Wick's Home Brew
One month ago you could have asked me if the craft beer movement in Mississippi was moving forward? One month ago I would have told you not yet, that a few Mississippians are working on it. I know I don’t do as much as I should for the craft beer movement here in my fine state, but I know the want to is there. Living in Starkville, one would think a booming college town would have an affinity for the craft beer movement. Wrong! Every time I go to places I asked them if they know about Raise Your Pints, and 95% of the time I get a no. What is it? So I then go into my spill about how at least 85 of the top 100 beers in the world is not allowed to be purchased in MS. That this organization has been built from the ground up, lobbying lawmakers to get the laws changed. They are working their tails off, giving up free time with their family and friends trying to make our state more attractable to visitors and other businesses.
Forward onto about two and a half weeks ago, our Governor proclaimed this past week July 23rd through July 31st as Mississippi Craft Beer Week. YES! Raise Your Pints has reached a major accomplishment. To have this proclamation put us in the minority of the states who actually dedicate a week (some even a month) to the craft beer movement. Great job guys, this is an awesome feat! Check it out at Mississippi Craft Beer Week.
Now forward onto this past Friday (July 30th). I stopped at a gas station to pick up a two-liter of cola for my girlfriend to have a mixed drink or two at a party we were going to. When I walked into Brewski’s (if you familiar with Starkville in any way, you about Brewski’s) I see a counter full of Rogue beers in bombers. WAIT! Did I see this right, bombers, bombers of craft beer. Yes sir, I scooped up a couple and I will enjoy them very soon. By the way, if you happen to be the manager of Brewski’s and you happen to read this, read up on Raise Your Pints, I’m coming to see you soon. I haven’t been to this establishment in quite some time, mainly because it’s more convenient to go to another beer store on my way home from work. But they have impressed me and impressed me enough to not go back to “that other store.” Awesome job.
Now the day is July 31st, Mississippi’s first ever big beer festival has come to our state capital. Featuring over 150 beers, 40 different booths, now that isn’t 40 different brewers, but it was just about all the beers available in Mississippi. Having been to a couple festivals this year, I decided to donate my time to the festival. So I was assigned to the Atlanta Brewing Company’s (ABC) booth. Having had a couple of their beers on my resume I was quite excited to be pouring their beers. After the volunteer meeting I go to my booth to find the regional representative, Patti. Talked over with her about all the beers they brought to the festival and I was getting more and more excited about this experience. She was awesome. I was glad she was there, she made the most of everything and sold their product quite well I must say. All the distributors loved her and she loved them. The craft beer industry is such an close knit kind, and maybe one day I can be apart of that. Back to ABC’s beer booth, the most popular beer that we served was the Laughing Skull Amber Ale. I didn’t get to try it at the festival, but I tried it at the bar later that evening and it was a good beer and I see why it was so popular. The next popular was the Blonde ale. If you are new to craft beer, this is the beer to try, light, crisp, refreshing. Good beer for a hot summer day. The next one was their summer brew. It is a hefewiezen which showcases the yeast in which they pitch into their beers. Very spicy, very good beer, nice body to it. Their flagship beer, the brown ale was also a good hit, I myself am a fan of that beer, but my favorite of them all is their pale ale. Which let me tell you the story about that beer. It is originally called Peachtree Pale Ale. Well, people who are familiar with Atlanta, probably do not know about Peachtree and probably will think hey that is a beer with peaches and it’s going to be a sweet beer. Well, sorry to disappoint, it’s not sweet, unless you think the grapefruit notes are sweet. It’s clean and refreshing and not too bitter. Of the 5 beers they have available in MS, this one is my favorite. I should have counted all of the people who thought the Peachtree Pale Ale was going to bring them a different flavor.
My only gripe about the festival were the people we came there just to get trashed. Spending $35 to $60 at a beer festival to get trashed is not fun in my book. I know having an event where alcohol is involved there are going to be people like this, but to come up to me and say just give me something, I don’t care, that takes away from what this festival is all about. Trying new beers that you haven’t had before, trying different styles to see what your palate likes, or even just trying different breweries beers that you haven’t heard of. Please don’t come because there is an abundance of beer available.
Top of the Hops beer fest was the absolute best ending of Mississippi Craft Beer week. But that isn’t the last event that MS will be having. The Snowden Beer Festival is happening this weekend (August 7th) in Southaven, MS. I am not able to attend this one, so hopefully I’ll hear great things on Twitter and Facebook about it.
All in all I believe deep down Beer Mississippi is heading upward. We will be successful on getting the 5% ABW cap lifted, we will be successful on legalizing home brewing. Hey, on the proclamation the Governor stated that home brewing was important to the craft beer movement. So all you Mississippians out there, join Raise Your Pints, talk to your bar owners and beer store managers, tell everyone, we need everyone’s support with this movement.
