365 Days Later...

Happy Birthday Mash Tun!

Hear ye, hear ye – I have an important announcement. This blog will be one year old on Tuesday.

Yep, nearly 365 days ago, I published the first inspiration from inside this mash tun, “The Digital Mash Tun.” Since then, there have been 105 posts (including this one), one that was written while intoxicated, a series on keeping craft beer crafty, a Brewper Bowl, holiday posts, and more. It’s quite an accomplishment, considering that when I started writing it, I was certain that I wouldn't last the month. I suppose it is a testament to the vastness of the subject matter and the level of interest that you, my readers, have in my ramblings, and I thank you for that.

An anniversary is a pretty worthy reason to celebrate. Birthdays and wedding anniversaries, for example, are usually thrown right in there with the major holidays as important events during the calendar year. Many of the minor holidays that are remembrances of a particular person are observed on an anniversary or birthday of that person.

The beer world is no different. Brewers mark the anniversaries of when they first opened their doors, brewed their first beer, and so on, and they usually do so by offering a special beer for the occasion. These brews are usually only found at the brewery and for a very limited time, as a way of saying “thanks” to all the beer drinkers that keep them in business.

Bill Butcher, owner of Port City Brewing Company, in his tap room preaching about beer.

One of the local breweries in my neck of the woods, Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, Virginia, is coming up on such an occasion – the second anniversary of their brewing operation. They will be celebrating by brewing a special batch of smoked imperial porter called “Two.” It will only be available at the tap room and a few select places in town, and for a very limited time. Last year, for their first anniversary, they brewed an imperial stout called “One” that was only available for one day at the tap room… it sounds like this year will be a bit bigger.

Another brewery that is perhaps the gold standard for anniversary brews is the Stone Brewing Company, located in Escondido, California. They have been brewing delicious craft beer since 1996, and have brewed an anniversary ale every single year. This year’s anniversary ale, which is the sixteenth one they've made, is a double IPA made with rye added to the mash and lemon verbena thrown in along with the several varieties of hops. Stone also marks the anniversary of their flagship brew, “Ruination IPA,” by brewing a special variation every year. This year was the tenth anniversary of “Ruination” and to celebrate, the brewers created a 10.8% ABV, 110 IBUs version that used 5 pounds of hops per barrel, including two pounds in the dry hop!

Stone Brewing Company's 12.12.12 Vertical Epic Ale, at the Stone World Bistro and Gardens in Escondido, CA.

I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to mention Stone’s Vertical Epic series. Starting on February 2nd, 2002, Stone has brewed a different age-able brew every year and stored some of the product. The beers were released on 02/02/02, 03/03/03, 04/04/04, and so on until 12/12/12. After the last one was done, Stone gathered a cadre of smart beer people (no, I was not among them) and they all had a vertical tasting of the eleven beers. While not technically an anniversary, it is a yearly occurrence and it is a pretty sweet concept that I’m sure turned out brilliantly.

The Stone Vertical Epic Tasting, along with the counsel of elders. The guy with the beard is Stone's CEO and co-founder Greg Koch. To his left is Stone's Beer Ambassador, Dr. Bill Sysak, and Stone's President and Brewmaster, Steve Wagner. To Greg's right is craft beer journalist Jay Brooks, Joe Tucker from RateBeer.com, and Stephen Johnson from New Brew Thursday. The guys from Beer Advocate were there too, but aren't pictured.

Because I am an advocate of craft beer, local economies, and community involvement, I always enjoy a good brewery celebration, particularly their anniversaries. I highly recommend that you find your local brewers and party with them… the beers are always fantastic, the people are friendly and lots of fun. As for the first anniversary of this illustrious blog, I’m sure it will come and go, and be another milestone for the slowest-growing beer sensation on the interwebs. If I’m lucky, and a few more of these anniversaries go by, perhaps Stone will invite me to participate in a future council of elders for one of their brewing projects. It could happen…

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness… Cheers!