Fire Forge Brewery's First Anniversary

Big day yesterday at Fireforge Crafted Beer's big One Year Anniversary celebration (hope you were there). Big crowd, big fun and Big Ass fans kept the place hopping and comfortable while enjoying the beer lineup, including two anniversary releases: a Wee Heavy Scotch Ale and a Belgian Chocolate Quad.

I was pleased to be part of the pouring team, joining other volunteers (hey, Bob Muller) and FF staff to make sure the wait for a beer was minimum (or non-existent).

Exciting music outdoors in the biergarten, Anniversary cake to share and the unveiling of the official Fire Forge Brewery sign (at last!) made for a memorable day and I join others who say "can't wait till next year!"
I'll drink to that. Cheers!!

Nicole Zokan Cendrowski Brian Cendrowski Chris Hooper Danny Mayberry Harvin Bedenbaugh Dave Dindinger

Cryo Hops - an Explanation

 I've been noticing the term "cryo hops" show up more and more often. Didn't mean much to me so I decided to do some research (it's my job, you know).

This site below seemed to provide the best answers, so I have added the link. At the moment I'm searching for info from any of our local breweries who might be using the powder.

Stay tuned, I'll report back shortly.


https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2018/05/02/New-era-of-brewing-YCH-Hops-sees-interest-around-proprietary-Cryo-Hops

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.

VIBE vibrations

Rain dampened no one's spirits today at The Community Tap's VIBE event; you might say spirits were raised.... tasting glasses certainly were. So many good beers, most rarely seen around here (The Answer, anyone?) if ever. Mucho kudos to Mike, Anna, Ed and the rest of the crew responsible for staging this exemplary beer appreciation day.

I also got to meet Mitch Steele, journeyed brew master and author of "IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale." He is now brew master and COO of New Realm Brewing in Atlanta and he just happened to bring along an IPA, Hoptropolis, which, as you might expect, was fabulous. Hop bill looked like this, Citra, Mosaic, Loral & Azacca. Tropical bliss.

Below, please find a varied selection of photos, mostly some of the usual suspects but all clearly enjoying this very, very special day.


https://www.facebook.com/events/1356620581152120/

I also got to meet Mitch Steele, journeyed brew master and author of "IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale." He is now brew master and COO of New Realm Brewing in Atlanta and he just happened to bring along an IPA, Hoptropolis, which, as you might expect, was fabulous. Hop bill looked like this, Citra, Mosaic, Loral & Azacca. Tropical bliss.

Below, please find a varied selection of photos, mostly some of the usual suspects but all clearly enjoying this very, very special day.


https://www.facebook.com/events/1356620581152120/

Altered State at Eighth State is a thing.

Sunday, May 6.

Eighth State Brewing's Second Annual Altered State event was a beer lover's dream, especially for those who search for variety. Over 40 taps/cans/bottles of unique, hard to get and even some impossible to get due to distribution issues were there for the sampling. And sampling we did. Untappd was never so busy!

A stand out for me was Wise Man Brewing from Winston Salem, NC, followed closely by Barrel Theory Beer Company's Midwestern Exotic, a fruit-filled Gose. Just too delicious to be believed. Yum.
Prize for best name for a brewery, in my opinion, was Bolero Snort from NJ.



Some photos of lotsa people enjoying lotsa beers:

Already looking forward to next year's event!!

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!