Athens' Beer Week Commences: Starting New Traditions

Athens has long been known for putting out great musicians, intense love of Dawg's football, and more recently we are on the map for craft beer. Athens also maintains an incredible foodie scene with several locally owned restaurants which happens to pair nicely with our brewpub and three breweries (with more on the way).

Street view of Five and Ten

Out of the food scene a star has shone in the form of Hugh Acheson. Owner of Five and Ten, The National, Empire State South, and The Florence, Hugh has made a national and international name for himself with television appearances on Top Chef, Master Chef and many more accomplishments. On Monday, April 4, 2016 which marked the official start to Athens beer week, beer brewers, brewery owners, writers, judges, and general beer lovers broke bread together at what, I hope is a new beer week tradition. At Hugh's first Athens' restaurant, Five and Ten (new location) we enjoyed a dinner designed by Hugh himself and paired with beer from our three local breweries, Terrapin, Creature Comforts, and Southern Brewing Company (SBC).

Beer Wench hangs with the famous Chef  Hugh Acheson

We started on the very traditionally southern front porch enjoying Southern Brewing Company's Oak Aged Wild Southern Ale. Made with raspberries and a plethora of funk inducing organisms, this beer spent time in SBC's foedor (pronounced food-er) which is a large wooden vat originally designed for aging wine but now being used by several breweries for their wild fermented beers. This beer was followed by five courses of mouth watering food and beer pairings from  grilled spring onions and asparagus partnered with Terrapin's Sound Czech Pils, a lobster and chickpea salad with Creature Comforts Cosmik Debris, Quail stuffed with Chicken Farce with Creature Comforts Paradiso, Grilled Dekle Steak (I had duck leg comfit - can't eat the mammals.) with Terrapin Poivre Potion Saison, and finally a brown butter rhubarb tart with SBC's Southern Sour Stout. We could not have had a better example of local foodie talent than this!

We learned how the different brews came to life, discussed the many pairings, and  many kudos were given to local celebrity, Owen Ogletree, founder of Classic City Brew Fest, as being one of the people who has help to boost the craft beer scene in Athens. Athens' beer week is relatively new. The culminating event is Classic City Brew Fest on Sunday, April 10th (21st year running and the oldest festival in Georgia). The week long celebration of beer began building around the festival as we gained breweries and craft beer bars. All good things must come to an end but we left the dinner sated, old friendships renewed, new friendships kindled, and excited for the many other events happening in our town this week. We are hoping that this dinner, a great start for the week, will become a tradition for future Athens beer weeks.

I will be covering many events this week. Like me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter to find  where the action is. So if you are in town, or close by, come celebrate beer week with us. We would be glad to have you. If you have never been to Classic City Brew Fest, it is a must do! According to Owen, tickets are still on sale. If you can't join us, raise a glass of your favorite brew and let's toast to beer weeks everywhere.  Remember eat well and drink good beer.

I Feel the Need, the Need for MEAD

The Beer Wench collected some impressive bottles of mead and gathered fellow beer lovers Owen Ogletree, Sachin Patel, Ian Meents, Ashton Smith, Dean Graves, Mark Hall and Lizz Berstein to sample and comment on ten different brands. Meads are a type of wine made from fermented honey, and they offer a surprising range of aroma and flavor components...
 
1. Fox Hill Meadery Special Reserve
Marshall, NC
Off-dry with buckwheat honey, 16% ABV
- Offering a deep amber, bourbon-like color, this mead provides hints of cereal, spicy rye, honeycomb, alcohol, golden raisins and toast with butter and honey. With a rich, honey flavor with hints of cinnamon, sherry and apricot jam, this selection comes across as warming but not extremely complex.
 

2. Monks Mead
Avondale Estates, GA
Carbonated mead with wildflower honey, 12.9% ABV
This local mead contains a hint of CO2 sparkle and is a bit reminiscent of a light sparkling wine in the aroma. Notes of cane syrup, muscat grapes, demi-sec champagne and slight spices give way to a somewhat bitter, but pleasant, finish. Color is golden, and the mead is quite clear.
 

3. St. Ambrose Meadery Rosé Ambrosia
Beulah, MI
Medium-dry with 33% grapes, 67% honey, 12% ABV
This mead pours a deep ruby red color with aromas of Pinot grapes, butter and grape jam on toast. Sweet red wine notes on the palate lead into an overall character of mixed berries, jam, red currants and pomegranate.
 
 
4. Redstone Meadery Pumpkin Nectar
Boulder, CO
Melomel with pumpkin, 8% ABV
The nose picks up French vanilla, clove, plastic, higher alcohols and light solvents. Flavor notes of nori seaweed and phenolic honey produce a unique profile in this clear, light straw colored mead.
 

5. Preissl Neuburger Met Extra Spezial
Imkermeister Preissl - Neuburger, Austria
Mead with cherries, 13.5% ABV
Chosen as SECOND PLACE (tie) by our panel.
This mead offers deep, dark amber/copper hues that are almost brown. Aroma and flavor tones of oak, wood, brown sugar, sorghum, vanilla, sweet port, dark cherries, nuts and papaya make for an extremely complex, satisfying dessert mead.
 

6. Nectar Creek Honeycone 
Corvallis, OR
Hop session Mead, 6.9% ABV
There's a definite hoppy note and resiny hop profile to this slightly earthy, medium-sweet mead with flavors of floral hops, kiwi, light tropical fruit and mild hop bitterness. Quite quaff-able and refreshing. It sports a pale straw color with a hint of fizz.
 

7. B. Nektar Dwarf Invasion
Ferndale, MI
Cherries and hops, 6% ABV
Chosen as SECOND PLACE (tie) by our panel.
Slight sour cherries and hops highlight the rustic fruit wine character of this mead, along with notes of strawberries and a clean, lactic acidity. Hops come through more in the aroma than the flavor in this dark red honey wine.
 

8. Alaska Meadery Batch #73
Anchorage, AK
Clover honey mead, off-dry, aged in bourbon barrels for nine months, 15% ABV
Chosen as THIRD PLACE by our panel.
This mead is packed with flavors of honey, vanilla, oak, alcohol, butter, clove, nutmeg, biscuit crust, rum and clover flowers. The appearance is clear, golden and attractive, and the overall impressive seems like a vanilla butter cookie dipped in honey.
 

9. B. Nektar Necromangocon
Ferndale, MI
Mango, black pepper, 6% ABV
Chosen as FIRST PLACE by our panel.
Mango, black pepper, cantaloupe, peppercorns and honeysuckle nuances highlight the lingering, pleasant pepper zing of this light golden mead with just a hint of carbonation. Also look for notes of blood orange zest and pine turpentine. 
 

10. B. Nektar Black Fang
Ferndale, MI
Blackberry, clove, orange zest, 6% ABV 
Notes of clove, ozone, sulfur and fruit mingle in the earthy aroma. Flavors of sangria, blackberries, gunpowder and rose hips are balanced by hints of black cherries, smoke and light citrus. This warming mead offers ruby/garnet hues and is brilliantly clear.

Craft Beer Makes for Holiday Cheer

By The Beer Wench 
This article first appeared in Southern Distinction Magazine.

This time of the year holiday cheer abounds. We spend time gathering with friends and family enjoying food and libations and celebrating the season. When planning for holiday parties and gatherings, remember to consider beverage pairings. There are so many flavors and styles of craft beers; it's easy to find one to complement any occasion or dish, and many people believe that beer's sweet malt, spicy hops and lively carbonation complement savory holiday dishes much better than other libations. 

You are hosting a dinner party or a gathering with light appetizers, and you need a starter beverage to greet your guests and serve as an aperitif. Think Berliner Weisse. This historic German beer style has made a recent comeback via American craft brewers. It is light and tart with nice carbonation. Creature Comforts Brewing Company in Athens, Georgia has a splendid Berliner Weisse called Athena. This style also works well as a palate cleanser between courses or as an accompaniment for fresh fruits and sorbets.

What about heavier appetizers or main holiday courses? There are a plethora of craft beer choices out there. India Pale Ales (IPAs), Brown Ales and Amber Ales are all styles that offer a variety of pleasant, sweet malt flavors backed by a hoppy bitterness to please any set of taste buds. JailHouse Brewing in Hampton, Georgia brews Mugshot IPA with nicely balanced flavors of sweet, toasty malt and spicy, citrusy hop notes. This style pairs well with meats and hearty vegetables and can even be enjoyed with seasonal pies or bread pudding. JailHouse Misdemeanor Ale is a more moderately-hopped amber ale that leans more on earthier, nutty, caramel-like malt flavors for those who may not be a fan of IPAs.

Sweets are usually a big part of holiday gatherings, and there are craft beers that go perfectly with any dessert. Having a creme brulee? Try a roasty, coffee beer like Terrapin’s thick and decadent Wake n Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout. Not into coffee? Monday Night Brewing’s Drafty Kilt, a toffee-like Scottish Ale, also pairs well with rich desserts. A wonderful choice for lighter desserts such as coconut cake and custards, Lazy Magnolia’s Southern Pecan is an elegant, slightly sweet, malty beer made with a touch of toasted pecans. Many breweries also come out with limited release “holiday” beers this time of the year that can make your holiday celebrations special.

The key to pairing food and craft beer is knowing your tastes. You can choose to complement or contrast with pairings. A strong, spicy Belgian Tripel has bold enough flavors to pair with ham, turkey, or roasts while cutting through some of the richness of the meat. If you are a novice at craft beer, that’s okay. The folks at your local package store will be glad to offer advice, or you can do a little research at your local craft beer bar/restaurant. The point is to have fun this holiday season. Be a little adventurous. Enjoy responsibly and remember to always eat well and drink good beer.  

Happy holidays!

Big Springs Brewing Debuts at Bark and Brew

So, many of you saw my blog and subsequent reminder posts on Facebook and Twitter about our fantastic, free event, Bark and Brew. In its fourth year, this event was a roaring..er...barking success. Puppies and their people came out to enjoy the amazingly beautiful weather, and owners enjoyed some tasty brews. We had a variety of bottled and canned craft beer along with a home brew crew hoping to go commercial. The event this year was held at Mutty Paws, a new pet kennel, groomer, and spa in Watkinsville, GA. They are still under construction, but it is going to be awesome.

Owen Ogletree, organizer of the event, hangs out with some our volunteers.

I have been master of ceremonies for our doggy parade every year, and it is usually the highlight of the event for me.  I love seeing the tricks and wags and happy, drooling faces. However, this year was made extra special because we had Big Springs Brewing in attendance. Although this crew is currently still in home brew status; they are looking for a space to turn their passion into a business.

Although, they were originally looking in Oconee County where we would love to have a couple of breweries, the laws and local lawmakers are still blocking progress; so these guys could be our next Athens brewery. I have to say as a beer judge and general beer geek, head brewer Morgan, spearheaded some excellent brews. I tried their Kolsch, Tripel, and a couple of other beers of note. They were quite tasty!

John and Morgan of Big Springs Brewing show off their beers.

I have to give a shout out to all of our volunteers for donating their time and to Big Springs for donating their time and beer, and to Terrapin Beer Company for providing prizes for this wonderful event which helps out our local Athens-Area Humane Society. Although it is a free event, attendees were encouraged to put in donation for the Humane Society. Anytime my favorite past time can help out the community, it makes that event that much more special. Remember my friends, eat well and drink good beer - with your favorite pooch if you can!

Widget, the lion-cut Sheltie, was one of our winners this

year. Mom won a gift pack from Terrapin Brewing.

Beer Dinners: Love Them or Hate Them?

When I first started enjoying craft beer in the early 1990s, beer dinners did not exist, at least not in my area. As craft beer skyrocketed in the first beer revolution, beer dinners became more popular. They are a way to showcase a brewery and a bar/restaurant that stocks that particular brand. As the number of beer dinners increased, the creativity of chefs did too. Now, you can almost find a beer dinner on any given day if you look hard enough. So, do you love them or hate them?

Personally, I love them. I have been to great beer dinners, good beer dinners, and mediocre beer dinners. I loved them all. What's not to love? You are drinking, usually, good beer, and even if the pairings or the food are not up to your standards or tastes, you are drinking good beer. Yes, I said that twice.

Very recently I attended a beer dinner at one of my local favorite watering holes, Chops and Hops, in Watkinsville, GA. The restaurant chose a theme, Georgia grown, to show off breweries and food products made, grown, and raised in our state. The picture above shows the excellent cheese plate paired with two beers, Second Self's Xmas in July and Orpheus' Peace.War.Truth. Lie. The flavors of both of the beers could not have been more different, yet they both paired well with the cheese. All of the above were made in Georgia.

This was a great idea because we have so many new breweries popping up, and many at the beer dinner had not had any of the beers. Other breweries showcased were Southbound and Eventide with food products coming from places like Morgan County Cheeseworks, Greendale Farm, Piedmont Provisions, and many others.

Detractors of beer dinners cite cost, saturation of the market, and crazy pairings as to why they do not like them. Which, I agree, can be a bit intimidating, but one of our local chef/Owners, Richard Miley, who runs Catch 22 on Epps Bridge Road in Oconee County has taken to making smaller more affordable dinners which have great beer and food. I am attending a Stone brewing dinner there next week, and you don't have to attend every dinner. I believe that if you look hard enough, you will find a dinner that fits your budget and tastes. As a non-mammal eater, chefs have been great about doing substitutions as long as you let them know far enough in advance. Do not expect them to make substitutions if you buy your ticket that night or even the night before. These things take preparation and planning. The picture below was my amazing chicken substitution for the lamb dish served with Second Self's Red Hop Rye and Eventide's Nitro Stout which, by the way rocked the flavors!

With all things, my opinion is if you don't like something, don't do it, but don't give up on beer dinners if you have had one bad experience. I love meeting the beer reps and brewers and seeing what the chefs are going to do. Go in with an open mind and palate. I would be interested in hearing about your experiences and your opinions on the subject. You can follow BeerWenchGA on Twitter and like Facebook. Let me know how feel! In the meantime, remember to eat well and drink good beer.

Beer Wench GA, John from Second Self, and Ashton Smith

at the Chops and Hops Georgia Grown beer dinner.

There is a conference for everything: celebrating women in beer!

For one of the last hurrahs of the summer before returning to my day job, I attended my first Beer Bloggers & Writers Conference. Yes, there is a conference for everything. The 2015 conference took place in beer mecca Asheville, North Carolina.

The Beer Wench breathing in

the aroma of hops at Sierra Nevada.

I took part in the pre-conference excursion in Raleigh, NC because it had been years since I had visited the city. The beer scene has exploded! Since visiting, I have learned that Clouds Brewing, which is a very good craft beer bar, plans on brewing their own beer. Can't wait to go back and try it!

Another great benefit of the trip were excursions to Oskar Blues and Sierra Nevada where we were treated like royalty. Along with other bloggers, I visited some old friends and was introduced to some new beer places. You can't do the entire Asheville beer scene in one weekend any more, folks!

But, I have to say that one of my favorite treats of the conference did not involve beer, at least not drinking it. It does relate to the subtitle of this blog.  Kim Jordan, co-owner of New Belgium Brewing, came to talk to us. If you did not know, New Belgium is opening a location in Asheville, following in the footsteps of Oskar Blues and Sierra Nevada. I loved hearing Kim talk about her brewery, the beginnings, and her passion for the industry.

I have been enjoying craft beer since about 1992. I started writing about beer and food in beer newspapers around 1994 or 1995. When I first started writing and judging there were not many women out there - at least not compared to the number of men in the industry. Now women are showing their passion for good beer, making good beer, running breweries, and generally saying craft beer is not a gender issue. Kim Jordan's presentation, the number of female bloggers I met at the conference, Julia Herz from the Brewer's Association in Colorado giving the opening address, and meeting the new head brewer at Highland Brewing company, Holly, shows that women are a vital, growing part of the industry.

Selfie with the new head brewer

at Highland Brewing, Holly.

I am looking forward to next year's conference in Tampa and am already registered. I can't wait to see what is in store! The next big beer trip for this Beer Wench will be judging at GABF again this year! Life is good. No matter the shape of the world today, remember to eat well and drink good beer.

Bark and Brew: It is a Barking Good Time!

So who does not like hanging with dogs and drinking beer? If you want a chance to chillax with your pup, drink good craft beer, and support a good cause, you need to come to the 4th annual Bark and Brew on Sunday, September 13, 2015 in Watkinsville, GA. I have had the honor of MCing the dog parade at this event for the last three years and will be doing it again this year.

This is a free event. Yes, I said free; however, donations to the Athens Area Humane Society are strongly recommended. To keep the event from being over-crowded attendees must register at this LINK. It is so much fun to play with the pups, talk to interesting people, and sample 30 plus craft beers. I mentioned a parade before. We have a little dog show where owners can show off their canine's talent with categories such as cutest, best doggy tale, best trick, and best all around. Cool prizes are donated by Terrapin Beer Company.