Craft Beer Collective

Brewing School At Rockingham Community College

WFMY TV posted this story about new brewing education center at Rockingham Community College

“In Rockingham County, we have an abundant supply of farmland, have an excellent water supply. We are right at the perfect temperature and humidity that hops need to grow,” said Bradley Overby, Lead Horticulture Instructor at Rockingham Community College.

Coffee said last February, they started offering a few craft beer brewing classes, and students wanted more.

Piedmont Cup set for October 20th

American Brewmaster is proud to announce their 3rd Annual Piedmont Brewer’s Cup on Saturday, October 20th 2012! The Piedmont Brewer’s Cup is a BJCP/AHA sanctioned homebrew competition that puts homebrewers from NC, SC, GA, VA, MD, & TN against each other in a competition to win the right to claim their place on the Piedmont Brewer’s Cup. The 1st Place Best of Show winner will receive the following:

· Their recipe remade into a brewing kit for sale at the shop. They will be paid a portion of the profits throughout 2013

· Another portion will go to benefit Pints for Prostates throughout 2013

· They will get the chance to brew their winning recipe on a local brewery’s pilot system and will have it served in their taproom. The brewery for 2012 is Big Boss Brewery

· They will receive a 1st place medal and have their name engraved on the Piedmont Brewer’s Cup

· Several other prizes will be awarded from various other businesses and breweries as well

Awards will also be given to each 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place category winners and each brewer will receive qualified feedback on their beers from BJCP-ranked judges in order to help improve their craft. The awards ceremony is a public event and will begin at 7pm at Big Boss Brewery in Raleigh, NC. There will be beer, food trucks, and good times to be had during the ceremony.

If you would like to register your beers, or be a volunteer, for the event please visit the competition website: http://piedmontbrewerscup.brewcompetition.com/

American Brewmaster is Raleigh and the surrounding area’s premier homebrewing and winemaking supplier and has been in the business since 1983. We specialize in beer, wine, cheese, and draft systems and love helping new hobbyists get into this fun, exciting pastime. We have a friendly & knowledgeable staff and have a wide selection of ingredients and equipment for all of your brewing needs. If you would like to know more about the shop, please visit their website: www.americanbrewmaster.com

Our charity sponsor, Pints for Prostates, is an organization whose goal is to increase awareness about prostate cancer and to provide the public with information about screenings and the disease. If you would like to know more, please visit their website: www.pintsforprostates.org

2011 results

Skull Coast announce plans for Hickory brewery

Skull Coast tap

Skullcoast Brewing Announce new facility at 883 Highland Ave SW in Hickory, North Carolina

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HICKORY, North Carolina – April 20, 2012 – After months of being cloaked in secrecy, The Skull Coast Brewing Company, Inc. (“Skull Coast”), is pleased to announce that it will be setting up its brewing operations in the former “Hollar Hosiery Mill” in Hickory, North Carolina.

As part of a multi-million dollar historic preservation and redevelopment project, Skull Coast will be occupying the ground floor of the eastern “hanger” structure of the site. Access to the project’s only loading dock makes it ideal for Skull Coast’s operations.
In addition to the 30-bbl brewing system, currently being constructed by Bavarian Brewing Technologies, Skull Coast will be installing a Cask automated canning system to produce craft beer cans for off-premise accounts, and a roughly 1500 square foot taproom.

“We are unbelievably excited to have the opportunity to begin brewing again soon in our our own space, and hope to add in our own small way to the growing reputation and rich tradition of outstanding North Carolina breweries,” says Dave Fox, Skull Coast’s “Chief Drinking Officer.”

The developers of the Hollar Hosiery Mill project anticipate breaking ground in the next several weeks, and estimate that the Skull Coast Brewery portion of the overall project will be set to open in the Summer of 2012.

http://www.skullcoastbrewing.com/

Flying Saucer Rolls Out Barrels for Anniversary Party

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium will celebrate its 12th anniversary with a beer lover’s perfect party, featuring a dozen incredibly exclusive, one-of-a-kind bourbon barrel-aged beers from breweries across the country, on Saturday, March 3 from noon to 11 p.m. at its 328 West Morgan St. location.

To commemorate its birthday, Flying Saucer will be tapping 12 distinctly rare beers, found nowhere else in the world, throughout the day. Kentucky-based Heaven Hill Distillery helped the Saucer procure a dozen of their bourbon barrels for this extraordinary event. These barrels were then sent to some of the nation’s best craft beer breweries, where they were filled with one of their select beers and aged. The lineup of breweries involved in this rare event includes:

• Big Boss Brewing Co., Raleigh, N.C.
• Lonerider Brewing Co., Raleigh, N.C.
• Foothills Brewing Co., Winston-Salem, N.C.
• The Duck Rabbit Craft Brewery, Farmville, N.C.
• Terrapin Beer Co., Athens, Ga.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif.
• Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, Fla.
• Ska Brewing Co., Durango, Colo.
• Southern Tier Brewing Co., Lakewood, N.Y.
• Breckenridge Brewery, Denver, Colo.
• Great Divide Brewing Co., Denver, Colo.
• Uinta Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, Utah

Beginning at noon, the Saucer will tap one of the 12 barrels each hour, on the hour, until the final tapping at 11 p.m. At the 30-minute mark before each tapping, they will randomly select the next beer to be tapped and announce the surprise selection to bar patrons, at the bar itself, on their Twitter account (@FlyingSaucerRal) and via their website. As a special treat to all of the beer loving guests, the Saucer will raffle off the actual bourbon barrels from the festivities, with a different winner being selected every hour.

“Since opening in 2000, Flying Saucer has been regarded as the premier beer destination in Raleigh, and customers look forward to our anniversary party every year for the variety of beers that we bring in,” said Jeff Mickel, general manager of Flying Saucer. “This year we’ve put in a lot of extra effort to ensure that this is not only a fun event but an epic occasion for any beer lover. These beers are one-of-a-kind and this will be the only chance to EVER taste them. No one who loves beer will want to miss this awesome opportunity.”

Admission is free, but guests are encouraged to arrive early in order to sample all of the beers being offered at the anniversary party throughout the day. For more information about the event, please call (919) 821-7401 or visit http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/raleigh.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium was founded in 1995 in Fort Worth, Texas. Offering a wide variety of imported and domestic quality craft beers, as well as a full pub menu, the Flying Saucer family has now expanded to 15 locations in Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Missouri.

Beer Talk with Anne Fitten Glenn

Discussing Asheville beer news plus Sierra Nevada & New Belgium potential build

Reporter Jake Frankel and beer columnist Anne Fitten Glenn discuss the state of beer business and culture in Asheville. Hosted by Margaret Williams. Podcast produced by Steve Shanafelt. Theme music is “jam band spy song” by E. Lee.

Rep David Price Comments on Small Brew Act

Recently posted on Youtube with Paul from Duck Rabbit

Rep. Price joined Public Radio East to talk about his decision to co-sponsor the Small BREW Act, which would cut the excise tax on beer produced by small brewers. North Carolina is home to more small breweries than any other state. The story also focuses on other aspects of the effort to pass the legislation.

Beer Gift – Haw River Founders

Saxapahaw based start up brewery, Haw River ales, is looking for help with start up costs and is offering “Founders” packages. There are two packages available for $295 and $495.

This is on the higher side of most start ups and or even Christmas gifts for most, but after getting to know owners Ben & Dawnya for the past year or so I really have believe that they are offering a good value in return.

Haw River Founders Collection

Beer Gift – NCBG Membership

Are you looking for a gift that says “I really, really like North Carolina Beer?” Look no further than the North Carolina Brewers Guild Enthusiast program! With your member ship you’ll get a t-shirt, sticker and a membership card that entitles you to perks & discounts at several North Carolina breweries and businesses.

Here is a complete list of what’s being offered. / More Information / Sign Up Here

Unfortunately, most of my readers already know what I’m talking about here and may already be members. If you’re still reading this please share this article with a friend so all will know the benefits of the North Carolina Brewers Guild enthusiast membership.

Papazian in Asheville

President of the Brewers Association and Founder of the American Homebrewers Association Charlie Papazian will be in Asheville later this month as the keynote speaker for an educational event presented by The North Carolina Brewers Guild and Asheville Brewers Alliance.

A North Carolina cask ale event will take place the night before at Barley’s featuring confirmed casks from Fullsteam, Foothills, Big Boss and Duck Rabbit with more TBA. Coincidence? I think not!

Full details:

The North Carolina Brewers Guild, in partnership with the Asheville Brewers Alliance, are pleased to welcome special guest Charlie Papazian, President of the Brewers Association and Founder of the American Homebrewers Association, as keynote speaker for our February educational event.

Charlie’s talk will focus on general beer styles and personal experiences with yeast. He will also present updates on governmental affairs and legislative developments and leave plenty of time for Q&A. Come meet and share a pint with a pioneer of the homebrewing movement.

We are also excited to announce two other speakers preceding Charlie’s presentation: Kevin Sudderth of Hach, who will be talking to us about oxygen pick-up/testing and HopUnion, LLC, who will offer us an update on the hop market and an outlook on hops.

Admission includes a buffet-style barbecue dinner and two drink tickets for your choice of Highland pints.

When: Wednesday, February 23 – doors open at 3:15 pm.

4:00 pm – Hach – Kevin Sudderth
4:30 pm – HopUnion, LLC – TBA
6:00 pm – Keynote – Charlie Papazian

Where: Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Suite H, Asheville, NC 28803
Pricing: FREE to Asheville Brewers Alliance and/or North Carolina Brewers Guild members;

$25 for non-members. Not yet a member of the North Carolina Brewers Guild? Now’s a great time to join to get in for free!

http://charlieinasheville.eventbrite.com/

Video tour of @bigbossbeer @duckrabbitbrew

Recently, Darryl’s Grill of Greensboro have uploaded two video tours. The first with DUCK RABBIT BREWING in Farmville, NC and the second with BIG BOSS BREWING in Raleigh, NC. According to their website the restaurant is closed for renovations.

BEST OF THE BLOGS

Here are some recent blog posts by friends and acquaintances that I though I’d share with you:

Geistbear Brewing Blog
Thomas has posted a great resource for a subject that I run into quite often … Hop Farms! He published locations links and varieties grown at North Carolina hop farms. It’s an interesting subject that I will continue to follow. In fact I have put a request in at NC State to tour their fields that may be happening sooner than I thought!

Beer & Racing
Jon Odgers did another “Bike to Beer” tour and this time Durham was the spot! They hit Triangle and Fullsteam after a long ride on the American Tobacco Trail. Follow the above link to see some photos and to get involved in his next Bike To Beer tour!

Brewgasm
The Thirsty Monk in Asheville is having what they call Thirsty Fest…I mean check out the list of beers here. Easily the most exciting line up of beers in the state right now! Anyway, Brewgasm has the scoop and you can read about how she managed her kids and managed to make it through a high gravity flight that included Foothills Sexual Chocolate, Olde Hickory Barrel-Aged Scottish Ale, Highland Brewing Sour Seven Sisters and Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout! Ouch!

Bruisin Ales
They’re a craft beer store AND if you follow them on Facebook and Twitter they’re a solid source of beer news too! Check out the link for the amazing selection of fall seasonal brews that arriving at this world class beer retailer! Read the list and pray they stock this stuff wherever you live.

Top Fermented
Erik Myers just started his Mystery Brewing Company and uses this most recent blog post to talk about the rise of start up breweries and how his company will fit in or NOT fit in to the scene here. Plus he goes into the fact that the the industry is quite possibly “a facade of good will, warm-fuzzies, and glowing elf hugs”! Would love to chat with you about that Erik!

Great American Craft Beer

Great American Craft Beer Book by Andy Crouch

Andy Crouch has authored his new book, Great American Craft Beer, with a focus on the current craft beer movement – no imports, no macros, no BS. He did a great job of uncovering and exposing a lot of beloved regional beers including a handful of North Carolina breweries! I’ll get to those in a moment…

Great American Craft Beer is less of a book of reviews and more of a list of great category defining beers. For example, in the Belgian Witbier category you’ll find some of the most talked about samplings of the style being produced my the nation’s best breweries: Jolly Pumpkin‘s Calabaza Blanca, Allagash White, Bruery‘s Orchard White and so on. This format helps create a fairly comprehensive assessment of breweries, the beers they produce and the styles they are creating RIGHT NOW!

The book is rounded out with several essays on the brewing process, historical perspective, 25 Best beer bars, glossary of beer terms, and extensive sections of serving beer properly and pairing beer with food. In a way the book covers a lot of ground but seems to be careful to get right to the point of each subject.

The rise of the North Carolina beer scene is recognized here with the inclusion of ten beers by seven breweries. Each entry helps round out the style category they were featured in.

Big Boss Angry Angel
Cottonwood Pumpkin Ale
Duck Rabbit Wee Heavy Scotch Ale & Milk Stout
Foothills Torch Pilsner & Sexual Chocolate
French Broad Rye Hopper & Dunkle Witte
Highland Tasgall Ale
Pisgah Solstice

So, yes, apparently Cottonwood is being farmed out to a Pennsylvania brewery for production now. I’ll get to that in a future post!

Books like this can tend to cause a bit of debate when a readers favorite beer in not represented. I would recommend you use this book to explore what’s out there – available in cities across the country. Make a travel planner with this book or update your “wanted to trade” list!! It’s a better read than sifting through the many beer review websites out there!

Detail on Andy’s Website

Amazon.com