viscosity issue, but hopefully next time a method can be found that serves the stouts warmer. As serious stout lovers know (and I don't quite fit that group), as a stout warms, it releases more flavors and adds body. Anyway, just thought I would pass that along.

 Some photos and more notes:

Rain held off most of the day.

Hi-Wire's Big Top brew house/pub is a good size for eventsl

5 Tables in all, each with different stouts and voting pitchers.

Fellow stout enthusiast, Bob Muller, gets his first taste.

Decisions, decisions.

More tokens were available, $2 per, a token for each taste

One of my faves, and second place winner, HIghlands Black Mocha Stout with cherries and oak.

This is how the blind tasting stouts were revealed. Tasted blind for two hours!

My congratulations to the top winners and mucho thanks to Abby and the folks at Hi-Wire for hosting this very special event. #nextyear

Cheers!