https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news.atomTLHBeerSociety - Around The Brew Bend2021-11-26T08:50:14-05:00TLHBeerSocietyhttps://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/deeps-electromagnetic-bitter-is-a-winner-for-all-involved-in-tallahassee2021-11-26T08:50:14-05:002021-11-26T08:50:15-05:00Deep's ElectroMagnetic Bitter is a winner for all involved in TallahasseeDanny Aller
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/rescheduled-2021-tallahassee-beer-festival-set-for-sunday2021-11-04T13:28:11-04:002021-11-04T13:28:12-04:00Rescheduled 2021 Tallahassee Beer Festival set for SundayDanny Aller
When theTallahassee Beer Festival was postponed in the middle of August because of skyrocketing coronavirus cases in the area, the move was hailed almost universally as "the right thing to do."
Now, more than 2 1/2 months later — with new cases in a steep decline — going forward with the 3rd annual event at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center is being met with the same type of reaction.
And the Tallahassee Beer Festival — North Florida's biggest craft beer event of every calendar year since 2019 — is a big part of that return to normalcy.
When theTallahassee Beer Festival was postponed in the middle of August because of skyrocketing coronavirus cases in the area, the move was hailed almost universally as "the right thing to do."
Now, more than 2 1/2 months later — with new cases in a steep decline — going forward with the 3rd annual event at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center is being met with the same type of reaction.
And the Tallahassee Beer Festival — North Florida's biggest craft beer event of every calendar year since 2019 — is a big part of that return to normalcy.
On Sunday, a record number of attendees are expected to attend the festival, which serves as an annual fundraiser for theUnited Partners For Human Services — an umbrella organization with over 180 human service agencies it serves. The event was last held in late January 2020 — about 6 weeks before the onset of the pandemic —and distributed just over $36,000 among 30-plus nonprofits.
Extra tickets were snapped up
Festival founder and organizer Ben Graybar said as of this week, over 2,000 tickets had been sold between General Admission and VIPs. Naturally, when the event was postponed in August, some opted for a refund — and anyone who didn't feel comfortable attending, or the rescheduled date didn't work for them, were granted that refund.
Of course, that opened up extra tickets for anyone who may have missed out before the event sold out in late June. But those tickets were quickly snatched up.
Then Graybar made exactly 100 extra tickets available last Friday — and most of those, too, were quickly snatched up as well.
"Although all our event net proceeds go to our nonprofits and our tickets say 'no refunds,' we made the decision to allow for refunds. As a result, we turned over (refunded, then resold) almost 10% of our tickets," Graybar said.
All that spells out one thing to us: Tallahassee is, after long last, finally ready for this.
"After we found an available date, we needed to talk with all of the brewers and breweries who previously committed — plus vendors and sponsors too — because without their beer, there is no event. That has been a constantly evolving list with additions and deletions based on schedule changes. We had over 100 sponsors, brewers, vendors lined up – along with hotel reservations for 30 of them, and all of that had to be re-communicated. It was like running two events — two months apart! But now we're finally ready."
60 breweries lined up
We got a glimpse of that readiness four weeks ago when Elder Care Services held the first craft beer-centric event in North Florida in almost two years. With a small — but mighty — lineup of eight local breweries pouring, they put on their 21st Annual Oktoberfest celebration at Cascades Park.
While the event was held totally outside and attendance was capped at 500 people, it sold out easily — with a waiting list of over 100 people hoping to get in — and the feedback we heard afterward was incredibly positive.
Fast forward almost a month later, and the Tallahassee Beer Festival plans to up the beerfest-ante with over 60 breweries and home brewers, complete with a VIP area that will feature some of the best and baddest beers Graybar could get his hands on — including one he is particularly excited about.
"I think it’s important for attendees to know that ALL of the beer in the general admission space is donated by distributors, breweries and homebrewers. Without them, this event doesn’t happen, so we have to give a BIG 'Thanks' for bringing all of their wonderful fermentations to sample," Graybar said.
"In VIP, it’s different – we purchase the beer, and our event volunteers do the pouring. Often, that beer is very expensive, in limited supply or is gone very quickly. One example of this is a Sam Adams beer that is released every other year – Utopias. It costs us over $150 a bottle, and it’s 28% ABV! Why? Among the many other reasons is that it is aged in different barrels – one of them being Buffalo Trace. We'll be serving this in 2 ounce pours because it is rare, we only have four bottles and we want to make sure everyone gets to try it. So make sure if you're a VIP ticket holder, you get your sample before it's gone!"
Voting, T-shirts and Beer Mile
We, of course, will also be there handling the awards-aspect of the event. When each attendee arrives (2 p.m. for VIPs and 3 p.m. for General Admission), they will be given an official 2021 TLH Beer Fest logoed tasting glass, and inside that glass will be a voting card with three categories: Best Brewery, Best Homebrewer and Best Overall Beer.
At some point during the event, head on over to our table, fill out your card and drop it in the bucket. Voting ends at 5:30 p.m. sharp and the winners will be announced before the end of the event at 6:30 p.m. after the Tallahassee-based accounting firm ofJames Moore & Co. CPA certifies the results.
And for the second year in a row, the event will feature a "Beer Mile" ahead of the start. So if you're into fitness AND power-drinking, this part of the event is for you. Prior to the doors opening at 2 p.m. for the VIP hour, you can register for and compete in the Beer Mile ($25 in advance or $30 day-of). The Beer Mile registration fee includes a T-shirt and four beers.
Yes, the rumors are true — "Drink Tallahassee Beer" T-shirts and hoodies are BACK. We'll have over 150 on sale at our table Sunday in a variety of colors and sizes. Don't see your size or want a different color than the ones we're offering? We'll have a simple order form for you to fill out. Can't make the fest? Place your order at tlhbeersociety.com.
We'll just end this week by saying a final thanks to the UPHS board of directors, which Graybar previously served, for being smart, thoughtful and patient in the planning and execution of this event.
They're implementing layers of safety measures for Sunday, including utilizing all the massive space that the Civic Center event area offers, and the main arena floor, to spread everyone out. You're even allowed to bring your own cup if you'd like.
And saving the best for last, a huge shoutout to ALL the breweries pouring and the local distributors like Tri-Eagle Sales, Cone Distributing and Greater Depths Distribution that are bringing multiple brands to showcase.
As the saying goes, "It's a good time to have a good time." And that's exactly what we're going to do Sunday.
Cheers to craft beer. Cheers to a return to normalcy. And cheers to drinking beer and doing good.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/made-by-the-water-family-adds-members-as-oyster-city-owner-acquires-catawba2021-10-14T14:00:00-04:002021-11-04T13:43:56-04:00Made by the Water family adds members as Oyster City owner acquires CatawbaMatthew Crumbaker
The group that recently expanded Oyster City Brewing from a maxed-out facility in Apalachicola to tasting rooms and brewing facilities in Tallahassee and Mobile, has the brewery that Hooter Brown built on the move once again.
Made By The Water LLC, owner/operator ofOyster City Brewing Company,has agreed to acquire North Carolina-basedCatawba Valley Brewing Co. (CVBC), producer of Catawba and Palmetto craft beers, and Twisp Southern hard seltzer.
Briefly putting aside the business of numbers and distribution footprints, it's not difficult to find numerous similarities between Oyster City and Catawba Valley.
A read-through of Catawba's organic rise from humble beginnings in tiny Glen Alpine, North Carolina, to their unabashed love for their home region — the mountains of western North Carolina and the Catawba River from which they derive their name — to award-winning brews like CLT IPA — the 2017 Worlds Best Beer gold medal winner for the style. All make Oyster City and Catawba easy partners.
But also, the numbers. CVBC, founded by Billy, Jetta, and Scott Pyatt, has grown from that original Glen Alpine spot to operate breweries and tasting rooms in Asheville, Charlotte, Morganton, and Wilmington, NC, and Charleston, South Carolina. Additionally, it distributes to Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.
Catawba's distribution stopping short of Florida, and Oyster City's looking to expand further into the Southeast, sets up perfectly for each to introduce their brews to new markets.
Big news for Oyster City, Catawba, and Palmetto, and great news for beer fans! It appears we'll have a front-row seat for Catawba's introduction into Florida — send that "Honey Combed" Breakfast Stout our way, please — and for the next chapter in Oyster City's growth.
Oktoberfest raises $50,000 for Elder Care
Beer festival season officially returned this past weekend whenElder Care Serviceshosted their 23rd Annual Oktoberfest at Cascades Park, featuring beers poured by eight local breweries.
Elder Care's Oktoberfest — the longest-running Oktoberfest event in Tallahassee — was the first craft beer festival in North Florida in nearly 20 months and the first craft beer event ever at Cascades Park.
The City of Tallahassee's premier park turned out to be an ideal spot to host such an event, and the weather (clear skies, high of 84 degrees) could not have been more perfect. So much so, Elder Care immediately went to work to lock in the venue for the 2022 Oktoberfest too.
Tickets to the Oct. 10 sold-out event went quickly and were capped at 500 to limit crowd size and ensure social distancing during the ongoing pandemic. Though tickets were limited, we are happy to report that Oktoberfest helped Elder Care Services raise a total of $50,000! An excellent number for Tallahassee's leading provider of community-based senior care.
Kudos to all of those who came out and the numerous sponsors that supported Elder Care's mission of improving the lives of seniors in our community, and a huge "thank you" to our local breweries that jumped at a chance to be involved: Deep Brewing, Lake Tribe Brewing, Oyster City Brewing, Civic Brewing, Halpatter Brewing, Southern Fields Brewing, Southern Philosophy Brewing, and Georgia Beer Company.
It was great to see craft beer festivals return to the Craft Capital!
Flamingos Raising Funds at Proof
When the opportunity to drink beer and do good combines one of our favorite beers of the year (Flamingo Party) and a cause that hits close to home (Breast Cancer) — count us in! That's the situation with the second annual#PinkPower #FlamingoChallenge.
The folks atProofare pledging $500 toward breast cancer awareness and need your help throughout October to get there. Stop by the Proof Brewpub,1320 South Monroe St., and enjoy a Flamingo Party (strawberry passionfruit blonde ale) on draft.
For each Flamingo Party draft beer sold during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Proof gives $1 to the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Foundation. Along with First Commerce Credit Union, the TMH Foundation spearheads the second annual #PinkPower #FlamingoChallenge to support patients at the Tallahassee Memorial Walker Breast Program.
And if you're all beer all the time, no worries; Proof has $1 off drafts from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Wednesday - Friday.
Quick Sips
After a great Oktoberfest featuring lagers, lederhosen, and even some lead vocals by Head Brewer Nick Walker,Ologyturns its attention toward those 21+ trick or treaters!
Follow their social media as their annual Halloween Barrel-Aged Stout release is due soon (psst...we're betting it's Irrefutable Logic: Peanut Butter and Chocolate stout).
Ology Distilling released "Basic," a pumpkin pie spice liqueur, this week.
If beer is more your style, thenDeep Brewing Companyhas you covered with their annual seasonal PSL — Pumpkin Spice Lager — hitting the tasting room this weekend. Also, keep an eye on Deep's social media as their yearly Halloween lineup as a pumpkin spiced stout occasionally joins perennial favorites like Dem Bones, Hallows End, and Now With More Boos on Deep's "Night of the Flight!" board.
Not one to miss a good party,Lake Tribeis bringing back a treat of their own in time for Halloween with this weekend's return of "Sod Cemetery," featuring a lineup of experimental from the southern hemisphere and infused with juicy grapefruit. Previous renditions of Sod presented strong and juicy tropical fruit flavor with aromatics of tangerine, lemon-lime zest, and grapefruit. Juicy, fruity, hazy — sounds like a recipe for victory to us!
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/tallahassees-elder-care-oktoberfest-moves-to-cascades-park-for-oct-10-event2021-10-10T14:00:00-04:002021-11-04T13:59:07-04:00Tallahassee's Elder Care Oktoberfest moves to Cascades Park for Oct. 10 eventDanny Aller
Well, it appears the 2021 beer festival calendar year WON'T end without at least one event happening in the Craft Capital.
The highlights? German food. German music. And LOTS of local craft beer — including local breweries Deep Brewing, Lake Tribe Brewing, Oyster City Brewing, Halpatter Brewing, Georgia Beer Company, Southern Philosophy, Southern Fields and Civic Brewing all on hand.
It should be a day-drinking celebration at its finest!
Other beer festivals
Yes, theTallahassee Beer Festival — originally scheduled for Aug. 28 before being postponed — is back on and slated for Sunday, Nov. 7, at the Tucker Civic Center. But who knows what will happen between now and then? We certainly don't — although we are optimistic and hopeful the 3rd Annual TLH Beer Fest will go off without issue this time.
What we do know is that three other events — the Big Bend Brewfest (Perry), the SGI Brewfest (St. George Island) and Brews By The Bay (Wakulla County) — all opted to press pause on their events this year with plans of resuming in 2022.
That left Elder Care's annual event, which is going into its 23rd year and is Tallahassee's longest-running Oktoberfest celebration, as a bit of a wild card.
But between the move to a giant outdoor space like Cascades Park — which will play host to its first-ever craft beer event since it opened a decade ago — and lots of safety measures being put into place, Elder Care CEO and President Josie Fliger felt confident she and her staff could pull off a successful event amid the ongoing pandemic.
"We are very excited to be back," Fliger said. "This has been a tradition in Leon County for 23 years and we missed being with everyone last year to support seniors. We have many measures in place to ensure that everyone has fun while staying safe."
Safety measures in place for fundraiser
When asked for details about Elder Care's plans, Fliger said the safety measures included:
An expansive walk-through "beer village" that allows for movement and distance
Distanced seating amid an open-air event location. ("We plan to spread out in Cascades Park and provide amply-spaced seating at the Amphitheater and picnicking areas on the grass," she told us.)
Single-portioned food offerings that guests can take to their own area of the event (No more self-serve, buffet-style)
Masks encouraged when around others
Attendance-cap to ensure enough space for everyone to enjoy the event safely
Opportunity to pick up items from a to-go station if you prefer not to enter the Oktoberfest village
A vaccination station for anyone who wants to get the shot
The 2020 Oktoberfest was canceled at the height of the pandemic and Elder Care attempted to put on a virtual event, but it didn't raise anywhere near the amount of money the organization is accustomed to. But Fliger says she hopes this year's return of the festivities is a shot in the arm for ECS, which was founded in 1970 and remains a leading provider of community-based senior care.
"In blue sky times, we have raised $150,000 at recent Oktoberfests," she said. "The money raised at Oktoberfest helps seniors receive critical services like Meals on Wheels, a ride to the doctor’s office, or a hot bath. Much of our state and federal funding does not cover the full costs of services to seniors, so Oktoberfest helps us bridge that financial gap."
Personally, we think if there is ANY organization in Tallahassee that's well-equipped for being the test case to pull off a large gathering like this, Elder Care is the one. They've been holding these events for over two decades now, and their entire goal is to take care of some of Tallahassee's most vulnerable residents. So they aren't going into this event with anything other than safety-first in mind.
What about the local brews?
As for the craft beer aspect of the event? Well, there's a few things we want to highlight about those who are pouring this year:
Tallahassee's own Deep Brewing and Lake Tribe Brewing never miss a chance to support Elder Care. Deep even brewed a special beer for the event 3 years ago — Shallow End Kolsch — and it will was so popular, they turned it into a core beer that is now available year-round. (And, yes, they will be pouring it again this year)
Oyster City's Tallahassee location has been open less than two months, and this is the first local event they will be involved in since moving into the old GrassLands Brewing facility at 603 W. Gaines St.
Civic Brewing in Wakulla is in a similar situation — they've only been open a few months, and THIS event will be their "beer festival" debut. And we hear they plan to roll out their first Oktoberfest beer then too!
Georgia Beer Companyis coming off multiple wins recently in several major competitions around the country, and they are eager to share some of their award-winning beer with Tallahassee.
Halpatter Brewing (Lake City), Southern Fields (Campbellton) and Southern Philosophy (Bainbridge, Georgia.) all deserve a big hand for agreeing to take part and donate their beer considering all three breweries are between 45 and 90 miles away from Tallahassee. They all make phenomenal beer, and this trio were all on hand the last time the Elder Care Oktoberfest was held in-person in 2019.
Craft beer village for all
To that final point, in 2019 when we had every brewery within a 100-mile radius in the house for the Oktoberfest, the majority of them were in the VIP area pouring. But this year all eight local breweries will be stationed in the main "craft beer village," which is accessible to those with general admission or VIP tickets.
However, for those opting to go the VIP route, you will get to sample at least one special beer from each brewery that will only be available for VIP ticket holders. One of the event's primary sponsors, Tri-Eagle Sales & Distribution, will also be on hand pouring beers from its brands, and will be donating special beers of its own to the VIP area.
Food is included in the cost of tickets: $50 for general admission and $100 for VIP, which gains entrance to the festival an hour early at 1 p.m., a souvenir pint glass and access to special VIP beers. Elder Care also offers a "Sponsorship Package" for $1,000 that gives businesses their own private seating area, signage and 10 VIP tickets to distribute.
Between the positivity rates of coronavirus cases declining in recent weeks, as well as overall hospitalizations, the time seems right to move forward with an event like this — but we also understand if some are still apprehensive.
We would encourage you to take advantage of the to-go option so you can sample the amazing German cuisine served up at this event every year, while also supporting a worthy local nonprofit.
Pick the option that works best for you and get involved in the 23rd Annual Elder Care Oktoberfest.
We'll see ya there!
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/georgia-beer-company-strikes-gold-in-us-open-beer-championships2021-09-10T09:36:43-04:002021-09-10T09:36:44-04:00Georgia Beer Company strikes gold in US Open Beer ChampionshipsDanny Aller
Valdosta-based Georgia Beer Co., which was founded by Chris Jones and J Ryce Martin and sits just a 75-mile drive from Tallahassee, was awarded the gold medal for their "Destress Express" coffee milk stout in the prestigiousU.S. Open Beer Championships over the weekend in the "American Stout" category — which is arguably one of the most competitive divisions in the entire competition.
What started as a homebrew recipe in the garage of Georgia Beer Company's two owners is now one of America's best beers.
Officially!
Valdosta-based Georgia Beer Co., which was founded by Chris Jones and J Ryce Martin and sits just a 75-mile drive from Tallahassee, was awarded the gold medal for their "Destress Express" coffee milk stout in the prestigiousU.S. Open Beer Championships over the weekend in the "American Stout" category — which is arguably one of the most competitive divisions in the entire competition.
The honor marks the first medal in the coveted U.S. Open for Georgia Beer Company, which opened in February 2019. GBC also becomes just the second craft brewery in our local North Florida and South Georgia area to ever medal in the competition, which draws thousands of entries from around the country every year. In 2020, Apalachicola'sOyster City Brewing Companyearned two medals in the event: one gold each for their Mangrove Pale Ale and Millpond Dirty Blonde.
But it never gets old seeing one of our area breweries shine on the big stage — and lately, Georgia Beer Company has been on the big stage a LOT.
Just last month Destress Express also won a gold medal in the annualCan Can Awards — a competition where only cans can be entered, while the U.S. Open format dictates you can enter canned or bottled beer.
Jones said he's elated with the recognition from both.
"Winning two gold medals is a true testament to how good this beer really is," said Jones of Destress Express, which was developed in Martin's garage in 2016 when the two were homebrewers. "I think that it’s a combination of expert brewing principles and solid ingredients, including fresh roasted coffee beans. And when I say fresh, I mean that the coffee is roasted less than 24 hours before the beer is brewed.
Georgia Beer Co. opened in 2019
"When we heard that it had not only medaled but took home gold — and against some fierce competition — we were beyond excited. It was a proud moment of confirmation for us and the entire brew staff. We’ve always thought this was one of our best beers — even if the (warm) climate of South Georgia isn’t ideal for enjoying it."
Jones isn't even bragging when he says it's one their best beers; we know first-hand that it is. We were there for Georgia Beer Company's Grand Opening on Feb. 4, 2019, and at the time, dark beers were still a little hit or miss for us. But from the moment the first sip of Destress Express touched the lips of everyone who carpooled with us to Lowndes County that day, it was clear this beer was next-level.
Even though it clocked in at 6.5% ABV, it drank like a smooth 4-percenter. The roasted coffee was strong on the nose, but not overpowering in taste. Though what stood out the most was the smooth finish it had, leaving a wonderful milk chocolate aftertaste.
Winning coffee and chocolate notes
We asked Jones to give us HIS tasting notes on the beer, and here's what he said: "I think the beer starts off with an abundance of aromatic activity from the coffee. A slight bitterness from the coffee and chocolate malts is quickly overshadowed by the silky sweetness of the milk sugar we add to it. And the head clings to your glass as you set it down. It's just a savory full-bodied, well-balanced beer."
Jones then paused and added with a laugh: "Or you can simplify it and just say, 'The coffee punches you in the face and the lactose-laden chocolate malt cleans up the mess. Boom!' "
Destress Express has been one of GBC's core beers since Day 1 — meaning it's available year-round in the tasting room on draft, in cans, and also for crowler and growler fills. But it's the cans you'll want to pay most attention to if you go out and try to stock up after reading this. Destress Express is distributed statewide in Georgia, meaning all you need to do is cross state lines and stop at just about any store that carries craft beer and you'll be able to find it.
Even better? It's typically no more than $10 or $11 a 6-pack.
And even though Jones and Martin were the brains behind the beer initially, they credited former Georgia Beer Company head brewer Mike Delf (who is now retired but still serves as a consultant to their brew team) with helping refine the recipe.
"Back in 2016, I had been studying up on some dark beer options for homebrewing and remembered reading an article inZymurgy Homebrewing Magazine about different stouts and how the combination of coffee and milk hadn’t really caught on yet," Jones recalled. "So I said to J. Ryce, 'We should do that, we should brew something that’s not common.' But while it was J. Ryce and myself who developed the initial recipe, Mike Delf definitely had his hands on it to scale it from our 15-gallon garage batches to the 10-barrel batches we make now."
Destress Express was even chosen by famed rapper Ludacris' restaurant "Chicken and Beer" in the Hartsfield Atlanta Airport in early 2020 to be featured among their all-Georgia tap list. Jones said he didn't think it was currently on tap there anymore, but "it was available in Terminal D for at least a year, allowing travelers from all over the world to potentially sample it."
Not available in Florida yet
This was GBC's second-ever attempt to medal at the U.S. Open, the first coming in 2019 shortly after they opened. They didn't medal that year, but they didn't give up, returning this year to enter eight beers and strike gold with one. In the Can Can Awards, meanwhile, they actually struck pay dirt four times — Destress won gold, as did "Southern Isles" tropical IPA and "Bramble On" fruited sour. Their fruited blonde ale, "Blueberry Field Party," earned bronze.
Three of those four beers are currently in cans, leaving us in Florida to wonder: When might we be able to buy it in stores, bars and restaurants in the Sunshine State?
Jones wouldn't put a timeline on it, but he said the wheels ARE in motion.
"We would love to see our beer in Florida tomorrow, but realistically it will probably be 2022 before it happens," he said. "Jumping across state lines involves identifying and then negotiating with new distributors, identifying territories, and ironing out logistic details. We really want to be in Florida —Tallahassee to Lake City first, and then beyond would be our plan."
This beer is truly great, and we are thrilled that Georgia Beer Company has earned this kind of recognition.
Oysters at Oyster City? Yes, on Sunday
One quick note about an event we're involved in Sunday at Oyster City Brewing Company's new location that just opened at 603 W. Gaines St. (the former home of GrassLands Brewing).
As promised by their new management team in the lead-up to the grand opening three weeks ago, Oyster City will begin regularly featuring something that's only fitting in our opinion: fresh, raw, locally farmed oysters!
The plan is to have a local oyster farmer in the beer garden on Sundays shucking oysters for patrons to pair with OCBC's award-winning beer. The oysters will be sold by the half dozen and dozen, and this Sunday (the beginning of the 2021 NFL season) the series kicks off withOyster Mom'sfarm-raised oysters, which are harvested almost daily in Wakulla County.
But wait, there's more!
Yours truly — the Tallahassee Beer Society — will be Sunday's (air quotes, eye roll) "celebrity shucker." So come on out any time from 1-4 p.m. and we'll shuck you a dozen or two (or three or four) to slurp down with your Tallahassee brew!
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/postponed-tallahassee-beer-festival-looks-to-reschedule-in-november2021-08-29T11:00:18-04:002021-08-29T11:00:19-04:00Postponed Tallahassee Beer Festival looks to reschedule in NovemberDanny Aller
Last week, the 3rd AnnualTallahassee Beer Festival — scheduled for Aug. 28 — was postponed due to widespread concerns about the uptick in coronavirus cases throughout Leon County and surrounding areas.
The event, Tallahassee's only craft beer festival, serves as a massive annual fundraiser for theUnited Partners For Human Services — an organization with 170 local charities in its network — had been sold out for over a month. It was a sign that everyone was ready to get out and raise a glass after what's been a long, tough, trying 18 months of NOT gathering due to the pandemic.
Enter the Delta variant, which began sweeping through North Florida around the third week in July, forcing local hospitals to reopen their previously dormant coronavirus response units and causing the positivity rate to soar, especially among those unvaccinated, and — everyone's worst fear — children.
As a result, the organizers, led by festival founder Ben Graybar, decided to postpone the event.
This was, in our opinion, the right call.
Beer fests really have two goals: Everyone has a good time, and everyone stays safe. And because they could only control one of those two things, there was really no way to go forward. The last thing anyone wanted was for an event that raised nearly $40,000 in Year 2 back in January 2020 to turn into a super-spreader.
Come for craft and camaraderie —and leave with corona? No thanks.
But there is light at the end of this tunnel.
On Tuesday evening this week, theTLH Beer Festival posted on social mediathat they had set a make-up date: Sunday, Nov. 7. They added that the venue would be the same (the Tucker Civic Center), but the day of the week was changing, as was the lineup of breweries participating.Even in the lead-up to the original date, a few breweries that had previously committed bowed out, and the organizers expected — even with a make-up date set — there may be others; whether because they didn't feel safe attending, or because the new date conflicted with something they already had going on..
At its peak in early August, the festival was expecting over 80 brewers and home brewers from around the state. According to Ben, the goal is now to have that number around 60. And an email was sent out Wednesday to ALL those who had previously sent in their participation forms to see A) How they felt about the new date and B) If they still wanted to be involved.
The response, as of the writing of this column, was still TBD. We'll update where things stand in our next column in two weeks.As for those ticket holders who are unsure what to do? Well, you have two options: You can either go to the Civic Center box office and get a full refund (including all box office fees), or you can hold onto your tickets in hopes the event happens Nov. 7 AND it's safe enough to hold.
If a decision is made closer to Nov. 7 to postpone the festival once again, anyone with tickets can still get a refund and then decide whether to attend when the event sets a new date in 2022.We applaud UPHS and Ben for making this tough, but correct call. And we will be there every step of the way to support their decisions and get you information about the plans going forward.
Brews by the Bay Beer Festival in Wakulla postponed
Just a few days after the Tallahassee Beer Festival was postponed, another festival on the fall schedule was as well.
The3rd Annual Brews By The Bay, which is Wakulla County's only craft beer festival that was set for Oct. 9 in Panacea, chose to make the same call.
And while the make-up date has not been officially announced yet, we're told by sources close to the situation that they are now targeting February 2022 to resume. Brews By The Bay is an annual fundraiser for the Florida Wild Mammal Association, and it has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the organization in its first two years.
Here's what they posted on social media in announcing their decision:
"It is with a heavy heart that we announce our decision to postpone the 3rd Annual Brews by the Bay craft beer festival, originally to be held at Woolley Park on Saturday, October 9, 2021. It was a tough call to make, Brews by the Bay is an incredibly important event for our organization and the wildlife we rescue and rehabilitate. Celebrating local craft beer with each and every one of you has become a cherished annual tradition. However, we need to prioritize the health and safety of our attendees, volunteers, and ultimately our community."
We love this event in the wonderful, open-air outdoor space at Woolley Park in Panacea. And we hope things in our world look a lot better by next year so they can continue.
It's not all doom and gloom this week: New beer hats are in
We are not gonna leave off this week with a double dose of bad news. Instead, we want to end by telling you about the next piece of "Drink Tallahassee Beer" swag that's coming soon: Garnet & Gold, unisex, snap-back hats — just in time for football season.
If you remember, the Drink Tallahassee Beer shirts and hoodies were a HUGE hit earlier this year as we sold over 550 total items and helped raise $5,500 for local grief counselingnonprofit Lee's Place.
The plan was to debut these hats AT the Tallahassee Beer Festival this weekend, but that obviously isn't going to happen. Instead, we will be selling them online starting next week with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the very organization we were set to gather and support: the UPHS.
The hats will retail for $20 each, and details on how to purchase them will be revealed on our social media pages over the weekend. So make sure to follow us onInstagram andTwitter for more details.
Notice we didn't say Facebook? Well, we're currently in a knock-down, drag out with Zuckerberg's Army over theirdecision to suspendour page 3 weeks ago for reposting that viral video of the dancing horse during the 2021 Summer Olympics.
Anyway, more on that to come as we sort this mess out. And in the meantime, if anyone out there knows someone who works at Facebook who can help us get past the pile of bots and canned answers we keep receiving daily, we'd love to talk to you!
Until next time, cheers to better days ahead, Tallahassee!
Danny Aller is the co-founder, along with Matthew Crumbaker, of the TLH Beer Society. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/proof-brewing-releases-batch-1-000-and-preps-for-luau-celebration2021-08-13T10:30:00-04:002021-08-13T10:30:00-04:00Proof Brewing releases batch 1,000 and preps for Luau CelebrationMatthew Crumbaker
This week's Around The Brew Bend column is brought to you by the number M. Yes, we said number. Allow us to elaborate.
While we try to keep you looking down the road to the next big thing in Tallahassee beer, sometimes events sneak into the gap between our bi-weekly column, news that deserves some review.Proof Brewing Company's"The Number M" release is one instance.
The Aug. 5 release — while delicious — is not the news here; rather what it represents: M is Proof's 1,000th batch of beer! That's a significant milestone for Tallahassee's bottle shop turned commercial brewery.
For those looking for a taste of history, "The Number M" — a 9.5% Double Hazy IPA featuring El Dorado, Idaho 7, Citra, & Azacca hops — is available at the 1320 South Monroe Street brewpub or through their online store at proofbrewingco.com.
And for those wondering about the name, no Proof hasn't lost their marbles, M is the roman numeral for 1,000. Cheers to 1K Proof and Carpe Cervisia.
Let's get tropical
Proof goes from a taste of the tropics with Letter M's tasting notes highlighting "a tropical harmony of pineapple, melon, and fresh citrus" to a full-blown Polynesian-inspired party.
On Saturday, Aug. 21, Proof is throwing a Luau Celebration featuring a tiki-beer triple can release. On-site festivities at the Brewpub kick off at 2 p.m. with the beer release and a "Luau Menu" of unique dishes set to pair perfectly with brews, and we're not sure which has us more pumped.
The beers feature a fan favorite, "Kalani" — a Passionfruit, orange, lime, pineapple, and coconut Berliner that currently holds a 4.01 (out of 5) star rating on Untappd, and two new Berliners, "Florida Sunset" and "Blue Floridian." Sunset will have flavors of orange, lemon, pomegranate, prickly pear, and almond.
At the same time, Floridian will bring it with a taste no stranger to Proof fans — blue raspberry — as well as pineapple, coconut, and orange. Limited supplies will be on tap and in 4-packs, with online sales starting at 2 p.m.
Not for sale online; the specialty food menu. The chefs at Brewpub have cooked up some fantastic spins on Luau fare with a Hawaiian Whole Hog Bahn Mi, Tuna Poke Tostones, and Lomi Lomi Salmon (a traditional tomato and salmon salad of sorts standard at Hawaiian get-togethers).
A menu like this won't hang around, so get there early and plan to party — big island style.
Miss a minute miss a lot at Ology
In another instance of news dropping between our publishing cycle, In late July,Ologyteamed up with a local legend of a different craft, Lofty Pursuits, to produce a beer/candy drop that was about as Tallahassee as it gets.
Lofty, a store that began as a mecca for local hobbyists like jugglers, yo-yoers, and frisbee golfers, but skillfully expanded into an incredible blend of soda hop, diner, and craft candy maker combined forces with Ology's Head Brewer Nick Walker in producing Strawberry Watermelon Limeade Slushhhhh — a 6% Berliner.
Like their joint beer drops with notable breweries like WeldWerks, Pontoon, Vitamin Sea, and Dissolvr, Ology made this a home and home of sorts with Lofty producing a specialty candy matching the flavor profile of the beer.
The beer and a limited number of candy bags sold out in Ology's tasting rooms the weekend it dropped. But we got a hot tip that the candy and beer might be available at Lofty's 1355 Market St a11 location.
It turns out Lofty sells an assortment of local craft beers. Who knew?
While you check Lofty's website for cans of Watermelon Slushhhhhh, be sure to check Ology for this week's cans: "Capsized Goods," an 8% Hazy IPA collaboration with Mast Landing Brewing (Westbrook, Maine), and "Peach Vanilla Sprinkle Factor" a peach and vanilla milkshake IPA, and for details on their next highly-anticipated Barrel-Aged Stout Release. Pro Tip: find and download the Oznr app on your phone.
Oyster City Brewing's Tallahassee Home Opener Set
Let's get back to our regular style and break a little news here. While Proof was putting the finishing touches on batch 1,000,Oyster City Brewingwas working on their first batches of beer brewed here, in their newest location, 603 W Gaines St Suite 7.
It should be of little surprise that the first batches were award-winning Oyster City staples Hooter Brown and Mangrove Pale Ale. Through connections at the Tallahassee Ladies That Beer, we've been fortunate to get a sneak peek at OCBC's new tasting room and brewhouse, though sampling brews has had to wait.
So when might you get a taste from and look at their Tallahassee Location? Well, with Oyster City's official home opener right around the corner (Aug. 19), we suspect the brewery might be open to a bit of traffic this weekend as they start to gear up.
Officially though, noon on Aug. 19 is when OCBC — The TLH Edition will open. The brewery intends to open at Noon seven days a week, close at 9 p.m. most days (10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays), and host live music a few nights a week.
While we love a good beer run to Florida's "Forgotten Coast," we're certainly excited to be able to score fresh kegs of our Apalach favorites and perhaps find a few new ones — did somebody say Guava Passionfruit Gose — in the new taproom.
Live music at Lake Tribe
With a steady stream of solo acts and bands, food trucks, and beer,Lake Tribehas become a great spot for live music on Fridays. Starting this Friday at 6:30 p.m., Lake Tribe welcomes Dylan R.P. Allen and his unique talent to make fantastic music with just about anything.
Allen's set features a bevy of instruments described as "Guitar shaped objects" built from everything from Cigar boxes, oil cans, and his grandmother's kitchen floor." Similar to turning four simple ingredients into delicious beers, it takes unique alchemy to produce alt-folk, blues, rockabilly and Americana music out of that.
As hospitality workers gear up for the grinds that are weekend shifts, Lake Tribe has offered a little relief to the servers, line cooks, and bartenders of Tallahassee with ThirstyThursdays — offering $1 off all pints all day at their 3357 Garber Drive brewery.
All hospitality workers looking for a spot to kick back with a brew, play some games, or chill outside on the decks are welcome.
Deep Brewing ready for festival season
Much of the news out ofDeep Brewing Companycenters around celebrations. This week Deep started packaging the annual release of their festbier, "Deeptoberfest," in anticipation of the world's largest celebration of beer, Oktoberfest — golden, malty, and ready for fall.
The next few weekends at the brewery located at 2524 Cathay Court #2 savor the few more sips of summer with this weekend's release of "Diving at Dawn" raspberry Berliner and next weekend's return of Watermelon Spear Pressure.
Now, while Owner Brewer Ryan LaPete might've had one eye toward fall with Deeptoberfest's canning, there's little doubt he's had the stretch of days from Sept. 2 through Sept. 6 circled for a while as Deep celebrates their 5th anniversary.
While the details for Deep's annual beer extravaganza aptly named "CANiversary" are limited to a teaser, for now, it should be a run of beer releases, tap takeovers, and food that beer fans will not want to miss. We'll cover it more in-depth next column.
Matthew Crumbaker is the co-founder, along with Danny Aller, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/bottle-share-for-down-syndrome-association-beats-fundraising-record-with-4k2021-07-29T10:00:00-04:002021-07-30T09:56:18-04:00Bottle Share for Down Syndrome Association beats fundraising record with $4KDanny Aller
"Ohhhhhh .... what a niiiiiiight!"
While you spend the rest of the day trying to get that song out of your head, we wanted to take a moment this week and look back on what turned out to be a record fundraising night to the tune of $4,000 at our "Comeback Charity Bottle Share" for the Down Syndrome Association of Tallahassee on July 14 at Deep Brewing Company.
But before we do that, a little back story on why this particular bottle share — out of the nearly 20 we've held and over $35,000 raised for local organizations and nonprofits — was so special to us.
We all know that in mid-March 2020, the world changed forever because of the pandemic. In late March 2020, we had our latest and greatest charity bottle share planned for DSAT, which provides education, support, and resources to individuals with Down syndrome, their families, professionals, and the community, while also building public awareness and acceptance of the abilities of individuals with Down syndrome.
Bring a bottle to share, make a donation, and then sample amazing brews from all over the country, enjoying donated food and the company of local fellow craft beer fans. When the pandemic was declared, we knew gathering in person was out. So we tried to pivot to some kind of an online fundraising event for DSAT, then decided that life was just too unstable for everyone.
So, sadly, we ultimately canceled the event and promised DSAT that when life returned to "normal," they'd be the first beneficiary of our comeback bottle share. Little did we know it'd take 16 months to keep that promise.
Comeback was a big hit
But alas, not only did the "comeback" fundraiser finally happen, it was a hit. Craft beer fans from all over came throughout the evening, dropped in donations to DSAT and shared a beer or two with their friends. They also enjoyed donated food from Rankin Tacos, The Red Shed, Oyster Mom and some amazing homemade brownies from B'Mani's Sweets & Eats.
And a special shout-out to the over two dozen local businesses that donated raffle prizes that not only helped us beat our old bottle share record of $2,500 two years ago at Proof for the Hang Tough Foundation, but SHATTER it. We can't thank everyone enough who helped make the event happen. And along with everyone who made a donation, you are ALL collectively the real MVPs.
Supporting Tallahassee families
DSAT, which was created by Tallahassee parents in 2004 in an effort to provide support and education to families who had children with Down syndrome, was actually the very first benefactor when these charity bottle shares started in 2018, and this year marked the 3rd annual.
DSAT's Kimberly Griffin — whose son Greyson has Down syndrome — gave us some thoughts following the latest fundraiser.
"Our family is so grateful for the support we have received over the past three bottle shares. We were blown away with all of the businesses that donated raffle prizes and provided food, as well as all of the amazing people in the community that attended and donated," Griffin said.
"I could have never guessed how much a little bottle share over 3 years ago turned into such a huge event raising so much money this year. The mission of DSAT is to provide education, support, and resources to individuals with Down syndrome, their families, professionals, and the community, while building public awareness and acceptance of the abilities of individuals with Down syndrome. Again, my husband Kelly and I — as well as all of the families who love someone with Down syndrome in our community — cannot thank you enough for your support!"
And there ya have it! Drinking beer and doing good at its best!
Stay tuned for details on the next one, and if you're a local business that would like to be involved in a future event, email us tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
Thanks again, Tallahassee. Truly!
Honoring a fallen friend with barbecue
We didn't expect to be writing about this next topic this week, but sadly here we are. On Tuesday, July 27, the Tallahassee craft beer community — and so many other communities he was a part of — lost a close friend: Jason McDowell.
He was just 36 years old.
Jason, who is originally from Albany, Georgia, had lived in Tallahassee for almost a decade before he passed unexpectedly this week and was well-known in local beer, food and sports circles.
So to honor his life and the impact he had on so many of us, we are holding a weekend-long fundraiser for his family to help with his funeral expenses at one of his favorite restaurants in North Florida OR South Georgia: Red Shed BBQ at 3031 Crump Road.
We're calling it "Remember J-Mac" on Facebook.
There will be a chance to support the McDowell family in this tough time by purchasing his favorite meal at Red Shed — ribs, brisket and two sides — with all proceeds going to the family.
The "Jason McDowell Memorial Plate" can be purchased any time between when Red Shed opens at 11 a.m. on Friday until they close at 7 p.m. on Sunday. And there will be a small gathering between 1 and 4 p.m. on Sunday to share our favorite "J-Mac stories" — and there are many of them.
If you can't make it and would like to donate to the cause, please email us at tllhbeersociety@gmail.com and we'll make arrangements.
We miss ya already, J-Mac. Cheers to you and your wonderful life that ended way too soon.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/tlh-beer-society-brings-back-bottle-share-to-support-down-syndrome-association2021-07-08T12:00:00-04:002021-07-23T11:38:17-04:00TLH Beer Society brings back bottle share to support Down Syndrome AssociationMatthew Crumbaker
For the last 16 months, we've tried beer events of the virtual variety: pixelated beer and food pairings, Zoom flights and festivals, shares, and bingo.
All were fun, some featured great beer lineups and interesting brewer panels, but all were missing a common ingredient — you. You, Tallahassee's beer society, your bottles, banter, and brotherhood/sisterhood.
Missing were the daps, handshakes, and hugs that come with catching up with friends over some great brews. Missing were the faces of new tastes — wide-eyed wonderment delighting in the latest decadent stout out of Tallahassee, Tampa, St. Pete, or Portland. Or that "pucker face" that serious sours can induce — visceral reactions and stories shared with folks in a friendly setting.
But, on Wednesday, July 14, from 6-10 p.m., we are back, baby!
See, our bottle shares, while centered around beer, are powered by the community — people helping people. People ravaged by wildfire, a brewer devastated by a hurricane weeks before opening, or parents Hanging Tough while caring for children suffering from illness or requiring extra care.
Charity bottle shares are equal parts beer festival and a boost to unsung heroes, people who rise and grind every day to be a voice and a light for those who need it most.
People like Kelly and Kimberly Griffin, who — through mutual friend Justo Cruz (owner of Tally Mac Shack) — in 2018 shared their story about balancing all the things raising a family throws at you — with the added layer of having a child with Down syndrome. A story shared, a connection made, and an idea born.
What if we took the bottle share concept, did it big the way our beer scene does, added a donation component, and raised money for different charities? The first beneficiary, the Down Syndrome Association of Tallahassee, and, in what seemed like a sign from the divine, the date scheduled out of pure luck was March 21 — World Down Syndrome Day. The result?
Well, we think DSAT President Amber Davis Williams said it best, "It is partnerships like this that help bring awareness to all segments of our community and raise critical funds needed to serve individuals with Down syndrome and their families. We can't thank them enough!"
An excellent time for a great cause; you are helping to provide support and education to families with Down syndrome children.
While we hosted several charity shares in the years since that first one, DSAT at Deep Brewing Company became a staple of our March calendar. In fact, we had the bottle share lined up for 2020, and then, in the blink of an eye, the world changed. No cliffhanger ending, no "I'll be back" proclamation, just canceled plans and many questions.
Bottle shares are finally back after a too long delay
We knew there would be bottle shares down the road, but as weeks turned to months and months turned to a year, we weren't sure when and where, and how they might look. But we continued to stockpile and cellar beer, waiting for the day we could pop tops together again.
As the numbers of vaccinated rose, cases fell, and our community slowly crept out of the pandemic, it only made sense to pick up where we left off, with DSAT, Deep, Tally Mac, a bevy of beers, and prize-filled raffles to rally the Tallahassee beer community.
July 14 cannot get here soon enough!
A community event,bottle share protocol is simple: arrange a ride, bring a bottle, bring a donation ($20 suggested), have a great time!
Joining us will be a cast of familiar favorites with Mac Shack, Rankin Tacos, Red Shed Bar-B-Que, and B Mani's Sweets and Eats donating food: always clutch at a bottle share. New to the food lineup, OysterMom will be on-site shucking samples of her fresh, locally-farmed oysters.
Additionally, area restaurants and businesses have generously donated raffle prizes; places like Riccardo's Italian, Madison Social, World of Beer, Quick n Save, 1861 Distilling, Float Tally, and Capital City Pedicabs.
The grand prizes include tickets to upcoming beer festivals such as Brews by the Bay, SGI Brewfest, Elder Care Oktoberfest, and Tallahassee Beer Festival. A $20 donation will get you one entry into raffle drawings with additional entries for every dollar donated above that.
The party begins at 6 p.m. at Deep's 2524 Cathay Court #2 location and wraps at 10 p.m. When the festivities wrap, we don't want anything to ruin your good vibes, so please enjoy $5 off your Lyft ride home — on us — by using promo code 850beers when scheduling your ride to or from the event.
Let's drink beer and do good.
Matthew Crumbaker is the co-founder, along with Danny Aller, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/proof-co-owner-launches-non-alcoholic-cbd-seltzer-line-on-saturday2021-06-24T11:30:00-04:002021-07-23T11:27:43-04:00Proof co-owner launches non-alcoholic CBD seltzer line on SaturdayDanny Aller
For anyone who has followed the Tallahassee Beer Society since we first became "a thing" in July 2017, you know three things to be absolute truths when it comes to where we stand on certain hills:
You know we really dislike Big Beer, particularly Natural Light — and that we have had MANY public battles with them on social media.
You know not to even THINK about bringing a pumpkin beer around us.
And lastly, you know that we are NOT particularly fond of hard seltzers (square up, White Claw!). It's a product that has infringed on craft brewery's turf in recent years. And while you might think it must be easier for a brewery to make a mildly sweetened alcoholic seltzer instead of a double dry-hopped IPA with malt, barley, wheat, lactose and fermented fruit, it's actually a totally different - sometimes even more difficult - process.
Several local Tallahassee-area breweries like Proof, Deep, Ology and Georgia Beer Company have brewed and sold hard seltzers because they understand that not everyone who visits the tasting room drinks — or even likes — beer. Crazy, we know.
But, nevertheless, it's not uncommon these days to see breweries offer additional options like wine, sangria, cocktails, spiked lemonades and even hard seltzers as a way to expand their selection and attract more customers. Who knows, maybe those customers will even find a beer on tap they like during their visit. That's OUR hope, anyway!
Taste a JoyFace at Proof
So why all this seltzer talk?
This week those two worlds will collide in Tallahassee when one of the co-founders of one of our local breweries — Proof Brewing Company's Angela Burroughs — launches her own brand of seltzers:JoyFace Collective.
Except this Tallahassee-made product will have two important differences from the seltzers you're used to on the market right now:
1. JoyFace Collective is an all-natural "wellness" seltzer made with a CBD isolate derived from hemp
2. It's also non-alcoholic
(We'll pause briefly to explain what CBD is, for those who may not know. Per the Harvard Health Center: "CBD stands for 'cannabidiol.' It is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis — or more commonly known, marijuana. While CBD is an essential component of medical marijuana, it is derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant. While CBD is a component of marijuana — one of hundreds — by itself, it does not cause a "high.")
JoyFace Collective, which is currently the only non-alcoholic CBD seltzer brand in North Florida, will launch Saturday, June 26, atProof Brewing with a tasting event from 2-10 p.m. There, Angela and JoyFace will debut the first two flavors: lemon-lime and peach. And while Angela will be the face and workhorse behind this new venture, Proof Brewing — the company — will still be very much involved in all facets, despite Proof and JFC being two separate companies.
JoyFace Collective will be brewed, produced and canned in-house at Proof's location at 1320 South Monroe — which will also be the only place you can get it in the early going.
JoyFace will soon be distributed to Tallahassee retail stores and be available for shipping, but for the time being, Proof's tasting room will be the only purchase point.
Product based on 'wellness'
And Angela couldn't be more excited about adding JoyFace Collective to Proof's portfolio.
"In my opinion, the best part of life is real growth and personal evolution. JFC, as a company, is the embodiment of something beautiful coming out of an incredibly challenging moment in time," Angela said. "JFC is focused on wellness, a positive state of mind, and offers a whole new realm of possibilities as far as enjoying a healthy lifestyle goes. We plan on offering new flavors in the near future, and JFC will listen to our clients and continue to produce what they love as well as experiment with fresh exciting new (joyful) options!"
We'll be the first to admit that we don't have a lot of experience with non-alcoholic, all-natural, wellness seltzers — OR drinks with CBD infused in them. JoyFace's website, however, does a good job of explaining just what to expect with this product.
"JoyFace Collective is natural seltzer with CBD isolate derived from hemp. It's a low-calorie, high-quality wellness beverage for a better you. Our water-soluble formula allows for increased bioavailability to work with your body. JoyFace wants you to live in the moment refreshed," the website reads.
"We focus on three guiding principles at JoyFace Collective: Quality. Consistency. And transparency. That means we put every effort into providing the best quality product, from the water source to the highest quality hemp-derived CBD. JoyFace seltzers are lightly essenced with flavors we love that are light and refreshing. In addition, we source our nano emulsified CBD isolate from licensed US-grown hemp that is third-party and independently lab-verified to match the amount of CBD on the label that you can see."
CBD isolated from hemp oil
The one question we had after reading that is, "What, EXACTLY, is a 'CBD isolate'?" So we asked Angela, and here's what she told us: "CBD isolate, in the most simple explanation, is CBD isolated in extraction from all other components in hemp oil — or literally CBD isolated from hemp oil. Proof uses a proprietary nano-emulsified water soluble form of CBD isolate. It has no aroma or flavor, but CBD isolate is the purest form of the chemical compound CBD found in the cannabis plant. Each can will contain 20 mg of pure bioavailable CBD from hemp and natural flavoring."
The new JoyFace product also has other highlights, including:
It's produced and canned in recyclable packaging
It's THC Free
It's low-calorie
And it's pesticide-free & non-GMO
Again, for a group called the "Tallahassee BEER Society" that isn't particularly into hard seltzers, we find this new product and business venture from Angela and Proof pretty fascinating. After all, Angela's explanation that this idea was born out of a tough year for everyone — and, at its core, JoyFace is a product designed to help bring joy back into people's lives — is pretty awesome.
And it's always cool to see our breweries branch out into other ventures, like when they launch food concepts, or when Proof and Ology made hand sanitizer during the pandemic, or Ology's foray into opening Tallahassee's first distilling operation, or even Eastpoint Beer Company producing non-alcoholic "Dog Beer" from the leftover wort (which dog's love, btw!)
We're excited about this new "craft" coming out of the Craft Capital — and we wish Proof and Angela all the best of luck with it!
Danny Aller is the co-founder, along with Matthew Crumbaker, of the TLH Beer Society. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/hyperion-brewing-and-tlh-beer-society-collaborate-on-a-new-brew2021-06-10T12:00:00-04:002021-07-23T11:47:05-04:00Hyperion Brewing and TLH Beer Society collaborate on a new brewMatthew Crumbaker
If you have a beer. If you need it promoted. And you can find us. Then, you, too, can hire the TLHBS Team!
When it comes to stumping for Tallahassee breweries, brewers, and beers, we like to think we're the A-Team. A crack communications unit armed with writing backgrounds, social media acumen, and a passion for the city and beers we love.
But, before May 15, 2021, when it came to brewing beer, well, we were more like the Z-Team. Z as in zero. As in the total number of beers we had brewed collectively. It took an industry-wide crisis, a radio interview, a savvy social media manager, some empty schedules, a trip to Jacksonville, and a patient brewer.
Still, your beer society can finally check "brew" off the ole pitcher list. So, before we get to our beer, Dewww-val — named as both an ode to its flavors and the trademark cry of Jacksonville natives —a little back story.
An industry in crisis and an interview
In June of 2020, Halsey Basheer — then the head of Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation — announced emergency order 2020-09. The order required establishments that derive more than 50% from alcohol sales to suspend all sales for on-premise consumption — our beloved taprooms were closed.
To gain clarity for our friends in the brewing community, we invited Basheer to be a guest on our radio show. Our sole goal: get him to offer insight into how breweries might survive such an order. The glimmer of hope provided by the DBPR to help keep one of Florida's emerging industries afloat — offer food.
To date, that episode might be one of the most circulated interviews we've ever done, with breweries around the state reaching out with follow-up questions and comments. One of the breweries listening? Jacksonville's Hyperion Brewing Company.
The brewery that has done so much to aid in the revitalization of Jacksonville's Springfield neighborhood was looking for a lift of its own.
Hyperion Head Brewer Matthew Fletcher recounts those days, "We were not 100% shut down, maybe 90% shut down. Getting people engaged and not having anyone drinking here, but having them buy growlers...it was tough. So when the food talks came around, it was obvious we were going to do it. For us, it just started with a panini press."
That panini press and the robust menu — featuring Reubens, Cubans, and BLTs — that grew out of it was a game-changer. Fletcher recalls, "It was a blessing. That outlining of how much food you have to serve versus how much alcohol you have was interesting. We got through it. Food opened the doors again."
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/blountstown-beer-co-set-to-become-850s-next-craft-brewery2021-06-09T12:00:00-04:002021-07-23T11:32:47-04:00Blountstown Beer Co. set to become 850's next craft breweryDanny Aller
Since late 2018, there has been an explosion of new craft breweries in the Tallahassee area – eight in all.
And it appears that the city of Blountstown is the next town within a short drive of Leon County to have a craft brewery to call their own.
In an exclusive interview this week with the Tallahassee Beer Society on its ESPN 97.9 FM Radio show,The Saturday Morning Bottle Share, the owners of the 850's next craft brewery — Blountstown Beer Company — confirmed their plans to open Calhoun County's first craft brewery before the end of 2021.
And the man partially behind the idea is one who's already quite familiar to supporters of the Big Bend craft beer scene: Eastpoint Beer Co. owner and founder Josh Parker.
"Most know my small place now in Eastpoint down on the water in Franklin County — great spot, but with a very limited capacity to grow. And we've gotten so busy post-pandemic shutdown, we're running out of beer at a record pace and we've reached a crossroads. So the time has come to expand," said Parker, who opened Eastpoint Beer Co. in December 2019 and uses a small, two-barrel system brewhouse.
"It's gotten to the point where I'm brewing 4-to-5 days a week — sometimes six. And for anyone who's ever made a batch of beer .... that's too much. And the only way forward — besides just telling people you can't have more beer, which no one ever wants to do — is to find a place where you can MAKE more beer. And that's how the idea for Blountstown Beer Co. was born."
But Parker won't be taking on this new project in Blountstown — which is about 45 minutes west of Tallahassee straight out Highway 20 — alone.
Partnership with Fiddler's Steamhouse
He'll have help from a successful Blountstown restaurateur Randal Martina, the owner of arguably the most popular restaurant in all of Calhoun County, Fiddler's Steamhouse & Oyster Bar.
Parker and Martina met over two years ago and forged a friendship, which has now led to a business partnership that will see Blountstown Beer Co. launch with Parker handling the beer-making and Martina overseeing a terrific-sounding food menu full of things like bacon flights, creative tapas and even steaks.
"Josh is one of the hardest-working guys I've ever met — he works around the clock, just like me — and when our other restaurant in Blountstown closed (due to the coronavirus) called Burgers & Brews, Josh and I started talking about turning that spot into a brewery," said Martina, who is originally from Franklin County.
"The building is right off Highway 20 — so a highly-visible location — and it used to be a Huddle House, so it has a lot of nice windows and a cooking station that is right in front of you. So while you're sitting there drinking your beer, we're going to be making your food right in front of you, just like you'd see at a Huddle House. That's the kind of experience we hope to bring."
But here's where things get interesting.
Room to expand
Because — as Parker alluded to — Blountstown Beer Co. is going to be an "expansion" of Eastpoint Beer Co., Parker plans to take advantage of a seldom-used wrinkle in Florida's craft beer laws that allow an existing brewery to open a second "satellite" location, which means beer can be moved back and forth between the two breweries.
And since Parker plans to install a 12-barrel brewhouse in Blountstown — which is six times the size of the one he's currently brewing on in Eastpoint — it will allow him to scale the amount of beer he's able to make for both locations way, way up.
"Randal and I are both construction-background guys before I got into the brewery business and him the restaurant business, and we've been working pretty hard to build this location out for the last few months before making this announcement," said Parker, who added that the new brewery could be open in as few as three months or as long as 5-6 months.
"I'll obviously be doing a lot of the brewing for Eastpoint in Blountstown to help take the load off my small system down here, and because the property in Blountstown is a good size, it also allows us room to expand even more down the road if we want to."
Growing roster of area breweries
The arrival of Blountstown Beer Co. will mark the 10th new craft brewery that has opened in the Tallahassee area since 2018.
It started with Eastpoint in December 2018, then was followed by the opening of Georgia Beer Company in nearby Valdosta (February 2019), Salty Oak Brewing in Panama City (May 2019), Southern Philosophy in Bainbridge (June 2019), History Class Brewing in Panama City (April 2020), Southern Fields Brewing in Campbellton (June 2020), Fools Fire Brewing in Tallahassee (February 2021) and Wakulla County's Civic Brewing in the tiny town of Sopchoppy, which held a soft opening last weekend with a Grand Opening planned for June 19.
Oyster City Brewing, which hails from Franklin County just like Eastpoint, announced plans to launch a second location in Tallahassee two months ago, and they're due to open sometime in August or September — making new brewery No. 9. And when Blountstown opens its doors later this year, that will be No. 10.
"We're really excited about this, as you can probably tell, and we think Blountstown -- even though it is kind of in the middle of nowhere -- is ripe and ready for a business like this. Especially when you consider how well breweries in other small towns in this area have done in a short amount of time," Martina said. "And we think what we're building is unique because with the open kitchen and brewhouse right there in the building. You can sit in there and literally watch your beer be made and your food cooked right in front of you. We think it's going to be pretty cool."
Parker and Martina are hard at work inside the new location already doing the build out, and they plan to launch a website and social media accounts for Blountstown Beer Co. soon.
In the meantime, stay tuned to theTLH Beer Society'ssocial media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for any and all news on our area's newest planned brewery as it progresses.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/sopchoppy-is-primed-for-civic-wakulla-is-ready-for-a-craft-brewery2021-06-06T12:00:00-04:002021-07-23T11:51:19-04:00Sopchoppy is primed for Civic: 'Wakulla is ready for a craft brewery'Danny Aller
When the Sopchoppy City Commission held multiple public meetings late last year to discuss whether to allow a craft brewery to open inside the city limits, opinions flew, things were said, and even a few feelings got hurt.
But amid the chaos that ensued as the residents debated the opening ofCivic Brewing Co., there were two voices of support during those meetings that stood out among the crowd — Clayton Mathis, GM of Oyster City Brewing in Apalachicola, and Josh Parker, owner of Eastpoint Beer Company in Eastpoint.
And their message was this: Not only is a craft brewery a great addition to any small town, but a brewery will only enhance and improve the community in which you live, not hurt it — and they were both living proof of that.
"I just wanted to do whatever I could to help Civic and just let the folks of Sopchoppy know this was a good thing and please don't be worried it would damage the town in any way. It's really just the opposite," Mathis said. "The ways that Oyster City and Eastpoint Beer Co. have enriched Franklin County are truly immeasurable."
Fast forward 8 months (following the eventual approval by the City Commission), and that same type of enrichment is coming to Wakulla County — and it's coming soon.
Civic Brewing Company, which will be located at 106 Municipal Ave. in downtown Sopchoppy — directly across the street from Sopchoppy City Hall — is currently putting the finishing touches on what will be Wakulla County's first craft brewery when the doors finally open. So when will that be?
Founder and head brewer Elliot Seidler — a Sopchoppy native who was born and raised in Wakulla — told us on ourESPN 97.9 FM Radio show recently that it could be a week.
Or it might even be as long as a month.
Sopchoppy support for Civic Brewing
"I'm just waiting on all of my final paperwork to be approved — which should be any day now — but otherwise we're about 90 percent done," Seidler, 31, said on the show, which will air our conversation with Seidler this Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. "It's been non-stop work for the better part of a year to make this happen, and I'm really excited we're almost to the finish line."
But the most important thing, said Sopchoppy Mayor Lara Beck Edwards: A new, small business has chosen Sopchoppy as the place to put down its roots, doing so in a community with only a half dozen locally owned commercial ventures currently — and less than 500 residents living in the city limits.
"I think we all know that any time someone tries something new in a small town, it will have its challenges and likely be met with some opposition. This was no different. But to Elliot's credit, he never wavered, he never flinched, and he fought for his dream to open our county's first craft brewery in the place he grew up," said Edwards, who has supported Seidler from Day 1, despite admittedly not even being a beer drinker.
"I laugh when people ask me this, but the truth is I typically only drink wine, so my personal knowledge or love of craft beer really has nothing to do with my support. I'm just so excited that Civic Brewing will be a business incubator for Wakulla County, especially Sopchoppy. Wakulla is ready for a craft brewery, and it feels like this could really be the beginning of a renaissance for our city."
And it's a renaissance that's been years in the making too.
Making Wakulla more of a destination
When Seidler graduated from Wakulla County High School in 2008, he studied at both Florida State and the University of Florida before deciding in 2012 to enter the Navy, where he spent 6 years (much of it overseas in the Middle East and Japan) as a emergency search and rescue swimmer.
Unsure of what he wanted to do post-service besides finish his degree, his future path was guided by an unlikely influence: his older sister Taylor, also a Sopchoppy native.
"I was working for an weekly newspaper in Boston and we ran this column on craft beer fromBeerAdvocate, which is HUGE now but was just starting out then. So I got really into craft beer early on and eventually became Creative Director for BeerAdvocate, and I would come home to visit from time to time and share craft beer with my family," Taylor recalled.
"And you could just tell Elliot was — just like me — discovering what beer could be with all these different styles and flavors he was tasting. Then when I went to visit him in Japan a few years later, one of the first places he took me too was a local brewery in Japan and he was saying, 'You gotta try this, and try that.' It was so cool to see him super excited about craft beer and his understanding of it. It was truly like the student had become the master!"
It was also during one of those visits that Elliot first told Taylor he not only wanted to attend the University of California, Davis, Brewing School when he got out of the Navy, but he then wanted to return to Wakulla and open a brewery.
Taylor's reaction?
"I loved it. As someone who grew up in Wakulla and always had to go to Tallahassee or other places to 'do things,' I thought it was such a great idea," she said.
"I'd have friends from Boston come to Wakulla and visit after I had moved away and absolutely love it — all the fishing, kayaking, boating, riding bikes, beaches, camping, going to the Blue Crab Festival. It makes you realize there was so much to do here already, and now here was Elliot wanting to add something else to do and make Wakulla even more of a destination."
Siblings collaborate on Civic Brewing
After briefly working at Proof Brewing to prepare for brewing school and learn the ropes of large-scale brewing, Elliot enrolled at UC Davis in 2019. He took part in an intensive 6-month brewing program while Taylor was busy launching her own full-service marketing, branding and graphic design firm specializing in craft breweries called SeaThirst Creative.
Based in Asheville, N.C. — the mecca of craft beer in America — Taylor knew that at some point soon, one of her most important clients would likely be her brother.
And when Elliot graduated from UC Davis in 2020 and moved back to Sopchoppy with plans to open Civic, the first call he made was to his big sis.
"Her hand is pretty much in everything you see here in the brewery," Elliot said with a laugh as he looked around and waved his hands. "She's a huge part of this."
From the design of the Civic Brewing logo, to the interior design of the tasting room, to the tap handles, to the signage, to the glassware and all the merchandise (hats, shirts, koozies & coasters), Taylor's creative touch is all over it.
In fact, she's visiting from Asheville this week to help him finish everything up in preparation for the Grand Opening.
And that's a day Wakulla County Chamber Executive Board Director Chris Russell has been eagerly waiting since Civic first got clearance to open.
"I echo (all the) sentiments about welcoming a new business to the county and wish them overwhelming success," Russell wrote in an email. "As a fan of craft beer, I can’t wait until they open. In fact, I’ve eased by a couple of times to check on how the progress is coming along from the outside. (The story of) a local returning home to open up a business that will help the local economy — that’s a great story in itself."
12 taps and a beer garden
But it's also a story that's only begun to be written. It will soon be up to the residents of Wakulla — and craft beer fans from around the Big Bend area — to help write the next chapter when Civic opens. And when they do open, Elliot plans to fill all 12 of his taps with 12 different styles. "Something for everyone," he says, and also host food trucks and local musicians every chance he gets.
But just don't look for any beers on tap above 10% ABV (alcohol by volume) — the Sopchoppy City Commission said, as a condition of Civic Brewing opening, that none of the beers he brewed could exceed 10%. And Eliiot — being a lover of classic, more traditional beer styles like pale ales, lagers, wheats and pilsners — was just fine with that.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/take-a-road-trip-to-consider-southern-philosophy-brews-in-bainbridge2021-05-26T12:00:00-04:002021-07-23T11:44:00-04:00Take a road trip to consider Southern Philosophy brews in BainbridgeDanny Aller
We're just gonna say it:Southern Philosophy Brewingin Bainbridge, Georgia, (35 minutes due North of Tally, straight up Highway 27) is truly becoming one of our fave places to both drink AND eat in all of North Florida and South Georgia.
We really just can't say enough about the niche they've carved out for themselves in Downtown Bainbridge since opening up in June 2019.
And to think, the owner Gallagher Dempsey — who is from Tallahassee and graduated from Florida State University — once seriously thought about opening his concept in Tallahassee before choosing Bainbridge instead.
And that's OK — because now it gives us a reason to take a short drive into the country, especially knowing what awaits.
Here's some takeaways from our latest visit last week, which included dining in their outdoor courtyard full of games like cornhole and a giant Connect Four board.
Go for the beer
It's crisp, clean and always on point — but dang it — you better try one of their cocktails while you're there. Southern is the only brewery in our area other than Proof Brewing that has both a baller tap room and a full complement of cocktails and wine.
The spicy beet margarita - yes, beets - is one of the best margaritas we've personally ever had. Made with a beet simple syrup and smoky mezcal tequila, we asked to make it spicy and the fresh jalapeño did just that.
Scope out the menu
After you have a drink, scope out the menu — and, trust us, order as much as you can eat. Why? Because it's nearly impossible to get one or two things.
The charcuterie boards are incredible, highlighted by piles of fresh meats and cheeses, including Thomasville's Sweet Grass Dairy cheeses and smoked Bradley's Country Store sausage. We can't name anyone else featuring Bradley's on their charcuterie boards — can you?
And for all those places currently serving boards, we want you to note something: Look at how many crackers they give you! Stop being stingy on the crackers — no one likes being 'that guy' (or 'that girl') asking for "a few extra crackers" just so they can finish a board!
Oh, and after trying pepper jelly on our board last week, we are now convinced that pepper jelly needs to be on every charcuterie board.
Pizza, please
Their pizza, in our opinion, is nearly unmatched — even by restaurants who specialize in it. Their thin, light sourdough crust is a recipe SPB spent the better part of a year perfecting — and even though we, like a lot of people, aren't "crust fans," we eat every bite of it, every time we have it.
They even have a cream cheese and smoked salmon pizza — or a specialty pie with prosciutto, peaches and balsamic vinegar — on the menu. That's next-level stuff from their pizza chef Joe Kiser, who operates as pretty much a one-man show in the corner near the open flame of their brick-oven.
While you're ordering your drink, you can basically look down the bar and see Joe tossing doughs in the air and sliding pizzas in and out to check temps and crispness. And don't sleep on Joe's truffle-parm breadsticks. Freaking dynamite app.
Jambalaya special
Still hungry? We lucked into some fine-looking jambalaya on our visit. It was just a special they had that night — and it's a recipe from Gallagher's mom, who is as talented as a cook as her son is a brewer. We were blown away at how authentic it tasted. Huge chunks of Cajun chicken, shrimp and sausage dotted every bite. And the roux tasted like it took hours to make.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/proof-brewing-first-in-florida-to-feature-new-technology-12021-04-29T22:00:00-04:002021-07-25T21:49:31-04:00Proof Brewing first in Florida to feature new technologyMatthew Crumbaker
On April 22 (Earth Day), Proof Brewing Company dropped a bit of big news regarding reducing their carbon footprint and making great beer even better.
The announcement stated, "Proof Brewing Company has partnered with Earthly Labs, an Austin, TX-based company, to become the first craft brewery in Florida to implement carbon capture technology to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Earthly Labs plug-and-play carbon capture technology called CiCi enables craft breweries like Proof Brewing Co. to capture more than 100,000 pounds of waste CO2 or more than 1,500 trees' worth CO2 from the brewing process each year and re-use it to carbonate and package beer. This is one way Proof Brewing Co. is recycling its waste, improving its environmental performance, and giving back to its community for Earth Day."
If there's one thing we've learned in our four years of beer, it's that brewing and science go hand-in-hand. Pour yourself a pint before you read this — go ahead, we'll wait — because there's going to be a bit of science, conservation, and of course, beer in this week's edition column.
Let's start where all good science starts, a question that needs answering.
In this case, if we sent a human-crewed mission to Mars, a planet with an atmosphere mostly made up of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), how would we produce the resources needed for survival?
Enter Robert Zubrin. Zubrin, a former NASA contractor, worked with Johnson Space Center's In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) team in developing technologies to convert the uninhabitable Martian atmosphere into elements essential for exploration — oxygen, water, fuel (methane), etc.
If the projects had stayed strictly in space, well, we probably wouldn't be talking about them. But Zubrin's companies have a knack for taking outer realm technologies and bringing them down to earth. Zurbin is credited with applications that have extracted millions of barrels of oil from defunct oil wells and harnessed natural gas burned off as waste at many oil rigs.
NASA tech helps with CO2 escape
This ability to turn waste into value, specifically CO2, should be of particular interest to the brewing industry. See, while NASA was trying to figure out how to turn CO2 into something useful on Mars, brewers were trying to solve a carbon question of their own. Namely, how to recapture the nearly 12 million pounds of carbon dioxide blown off (wasted) by the industry during the brewing process each year?
The carbon dioxide that not only has so many uses inside the brewery itself in purging lines, cleaning, and carbonating brews; but CO2 that gets scrubbed and dissipated into the atmosphere — not good.
As is often the case in the beer industry, the macro brands had a solution; it just wasn't one that a brewer producing less than 100,000+ barrels per year could afford. The largest brewers could recapture that blow-off and re-use it in the brewery, effectively cutting waste, emissions, and their reliance on CO2 produced elsewhere.
However, roughly 98% of the industry had little choice other than to watch tons of the valuable byproduct disappear only to need to purchase it at a much higher cost. That is, until, 2016 when Amy George, the founder of Earthly Labs, and her team plied their hand at scaling the technology Zubrin and NASA had perfected.
Proof connects with Earthly Labs
George and Earthly saw an opportunity to significantly reduce emissions by bringing the technology to smaller businesses/brewers on smaller budgets. In 2018 CiCi was born, a recapture setup that could scale to nearly any size or budget. And in 2021, CiCi finds its way here — to Tallahassee — and for the first time to Florida.
The press release underscored Amy George's personal connection to this partnership, "As a fellow Floridian, I am so proud to have Proof Brewing as our first Florida customer, using an Earthly Labs CO2 capture unit in my home state," said CEO Amy George. "In addition to making great beer better, Proof is leading the way for blue skies in the Sunshine State, reducing CO2 emissions every day."
"We are committed to improving our sustainability and carbon footprint for our local community and consumers," said Founder Byron Burroughs. "This technology allows us to help our environment but also our commitment to innovation by brewing even better beer." Purer ingredients = purer product.
Once the unit's installation is complete (sometime this summer), Proof plans to showcase that better beer at a release event centered around that first beer featuring the recaptured CO2. The CO2 recaptured from a brew is a higher grade than a brewery would typically purchase.
Cici is about to make a world of difference in what we affectionately call the Craft Capital. Taking the idea of locally produced "Fresh is Best" to a cosmic level — Captain Planet, and we will drink to that!
Mom wants brunch
Proof's latest pop-upis perfect for your favorite mother this Mothers' Day. On Sunday, May 9, starting at 10 a.m. and running until 1:30 p.m., the Proof Brewpub will feature an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet.
Menu items of note include honey butter chicken biscuit casserole, shrimp and grits, and a yogurt bar. But the thing we've got circled, well aside from a few beers, two stations of made-to-order delectability — one avocado toast and the other eggs benedict.
The eggs benedict station offers traditional, crab cake, steak, or southern (featuring pulled pork). Not to be outdone, the avocado station has many options ranging from poached eggs or blackened shrimp to beets and a balsamic drizzle — something for everyone.
Proof Brewpub's first brunch is a ticketed event, and tickets are on sale now atproofbrewingco.com.
Matthew Crumbaker is the co-founder, along with Danny Aller, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/proof-brewing-first-in-florida-to-feature-new-technology2021-04-29T12:30:00-04:002021-07-23T12:30:26-04:00Proof Brewing first in Florida to feature new technologyMatthew Crumbaker
On April 22 (Earth Day), Proof Brewing Company dropped a bit of big news regarding reducing their carbon footprint and making great beer even better.
The announcement stated, "Proof Brewing Company has partnered with Earthly Labs, an Austin, TX-based company, to become the first craft brewery in Florida to implement carbon capture technology to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Earthly Labs plug-and-play carbon capture technology called CiCi enables craft breweries like Proof Brewing Co. to capture more than 100,000 pounds of waste CO2 or more than 1,500 trees' worth CO2 from the brewing process each year and re-use it to carbonate and package beer. This is one way Proof Brewing Co. is recycling its waste, improving its environmental performance, and giving back to its community for Earth Day."
If there's one thing we've learned in our four years of beer, it's that brewing and science go hand-in-hand. Pour yourself a pint before you read this — go ahead, we'll wait — because there's going to be a bit of science, conservation, and of course, beer in this week's edition column.
Let's start where all good science starts, a question that needs answering.
In this case, if we sent a human-crewed mission to Mars, a planet with an atmosphere mostly made up of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), how would we produce the resources needed for survival?
Enter Robert Zubrin. Zubrin, a former NASA contractor, worked with Johnson Space Center's In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) team in developing technologies to convert the uninhabitable Martian atmosphere into elements essential for exploration — oxygen, water, fuel (methane), etc.
If the projects had stayed strictly in space, well, we probably wouldn't be talking about them. But Zubrin's companies have a knack for taking outer realm technologies and bringing them down to earth. Zurbin is credited with applications that have extracted millions of barrels of oil from defunct oil wells and harnessed natural gas burned off as waste at many oil rigs.
NASA tech helps with CO2 escape
This ability to turn waste into value, specifically CO2, should be of particular interest to the brewing industry. See, while NASA was trying to figure out how to turn CO2 into something useful on Mars, brewers were trying to solve a carbon question of their own. Namely, how to recapture the nearly 12 million pounds of carbon dioxide blown off (wasted) by the industry during the brewing process each year?
The carbon dioxide that not only has so many uses inside the brewery itself in purging lines, cleaning, and carbonating brews; but CO2 that gets scrubbed and dissipated into the atmosphere — not good.
As is often the case in the beer industry, the macro brands had a solution; it just wasn't one that a brewer producing less than 100,000+ barrels per year could afford. The largest brewers could recapture that blow-off and re-use it in the brewery, effectively cutting waste, emissions, and their reliance on CO2 produced elsewhere.
However, roughly 98% of the industry had little choice other than to watch tons of the valuable byproduct disappear only to need to purchase it at a much higher cost. That is, until, 2016 when Amy George, the founder of Earthly Labs, and her team plied their hand at scaling the technology Zubrin and NASA had perfected.
Proof connects with Earthly Labs
George and Earthly saw an opportunity to significantly reduce emissions by bringing the technology to smaller businesses/brewers on smaller budgets. In 2018 CiCi was born, a recapture setup that could scale to nearly any size or budget. And in 2021, CiCi finds its way here — to Tallahassee — and for the first time to Florida.
The press release underscored Amy George's personal connection to this partnership, "As a fellow Floridian, I am so proud to have Proof Brewing as our first Florida customer, using an Earthly Labs CO2 capture unit in my home state," said CEO Amy George. "In addition to making great beer better, Proof is leading the way for blue skies in the Sunshine State, reducing CO2 emissions every day."
"We are committed to improving our sustainability and carbon footprint for our local community and consumers," said Founder Byron Burroughs. "This technology allows us to help our environment but also our commitment to innovation by brewing even better beer." Purer ingredients = purer product.
Once the unit's installation is complete (sometime this summer), Proof plans to showcase that better beer at a release event centered around that first beer featuring the recaptured CO2. The CO2 recaptured from a brew is a higher grade than a brewery would typically purchase.
Cici is about to make a world of difference in what we affectionately call the Craft Capital. Taking the idea of locally produced "Fresh is Best" to a cosmic level — Captain Planet, and we will drink to that!
Mom wants brunch
Proof's latest pop-upis perfect for your favorite mother this Mothers' Day. On Sunday, May 9, starting at 10 a.m. and running until 1:30 p.m., the Proof Brewpub will feature an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet.
Menu items of note include honey butter chicken biscuit casserole, shrimp and grits, and a yogurt bar. But the thing we've got circled, well aside from a few beers, two stations of made-to-order delectability — one avocado toast and the other eggs benedict.
The eggs benedict station offers traditional, crab cake, steak, or southern (featuring pulled pork). Not to be outdone, the avocado station has many options ranging from poached eggs or blackened shrimp to beets and a balsamic drizzle — something for everyone.
Proof Brewpub's first brunch is a ticketed event, and tickets are on sale now atproofbrewingco.com.
Matthew Crumbaker is the co-founder, along with Danny Aller, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
]]>
https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/tallahassee-beer-festival-sets-2021-date-changes-venue-to-civic-center2021-04-27T12:00:00-04:002021-07-23T11:54:52-04:00Tallahassee Beer Festival sets 2021 date, changes venue to Civic CenterDanny Aller
In a sign that the world may be beginning a slow and measured shift back to normality, it appears that craft beer festivals — at least in the Big Bend — are officially back.
The organizers of theTallahassee Beer Festival, which was last held Jan. 25, 2020, at the Pavilion at the Centre of Tallahassee — less than two months before the global pandemic began — announced Monday they had set a date for its 2021 event: Saturday, Aug. 28.
Tickets for the event — which attracted over 70 local, regional and national breweries last year — should go on sale by the end of May.
Only this year the TLH Beer Fest is moving it to the Tucker Civic Center, which TBF co-founder Ben Graybar said should allow the festival to continue growing, while also eliminating the risk of the always-uncontrollable factor of inclement weather on the day of the event.
"Weather can make or break an event. We were concerned a storm could dampen the semi-outdoor festivities. Also, we sold out the last two years, and you can see from the pictures that some extra space could be well-utilized," said Graybar, whose event will once again serve as a fundraiser for United Partners For Human Services.
"We’ve known some of the event staff at the Civic Center for years, and also were approached by the Downtown Merchants & Business Association to consider a more walker-friendly event with places to go before & after. The Tucker Center provides that opportunity with adjacent hotels, and the College Town & downtown businesses nearby."
Tap pour logistics, masks and straws?
The Aug. 28 event will mark the 3rd Annual Tallahassee Beer Festival, meaning the festival itself — which is Tallahassee's only current craft beer festival after Proof Brewing discontinued its annual Tap Invitational in 2019 after a 5-year run — actually never missed a beat.
The 2nd Annual TBF was held just before the pandemic started, and shortly after it wrapped up in late January 2020, Graybar announced the 3rd annual would skip January 2021 and instead be held later in 2021.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/oyster-city-move-another-big-investment-in-tallahassee-craft-beer-culture2021-04-15T12:00:00-04:002021-07-23T11:59:30-04:00Oyster City move another big investment in Tallahassee craft beer cultureDanny Aller
The news we broke earlier this week in the Tallahassee Democrat — that Oyster City Brewing Company in Apalachicola wasopening its second locationin Tallahassee — resulted in cheers throughout the Big Bend.
"Dreams really come DO come true!!!! Hooter Brown in my hometown!" commented Elyzabeth Anderson on the TLH Ladies That Beer Facebook post about the announcement.
"Very exciting news! An already rich craft beer scene gets richer!" tweeted Tallahassee resident Mike Roseman (@mike_roseman).
"Welcome to @CityofTLH, @OysterCityBeer! #CraftCapital," tweeted City of Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey (@MayorOfTLH).
Anyone else wanna open a craft brewery in Tallahassee? Because now seems to be the time.
Oyster City — a wildly popular brewery with loyal fans and celebrity endorsements (see: Florida-Georgia Line) — deciding to plant a new flag at the former GrassLands in Tallahassee (which has long been its second-biggest sales market for their beer) is just another in a series of big things to happen to our craft beer scene in the last two years.
Let's recap, shall we?:
Expansion at Proof and Ology
A little over two years ago, Proof Brewing — Tallahassee's largest and oldest craft brewery — announced it was moving from Railroad Square to an enormous and beautiful new location a block south of the State Capitol Building. The reason? They'd simply outgrown their old facility because the demand for Proof beer was increasing almost daily. A great sign for Proof and Tallahassee.
Not long after, Ology Brewing — Tallahassee's newest and youngest brewery at the time — announced they were opening a second location off Northeast Capital Circle. Their reasoning? Nearly identical to Proof's: Demand. Demand. And more demand. And then not long after that, Ology opened a third location off Kerry Forest Parkway, where it plans to offer a full service brew pub and restaurant sometime this year.
Oh, and we should also mention that during all this, Ology was busy distributing its beer into more than a half dozen states besides Florida, as well as multiple countries overseas. Not too shabby for a brewery that only opened in Tallahassee less than four years ago.
Prize-winning brews
Then last March (right before the pandemic was declared), three Tallahassee breweries — Proof, Ology and Deep — all medaled with at least one gold at the Best Florida Beer Championships in Tampa. Oyster City also medaled at the same event for two different beers, but then later in 2020, they one-upped everybody with an accolade that took things next-level on the Big Bend craft beer scene.
In December, Oyster City won not one, but TWO gold medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championships — arguably the most prestigious beer event in the nation every year. And it was at that moment when craft beer fans around the country started to look up and say, "OK, North Florida ... we see you!"
World of Beer arrival
And finally, the biggest craft beer franchise in America — World Of Beer — debuted its first-ever location in Tallahassee in October 2020. Run by Tallahassee native Jason Frimmel, World of Beer breaking ground in Tallahassee marked a big moment in the city's craft beer history.
It showed that a successful national company as big as WOB — which normally doesn't greenlight franchises to open in city's with less than 500,000 residents — was willing to invest in us — in you — in Tallahassee.
Their corporate leadership had to take one look at the craft beer culture here and say: "Population be darned — this place loves its craft beer, and it will not only support a WOB, but a WOB franchise will thrive!"
With the pandemic hopefully waning and local businesses beginning to rebound, here we are: Tallahassee is 6 craft breweries strong in the Capital City alone, we have a slew of great craft beer bars all over town, and there's even a fully operational distillery (thanks to those guys at Ology; do they ever sleep?!?)
Yes. Tallahassee beer is now firmly in the craft beer spotlight thanks to all the aforementioned events over the past 2 years. (Of course, having the best Beer Society in America running point — and keeping the local craft beer community engaged 24/7, 365 — doesn't hurt either. *smiley face emoji, wink emoji*)
But then when you factor in Monday's announcement by Oyster City? Well, it only made that spotlight even brighter.
And for a group like us that's been screaming from the mountain top for almost 4 years now how GOOD we have it here when it comes to craft beer, trust us when we say this: We wouldn't want it any other way.
We knew when we started the TLH Beer Society in 2017 that the potential was there — right here in front of us — to get to this point.
And now, beer fam, is Tallahassee's time to shine!
Danny Aller is the co-founder, along with Matthew Crumbaker, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/tallahassee-craft-beer-community-helps-raise-5-500-for-lees-place2021-04-14T13:00:00-04:002021-07-23T12:33:51-04:00Tallahassee craft beer community helps raise $5,500 for Lee's PlaceDanny Aller
A two-month fundraising campaign spearheaded by the Tallahassee Beer Society concluded last week with a record $5,500 donation to Leon County-based nonprofitLee's Place, a grief counseling center that's been providing rehabilitation services in the Big Bend for over two decades.
The Tallahassee Beer Society — a local craft beer group that tracks, reports on and promotes the area's growing, award-winning craft beer scene — created "Drink Tallahassee Beer" T-shirts and hoodies, then partnered with local business Madison Social to sell them online and donate all proceeds to Lee's Place.
Before the TLH Beer Society presented the check to Lee's Place alongside members of the Tallahassee craft beer community from Proof Brewing, Lake Tribe Brewing, Deep Brewing and Ology Brewing, Beth Tedio — who serves as Lee's Place Director of Development — joined the Society on theirESPN 97.9 FM Radio show, where they revealed the results of the fundraising campaign live on air after asking her to guess what she thought the donation about would be.
"I'm going to guess kind of high for what a local fundraiser normally yields and say $2,000?" Tedio said.
"Close. But how about $5,500? How does that sound?" asked TLHBS co-founder Danny Aller, who was joined on the show by co-host and Beer Society co-founder Matthew Crumbaker.
"Oh my gosh!" Tedio exclaimed. "That is just ... so incredible. This is going to help so many people. You just have no idea."
Lee's Place was founded in 2000 by Dr. Brenda Rabalais in memory of her son Lee Rabalais, who died at the age of 14 from bone cancer. Following that life-changing event, the idea and passion to honor Lee and to help others in our community was born. Already a therapist, Dr. Rabalais created a center where people can receive quality, licensed, therapeutic services in a warm and nurturing environment.
Lee’s Place services address the broad spectrum of grief, loss, and trauma. Examples include, divorce, abandonment (foster care, adoption, service families), abuse, suicide, homicide, crime, loss of functionality, loss of home or job, long-term illnesses, other life transitions, as well as death. And they offer their services to clients as young as 4 years old.
Rabalais’ vision was always that financial circumstances not be a barrier to receiving quality, licensed therapy for any type of loss, therefore all sessions are offered at a sliding fee scale. All donations and grants help to pay their operating expenses.
"All of the money will go toward making sure anyone and everyone can get the therapy they need," Tedio said of the donation. "I'm still just ... my jaw is still just hanging down right now. That is just a phenomenal number for a fundraiser like this. Thank you to everyone who purchased a shirt or sweatshirt and helped make this happen, and everyone involved. That's just incredible."
The donation was a record amount for the Beer Society's fundraising efforts, which had previously centered on in-person bottle shares and gatherings as a way to raise money for local nonprofits prior to the pandemic. At their most recent bottle share in late 2019 at Proof, they raised $2,500 for the Hang Tough Foundation, breaking the group's previous record for a one-time charitable contribution.
But when the pandemic grounded those types of events in March 2020, the Beer Society turned toward merchandise sales — exclusively online and via delivery in order to limit contact — to raise money in the interim.
In late 2020, they offered TLH Beer Society glasses and masks for sale and donated all the profits to Elder Care Services, Inc., in the form of hand sanitizer that was purchased from Proof and Ology, both of which began producing the often-scarce product amidst the pandemic.
"Not being able to gather like we used to because of the coronavirus crisis has been a bummer, but it's been necessary to limit those types of events in order to slow the spread so we CAN get back to normal," Aller said.
"In the meantime, Matt and I still wanted to find a way to still help — and the money couldn't have gone to a more worthy cause than Lee's Place with so many people out there struggling and experiencing grief due to the pandemic. But we couldn't have done it without the tremendous support of the Tallahassee craft beer community, which purchased over 550 shirts and hoodies to help us raise $5,500," Aller said.
"And a special shoutout to Matt Thompson, managing partner at Madison Social, who suggested Lee's Place to us when we sought a benefactor for this. And big thanks to Burke Buchanan, our local rep with Vernon Graphics and Promotions, who not only produced the shirts for us at a great price to ensure a huge donation for Lee's Place, but Burke and Vernon donated dozens of shirts from the outset to kick the fundraiser off. It truly was a total team effort that resulted in a win-win for everyone. We can't thank our Beer Society members enough for all the support."
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/oyster-city-brewing-company-to-tap-former-grasslands-in-tallahassee-for-craft-pub2021-04-14T12:30:00-04:002021-07-23T12:25:51-04:00Oyster City Brewing Company to tap former GrassLands in Tallahassee for craft pubDanny Aller
The longtime Apalachicola craft brewing operation, which first opened in Franklin County in 2014, is expanding into Tallahassee and will be taking over the former GrassLands Brewing building located at 603 W. Gaines Street.
"We hope to have it up and running in the fall sometime. I would love to give a clear cut date, but there are a lot of moving pieces that have to be placed perfectly before that time comes."
Head Brewer And General Manager Clayton Mathis
Clayton Mathis, Oyster City's Head Brewer and General Manager, confirmed OCBC's expansion plans to the Tallahassee Beer Society on Monday morning. And an official announcement — live from their new location — came Tuesday.
Beers of years gone by
GrassLands Brewing — which opened in 2015 and became Tallahassee's third craft brewery in operation — closed after 4 years in business in July 2019, vacating their tap room, 15 barrel brewhouse and large beer garden. But also leaving behind a turnkey brewery for someone to take over. A group from Ocala — Special Operation Forces Brewing — briefly leased the space from late 2019 until late 2020, but they never brewed a beer in Tallahassee or opened the taproom.
Rumors began swirling on March 2 about Oyster City coming to Tallahassee when one of the owners of the building, Dean Minardi, told the Tallahassee Beer Society that, "We are currently negotiating a lease with an existing, known, established, out-of-town brewery that is expanding to a second production facility and taproom. And yes, this brewery is from Florida."
Tremendous growth
Guesses flew as to who would be moving in, and the clubhouse favorite was Oyster City.
Fast forward to April 13, and those rumors are no more: Oyster City is officially coming to town.
So why did OCBC choose Tallahassee as the spot to open its second location? And why now?
Mathis said despite Oyster City's tremendous growth in the last few years all around the region — they currently distribute their beer as far west as Alabama and as far south as Gainesville and Ocala — choosing Tallahassee to plant its second flag was really a no-brainer.
"Tallahassee has such a strong and cohesive craft beer community that pushes the limits with constant focus on quality and innovation," Mathis wrote in an email. "The TLH Beer Society has always included us in their updates, and even organized a package run during the pandemic to help us out! I've spent many a day sitting on the beach, or on the corner in Apalach, drinking some of the expertly crafted products made right there in Tallahassee. Tallahassee has always supported Oyster City from the minute we opened the doors, and we have an excellent distribution partner in Tri-Eagle already in place. The question really is ... 'Why wouldn't we want to come to Tallahassee?' "
Oyster City will become Tallahassee's sixth craft brewery when they open, joining Proof Brewing (Estab. 2012), Lake Tribe Brewing (2015), Deep Brewing (2016), Ology Brewing (2017) and Fools Fire Brewing (2021).
But when the doors will actually open to "Oyster City North" remains to be seen, said Mathis.
"We hope to have it up and running in the fall sometime. I would love to give a clear cut date, but there are a lot of moving pieces that have to be placed perfectly before that time comes," Mathis said.
"We will keep you all updated onInstagram andFacebook as we make progress, as we want to keep our OCBC family involved and in the loop throughout the entire process. Expect us to push some new and innovative products through the new location. We will have similar tap lists, but they will definitely be different!"
No matter what Oyster City puts out these days, the accolades seem to pour in.
Oyster City won double gold in December 2020 at the prestigious U.S. Open Beer Championships for their Mangrove Pale Ale and Mill Pond Dirty Blonde Ale, marking the first time any brewery in the Tallahassee-area had ever won gold at the U.S. Open.
Oyster City previously won silver three times in the same national competition — twice for its best-selling Hooter Brown Ale and once for its Red Right Return Red Ale — but this past year marked their first U.S. Open gold medals. Hooter Brown, however, did win gold at the Best Florida Beer Championships — a statewide competition — in March 2020.
Big personality meet big city
Oyster City's original taproom, which is small and located in the heart of Downtown Apalachicola, has a big personality and is widely considered a home-away-from-home for many in the Big Bend. Apalachicola offers scenic views, outstanding dining options, quaint lodging, iconic outdoor events, incredible fishing, and — of course — fresh oysters everywhere you turn.
And now, Oyster City wants to transplant their "Made By The Water" motto into Tallahassee. And TLH Beer Society co-founderMatthew Crumbaker, for one, can't wait.
"It's really hard to underscore what incredible news this is. To take a brewing facility that's laid largely dormant for two years and insert a strong brand — a brand rooted in our area — like Oyster City Brewing, is excellent," Crumbaker said.
"If you're familiar with the award-winning beers, come-as-you-are vibe, and festive environment that the Apalachicola brewery has been pumping out for years, it's really hard envisioning a better fit for Tallahassee's craft beer scene. For those that are somehow not familiar, you're in for a real treat. Great addition to Tallahassee, and especially the Gaines Street corridor."
As for what helped seal the deal for Oyster City to lock in their location in Tallahassee?
"Obviously the fact that it already has brewing equipment located inside the facility is a giant plus. Everything is set up to get started as soon as we update a few pieces here and there and get our licensing processed," Mathis said.
"Ample parking and a great location for a diverse crowd of people to enjoy a little bit of the coast brought to Tallahassee is another big positive. I won't give too much away, but we want everyone to feel like they're parked in a serene space that conveys what the Apalachicola lifestyle and Oyster City is all about!"
Fermenting their legacy
OCBC beer has long been found on taps in bars and restaurants around Tallahassee, and more recently in cans at just about every grocery store and convenience store in North Florida and Alabama thanks to a canning partnership with Brew Hub in Orlando. They've expanded their footprint far and wide in the last two years, and this decision to officially enter the Tallahassee market is just the latest move in a line of big ones the brewery has made.
All that's left now is to brew the beer.
"Huge (move for us) is an understatement. Myself, our sales force, brewers, beertenders, and the ownership group are very excited to join an already excellent craft beer scene in Tallahassee," Mathis said. "Tallahassee has shown so much support for us since day one, and we look forward to joining the community."
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/lake-tribe-celebrates-six-years-of-delicious-beers-during-month-of-april2021-04-01T13:00:00-04:002021-07-23T12:54:10-04:00Lake Tribe celebrates six years of delicious beers during month of AprilMatthew Crumbaker
You don't earn the right to stay in business for six years, especially in such a competitive industry, without learning how to navigate a few tricky situations. Still, nothing could have preparedLake Tribe Brewing Companyfor the events of the past year.
In the first quarter of 2020, things in the craft beer industry were humming; things were no different at the brewery located at 3357 Garber Dr #4 in Tallahassee.
In what would be a fortuitous decision, the brewery decided to move up their 5th-anniversary celebration — typically scheduled in late March — to late February. Less than two weeks after wrapping their 4-day suds-filled festival — the coronavirus would change everything.
In a year, nobody would like to repeat, lessons were learned, new things tried, and along the way, Lake Tribe was fueling up the tanks (with beer) for this year's epic Road Trip-themed Anniversary party, which kicks off Thursday, April 1, with it's first release and continues all month.
Anniversary beers tap local landmarks
The first piece of inspiration came in the form of a popular T-shirt promotion. Tapping into the brewery's bevy of graphic design resources, they released a shirt urging people to "Explore Local" with the tagline, "Life can be in-tents."
The shirt, offered free with the purchase of Lake Tribe beer, tapped into the feelings at the time as folks settling in for a prolonged quarantine looked for new outlets. The Ross family, founders, and owners of Lake Tribe named the brewery as an homage to a YMCA group that helped forge lifelong bonds through camping, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and exploring all the great outdoors has to offer.
It only makes sense that the brewery would encourage folks to discover — or rediscover — some of the area's natural wonders.
Discovery wasn't just occurring on the trails at Phipps, Miccosukee, or AJ Henry. The brewery's jack of all trades Tyler Yorski uncovered a few park gems of his own.
Yorkski told us, "I was researching National Parks and ways to support them during the closure and was drawn to their designs. I can't quite describe it, but there is a unique and specific design style for National Parks apparel, logos, and imagery. From that, I thought it would be cool for us to create some 'digital postcards' pairing some of our beers with Tallahassee landmarks."
Some of the landmarks featured on this year's Anniversary Road Trip will include the St. Marks Lighthouse, St. George Island, Lake Overstreet and area rivers, among others.
Keep the celebration going all month
The second lesson carried from 2020 into this year's trip came during the brewery's month-long series of releases and events celebrating a favorite beer tradition — Oktoberfest. While typically a one or maybe two-day event featuring German-themed music, food, and beer, 2020 forced breweries to reconsider ways to foster a festive atmosphere while keeping things safe.
Yorksi explains, "rather than a single day, or maybe weekend event, we planned to celebrate for the entire month. A prolonged event allowed us to keep things nice and easy with crowds spaced out, but also feature several food trucks and beers."
And something interesting happened along the way; servers started noticing patrons were more apt to sit and sip across a few hours calmly. Attendees enjoyed all the brewery had to offer for the duration of one of several event days. Gone was the quick 30-minute in-and-out and constant Uber hopping, replaced by a far more relaxed vibe.
We affectionately refer to it as "the Lake Tribe Vibe" — beautifully created outdoor vignettes, local bands, local food trucks, and the all-important local brew. And it'll be on full display starting this Thursday, April 1 — no joke — as they kick off the road trip with the first of MANY beer releases.
The first release, a double dry-hopped version of their popular "White Wolf" experimental IPA, returns the same crushable crew of Citra, Motueka, and Styrian wolf hops, but new to the pack is the addition of the experimental BRU-1. Fans of the brewery's "Young Chief Turbo IPA" should recognize BRU-1 for imparting heavy pineapple notes and aroma.
Join in the Road Trip fun
On Friday, April 2, the first can release of the Road Trip, "Beckster's Wh'ell Behaved Hazy," pulls up to the Leon Sinks. Cans of this brew featuring "light bread notes, spicy rye, and of course, the citrusy hops that made the American IPA a world leader in beer" are sure to be a tasty treat.
Because water is never far from a brewer's mind — or from becoming the next great beer — Saturday's specialty tap is a brew ready-made to toast a ride down the Wacissa River. DDH Whitewater Pilsner features a hefty-hopping of Motueka, imparting refreshing flavors of citrus, melon, and stone fruit into Tribe's signature pils.
Sunday, April 4, will set the tone for Sundays at the brewery in April, a catch-up day. A day where the small-batch beers from Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (as well as those can releases) will be on tap for anyone who might've missed their first run or for folks just thirsty for more.
Hoppy, citrusy or sour
The limited-run beer on Thursday, can release Friday, limited-run Saturday, and catch-up day Sunday will be the move at Lake Tribe for roughly the next four weeks and will cover just about everything. Hop-heads rejoice as Tribe will showcase some exceptional hops like BRU-1, HBC -586, Sultana, Sabro, Hallertau Blanc. Those looking to get tropical will see a steady stream of tiki-inspired wheat beers hitting on favorites like the pina colada, hurricane, or margarita — all with that fresh pop of citrus from local satsumas.
Sour sippers are in for a real treat as the brewers have given fan-favorite "Tigershark" — a berry hibiscus tea sour — a little more bite by upping it from 4.5% abv to an 8% imperial sour (psst...it should tap in week two April 8-11).
The tea beers don't stop there with Lake Tribe teaming with their friends from Tallahassee Tea Company on a Lavender Earl Grey Berliner as well as a green tea and bergamot treatment for the Whitewater pilsner.
Running from April 1 through the end of the month, this anniversary celebration is not to be missed.
We think Yorski summed it up perfectly, "This a chance for us to get back to the core of Lake Tribe — music, food trucks, community collaboration, and celebrating with our community. It's great to be forward-looking again."
We'll drink to that, cheers!
Matthew Crumbaker, along with Danny Aller, is the co-founder, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/eastpoint-beer-co-cranks-up-the-canning-game2021-03-11T13:00:00-05:002021-07-23T12:43:51-04:00Eastpoint Beer Co. cranks up the canning gameDanny Aller
During the coronavirus pandemic, craft breweries around the country have moved much of their products into cans and bottles with so many consumers desiring to get their beer to-go and take it home, rather than venture out during a global health crisis.
Our local breweries certainly made some significant adjustments.
For instance, Ology Brewing purchased its own canning line last year and now virtually every beer they make goes into 4 packs.
Deep Brewing began offering resealable crowlers known as "stove pipes" that stay fresh, even if you decide to open them weeks after purchase.
Lake Tribe nearly tripled their canned core beers Red Cloud IPA and Satsuma Wheat to keep up with the demand from grocery stories like Publix.
And Proof Brewing started putting beers in cans off their tap list that could previously only be found in their tap room — and sometimes those beers were exclusive to just members of their Society of Liquid membership club.
And guess what? Those who take part in our next #EpicBeerRun on March 21 will get the first crack at buying a piece of North Florida craft beer history.
Eastpoint will be selling any of its beers on draft in 6 packs insleek, black cans with white labels — and we are so excited to finally do an EBR to EBC after previously hitting every other Tallahassee-area brewery with one of these runs (except Eastpoint, which was closed for much of 2020 due to the pandemic) leading up to this.
ICYMI, an Epic Beer Run works like this: We pick a brewery that's further away than most want to drive just to pick up beer. Then we give you a window of time to order online from this brewery. And after the cut-off date to order — which is March 21 in this case — the Beer Society heads to the brewery and WE pick up all the beer that was ordered and bring it back to Tallahassee for you to enjoy.
We're just a glorified proxy — and we're cool with that. As long as these Epic Beer Runs get some great area craft beer in your hands — and we support our outer-area breweries during a time when many still aren't taking day trips — it's worth every bit of the gasoline burned and time spent it takes to make them happen.
To take part in this run, simply go toEastpointBeerCo.comand place your order. Just be sure to note "For TLH Beer Society pickup" in your ordering notes so Eastpoint knows it's part of this Epic Beer Run and will hold your order in their cooler until we drive down to pick it up Sunday, March 21.
Once we return to Tallahassee, we'll coordinate pickups with all those who ordered. You can also add Eastpoint merchandise — like hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts, growlers or stickers — to your order and we'll be sure to grab that too.
Any questions for us about this latest Epic Beer Run? Shoot us an email at tlhbeersociety@gmail.com and we'll be sure to get back to you right away!
Deep set for Mini-Stoutfest this weekend
Deep Brewinghad its Mini-Stoutfest set for last year around this same time when the pandemic forced the postponement. But because they had all the beers ready to go, Deep sold the stouts over the course of the next few months all in the aforementioned stovepipes to-go.
But this weekend you'll be able to taste them all at once on a baller-looking tap list that includes two stout bottle releases, several candy bar-inspired stouts and a host of new breakfast stouts.
Speaking of breakfast, Deep's resident food truck, The Slide Hustle, will have their regular offering of gourmet sliders and Cuban sandwiches Friday and Sunday, but Saturday they will add a special breakfast menu for patrons to pair with Deep's breakfast stouts. Sweet-tea brined chicken and waffles, biscuit and gravy flights, Eggs Benedict with local Register's smoked sausage, and made-to-order avocado toast are the one-day-only items being added to the menu.
With the Tallahassee Brew Bus (which we own and operate) still grounded due to the pandemic (but returning soon), our friends at Southern Fields Brewing can't wait on us to get people out to their gorgeous new brewery in Campbellton, which is roughly 80 miles West of Tallahassee. So they have chartered bus trips a couple of times from Tallahassee out to their spot, and they have another one planned for Saturday, March 27.
This time it's in cooperation with the TLH Ladies That Beer — our sister craft beer group focused on the women who enjoy our craft beer scene.
The tickets are $20 each and pandemic protocols have been put in place to ensure everyone's safety.
Danny Aller is the co-founder, along with Matthew Crumbaker, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/deep-brews-ode-to-magnetic-capital-of-the-world2021-02-25T13:30:00-05:002021-07-23T13:01:41-04:00Deep brews ode to Magnetic Capital of the WorldMatthew Crumbaker"The best sequels throughout time keep what you really like about the first thing, but they aren't afraid to do their own thing for the next season and kind of grow, in a way." — Joe Keery
While many eagerly await Joe reprising his role as Steve Harrington in the new season of "Stranger Things," Tallahassee has a fantastic science-inspired sequel of its own releasing this Saturday atDeep Brewing Company.
The beer, Electromagnetic Bitter — affectionately called EMB — is back! And version 2.0 promises to maintain beloved elements of last year's release while adding a few new wrinkles to the mix, starting with the beer itself.
Deep owner/brewer Ryan LaPete explains, "I feel like we got pretty dang close to the beer we were going for last year. But this year, we softened the water profile just a smidge to bring the perception of bitterness down a bit. Additionally, we changed our hopping from simply East Kent Goldings, the best hop we could've started with, and added to its floral/honeysuckle notes some Fuggle hops — a little more herbal tone. Tried to make that hopping aroma just a little more complex, but very minor tweaks."
We can confirm this year's brew takes nothing away from last year's great recipe; instead, it adds subtle layers of complexity.
This year's release also sees the Office of Economic Vitality's (OEV) return and their promotion of Tallahassee as "The Magnetic Capital of The World" — the idea central to nearly every aspect of this release. You see, EMB's style, name, and can label are an ode to Tallahassee's historic contributions to magnetic field research in physics, biology, bioengineering, chemistry, and other sciences.
Kevin Gehrke of OEV explains, "The whole concept around [Electromagnetic Bitter], and relating it to the Magnetic Capital of The World, is that term 'bitter.' The most famous of the bitter plates, the technology central to the electromagnets, was invented here."
Year one of Electromagnetic gave us spectacular weather, a fantastic day of open houses and hands-on demonstrations at the Industrial Park, the perfect pour in the perfect glass, and quite possibly the best after-party in science history.
So how do the Office of Economic Vitality and Deep plan on topping that? To start, they've invited a few more collaborators from the capital city — Divvy Up Socks, The Slide Hustle, and Target Print and Mail, to name a few.
They’re teaming up to raffle off swag bags to 100 event attendees. Divvy Up, a Tallahassee company producing custom socks, has printed a few extra special items to be inserted in the bags.Slide Hustle, the resident food truck at Deep, has put together a specialty menu of London/English-inspired items. The first 100 people to purchase EMB will receive a voucher for a free slider. Toss in some trivia and raffles emceed by OEV to keep the "Magnetic Capital of The World" conversation going, and we're talking game raising!
The underscoring of the power of collaboration is one of our favorite aspects of this beer and event. We think OEV's Gehrke highlighted it perfectly in an interview on our upcoming episode of The Saturday Morning Bottlehsare, "with the Mag Lab, Danfoss Turbocor, the superconductor lab.
With all of the research done around magnetics. With other community partners. It made sense to join our concept with the growing and thriving beer scene. Tallahassee's thriving beer society." We couldn't agree more. And with Danfoss Turbocor's recent announcement of massive expansion in Tallahassee our beer society should only continue to grow.
Those looking to attend the free event at Deep's 2524 Cathay Court #2 brewery will be treated to an ordering system and service honed throughout the COVID epidemic.
Deep has implemented and practiced their safety protocols through numerous popular events since late August — including CANiversary (their anniversary celebration), Tanksgiving, Christmas, and most recently, Gallontines Day.
However, the brewery continues to cater to those less inclined to attend events in person through website ordering and curbside service. Folks wanting to take the party back to the house may order beer, food, and the EMB branded nonic pint glass for this event athttps://pickup.deepbrewing.com/.
LaPete assures us that there are plenty of cans of Electromagnetic Bitter to go around, but did also drop this nugget on us. Those missing opening day Saturday might see a few kegs of EMB at their favorite watering hole.
More beer, more collaboration, and beer-to-go. Bigger. Better. Baller.
Now THAT's how a sequel is done!
Matthew Crumbaker, along with Danny Aller, is the co-founder, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/something-magical-about-beer-meet-four-women-at-work-in-tallahassees-craft-breweries2021-02-24T14:00:00-05:002021-07-23T13:52:37-04:00'Something magical about beer': Meet four women at work in Tallahassee's craft breweriesDanny Aller
It's no secret that the craft beer industry is a male-dominated business. However, this week, it's all about the ladies — of craft beer, that is!
Women play a crucial role in the Tallahassee craft beer industry. From canning the beer, to overseeing the tap rooms, to marketing, to sales, these women will do whatever needs to be done to help their brands succeed.
These important women in the Tallahassee craft beer community have created a high standard for hard work and dedication producing award-winning beer.
And while we would be remiss to not mention the impact of Tallahassee's dedicated female craft beer group —The TLH Ladies That Beer, who will be the focus of an entirely different column soon — this week's story is taking a closer look at some of the women both in front and behind the scenes of Tallahassee beer.
Marsha LaPete keeps distribution wheels turning at Deep Brewing
Marsha LaPete: Head of Greater Depths Distribution atDeep Brewing
Time in role:3 years.
How did you get into craft beer? When we lived in Miami, (my husband and Deep Brewing owner) Ryan (LaPete) had come off of commercial diving in the keys, at the time craft beer was exploding down there. Ryan won some early awards on beers he had brewed at home, so we made the decision that that would be his next career step.
When we moved to Tallahassee we felt that this area would be supportive of that endeavor. When we started, I was playing a support role for him while he was starting the brewery itself. I was always doing the back of house things with keg logistics and accounting, which is my background.
So while he was brewing, I was doing all the other things to make sure we were compliant. Then we started looking at distribution companies. We thought it wasn’t a good idea to get on a truck from a marketing perspective because those distributors weren’t actively promoting certain brands and they were having product go bad in their warehouse. So, we decided to open the distributorship where me and Ryan’s brother (Blair) are partners.
Describe your duties at Deep: I do whatever is needed at the distribution company. At first it was just Blair and I, so we split the roles. In the beginning both of us were doing deliveries, accounting, keg logistics, marketing the beer really anything that needed to be done to get the beer into the market.
Over time as we grew we added folks onto our team that could do the day to day deliveries. Then Blair and I stepped more into the marketing role. While I have also always maintained the back of house, keg logistics, and accounting to make sure we were in compliance.
How many women does Deep employ?There is about a 50/50 mix of males and females employed.
What is it like being a woman in a male-dominated industry? I’m a civil engineer by training, I went to Georgia Tech, which is kind of a male-dominated college. I was going into construction, which is a male-dominated industry and then when I got out of college, I was recruited into the big 4 accounting world, which again is a male-dominated industry.
My background has been significantly one-sided in that respect — the industries I chose to go into for my career had that component. I was comfortable working in that environment. Then moving into the craft beer industry, it is significantly less cumbersome to operate in as a woman than it was in other industries.
I know traditionally craft beer has been pitched as this male-dominated industry, but I think there’s a misconception in this industry: that women don’t have a vital role, which is simply not true. We have significant roles in this industry, you’ll find with myself and Angela (Burroughs, co-owner at Proof Brewing) that we are leaders in this community.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/new-t-shirt-shows-the-love-for-tallahassee-craft-beer2021-01-28T13:00:00-05:002021-07-23T12:58:34-04:00New T-shirt shows the love for Tallahassee craft beerDanny Aller
In perhaps the most famous scene from the movie "The Wizard of Oz," the heroine Dorothy wants to leave Oz and return to her family in Kansas, and she's told by her Fairy Godmother to click the heels of her shoes three times and repeat one sentence over and over again:
"There's no place home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home."
And here at the Tallahassee Beer Society, we're feeling that now more than ever these days.
Because if there IS one thing we've learned over the last year during the pandemic, it's that there truly is no place like the safety and comfort of your home.
The 2020 coronavirus crisis — which sadly continues into 2021 — has made many of us appreciate and rediscover our homes like never before. We're staying in more, venturing out less, and spending far fewer days, hours and minutes at our local breweries than we did just a short time ago.
The loss of that traffic is a massive hit for these breweries' bottom lines, no doubt. After all, a huge chunk of their profits are derived from tasting room sales. Yet, here in Tallahassee, our core four breweries — Proof, Lake Tribe, Deep and Ology —have not only seemingly weathered the storm as they slowly and carefully ease back into normal operations, they've adapted on the fly as well as (dare we say) ANY city in the state?
And the reason we feel that way is simple. Throughout this global pandemic, Tallahasseeans have blindly and loyally continued to do one thing: "Drink Tallahassee Beer."
"Drink Tallahassee Beer" — a statement so simple and yet one we, and a lot of you, know to be profound. And sure, "Drink Tallahassee Beer" is about supporting our local brewers and the award-winning beer they produce, but through these breweries flows so much more. Love for locally brewed craft beer is a community WITHIN a community — and the growing of that community is one of the reasons we started the Tallahassee Beer Society 3 1/2 years ago.
And now we have a way for everyone who loves their hometown craft beer scene here in Tallahassee to show that pride whenever they want.
"Drink Tallahassee Beer" T-shirts and hoodies, which are available in 7 different colors — Royal Blue, Hunter Green, Black, Off-White, Pink, Garnet & Gold (for our FSU fans) and Green & Orange (for our FAMU fans) — are now on sale for $20 atMadisonSocial.com/Beer-Societyuntil Feb. 15. But here's the best part: This isn't about us making a buck — this is once again a fundraiser. And proceeds from every shirt and sweatshirt purchased is going to benefit another local charity.
We say "another" because just two weeks ago we wrote about wrapping up afundraiser for Elder Care Servicesthat saw us team with Proof and Ology and donate over $1,000 in hand sanitizer to ECS and their caregivers. Well, this time we've chosen local Tallahassee nonprofit "Lee's Place" (LeesPlace.org) as our benefactor, and the cause is an important one, especially in trying times such as these.
Lee's Place was founded in 2000 by local Dr. Brenda Rabalais in memory of her son Lee Rabalais, who died at the age of 14 from bone cancer. As a result of this tragedy, Dr. Rabalais opened Lee’s Place to address the broad spectrum of grief, loss, and trauma. Examples include; divorce, abandonment (foster care, adoption, service families), abuse, suicide, homicide, crime, loss of functionality, loss of home or job, long-term illnesses, other life transitions, as well as death.
Following that life changing experience the idea and passion to honor Lee and to help others in our community was born. Already a therapist, Dr. Rabalais created a center where people can receive quality, licensed, therapeutic services in a warm and nurturing environment. Dr. Rabalais’ vision was always that financial circumstances not be a barrier to receiving quality, licensed therapy for any type of loss.
It's a cause we're happy to support, and we can't thank our friends at Madison Social enough for introducing us to Lee's Place and helping with this fundraiser. But our connection to Lee's Place doesn't end there — TLHBS co-founder Matthew Crumbaker actually went to elementary school with Lee in Tallahassee many moons ago, so this one is special for us and we hope we can make it one of the biggest fundraisers we've ever done.
And special shoutout to Tallahassee's Burke Buchanan at locally owned Vernon Promotions and Graphics for hooking us up with these snazzy "Drink Tallahassee Beer" shirts. Burke and Vernon are even doing their part to help by donating dozens of shirts to be sold in the fundraiser. Can't thank them enough.
When the coronavirus began spreading around the nation in March 2020 and small businesses, like craft breweries were forced to shut down, there was aprediction by the Brewers Association of Americathat when the dust settled, 60% of the United States' craft breweries would close.
If that prediction was to be believed, that means we would've lost two of our four breweries in Tallahassee — at minimum. Instead, we lost none, and all four are back open — thriving and ready to put 2020 in their rear view and come back better and stronger than ever in 2021.
And that's because of you — loyal Tallahassee craft beer drinkers — who supported our breweries through to-go sales, gift cards and merchandise purchases for months and months when they were at their lowest.
This is a great time for #TLHBeer to get back on people's minds through supporting charity after we've had so many cancelled events over the last year. And we now hope you'll take that support one step further and show your pride for Tallahassee beer by grabbing a shirt or hoodie — or two or three.
Thanks, everyone. And cheers to Tallahassee beer!
Danny Aller is the co-founder, along with Matthew Crumbaker, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/beer-society-proof-and-ology-team-up-to-help-elder-care2021-01-14T13:30:00-05:002021-07-25T22:18:54-04:00Beer Society, Proof and Ology team up to help Elder CareDanny Aller
We have a motto here at the Tallahassee Beer Society:
"Drink Beer. Do good."
And we stayed true to that recently by donating over $1,000 worth of hand sanitizer on Dec. 23 — with the help of our friends at Proof Brewing Company and Ology Brewing Company — to our friends at Elder Care Services, Inc.
Just in time for Christmas!
We hope it went a long way to helping countless local caregivers of vulnerable seniors in our community.
But first, a lil' back story on how this collaboration happened as a result of the pandemic.
One of the TLHBS' year-round goals is to, of course, promote and raise the visibility of our area craft beer scene, while another goal is to use that platform to give back when we can. So we started holdingcharity bottle shares 2 years ago— which we've written about several times — and have since raised almost $30,000 for local nonprofits.
But then, obviously, the coronavirus pandemic happened.
When the world started imploding around mid-March, we actually had a charity bottle share at Deep Brewing — benefiting the Down Syndrome Association of Tallahassee — scheduled for 2 weeks after the first cases started to crop up around Florida.
That bottle share obviously never took place.
We postponed it at first, then eventually canceled it as it became apparent large gatherings could be the worst possible thing we should be doing at that time.
Months went by with no end in sight. In fact, as the days and weeks dragged on, it became even MORE unsafe to be in large crowds as cases spiked. And just like that, we lost our charity outlet.
And when Burke told us he could hook us up with a great deal on TLH Beer Society pint glasses and masks, we thought: "Ok then, here is our shot to give back."
So we sold over 100 black & white TLH Beer Society-logo'd masks and the same number of pint glasses, and donated all proceeds to Elder Care, whose huge Oktoberfest fundraiser — their biggest of every year — was canceled in October. But rather than write the traditional check, we made the donation in the form of hand sanitizer, which was purchased from our two local breweries that have been producing them: Ology and Proof.
A true win-win for everyone involved. Here's why:
In fact, the announcement on our next fundraiser is coming soon. Be sure to follow us on social media at Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram so you don't miss what we come up with next!
Proof moves in new direction with restaurant
When Proof moved to its new location two years ago, a new restaurant concept debuted at the same time within the brewery, Proper Brew Pub at Proof, which was owned by the same local restaurant group that started Canopy Roads Cafe.
But as of this week, the two entities have parted ways.
Both Proof and Proper announced the split in different social media posts, with Proof adding in their post that they are now taking over the kitchen and will be opening a new concept in-house in early February.
TLH Beer Society members snagged some cool swag and contributed to a great cause
We found a way to raise money for charity during a really challenging time for everyone
Proof and Ology sold a LOT of sanitizer
And Elder Care was the ultimate winner by receiving a ton of product that is in high demand, but still in short supply
Then, believe it or not, things actually got better.
When we knew what we had to spend following the fundraiser, we asked both breweries if they would match our donation. And guess what? They said yes.
We truly can't thank Proof and Ology enough. Such an amazing gesture.
Also, we must take a second to say "Thank you!" to all who bought glasses or masks - we appreciate you so much! We were able to raise as much as we did because of you. And until it's safe to hold our charity bottle shares again, look for more initiatives like this.
"Hey, Tallahassee! The tasting room is open this weekend as usual, but we have an exciting update to share with the new year!" Proof wrote late last week on Facebook. "We're opening up a brand-new, on-site brewpub! So there will not be any food available on-site this weekend. Details to come, so be sure to check back soon! Thank you for your understanding and support. We have an exciting year planned ahead and we can't wait to share all the news shortly."
We are sad to see Proper go — those bratwurst potstickers and cheese curds were terrific, among other menu items — but we are also excited for what Proof is planning. Stay tuned.
Deep's double-gold medal-winning IPA returns this weekend
Deep Brewing's two-time Best Florida Beer gold medal winner, "REEFraction Double Red IPA," is returning to cans and on tap this weekend. And if you miss out, you're gonna regret it.
This beer has made a huge splash on the Florida craft beer scene since it was first brewed 3 years ago. It won gold the first time it was ever submitted, then bronze a year later and then returned to gold again in 2020. It's a dark, rich, hop-bomb that usually clocks in around 9%, but drinks like a smooth 6%.
Deep will release cans Saturday when they open at noon and the stationary food truck on site, The Slide Hustle, will be debuting a new burger slider with REEFraction as part of the recipe.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/oyster-city-strikes-gold-twice-at-u-s-open-beer-championships2020-12-10T14:30:00-05:002021-07-23T14:03:50-04:00Oyster City strikes gold twice at U.S. Open Beer ChampionshipsDanny Aller
As we sat down to write this week's Around The Brew Bend column — which is coming up on almost 3 years of covering all corners of the craft beer scene in North Florida and South Georgia — it occurred to us that in the nearly 100 articles we've written during that span, we've had never had the pleasure of writing about one of our breweries winning a gold medal in the U.S. Open Beer Championships.
Well, all that changes today.
Put your collective digital hands together for our friends atOyster City Brewing Companyin beloved Apalachicola — a favorite getaway place and home away from home for many of us here in Tallahassee — because it was announced this past weekend that OCBC won not one, but TWO gold medals in the 2020 U.S. Open Beer Championships!
OCBC's Mangrove Pale Ale, which is a sweet ale fruited with mango that clocks in at 8.2% ABV, won gold in the American Fruit Beer category. And Millpond Dirty Blonde, one of the original three beers Oyster City brewed when it first opened its taps in 2014, also took home gold in the Golden or Blonde Ale division.
Yes, the U.S. Open Beer Championships is as big of a deal as it sound; it's the Granddaddy of American beer competitions. And yes, there is an enormous field of breweries to compete against. And yes, this is arguably the CROWNING achievement of Oyster City Brewing Company in its six years of existence.
But don't just take our word for it. We'll let Clayton Mathis, longtime head brewer and GM, tell you how these wins felt.
"I was excited when I got a call from Cassie Gary (one of the original founders) about 6:10 pm on Sunday (right after it was announced). We laughed, screamed, and shared congratulations. Then we spread the word through some phone calls and text messages. We were all thrilled to win," said Clayton, who sent in eight different beers to the competition — the max allowed per brewery.
"We’ve won a silver medal for Hooter Brown in the honey beer category at the U.S. Open, and another in the Imperial Brown Ale category. And we also won a silver medal for Red Right Return Amber Ale in the Amber/Red Ale category. But never a gold -- two golds was special.
"We enter 4 events most years: The Great American Beer Festival, Best Florida Beer Champions, the World Beer Cup, and the US Open Beer Championship. The US Open is definitely kind of the Super Bowl, though. With so many entries, and it being the competition we won our first award, it will always hold a special place for us."
Hooter Brown Ale, which is Oyster City's best-selling beer throughout its Southeast markets, didn't take home anything from the U.S. Open this year, but it's been awarded two silvers in the past at this event and is coming off a gold-medal win earlier this year at the Best Florida Beer Championships in Tampa.
We've often (half) joked with Clayton that Mangrove — which is a personal favorite of theTallahassee Beer Society(and many other craft beer fans we know) — would one day surpass Hooter Brown both in sales and popularity. That's just how great a beer it is. So when we told him this gold medal felt like validation for US, all he could do was laugh.
Perhaps the most rewarding thing about winning a gold medal for Mangrove Pale Ale is that it was a "happy accident," mistake beer you hear breweries talk about making sometimes. The way Clayton tells it, the Oyster City brew crew went to make a batch of First Light of Day Blonde Ale back in 2014 and accidentally doubled the grain bill.
Unsure what to do with what they'd created, the mad scientists at OCBC tossed a little fresh mango in the tank, some sugar, some love and some magic — and Mangrove Pale Ale was born.
To further delve into what an enigma this beer is, you rarely see a pale ale over 6% ABV, and Mangrove somehow clocks in at 8.2% — basically making it an IMPERIAL Pale Ale (which really isn't "a thing" except for here in North Florida!). Yet it drinks like a 5% hoppy fruit bomb.
We'll never forget the look on the face of Cigar City founder Joey Redner when he joined us on our ESPN 97.9 FM Radio show last year and we opened a Mangrove for him to try. His eyebrows raised as he picked up the can and looked it over.
We'll paraphrase the conversation that followed:
Joey: "Wait, so what is this?"
Us: "It's Mangrove Pale Ale — an imperial pale ale with mango from Oyster City down in Apalachicola, about 80 miles Southwest of Tallahassee on the Forgotten Coast."
Joey: "And what's the ABV again?"
Us: *laughing* "8.2% -- but wait until you taste it."
Joey: *tastes it* "Wow ... OK."
Dirty Blonde, meanwhile, has its own cool backstory. It was not only one of the first three beers Oyster City tapped when it opened in 2014 — along with Hooter Brown and Apalach IPA — but it was also one of the first beers distributed on taps around North Florida when Oyster City signed with Tri-Eagle Distribution that same year.
"It’s such a great beer!" Clayton gushed about OCBC's Dirty Blonde, which is now one of five beers that Oyster City offers in cans (with Mangrove being another) and sells in grocery and package stores across the Southeast. "This is the beer we sell most in our tasting room, and we are thrilled to see it win its first medal in one of the Big 4. The blonde/golden ale category is crowded, so we are extremely proud."
And we're dang proud too.
When we started the Tallahassee Beer Society in July 2017, there were five thriving breweries in Tallahassee, none in South Georgia and none to the immediate East or West. But then there was Oyster City, two counties over and an hour and a half away —yet they were long-established and already making award-winning beer.
It posed a minor geographic dilemma for us at first, but quickly we realized we were the "Tallahassee" Beer Society only in name and primary focus — since Tallahassee was our home. And we decided early on that if you were a brewery anywhere within a short drive from us, you belonged in the TLHBS Family. And adding Oyster City remains one of the best decisions we've ever made.
In addition to Oyster City being an all-star member of the TLHBS, it laid the foundation to cover an additional five breweries over the next three years as they slowly opened in and around the Tallahassee area: Halpatter Brewing (Lake City, Opened 2017), Eastpoint Beer Company (Eastpoint, 2018), Georgia Beer Company (Valdosta, Ga., 2019), Southern Philosophy Brewing (Bainbrdge, Ga., 2019), and Southern Fields Brewing (Campbellton, 2020).
In short: It's been a heck of a ride for our craft beer scene over the last three years —highlighted by moments like Oyster City's double gold medals in the U.S. Open Beer Championships — and we feel grateful to be here every step of the way.
Congrats once again, OCBC! Well-deserved awards — and here's to many more!
Danny Aller is the co-founder, along with Matthew Crumbaker, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/dear-beer-thank-you-for-getting-us-through-in-2020-cheers2020-11-25T14:30:00-05:002021-07-23T14:27:47-04:00Dear Beer, Thank you for getting us through in 2020; cheers!Matthew Crumbaker
In this hellacious year of 2020, something has become apparent to us — a steady supply of beer and positivity is never a bad thing. With that in mind, and this being the season for giving thanks, we decided to pump a little positivity and praise the things we enjoy most about — well — beer.
A toast to water, hops, barley, and yeast! You really are the best. Thank you, German beer purity laws, you did a heckuva job getting brewers in line, and thanks to the rule-breakers who paint outside them.
Three cheers for boat beers, beach beers, beers at the turn, beers in the bleachers, or beers in a box blind! Beer cart, you're the only golfing buddy that can make shooting a 103 (OK, 112) seem not-so-bad.
Hey, beer man! I promise nobody rocks the arena/concert/stadium crowd like you. We'll never take you for granted again. Also, since you're here, we'll take two local beers, and you keep the change.
Bar none, beer runs are the best runs. Thank you, Danny Aller, for epic beer runs — and the society faithful that mule case upon case of beer.
No thanks to the beer mile. Runners, you took that beer run thing too literally; you're out here making us couch can-crushers look bad.
Thank you for celebratory beers, the occasional somber brew, and contemplative cold ones. You're all timely and essential in your own way.
Respect to those beers brewed for a cause; you've reminded us of our "Resilience," that we're "All Together," and that "Black is Beautiful," giving so much to so many. The brewers/breweries producing those open-source recipes: Sierra Nevada, Other Half, and Weathered Souls, respectively — a standing ovation.
To light beers, dark beers, macros (hey, it happens) and micros, the beers that "taste like a beer," and the beer that tastes like biscotti, toasted coconut, maple, Mexican Cake —with notes of bourbon barrel — you are all appreciated here.
Kudos glassware! Steins, stanges, snifters, tekus, pints, and even the red solo cup: thank you for reminding us that beauty and beer come in all shapes and sizes. To the "get there early" exclusive bottle drops and the "come as you are" all-inclusive tasting rooms, you're where the fun is at!
Barrels, kegs, growlers, crowlers, cans, and bottles, what would we do without you? Seriously. With a can shortage looming, we really don't want to have to find out. A special thanks to "tall boy" cans for always giving us 125% — 16 ounces of maximum effort. 12-ounce cans, we still love ya.
Let's hear it for bottle shops, bottle swaps, bottle shares, and beer razzle. OK, maybe not you, razzles — ya beer budget destroying games of chance! Octoberfests, beer fests, and festbiers — we miss ya, but we'll see you soon!
Brewers, distributors (especially our locals Tri-Eagle and Greater Depths), servers, sellers, and cellarmen/women, there is no brew without you, and that is not a world we want to be in. Keep doing what you do. In the words of DJ Khaled, "You the best!"
"To the old school joint, Leon Pub, y'all primed Tallahassee's craft beer pumps before it was fashionable...a well-deserved tip of the hat."
Speaking of pioneers, how about the trailblazers opening breweries in places long forgotten like Albany, Apalachicola, Bainbridge, Campbellton, Eastpoint, Lake City, Panama City (not the beach, the city), and now Sopchoppy. Thank you for extending the footprint of craft beer.
We're always thankful for our Fantastic 4/5 Breweries: Proof, GrassLands (formerly), Lake Tribe, Deep, and Ology, for taking the risk and setting up shop here. For serving notice to the other hubs in Florida — and probably more than a few locals too — that great independent beer can be made here. Talent lives here, and with a thriving brewery scene, talent is more likely to stay here. Tallahassee thanks you.
Finally, thanks to you! Our column readers, Saturday Morning Bottleshare listeners, social media followers, our Beer Society members. Thank you for always drinking local, supporting local, and most importantly, sharing local! It's y'all's love for independent beer that allows us all to do what we do. Cheers!
TanksGiving feast on tap
A Tallahassee tradition unlike any other, Deep Brewing Company is rolling out their annual TanksGiving/Black RyeDay ode to leftovers. Rather than scrounging through your fridge to assemble that ultimate leftover sandwich, Deep invites you to try their lineup of beers inspired by the familiar flavors of Turkey Day, with 4 beers flowing at noon this Friday.
Black RyeDay-Dark Rye Ale.If you love rye bread, which we do, do not miss this beer.
TanksGiving - Cranberry & Blood Orange Gose
Maple Pecan Brown- Deep's Southern English Brown has been awarded two "Best Florida Beer" silver medals; amp up the nuttiness with some toasted pecan and round it out with some sweet maple syrup, and you've got the best pecan pie in a pint.
Yamn Good- Sweet potato strong ale with brown sugar, cinnamon, and marshmallow.
If you're not ready to hit tasting rooms quite yet, mixed 4-packs of the specialty beers will be sold online at pickup.deepbrewing.com and can be picked up curbside at the brewery located at 2524 Cathay Ct #2.
Flannel + Friday = Fantastic
Flannel Fridays at Lake Tribe are real, and they're are spectacular! This week they take things up another notch by releasing some awesome — can confirm, we have seen photos — flannel bandanas for our furry friends. Pull up a spot on the patio and enjoy Lake Tribe's latest beer, a lavender tea-infused IPA, with your dapper dog or warm up around the firepits at the brewery's 3357 Garber Drive #4 location.
What is Pain? French bread
Yes, the French word for bread is pain. Why is that relevant? Because Ology Brewing Company has collaborated with Tampa's Hidden Springs Ale Works to produce two barrel-aged odes to pain perdu (Lost Bread), a.k.a. French Toast. The stouts, aged on a blend of Old Fitzgerald and Willet Rye barrels, are adjuncted with the familiar flavors of cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup. Half of the Lost Pain batch also got some additional all-star treatment with a dose of Lucky Goat coffee beans!
Additionally, Ology will release the latest in their "Dynamic Fermentum" Barrel-aged American Sour bottles, this one offering a unique take on the mixed culture beer. Rather than fruiting this particular iteration of the mixed culture sour, a blend of Brettanomyces Claussenii (Brett C) and Brett Drie were used. The brewery's Facebook description notes deep oak flavors of vanilla and spice (makes sense with 18 months in a barrel) as well as ripe stone fruit, tropical juice, and "leathery horse blanket" for this deliciously unique and funky brew. All bottles go on sale Black Friday at 8 a.m. and can be purchased at curbside.ologybrewing.com with curbside pickup at Midtown and Powermill locations and — if still available — on sale when doors open in the tasting rooms at 2 p.m.
Free beer
Did I get your attention? The gift of beer is fantastic no matter the time of year, but Proof Brewing Company is currently sweetening the pot with a deal on gift cards. Purchase $100 worth of cards, and you'll receive an extra $15 gift card free. Those looking to score beer today are also in luck with Proof throwing in a free crowler of La La Land with the purchase of any two crowlers. The promo is good for curbside pickup or on-site at 1320 South Monroe Street and runs through Nov. 30. Free beer is truly unconquered!
Matthew Crumbaker is the co-founder, along with Danny Aller, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/proof-puts-tallahassee-beer-on-the-international-map2020-11-14T19:30:00-05:002021-07-25T19:32:26-04:00Proof puts Tallahassee beer on the international mapDanny Aller
We're all about "firsts" here at the Tallahassee Beer Society.
With a craft beer scene that's still young and growing — but quickly gaining recognition across the state and the country — we like to highlight when one of our local breweries is the first in our area to do something cool.
And this week, that honor belongs to Proof Brewing Company.
Not only was Proof the first independent craft brewery to open in Tallahassee in 2012, but they were the first to start distributing and the first to put their beer in cans.
And last year, they became the first Tallahassee craft brewery to ever pour their beer overseas when they scored a coveted invite to the "Founders Madrid Beer and Music Festival" in Spain, where they featured — most notably — their award-winning Blue Raspberry Evil Kiss Berliner Weisse that drove the crowd wild. (You don't see a lot of blue beers in Spain, after all!)
Fast forward to this year, and Proof was country-hopping again last week when co-owner Byron Burroughs and head brewer David Kant-Rauch were summoned to the "All In Beer Fest" in Gothenburg, Sweden, for the first time. To give you an idea of how BIG a deal this was, Proof was one of just five American breweries invited to pour — and just one of two invited from Florida. (Shoutout to Miami's J Wakefield Brewing, which was the other).
And Proof didn't just bring one or two beers for the Swedes to sip on — they brought the arsenal. Take a look at all the Tallahassee fire they had on center stage for the world to taste:
• Coconut Brandy Barrel-Aged Royal Bloodline Imperial Stout
• Chocolate Vanilla Brandy Barrel-Aged Royal Bloodline Imperial Stout
• Coffee Bourbon Barrel-Aged Royal Bloodline Imperial Stout
• Coconut Raspberry Lime Evil Kiss Berliner Weisse
• Citra Fresh Hop Sundrop IPA
• Kalani Tiki-Style Berliner Weisse
Impressive, right?
But to take this accomplishment a step further, while at the festival Proof received an incredible reception from attendees. They were rated as one of the Top 3 breweries overall, according to Untappd check-ins, and Proof's barrel-aged stouts were some of the highest-ranking individual beers poured at the festival. In fact, after Day 1 of the two-day event, their Chocolate Vanilla Brandy Barrel-Aged Royal Bloodline Imperial Stout was No. 1 beer checked in on Untappd on the first day.
So how's it feel to have beer from little ol' Tallahassee, Florida, shine so bright at an international beer festival? We asked Burroughs and Kant-Rauch that very question this week, and here's what they told us:
"It was an honor to be invited to such a high-profile international festival, pouring among so much world class beer and talented brewery friends," Burroughs said. "There was such an appreciation for the bold and flavorful beers by the attendees. We can’t wait to return to the beautiful city of Gothenburg and continue to share our Tallahassee beer around the world and grow our brand internationally."
Added Kant-Rauch, who has been with Proof since they first opened: "This was my first time pouring overseas and it was such a humbling experience to have our beer be so well received at a global level. The Swedish beer community was so welcoming. Everyone really loved our Coconut Brandy Barrel-aged Royal Bloodline Imperial Stout, and I look forward to sharing more of our beer internationally."
But Proof's not done across the pond just yet.
On Dec. 7, the Proof crew heads back to Spain for theNaparbier 10th Anniversary Festival— and Proof was just one of 12 breweries (national or international) that was invited! Wow.
Although, the accolades for Proof don't end there.
Back home in the U.S., Proof recently found out it received an "Honorable Mention" on the newly releasedPaste Magazine"Top 50 breweries Of The Decade." Proof wasn't officially ranked in the top 50, but they were one of a handful of American breweries who earned the honorable mention nod.
"Overall, that's still cool to be a mentioned among such great breweries and company when you think of it as a scale of over 7500-plus breweries in the U.S. right now," Proof Sales & Events Director Bryan Smith told us.
It's so awesome to see one of our local breweries getting this much attention. In fact, that takes the locally famous #TallahasseeProud hashtag to a whole other level, if you ask us!
Keep up the great work, Proof!
Deep's cans award-winning brown ale
Over at Deep Brewing on Saturday, they're releasing their award-winning"Jack Browne" brown ale, which earned a silver medal in the Best Florida Beer Championships earlier this year. Jack Browne is a medium-strength ale that was inspired by a nearly forgotten style and boasts notes of toasted pumpernickel with hints of cacao and roasted nuts.
This beer, which became a core beer at Deep after its BFBC medal win in Tampa, comes out just in time for the dropping temps. So make sure to pick some up this weekend!
Tally Brew Bus headed to Gainesville for FSU vs. UF game
Ever since we helped take over the Tallahassee Brew Bus, it's humming along with several trips planned between now and the end of the year (TallahasseeBrewBus.com), but most notably it's headed to Gainesville for the second time in 2 months on Nov. 30th.
That's when the Brew Bus will take a group down to Hog Town for the Florida State vs. Florida annual rivalry football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium -- plusstop at two breweriesalong the way!
The plan is to hit First Magnitude Brewing, which the Bus visited back in September for its 5th Year Anniversary, and then hop over to Blackadder Brewing. After both stops, the Brew Bus will drop riders off at the front of the stadium for the game and then pick them back up to head home after,
As of press time of this column, there were just six seats left for that trip, so don't delay booking if you want a safe, fun ride to the game. You can buy seats at Madison Social's website -- MadisonSocial.com/GearEvents -- and every seat booked online comes with a coupon for MadSo's BLT Dip for free!
Hope to see you on board!
Danny Aller is the co-founder of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or email tlhbeersociety@gmail.com.
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https://www.tlhbeers.com/blogs/news/eastpoint-beer-company-makes-upgrades-during-down-time2020-11-12T14:30:00-05:002021-07-23T14:15:49-04:00Eastpoint Beer Company makes upgrades during down timeDanny Aller
In December 2018, a group of some of the Tallahassee Beer Society's most loyal supporters got a chance to take the Tallahassee Brew Bus down to the Grand (soft) Opening of Eastpoint Beer Company, at 374 U.S. Highway 98 just before the bridge to St. George Island.
What we found was a brewery in its infancy — but one with loads of potential.
Fast forward almost two years later, and the same EBC that once had a half-dozen tap handles — and about the same number of tables — has grown up immensely right before our eyes.
After shutting down early on in the pandemic in March, Eastpoint Beer Company owner Josh Parker decided instead of trying to sell a growler to-go here and a growler to-go there, he would use the down time to perform a reset on the brewery — almost from top to bottom.
"We'd basically been open 7 days a week since that night you all came down on the Brew Bus, so there really hadn't been any time to do much around the brewery but brew beer, sell it, rinse and repeat," Parker told us on our ESPN Radio show recently. "We're not a big operation, but there were some things I was able to look at while we were closed and find ways to run more efficiently and better utilize my space. And we also knew when we did finally open back up, our outdoor space and seating would be a priority."
So Parker — a former construction foreman for Disney who we've often referred to on social media as the "reincarnation of MacGyver" because of how resourceful he is — got to work, putting in countless hours to make significant upgrades to his small taproom that runs on a 2-barrel system.
The renovations began in the back of the house as he added new equipment (heat exchanger, pump system, hard-piping Co2) and rearranged his brewing area to maximize the space at the waterfront tap room. That included adding more cooler space and more taps (there are now 12) — and, yes, that now means more cold, locally brewed craft beer for consumers like you and us.
Then Parker turned his attention to the front of the house and outdoor area that overlooks the Gulf. When we showed up that night in December 2018, the back porch area was treacherous following Hurricane Michael, which hit Franklin County hard with flooding and actually delayed EBC's original opening two months from October 2018 to December.
There were large boulders you had to navigate to walk around, the deck had missing boards and the docks leading out to the water had been badly damaged by the storm.
So Parker spent time during the pandemic upgrading every aspect of the area we like to call "the Big Bend's only #BrewWithAView."
He leveled off the ground immediately outside the tasting room with a dump truck load of asphalt millings, then he added several tables and chairs, and enclosed it with a concrete wrap-around railing and bar top, complete with lights. He also added a large wooden bench that seats roughly 10-12 people and faces directly toward the water, and he moved one of the tasting room's big inside tables outside on the elevated deck so that a large group could sit together while still being socially distanced.
They also added a mini-shuffleboard table and dart board to the tasting room inside, plus cleared out an area for cornhole outside.
But wait — there's more!
During the last 8 months, Eastpoint only re-opened once (you know, during that period when the state said it was safe — then decided a few weeks later it wasn't and closed everyone down again? Right, that period.).
Anyway, when the second shutdown happened in late June and it became clear that breweries needed to add a food component so they could re-open as restaurants, Parker took his innovation to a whole new level.
Not only did he add food to Eastpoint Beer Company's offerings — something that was sorely needed anyway for a brewery in a town without a ton of food options — but he added a New York-style pizza food truck into the mix.
Sorry, did we say "food truck?" We meant "food boat."
True to EBC's beachy, nautical vibe, Parker renovated an old boat and turned it into a pizza kitchen, complete with a stone-fire pizza oven. So EBC not only has great, housemade craft beer, but it now also holds the distinction of serving the only thin-crust, New York-style pizza in all of Franklin County.
And thus far, "Vincenzio's Eastpoint Pizza Company" (more on that name in a minute) has been a GIGANTIC hit with everyone from locals to snowbirds.
"I really didn't do much advertising at all for it; I just kind of rolled it out and started serving pizza by the slice and large pies. And I wasn't even going to open it each day until 4 p.m.," he said. "But before I knew it, in the first week we already had people calling a half hour before we even opened at noon trying to order pizza, so I said, 'OK, well let's just open it up when we open and see how it does.' And so far, it's done great."
As for the beer itself?
Well, there has also been some work put in there too. Parker used his brief break to fine-tune all his current recipes — including his award-winning "Dark Overlord Coffee Imperial Stout" made with local Apalachicola Chocolate & Coffee Company beans — as well as added several new ones, including two new sours that are terrific (and we know that because we tried them both recently).
The strawberry cheesecake sour and blueberry sour that were recently added to the menu have been selling like crazy, as has the "Big Bender" — a delicious session IPA that properly denotes the brewery's geographic region.
All of this spells out one thing: Anyone who's reading this — whether you've been to Eastpoint Beer Company before or not — you need to make another trip down (or your first trip) soon. The weather is idyllic right now to sit out back, gaze across the ocean and soak in some Vitamin D.
Because a lot has changed in the last 8 months, and every single one of the upgrades has taken the 850's only waterfront brewery next-level.
And for those concerned about safety amid the pandemic, there is no mask mandate in Franklin County like there is Leon County, but Eastpoint Beer Company is an open-air facility from front to back, and guests are more than welcome to wear masks when entering and moving around the brewery. We personally observed this taking place among many of the guests during our recent visit.
So congrats to Josh Parker on all the exciting new things happening at EBC, including the birth of his first child during the middle of the pandemic. He and girlfriend Jenn Klingmann welcomed Vincenzio Indiana Parker into the world in early September, and the couple couldn't be happier.
And we here at the Tallahassee Beer Society couldn't be happier for them.
Danny Aller is the co-founder, along with Matthew Crumbaker, of the TLH Beer Society, a group of avid craft beer lovers. Reach the Beer Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or email: tlhbeersociety@gmail.com