Weekend Wrap-up 5-5

It was a busy weekend for West Virginia beer community. Here is a wrap-up of some of the activities. Hope you got to participate in one of them.

Big Timber Brewing’s 5th Anniversary

With music, brewery tours, fun competitions, and the release of a special Barleywine, Big Timber Brewing made quite a party out of its 5th Anniversary celebration in Elkins. We hear their 5th Anniversary Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine was a big hit.

Brilliant Stream sends a BIG congratulations to Big Timber on five years of bringing super solid brews to our little state. They are brewing leaders, great folks, and a great business. Way to go Matt, Amber, Sam, and Ashley.

Morgantown did Dankfest

A big crowd turned out Saturday for Dankfest at Morgantown Brewing Company to experience over 20 of the best IPAs from West Virginia breweries. You could buy a cool little commemorative glass, which sold for $5 each, and get a beer included in the price. Pretty sweet. You gotta love this business strategy of bringing together great beers from breweries around the state and putting them in a festival format. Expect more of these type events in the future at MBC. Good move Chris and Cody.

Homebrewers do Big Brew

On Saturday, homebrew clubs around the state met up in their home areas to celebrate National Homebrew Day. Known as Big Brew, the event is sponsored nationally by the American Homebrewers Association. Activities included a nationwide toast at 1:00 PM EDT.

News from last weekend too — Speaking of WV homebrewers, it was interesting to get some notes from local homebrewers who helped judge at last weekend’s WV Craft Brew Festival beer competition in Lewisburg. Brewers entered beers they brought to the festival an d subjected them to judgment under Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) style guidelines.

Sue Lichtenberger, who judged in the pale colored beer category, had this to say about Stumptown’s Multiple Hopgasms Imperial IPA that took home the gold: “Well balanced hops without excessive bitterness. Not overly warm or boozy despite higher ABV. Smooth finish.”

Jane Zalewski, who judged the specialty beer category, said The Peddler’s gold medal winning Roobus Blackberry Wheat Beer was a pleasant surprise. “The wheat malt character showed nicely in the background, while the blackberry was up-front but not overwhelming. Very nice balance of wheat beer character with the berry flavor. Very clean and refreshing.”

Zalewski, who also judged in the Best Of Show round, called Greenbrier Valley Brewing’s Bat Boy Black Lager (the winning beer) “an outstanding example of the style.” She said: “It was very smooth with just the right amount of roast to balance the sweetness. A well-balanced lightly roasted beer. True to style.”

It was super to see brand new High Ground Brewing of Terra Alta take home two medals at the competition. It’s a brewery with a great upside. In a most impressive showing our WV beer iron man, Big Timber Brewing, took home three medals (one-third of the total available).

Congratulations to all the winners. And a big thank-you to the panel of judges who worked hard to give us a fair and meaningful competition.

2019 WV Craft Brew Festival Brew Competition Results

• Light Colored Beer
  • 1^st place – Stumptown – Multiple Hopgasms Imperial IPA
  • 2^nd place – High Ground Brewing – Mandatory Fun IPA
  • 3^rd place – Big Timber Brewing – Logger Lager

• Dark Colored Beer
  • 1^st place – Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co. – Bat Boy Black Lager (Also won Best of Show)
  • 2^nd place – High Ground Brewing – Coal Train Baltic Porter
  • 3^rd place – Big Timber Brewing – Porter

• Specialty Beer
  • 1^st place – The Peddler – Roobus Blackberry Wheat
  • 2^nd place – Bad Shepherd Beer Company – Biere de Jouett
  • 3^rd place – Big Timber Brewing – Overcast Lager

Foam at the Dome tickets still available

Plenty of tickets remain for Charleston’s annual Foam at the Dome Festival coming up this Saturday, May 11. Expect over 15 West Virginia breweries and cideries to be represented among the 400 festival beers. Brilliant Stream will be there, so should you.
Ticket Link We