Heavy Handed IPA tops Rails & Ales Festival

After seeing the judges scoresheets for his brewery’s entry in Best of the Fest competition at the 2021 Rails & Ales Festival, High Ground Brewing owner Dallas Wolfe said he didn’t think his beer stood a chance. “We were lit up pretty bad by one of the judges,” he said. But when the winner was announced, his Heavy Handed IPA came out on top.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “That was one of those awesome moments that only comes every once in a while. I can’t describe how proud I am of my amazing High Ground Brewing family. I have truly talented individuals, who are so incredibly dedicated to making the best possible experience for all our customers, from the wholesale market all the way down to the individual. They absolutely deserve all the credit for what we have built.”

Dallas describes Heavy Handed IPA as one of those beers that is so balanced with the right amounts of bitterness, malt backbone, hop flavor and aroma, and mouthfeel. He says the ABV of this Imperial New England-style IPA is substantial but isn’t cloying or fusel in nature. Dallas credits Austin Weser, High Ground’s head brewer, for really stepping up his Double NEIPA game. “We have had two very successful Double New England IPAs back to back, with the last one being Weapons Free.” 

The competition

At Rails & Ales, each West Virgina brewer could enter one of their beers in the Best of the Fest competition. This year, nine entries were judged. Judges included Jane and Dave Zalewski, Travis King, Tim Lepley, Cindy and Roger Dailey — all from the Greater Huntington Homebrewers Association. They were assisted by competition stewards Alex Gawthrop and Allen Gawthrop. The judges selected one entry as the Best of the Fest.

“It was fun and so nice to judge again and attend a beer event!” said judging organizer Jane Zalewski.

The judges notes

Jane said she was especially impressed with the smooth mouth feel and good body of the winning beer. “Even though it had substantial hop bitterness, it was not over the top bitter. I think the winner would pair well with a lamb curry.”

Dave Zalewski said that while he found several outstanding beers entered in the contest this year his top score of 40 (out of 50 possible) went to Heavy Handed IPA. About the winner Dave said he found it very refreshing, well balanced, and very drinkable. “It’s a hop-forward beer, but not very bitter. The hops stood out as being fresh.”

When asked about High Ground’s secret to brewing such delicious double IPAs, Dallas Wolfe said there really isn’t a big secret ingredient or anything tangible to credit its success. “I really think it comes down to having a team of people that are passionate about the craft and have dedicated themselves to life-long learning in the trade. Every beer we make has a lesson, and every mistake is an opportunity to be better the next time.”

Designed to bring attention to WV beer

Rails & Ales Festival organizer Jeff McKay explained that the Best of the Fest competition came to being in 2019 after numerous discussions concerning how they could highlight some of the best beers brewed in WV. “At that time, we felt that many of the best WV brewed beers were still being overlooked and that they needed to be featured in a more visible way,” McKay said. This year the award was named in memory of Ollie Bailey, long time employee at The Peddler in Huntington, who died in a tragic accident this summer.

If there is any lack of respect for West Virgina brewed beers these days, it was certainly not evident at the 2021 Rail & Ales Festival. Lines for the West Virginia brewery beer tents were the longest all evening.

Congratulations to the brewing team at High Ground Brewing in Terra Alta. And congratulations to all the West Virginia brewers who have made such great strides in a relatively short number of years. Overall, WV beers now hold up very well to the beers from any other state.

[Cover Photo by Erin McCoy]