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.

The Community Tap's Annual Beer Fest A Crowd Pleaser

If there is a craft beer event more worthy of its reputation than that of the The Community Tap's annual beer fest, I'm not sure what it would be. Back home, safely, editing photos et al, reflecting on how this was such an amazing event, location and weather for this day. The beers weren't bad either. More details to follow. In the meanwhile, here are some of the crowd having a good time. ‪#‎GCBW‬

Cheers!  #nextyear

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Whiskers on Kittens? D9 Brewing has them.

The Community Tap was the scene of a tap takeover by D9 Brewing from NC, a new brewery to me. Well known for their sours (and they were pouring 3 of them) they also include International IPAs, Ancient Sour Ales, Cascadian Dark Ales and various imperial and oak aged beers. The three sour ales pictured are all hop-free, a mind-blowing achievement, especially since they were all very good sours.

I want to visit their brewery, just north of Charlotte in the very near future, to get more experience with their beers. And to complement them on achieving success with weird beer names; Whiskers on Kittens??

Hop-free ales.... who knew!

D9 beers available at the takeover.

Cheers!

Dark Horse Brewing Now in SC

Well, after the suds had settled, so to speak, last night at The Community Tap's Dark Horse Brewing's launch party, hosted by RAFA representative Ashley Bower, I chose my favorite beer for the evening. Not an IPA, surprise, surprise, tho there was one there, but it was this one, Scotty Karate (a name I like saying). Thanks to Ashley for the introduction and for getting this new brew into our market.

Friday Profile: Courtney Pici, Champion of Breweries

Well, more accurately, Courtney champions breweries that she represents as Divisional Sales Manager (Southeast) for Global Brewers Guild, a position she just recently took on.

So far in this profile series, we've met both the people who brew the beer and the folks putting it in your glass, whether at a bar/taproom, growler station or a favorite dining establishment. Getting the beer between those points is what Courtney facilitates for her brewery clients, no small feat these days when you consider the competition for tap space at most beer sellers. And also for shelf space, since more and more breweries are adding cans to their bottle selections.

I've known Courtney nearly as long as I have lived here and I can say without reservation that the lady knows beer. From her start at a Taco Mac in GA, with it's 100 taps, to serving at Barleys and the Growler Station (RIP) here in Greenville, she has always been seriously interested in craft beer.

She was one of the first servers in Greenville to achieve the Cicerone Certified Server certification and has begun the examination process for the next level, Certified Cicerone. I took one of the preparatory classes with her, so I've seen first hand her determination to become a genuine beer authority.




Fortunately Courtney doesn't mind travel cause she's on the road a lot. One of her new clients, 21st Amendment Brewing in San Francisco, has just been allowed to distribute in South Carolina so to better learn about their beers (among my favorites, I should add) she hopped a plane (no pun) to join in the festivities there as 21st opened a new production facility across the Bay in San Leandro, the site of the former home of Kellogg's Pop Tart bakery. More about that later.











Back here a more typical day would see her out with a distributor representative visiting pubs, restaurants or even retail outlets, to educate people about new beer releases they might want to add to their inventory or just to massage an existing relationship. Obviously this kind of work requires someone who enjoys meeting people and talking knowledgeably about beer. That's Courtney!

Mike Okupinski gets to sample the special 21st Amendment release.

Educating craft beer enthusiasts keeps Courtney very busy.

Another way she helps her brewery clients, pouring at beer fests.

She's also likely to be seen at one of our local "bottle share" events, adding some new choices to the mix (and finding personal favorites as well). She has told me that her "go to" brews are Session IPAs and Ciders that are light, dry and crisp. No shortage of either of those these days.

She also appreciates being part of the increasing population of women working in the industry, in all of the various ways. This year she joined with some of those women as members of the Pink Boots Society to celebrate International Women's Collaboration Brew Day  to brew a special ale at Quest Brewing. And once she completes the final portion of the Cicerone Certification exam, she will join a small but very influential group of beer experts.




Oh, remember my Kellogg's Pop Tart reference? Well, as a tribute to the former tenant, 21st Amendment released this very special Red IPA (a very limited release) which Courtney graciously shared with a few of us. It will be on the shelves locally soon, thanks to her hard work, so when you see it, buy it - you'll like it.

Toaster Pastry tribute to Kelloggs. Great beer, btw.

I always learn something from her each time we chat about the craft beer scene and I think you might too, so if you cross paths with her, take a moment to say hi and chat about beer. She'll have a lot to say.

Cheers, Courtney. 

Friday Profile: Tapping into Community's Love of Craft Beer - Mike Okupinski

This week we put a very familiar face from the craft beer community in the spotlight, Mike Okupinski, co-owner with Ed Buffington, of The Community Tap, Greenville's first all-craft beer retailer.

Mike, whose first introduction to real beer was courtesy of his older brother at a Pennsylvania music festival where he learned that he liked porters, left his day job, as we say, in 1999 to fill what he saw as a need in Greenville for a spot dedicated to offering craft beer to a growing population of folks who appreciated this new phenomenon. 

I got to know the Tap before I even lived here. Combining visits to relatives and research on a possible retirement location, we explored Greenville back in 2012 and, being serious craft beer fans already (our CA hometown was less than 10 minutes away from Lagunitas and Russian River Brewing), we learned right away that this was the place where we were sure to find beer we liked. It's been that way ever since.

Ed, seen here at the chalk board, and generally known as the "wine guy," keeps a select inventory of small vintage wines, many of which are bio-dynamically grown. He'll be happy to explain what that means.

One of his and Ed's early challenges (besides weird SC alcohol laws) was to acquaint people with this new thing called a "growler," which had first been introduced in Telluride, CO, at a music festival the year before. Basically, it's a glass container (tho' metal ones are now available) in the popular 32 oz. or 64 oz. sizes, which is carefully filled from a tapped keg, sealed and taken home to enjoy later.  Until the pint law came into effect in 2010, that was the core of the business, since until that time only small tastes could be offered.

I don't recall my first meeting with Mike but I'm fairly certain it would have been at one of the tasting events the Tap is known for. Certainly it was in their previous location, couple doors down from where they are now.

The original taproom before the 2014 move.

These days I most often see Mike pouring tasting samples, either at the Tap during one of their almost weekly tap takeovers, or at one of the many craft beer festivals happening around our town. 

One of such festivals is their own, The Community Tap Craft Beer Festival. 2015 marked their third annual event and I can tell you from personal experience, despite the unfriendly weather, that it was an eagerly anticipated and well attended event. It may have even sold out. Anyway, here are some typical shots of Mike in action, captured over the past year, some with the assistance of his wife Anna (also the Operations Manager for the store):

Mike is well known as a people person, another reason for Tap's success.

With Todd Hamrick, Anderson Valley regional rep, for a very popular AVBC tap takeover.

Mike knows his beer and always takes the time to describe a beer's characteristics.

Their Third Annual Craft Beer Festival, at the Downtown Airport.

Looking to the future, Mike anticipates continuing to do the things that have made the store so successful, only more of it. Adding private and corporate events, even out of state ones, are part of the plan and possibly even adding another space.

Fund raising event, this one for BreastFest.

Everyone likes a bottle share, and the chance to find a new beer to try and tap in.

Tap's new dinner series featured Founders Brewing's beers with Scott Olin, (center), Sales Rep, presiding. Food by GoodLife Catering.

As Mike says, "it's a great industry and a pleasure to own a [craft beer] business in this growing, developing city."

As a member of this growing population, I'd like to say that it's a pleasure having The Community Tap as part of our craft beer community and making it possible to try some of the best beers being made today. 

I'll drink to that. Cheers!

Also, thanks to Anna Okupinski for her assistance with the in-store photos.

Beer Battle for Breast Fest

The Community Tap was the site (battleground, as it were) for the first ever Battle of the Beers, a fund-raiser for BreastFest Greenville. The rules were simple: three guys (Bennie, Chris, Chad), each choosing three beers in three categories, total of nine beers to sample.

Participants voted on their favorites in each category, the guy with the most chosen selections wins! All good beers and all for a good cause, the upcoming BreastFest Greenville, scheduled for Oct. 24, 2015.

A list of the beers is available at The Tap's Facebook page. The range was very impressive; from a Belgian Tripel Karmeliet whose recipe goes back to 1679, to a Pennsylvanian Imperial IPA Hop Bomb made by Victory. Surprisingly, my top choice for the evening was a new one for me, a New Belgium/Old Berseel collaboration called Transatlantic Kriek, a wheat ale with sour cherries blended in Colorado with a Belgian-style golden lager. Tart, yet with a slightly sweet finish and of course, cherry in the nose. Delicious.

Some photos of the event, including the eventual winner:

Chris, left; Chad, Bennie, right, getting ready to pour

All proceeds benefit the upcoming BreastFest

First round of Easy Drinkers, two more rounds to go

Cate Tyson (in pink) explains her role as BreastFest co-chair

Cate prepares snacks to accompany the beer choices

Boobie cookies (baked by Cate) were a popular treat

Choosing the favorite beer is a challenge when so many good ones are offered

Cate does final tabulations

Cate announces the winner as chosen by the crowd

And the winner is.... Chris, center, for his inspired beer choices. Congrats!

Very educational evening, I sampled four new beers. Untappd was very busy last night.

Cheers.

Croxbone - Tampa's Loss, Greenville's Gain

Adding my welcome to Croxbone Brewing Company's Brian and Nicole who have decided to move the operation to Greenville. I had a chance to taste one of their brews at ‪#‎TheCommunityTap‬'s Craft Beer Fest '15, and remembered to take some photos. They've got a FB page (https://www.facebook.com/croxbonebrewing) so look them up for more information about the move.

Brian Cendrowski

Nicole Cendrowski

This was a very tasty, palate pleasing brew!

Cheers!

Dogfish Head On Tap

Last night was Dogfish Head tap takeover at The Community Tap. 6 beers to sample. Beer 1000 was a fave of mine, as was Bitches Brew Imperial Stout. Thanks to Mike Okupinsky for pouring and explaining. Somehow, a 17% Raison d'Etre snuck in for the special event. I'm not sayin nothin to nobody.

Cheers!