Meeting Mitch Steel, New Realm Brewing

Following my meet up and chat with Mitch Steele, now of New Realm Brewing, at The Community Tap's VIBE event, I decided that I needed to re-read his book. Perhaps now I'll know how better to describe the wonderful IPAs I encounter.

I hope.

New Brewery: New Groove, Boiling Springs, SC

Details, you want details? Ok, got some for you, about our (Brew Crew) first-ever visit to New Groove Artisan Brewery Saturday. Just recently opened (July 15 officially), brewers Josh Dodson and Jonathan Duke see this as the culmination of a journey that began back at the Spartanburg Brew Club where as home brewers, they met and became friends. Being only the third brewery in Spartanburg County, this location has lots going for it, not the least of which is the structure itself: a former Tornados convenience store. Roomy, industrial-comfy and plenty of space at the bar.

Four of their own beers were on tap (with more to come) for our tasting flights; a stout, a porter, a brown ale and a Berliner Weisse (which we all declared a winner and a highlight). Jonathan told us about a couple IPAs fermenting that we will certainly be back to try.
He also told us about their unique brewing system, a single vessel system in which the mash tun and kettle are the same. The grain container fits inside the kettle, the wort is circulated and filtered through until time for the mash out and boil, then an electric pulley lifts the grain out, the boil then starts in the remaining vessel. Very innovative and saves space and brewing time. Ask Jonathan or Josh about that system when you visit, they'll be more than happy to elaborate.

Everyone in our group agreed to come back when more NG beers are available. Thanks to Josh and Jonathan for taking time to talk with us and to April Dodson for handling the beer wrangling behind the bar while the boys were playing tour guides.
As you might expect, several photos were taken and I present most of them here (certainly the ones in focus anyway). Cheers.

 Cheers!!

My Girl, My Whiskey, and My Beer

Hey, lest I forget, I want to mention how much I enjoyed My Girl, My Whiskey and Me's performance yesterday at Upstate Craft Beer Co. where not only did they do a farewell (for now) show but also premiered their collab brew, #50in52, a Whiskey Stave Aged Double IPA. One complemented the other, making for a grand afternoon as the crowds and smiles will attest. We'll welcome them back in the Fall; the beer is still on tap, so you still have time to enjoy it.

Cheers!

If You Like IPAs, You'll Like This History

Here's a darn good read about IPA from an unusual source. Good for history buffs, tellers of tales and, of course, beer bloggers. Lengthy but you'll have earned a beer by the end. No quiz involved.

http://www.economist.com/news/christmas-specials/21712029-lagers-may-be-ubiquitous-india-pale-ales-are-beers-backstory-history?cid1=cust/ddnew/n/n/n/20161223n/owned/n/n/nwl/n/n/NA/8424131/email&etear=dailydispatch

Citra Kollision On Tap

Great (and unbiased) news: the collaboration beer that I brewed with Jason Uhrinek, Citra Kollision, a session IPA with wicked amounts of Citra hops, is now on tap @Upstate Craft Beer Co. Come join me in this resiny wonder!!! Thanks again to Chris and Jack for making this possible.

It came in at 60 IBUs and 5.0 ABV. Perfect Session IPA. Bottle conditioning the bombers this week, bring'em home next week.
Cheers!

First Farm to Forge Event: Fabulous Time

Just back from the Inaugural Farm-to-Forge Dinner and Beer Tasting with Fireforge Crafted Beer at Greenbrier Farms. Very memorable affair with consistently good beers, wood fired oven pizzas, lively music from My Girl, My Whiskey and Me, and to top it off, Smores from the fire pit! Since this was the first ever ‪#‎FarmtoForge‬ event, and my first visit to the farm, I wasn't sure what to expect but I can unhesitatingly say that it is one of the best affairs I've attended in recent years and if there's another next year, I'm gonna be there. 

Beers available (all mid-6% abvs) were a Fires of Helles Helles Boch; Napoleon Passion Imperial Florida Weisse, a sour German wheat with lots of passion fruit and pomegranate that was just so deliciously tart; Spirito Santo, a grapefruit and orange IPA that brought out the Pacific Jade hops; and The Fixer, a smoked baltic porter that was perfect with the Smores! 

Great beer, great food and of course, great people, all part of our exemplary craft beer community (Mike Okupinski was there helping pour, taking time away from the The Community Tap). Glad to be a part of it. Some photos to whet your appetite for the next one.... don't miss it!

http://www.greenbrierfarms.com/

Brian and Nicole welcoming crowd, while band tunes up.

Part of the lucky, sold-out crowd.

Kristina Mayberry serving that smoked baltic porter.

Brian announces dinner time in an old school way.

Fresh out of the oven pizzas went fast, but good beer makes waiting just fine.

Line for the pizza. Two ovens kept it moving along nicely.

Now that's fresh pizza!!

Travis tasting one of the FireForge beers, Danny photobombs.

Mike Okupinski took time out from pouring to enjoy some pizza and porter.

S'mores were the dessert, an ideal pairing with the smoked porter.

My Girl, My Whiskey and Me performed their remarkable medley of styles and speeds!

 Cheers!

IPA Collaboration Day with Upstate Craft Beer Company

End of the brew day! Nothing like the sense of satisfaction one gets from brewing your own beer, or our beer in this case, since this is a collaboration with Upstate Craft Beer Co., Jason Uhrinek and Chris Hardin. Tired after all the milling, mashing, boiling, hop additions (4 of them) and final cleaning up. Totally worth it. Beer availability will be announced next month, special occasion et al. Keeping the details for later but a hop teaser: 78 IBUs. Some action shots:

Cheers!!

North Georgia's New Beer Discoveries

Just returned from a short trip to N. GA, where I discovered that, one, Woodstock has a very inviting pub called the Truck and Tap. Beer lineup included a Creature Comforts Automatic Pale Ale, easily one of the most citrusy Pales I've ever tried. Food truck (hence the name) out back had perfectly tasty food, offering a sausage on a stick which made for a delicious pairing and spill-free eating
.
And, two, for further adventures, the next stop was in Alpharetta, which has 3 breweries I discovered: Jekyll with it's Hop Dang Diggity Southern IPA, Hop Alley featuring a California Coast Style IPA, and 5 Seasons, which I was unable to visit on this trip. (http://www.5seasonsbrewing.com)

GA has 40 breweries (or more) which sort of surprised me but as the trend continues, seems like each good sized town is getting in on the craft beer brewing fun.

Some photos and visual reminders below.

And I didn't even mention Red Hare.... have to make another sweep thru that area soon.

Cheers!