WILK Friday BeerBuzz – 19 July 2013 Blue Mountain Kolsch 151 & Dark Hollow w/Taylor Smack

It’s a real testament to craft beer and a really positive note for PA as we see yet another great craft brewery start distribution in our area.  Prior to the last few weeks only some limited markets in Virginia were able to taste the beers we sampled today, and I’m excited to report not only are they now available in PA, but they’re really good as well.

Blue Mountain Brewery comes to us from Afton Virginia where it was started in 2007.  The brewery has a restaurant and brewpub with some great outdoor space as well as something unique…a hop farm!  With the desire to return Virginia to it’s former glory when it was considered the hop capital of the world, Blue Mountain currently has 400 Rhizomes of Cascade Hops and 100 Rhizomes of Centennial hops growing at the brewery.   As if that’s not enough…the first 150-pounds harvested each year go into a special fresh Hop Harvest celebration beer and much of the remaining hops are used in their Full Nelson Pale Ale.

With a name like a pro-wrestler, brewmaster Taylor Smack co-founded Blue Mountain Brewery after attending the Seibel Institute and brewing with Goose Island in Chicago at their brewpubs.  Taylor not only does some really unique and award winning beers, but he also manages to do something even more special.  Through the Blue Mountain Barrel House (founded in 2011), Taylor Double Thread brews, splitting the mash into two smaller kettles to make two different beers…many of which are then barrel-aged.  If I mentioned that one of his brews is named Double Barrel Aged Chocolate Cherry Bourbon Stout would you be interested?  I know I am.
Of course we sampled beer on the show today with Taylor.  Up First was Kolsch 151.  Named after Route 151 in Virginia, this beer is a classic Kolsch style lager that is clean, drinkable and it has a really crisp finish that will make you want more.  A perfect summer beer and I suspect it’s only a matter of time before we see this one hit cans.
We also sampled Dark Hollow.  This Imperial Stout is aged in American oak bourbon barrels “still dripping with uncut whisky” for 100 days and you can certainly taste it.  The flavor is big and bold and at 10%, so is the ABV.  This beer is bottle conditioned, so if you can get your hands on one, lay it down for a few years and see how much better it gets.  I really enjoyed this beer and Taylor should be proud of the complexity and depth this beer has.

Be sure to get out tonight (7/19) from 5-7PM at Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer to check out the Blue Mountain Brewery Tasting event and welcome Blue Mountain Brewery beers into PA.

Thank you to Taylor Smack from Blue Mountain, John & Joe for yet another

fun Friday (we miss you Nancy).

The Friday BeerBuzz…bringing good beers and good people together. As always you can check out the video on-line at the WILK Friday BeerBuzz page by clicking HERE.
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