Newest Foodie/Beer Hangout Opens

For those who were not able to attend the opening of Gather GVL today (open till 9pm), here's a representative look at what Bob Muller and I saw at lunch time. Before the rain!

See ya there! Cheers.

3 New Breweries in Columbia, SC

Columbia was the site of some critical research yesterday as I try to keep pace with the number of breweries opening up here in the Upstate and Midstate (?). A GvlBrewcrew event as well, so the limit was three new breweries for first time visits.

First was Twisted Spur, chosen partly cause we started with lunch and their menu looked good. Pleased to report that they ranked high in both categories: food and beer. Among us we sampled at least 10 beers on tap. One group favorite was the Great White Buffalo, a white IPA, well hopped with notes of orange peel and coriander. Refreshing! 

Being a fan of the style, I liked their Boysenberry Gose; good fruit, slight tartness and crisp finish. This style rotates the fruit so who knows what will be available next time.

Oh, we enjoyed our lunch too. I can recommend the Twisted Rueben but make sure you're hungry, it's huge.

Next stop was Columbia Craft, a brewery just beginning to be known in the Upstate. Having already had their Acid Hop, a sour Pale, at Sidewall Pizza, I was anxious to try their other brews. One good beer followed another: the Famously Hop IPA lived up to its name, full of hoppy wonderfulness. I could have stopped here, but research demanded that I continue. So, I did, with their Vom Fass, a Helles Lager, which was classic in flavor, aroma and sessionability. Another group favorite. And the Hop Acid was just as good as I remembered. Yay!

On a recommendation from Jess, beer slinger extraordinaire, we headed across the river to Cayce and Steel Hand Brewing. Open only since early December 2018, this venue screams "winner" from the moment you enter. Spacious, modern, bright with windows galore and a huge patio and yard with a stage at the end. Beers were across the board well made and plenty of styles to like. I went to their IPAs right away (duh!); a Tropical and a New England. Both hazy and fruity and equally satisfying. The Irish Red was a good choice too, plenty of malt structure but not overbearing. A balanced dry finish would keep someone having a second one. A highlight, thanks to #RetiredBob's recommendation was the Lime Golden Ale, a session brew that would make any hot Summer day quite tolerable. Following copious amounts of water, time to hit the road back to GVegas.

A very rewarding day (rarely do I get to own the Untappd board like today!) and further proof that good beer can be had just about anywhere these days, you only have to go find it.
Thanks, Columbia.

I'm posting links to the breweries so you can check out their menus completely.


https://www.facebook.com/twistedspurbrewing/
https://www.columbiacraft.com/the-beer/
https://www.facebook.com/steelhandsbrewing/

Cheers!
 

Interview With Hannah Morris, First Female Head Brewer

International Women's Day! 

 

Which conveniently leads me to today's subject: the first female Head Brewer in Greenville (and only second in the state), Hannah Morris at Quest Brewing Company. She recently took time out from a busy cleaning and canning day to chat about what the position means to her and the path that led to this appointment.

I first met Hannah when she was pouring at Upstate Craft Beer Co. (now Eighth State Brewing) back in 2014. She pointed out that by 2011 she was already exposed to craft beer, pouring at Nose Dive.

By 2013 she had already started as a home brewer, like so many others now working in breweries, brewing with her friend Sean Lally. She confessed that their first effort went right into the drain. Her first all-grain effort was an imperial stout with rum soaked raisins, cinnamon and vanilla. She describes it as "pretty tasty."

Her entry into the real brewing world at Quest began as Production Assistant and Brand Ambassador, using skills fostered at a local distillery where she was the Director of Customer Relations. But her actual first introduction to Quest was as a volunteer, coming in couple days a week to help out with canning. That exposure led to her being hired. Yes, boy and girls, hard work does pay off.

Last October (2018) she was promoted to Assistant Brewer, working with Sean and since then has brewed three original beers; first was a Green Tea IPA, then a Raspberry Porter (which I really liked, dark chocolate and raspberry flavors beautifully balanced) and now her latest creation, a Lemon-Lavender IPA, also well balanced. Fans of the Sun-WuKong, their New England IPA (and there are many, including me and the #GVLBrewCrew) will be very pleased to learn that among next month's releases will be the latest iteration of this IPA, Hannah's first as head brewer. She wants it to do justice to Sean's introductory version which was eagerly accepted by craft beer enthusiasts.

When I asked her about future brewing releases, she revealed her like of Belgian styles which she admit first drew her to Quest. She also likes lagers and hopes to do more funky beers using the barrel-aging facility across the street from the brewery.

Finally I asked her about any advice she might give to anyone trying to break into the craft beer field, male or female, her response was, "don't give up and be willing to take any position... and bring as much as you can to the table,... keep your options open, a jack/jill of all trades."

It certainly worked for her. Brewing creative new beers, keeping the Quest role in the local community a very active one and expanding the future possibilities.

I say, well done, Hannah, well done.

 

A few action shots of her displaying the varied activities that her role involves:

 

 

7th Annual Barley's (Greenville) Biggest Little Beer Fest Fun As Ever

Were you there Sunday?

At Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria (Greenville) for the 7th Annual Biggest Little Beer Fest? If you missed it (it did sell out), well cheer up buttercup, I was there sampling an amazing assortment of beers and took lotsa photos; many of them in focus! So, grab a brew, get comfortable and off we go!

(Next group will feature Trappe Door pix)