West Virginia celebrates Big Brew

UPDATE: Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company added the 8th event site after this article was published.

Scores of West Virginians are joining the Coast to Coast Toast on Saturday, May 2, as they take part in national Big Brew events at seven locations across the state.

Founded by the American Homebrewers Association, Big Brew commemorates National Homebrew Day and takes place the first Saturday in May. This year marks the 19th annual event.

If you live near an organized event, plan to drop by and brew or just enjoy the camaraderie. You don’t have to be a homebrewer to participate. It’s a great place to learn more about the beer making art.

A nationwide, simultaneous toast occurs at 1:00 p.m. EDT Saturday, and all homebrew and craft beer lovers are encouraged to participate, whether at a Big Brew event, at a bar, or at home.

Seven WV Big Brew event locations

All events will commence in the A.M. and run through the afternoon. In West Virginia the following Big Brew events are scheduled.

• The Greater Huntington Homebrewers Association (GHHA) and the Teays Valley Beer Drinkers and Homebrewers Association will join for an event in Hurricane, WV.
• Harrison County Homebrewers Club will celebrate Big Brew at an event in Lumberport, WV.
• The Morgantown Area Society of Homebrewers (MASH) club will hold its event in Morgantown, WV.
• Wheeling Alers’ Big Brew will take place in Wheeling, WV
• Upper Ohio Valley home brewers will hold their event at the Winemaker’s Loft in Follansbee, WV.
• Mid-Ohio Valley area homebrewers will meet in Parkersburg, WV, for an IPA Big Brew event.
• Marion County are home brewers will celebrate at an event hosted by the Fairmont Homebrewers Club.

Other Appalachian region Big Brew events will take place in Cartersville, GA; Chattanooga, TN; Asheville, NC; Ambridge, PA; and Washington, PA.

Event details link

For more information about each event follow this link to the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) website.

Homebrew recipes for 2015

Each year, AHA circulates two or more homebrew recipes as suggestions for homebrewers to make on Big Brew. This year’s recipes come from current Beer Judge Certification Program President Gordon Strong of Beaver Creek, Ohio. Many beer judges from the Greater Huntington Homebrewers Association are familiar with Strong from homebrew competitions in West Virginia and Ohio.

The 2015 recipes include Columbus Pale Ale, Old School Barleywine, and Killer Kolsch.

AHA estimates that there are over 1.2 million homebrewers in the United States. With one in every 200 adults in the U.S. now crafting their own beer, homebrewing has become one of the country’s fastest growing hobbies.

In West Virginia and throughout Appalachia, homebrew/enthusiast groups and clubs can be found in most urban areas.