#EpicBeerWeekend on the #BrewRidgeTrail Review (Part 5)

Afton, Virginia

First, a few words from the author.

Look people, I know the fall beers are starting to show themselves. I have heard you clambering for a post all about Pumpkins and Oktoberfests. I’m ignoring you, just like I am ignoring all of the brewing industry shark-jumpers who have once again decided that the Fall harvest season begins on August 1st. Newsflash geniuses – Autumn starts on September 21st; not August 1st! Don't get me wrong - I love harvest seasonal beers too. But according to the Gregorian calendar, as well as the thermometer that reads mid-80s at the moment, IT’S STILL SUMMER!!! So enough with the fall beers!

Last time, in the mash tun…

… was all about a little-known slice of beer paradise (beeradise?) called Wild Wolf Brewing Company in Nellysford, VA. We reviewed the outdoor biergarten, the homebrew supply store, the food, but most importantly, the delicious and creative beers. Once again, as a disclaimer, I really must insist that before reading any further, you take notice of the (Part 5) in the title of this post. That is as much a warning as it is a waypoint or mile marker. This is quite literally the fifth chapter of an epic voyage that we began many weeks ago. If you are just joining us, and feeling lost isn't your cup of tea (pint of beer?), please go back to part one and read through to today’s post. If you have no problem being a little out of touch, or you’re already caught up to this point, than by all means, continue reading.

Believe it or not, at this point in the trip, it was only Saturday morning. We had been questing since Thursday evening, and in less than a day and a half, we traveled to four makers of fine beer. Not bad, if I do say so myself.

The large outdoor seating area, and the brewery and brewery behind.

The fifth stop on the trail was the Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, VA, which is located along VA-151, just a few miles down the road from where Wild Wolf and Devils Backbone are. Blue Mountain, in my (not-so) humble opinion, encompasses everything that is right about this part of the U. S. of A. It is peaceful, it is simple, it has majestic views, a huge outdoor seating area, hop farm… seriously awesome place.

We arrived for lunch and were seated under one of the pergola-covered seating areas that face the Blue Ridge Mountains. The weather was perfect, the air was still, and I truly felt like I was sitting in a place where time had stopped.

The food was excellent. The wife and I split a beer-boiled local bratwurst and a creole Cuban press. Both sandwiches featured pork products that came from a pig farm that was only a few hundred feet away from the brewery. Local industry baby!

Beautiful! (the mountains are pretty nice too)

The beer was phenomenal as well! I was privileged to drink a flight that consisted of the following brews: Virginia Draft Hard Cider (which was actually made by the Bold Rock Hard Cidery; also on VA-151), Classic Lager European Lager, Kolsch 151, Rockfish Wheat Hefeweizen, Maggie’s Maibock, Uber Pils, Full Nelson IPA, Double IPA, Barrel Aged Mandolin Belgian Tripel, and Dark Hollow American Imperial Double Stout. As with all of the places I visited on this trip, none of the beers were bad – in fact, they were all sublime. But also per usual, there were a few standouts.

Light and summery

The Rockfish Wheat Hefeweizen was one of the best hefeweizens I’ve ever had. It is an authentic Bavarian-style “Kristall Weizen” filtered wheat beer. There was also a unique flavor, which I think was provided by the yeast, that made this hefe a truly delicious, light, summery beauty.

The Double IPA was sweet and powerful, citrusy from the hops, grapey from the yeast, and caramely from the malt. The alcohol was well hidden, making this DIPA very easy to drink, and dangerous by extension with its 9.30% ABV.

The Barrel Aged Mandolin Belgian Tripel was mysterious – it was sweet and sour at the same time, both derived from fruity notes. It was also a big beer at 10% ABV. The sour notes dominated the sweets a little bit, resulting in a beer that took some getting used to. Still good though.

The Dark Hollow was delicious. They brewed up am imperial stout and then aged it is a whiskey barrel, giving it complexity and character. It’s a bit like drinking liquor, and with a higher than normal ABV (10%), it hits like it too.

Dark, mysterious, and I love it

After the beer was drunk, and the food was gone, we took a growler to the bar and filled it with the Double IPA, and then met one of the Blue Mountain brewers back in the brewery for a tour. The operation is surprisingly small, considering we can find BMB brews for sale at our local grocery stores. Still, the tour was interesting and the brewer who we met with was a stand-up guy.

The beer and scenery alone at Blue Mountain Brewery is enough to keep me coming back. The fact that the food is good and the people are nice is just an added bonus. I recommend that you all add them to your list of beer places to visit. You won’t be sorry.

Another view of the outdoor seating area... I can't get enough of this place

…to be concluded…

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness (and the Brew Ridge)… Cheers!

#EpicBeerWeekend on the #BrewRidgeTrail Review (Part 4)

Another little unknown beer spot

Last time, in the mash tun…

I reviewed the best audible ever called; yes, even better than that time Donovan McNabb called an audible on 4^th and 26 and hit Fred-X for a 27 yard pass to extend the drive and eventually beat the Green Bay Packers in an NFC divisional playoff game. Come to think of it, I’m not sure that was an audible. But the time I decided to drive across the mountains and check out the Devils Backbone Brewery in Lexington, VA definitely was.

Later that day, we arrived at the fourth stop on our epic conquest of the Brew Ridge Trail – the Wild Wolf Brewing Company in Nellysford, VA. Wild Wolf is located on the same exact road as the Devils Backbone Brewpub in Roseland and the Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, VA, so its convenience cannot be overstated. It is also right next to the skiing resort in Wintergreen, so if your reason for being in the area is skiing and not beer, but you also like beer, and are looking for a place to go drink beer (and eat too), well, you know…

The biergarten

As you approach Wild Wolf, you’ll notice that there is a hop grove and a sizeable outdoor seating area/biergarten in the front, along with several out buildings. As it turns out, one of those out buildings is a homebrew supply store! These guys have thought of everything! Of course we stopped into the store and bought a few supplies (hops) and talked to the shop keeper. The grounds also smell of barbecue  as there is a smoker fired up off to the side of the biergarten. Seriously, this place didn't seem like a brewpub to me, but rather an outdoor, beer-related, adventureland.

But there was a brewpub too – which resembled a cabin in the woods. They also had a fish pond, a gazebo, an outdoor playing area for the kids (complete with bouncy house)… really off the wall kind of place.

The menu was extensive and the food was very good – I had a pulled pork sandwich, because I couldn't resist the smell of that smoker. The prices were reasonable too.

The stars of the show

The beer, which of course is why we are all here, was eclectic and delicious. There were 11 to be had, and they were divided into two flights: a staples flight and a seasonals flight. You don’t have to get both flights, but I had to, because if you’re going to be a bear, be a grizzly bear. The beers were as follows: American Pilsner, Blonde Hunny Belgian style blonde ale, Alpha Ale American pale ale, Wee Heavy Scottish style brown ale, Dry Stout, Weiz Wolf hefeweizen, Strawberry Schwarzcake schwarzbier, Peach Slap fruit beer, Honey Saison, Area 151 Belgian fruit rotator, and Brew Ridge Trail Collaboration Imperial IPA (2013). There are several highlights here, and I will break them down one by one.

The staples, or the brews that Wild Wolf has all the time, are consistent and tasty. Nothing really jumped out at me as far as having a “wow” factor, but all five of them were exactly as they should've been. I think my favorite was the Alpha Ale, followed by the Dry Stout as a close second.

The Weiz Wolf hefeweisen was exceptional. I am starting to realize how wonderful a hefe can be when it is made correctly.

The Strawberry Schwarzbier was also very good, and an interesting twist on a classic style. They basically made a dark beer and fermented it with strawberries (primary and secondary) so that the flavor and aroma were full of strawberry goodness. This, of course, flies in the face of proper German brewing traditions, and the Reinheitsgebot purists would probably spit in this beer on principle, but I thought the result was a flavor like strawberry shortcake and an aroma like a chocolate-dipped strawberry. Delicious.

Peach Slap was tasty as well. It was light and tart, almost hinting at being similar to a Berlinerwiess. If you've ever had Dogfish Head’s Festina Peche, and you liked it, you’d like this one as well.

Honey Saison was a treat, like a lightened-up version of a honey wheat ale. It reminded me of eating honeysuckle when I was a kid - very light and airy, but with a not-so-subtle sweetness that makes it all the more refreshing.

This one was made with raspberries

The Area 151 was awesome, not just because it tasted great (which it did), but because of what it is. Essentially, 151 is a “year round seasonal,” which means that they always have it, but it changes with the season based on which ingredient is in season. It is a Belgian style that has fruit added during fermentation, and that fruit rotates so that the Area 151 varies depending on when you are there. The version they had when I was there was brewed with local cherries, and the result was very similar to a kirsche Weiss (cherry wheat). Quite good.

Speaking of local ingredients, spoiler alert – all of the fruit and other adjuncts, as well as much of the barley and hops used to brew Wild Wolf beers are grown in Nelson County, VA. Hurray local agriculture!

Then there was the pièce de résistance – the Brew Ridge Trail Collaboration Imperial IPA (2013). This beer was a great example of why I go questing to breweries: going to the source is the only way to find collabo-awesomeness like this. Every year, all of the Brew Ridge Trail breweries get together and brew a collaboration project, using locally grown ingredients and their collective beer brains. In 2013, their project was a beautifully crafted imperial IPA, and what they came up with was out of this world. My only regret was that Wild Wolf wouldn't let me take a growler of it home with me… something about having to save enough for everybody. Oh well, what you find at the brewery stays at the brewery.

In keeping with the overarching theme of this mega-quest, Wild Wolf was a great experience with great beers, and I highly recommend you give them money in exchange for malted-barley-based deliciousness. Check out their website for more information. Until next time…

The little homebrew store... a great idea

… to be continued…

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness (and the Brew Ridge)… Cheers!

#EpicBeerWeekend on the #BrewRidgeTrail Review (Part 3)

Last time, in the mash tun…

I continued recounting the time I traipsed about in the majestic mountainous swath of Virginia countryside outside of Charlottesville and Shenandoah, looking for great beer. As you’ll recall, I didn't have to try too hard to find said beer. I referred to our first stop on this epic voyage at the South Street Brewery Brew Pub in downtown Charlottesville, and then went on in some detail about the second stop, which was the Devils Backbone Brew Pub in Roseland. I would be remiss if I didn't once again remind you all that in order to properly enjoy this blog post, you really should spend a few minutes to get caught up if you haven’t been following along. It’s a pretty easy process… I’ll even include links for you so you don’t have to worry about getting lost in the interwebs. Simply click here to read Part 1, and then click here to read Part 2. Now that that’s out of the way…

Not that far off.

As we were wrapping up our meal at the Devils Backbone Brew Pub, a dash of reality struck us. It was barely 1:30 in the afternoon, and our next destination was intended to be in the “dinner” time frame, at another brewpub that was literally a mile or so away from where we were. This meant that we needed to come up with something to keep ourselves entertained for four hours or so. A matter made more crisis-like by Devils Backbone’s “in the middle of nowhere” quality that I had been praising not 10 minutes prior.

Then it occurred to me – “Devils Backbone also has a production brewery in Lexington, Virginia, which if I remember correctly is on the other side of the Blue Ridge Mountains from where we currently were,” I said to myself. I enlisted the services of my smartie phone, and sure enough, a quick drive over the mountains would deposit us in Lexington. What better way to pass the time than at a brewery? We decided to call an audible.

A is the brewpub. B is the production brewery. The green part is gorgeous country.

So we made the 45 minute or so drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the other side of the mountains, and arrived at the Devils Backbone Brewery in Lexington, VA, affectionately known as the Outpost, which became the third stop on our epic quest for great beer in the brew ridge. The Outpost is located at 50 Northwind Lane in Lexington, and is easily accessible from I-81 and I-64.

The view from the street.

The Devils Backbone Outpost Brewery has a lot of the same ski-lodgy outdoorsy features as their Roseland brew pub, but is a lot more industrial looking too, which is to be expected as it is a factory. In case you haven’t put two and two together yet, the Outpost is where the majority of the Devils Backbone beer you find in stores is made. But in spite of the sizable commercial brewing operation that goes on there, like any proper production brewery, they have a very comfortable tap room where people can pop in, have some brews, buy some merch, and even take a tour if the timing is right. There is even an outdoor biergarten set up if the weather is cooperative.

Thirsty?

We arrived at the brewery and helped ourselves to a full flight of what was on tap – eight beers in all. The beers on the line were a wood-aged Kilt Flasher Wee Heavy, Eight Point IPA, Dark Abby Belgian Dubble, Striped Bass Pale Ale, Vienna Lager, Reilly’s Red Irish Red Ale, Ein Kolsch, and Coffee Schwartz Bier. All the beers were terrific, and there was no disappointment to be found.

For me, the highlight of the flight was the Coffee Schwartz Bier, which is there German-style black lager that has been brewed with coffee, which impart bold roasted coffee flavors to balance with the caramel notes from the malted barley. The beer is very dark, but surprisingly smooth and easily drank. It’s ABV is only 4.9%, making it a great session beer as well.

I also really enjoyed the wood-aged Kilt Flasher Wee Heavy, though it was probably too peaty for those who aren't fans of scotch ales. The oak barrel that the beer was aged in amplified the peat and made the beer quite aggressive, which forced my palate to react to it and not the other way around. Delicious, but definitely not a beginner beer.

Of course, being a hop head, I was very happy with the Eight Point IPA as well. I've had this beer countless times, but it’s always better on draught, and it’s always better fresh from the source.

View from the brew house.

In addition to drinking beer, I took the opportunity to buy some merch as well, adding to my glassware collection and even acquiring a bottle of Beggars and Thieves, the Craft Brewers Conference Symposium Beer that was brewed by Devils Backbone, DC Brau and The Brewer’s Art for the 2013 CBC. Beggars was a sessionable Rye Pilsner that was 5% ABV, making it easy to drink and pretty tasty. They didn't have any left on draught at the brewery, otherwise I would have had some, but I was fortunate to find a few bottles that could be taken home.

Also to my chagrin, we were unable to tour the facility during our visit as it was not a tour time, but hey… maybe next time.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable beer excursion, and I would definitely go back. Not bad for an unplanned audible call on our epic beer weekend. If you’re ever driving along I-81, and you’re in the Lexington area, I recommend you stop in for a pint… you won’t be sorry.

… to be continued…

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness (and the Brew Ridge)… Cheers!

#EpicBeerWeekend on the #BrewRidgeTrail Review (Part 2)

Last time, in the mash tun…

I began recalling my sojourn into the craft breweries of the Brew Ridge Trail, located in a gorgeous part of Virginia between Charlottesville and Shenandoah. I focused on my first stop, which was at the South Street Brewery Brew Pub in downtown Charlottesville. If you haven’t read it yet, you probably should stop reading this post right now, and go back to that one, and read it first. This is, after all, a series of blog posts, and to start reading at episode 2, having not read episode 1, is just absurd. It’s kind of like when I watched all of the Mission Impossible movies in reverse order, for no apparent reason but to be different. I never really felt like I connected with the overarching plot lines that carried throughout the four movies. That’s the kind of misery you’ll be subjecting yourself to if you don’t stop reading right now, and read part 1 first. I’ll wait… I promise.

Oh, you’re back. Good.

The building with the reddish brown roof in the lower left is the Devils Backbone Brew Pub.

Now that we’re all caught up, it’s on to part 2, the second stop on the voyage of epic awesomeness in which I visited six beer producing venues in three days this past June. The second stop was at the Devils Backbone Brewing Company Brew Pub in Roseland, VA. If you’re unfamiliar with Roseland, VA, it’s not surprising. Roseland is quite literally off the beaten path, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Wintergreen ski resort area of Virginia. In fact, the brewpub is flanked on two sides by purple mountains majesty (actually blue mountains). The whole thing deliberately reminded me of a ski lodge, with massive tree timbers being used to construct the restaurant and an equally deliberate log cabin vibe inside. As we were there in the summer, we took full advantage of the outdoor seating – a large wrap around porch with 360 degree panoramic views of beautiful country. Absolute peace and quiet. Calm. Seriously folks, I cannot oversell this. I have been to many places on this earth of ours, and the Devils Backbone brewpub in Roseland, VA in on the list of my favorites.

My oldest child, racing to the front door of the brew pub.

Another cool aspect of the DBBC Brew Pub, if you’re the outdoorsy type, is it’s proximity to the Appalachian Trail – it’s less than a half mile off the trail. This is something that the folks at the pub celebrate, and as you sit at the bar, you can look around at all the pictures of the through hikers that have paid them a visit over the years. There are quite a few. In fact, if you’re really lucky, you may even meet one while you are there. Don’t be thrown off by the smell of a through hiker – they are always good for a fascinating story to tell and are some of the most genuinely nice people out there. In fact, that is a good way to describe all of the folk in this part of the world – genuinely nice. It may sound silly to say it or read it, but for those of you like me who live in Northern Virginia, it’s probably been a while since you last talked to a genuinely nice person.

Glorious hops, growing on
the front porch!

It was lunch time when we arrived at the brew pub, and as it was a simply amazing day outside, we decided to eat outside (this became a reoccurring theme throughout the weekend as you’ll see). I had an absolutely amazing bacon cheeseburger with gourmet potato chips, and they were out of this world. The server was very friendly, the outdoor dining area was clean and pleasant, and there were dogs snoozing in the shade. The dogs belonged to some on the staff, and apparently were always there, just in case someone dropped food on the floor. The dining experience is very laid back, even though the quality of the food is slightly elevated.

The beer was tremendous, as anyone who has had Devils Backbone beer before can attest. Obviously, you factor in the “fresh off the line/straight from the brewery” quotient to amplify the awesomeness and that’s where we are. I’m not making any of this stuff up people – there are books with equations and all sorts of whatnot. True story.

Anyways, the beer that I was treated to at the brew pub was the Berliner Metro Weiss, the Ein Kolsch, the Ramsey’s Draft Stout, the Scratch 97 Black Rye IPA, the 16 Point Imperial IPA, the Gold Leaf Lager, and the Wintergreen Weiss. If I’m being honest with you, which I always try to do, all seven of these beers were outstanding!

The Kolsch was the weakest, but I’m tempted to attribute that to the style and not to the execution of said style.

If you aren't a sour beer fan, you probably would be thrown off by the Berliner Metro Weiss, as it is a Berliner Weiss, and sour as the day it was made. The addition of the lactobacilli yeast give it a “tart and snappy sourness,” according to the brewers themselves. Although, my lovely wife is not a sour beer fan, and she actually said that it wasn't bad. I thought it was wonderful, but then again, I've trained my palate to enjoy sours.

Also of the Weiss family was there old standby – the Wintergreen Weiss. This is a great beer, particularly for those who enjoy Hefeweizens and other wheat beers. It has a very crisp flavor and a very smooth delivery. To call it refreshing would be underselling it.

Another view from the mountain top. I could live here.

The Gold Leaf Lager is an award-winning pilsner lager and is also extremely crisp and refreshing. Pilsners tend to get a bad rep because of big beer shenanigans, but this one was very good and true to the style.

The Ramsey’s Draft Stout is a dry Irish stout with chocolate and coffee notes imparted from the malt. This was a wonderful beer, and I wish I was drinking one right now as I write this. I recommend it to all of you.

Winter is coming, and you can take shelter at Devils Backbone.

Now on to the two stars of the show: The first was the 16 Point Imperial IPA. As the name indicates, this is their Imperial Double IPA, and cleverly (or perhaps uncleverly), they've named it by taking the name of their standard IPA (8 Point IPA) and doubling the number of points on the namesake whitetail deer’s antlers. All of that aside, the beer is truly wonderful. Very hoppy, very bold flavor, very heavy malt backbone – not for the faint of heart, but for those of us who like hops, and like IPAs, this is a treat.

Dark and mysterious, and delicious.

The other star of the show, and edging out the 16 Point by ever the slightest of margins, was the Scratch 97 Black Rye IPA. Scratch 97 is a session-strength Black IPA that was brewed with three types of rye malts and peppercorns, to give it a deliciously spicy flavor profile that is balanced by plenty of American hops. This beer also exemplifies why going to brewpubs and breweries is of the utmost import, if you’re always searching for great beer. Scratch was a collaboration project that was led by the brewers at Tröegs in Hershey, PA and involved Devils Backbone and The Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh, PA. They all got together after taking home gold medals at Great American Beer Festival 2012 and brewed up a collabo-brew for Philly Beer Week 2013 called Scratch 97. The only way you can get this beer is to 1) go to Philly Beer Week 2013 (too late), or 2) go to one of three breweries responsible when they are serving their kegs of it (might be too late for that too). The search for great beer often surprises.

Overall, I was as impressed with the Devils Backbone Brew Pub operation as I can possibly be. I am tempted to drive three plus hours right now just to eat lunch there again (and drink great beer of course). I recommend this place to everyone, whether you live down there, are just passing through, or are looking for an adventure. You won’t be disappointed. For more details, check out their website, or go to Beer Advocate, Yelp, or any other place to gather intelligence about beer and restaurants.

The view from inside the brew house, looking into the bar.

Here’s to craft-brewed happiness (and the Brew Ridge)… Cheers!