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Owen Ogletree's Brewtopia Brewsletter
August 17, 2020
Owen is founder/editor of Brewtopia.info, columnist for Southern Brew News and Beer Connoisseur Magazine, lecturer at Knoxville's Brewing & Distilling Center, founder/director of the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting and Classic City Brew Fest, a BJCP National Beer Judge and Great American Beer Festival judge.
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Follow our craft beer adventures...
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- Athens Area Humane Society's Virtual Bark & Brew Beer Tasting
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As part of Athens Area Humane Society's campaign to move into a new and improved building to expand the good work the organization does for Athens' homeless pet population, the Athens Area Humane Society (AAHS) needs your support now more than ever. The organization is planning a virtual Bark & Brew take-home beer tasting and fundraiser!
 Ticket holders will pick up swag bags with an exciting collaboration six-pack from Athens, Georgia breweries on Saturday, September 12 at AAHS' new property at 1030 Mitchell Bridge Road. AAHS will roll out the event to the public around August 21 and begin ticket sales at that time. Tickets will go for only $20 each, and this price includes the collaboration six-pack, an AAHS branded bag, an AAHS branded koozie and some Athens brewery swag.
There should be an equal number of two different mixed six-packs available: a hoppy six-pack containing IPAs and Pale Ales and a lighter six-pack with styles such as wheat beers and sour selections. Six-packs will contain exciting beers from Akademia, Creature Comforts, Terrapin and Southern Brewing Company. Larger beer containers from Athentic and Normaltown Brewing will be available as add-ons to the main package.
 The schedule for Virtual Bark & Brew will look something like this:
- 8/21: Ticket sales begin. Watch social media and the AAHS website and Facebook page for the ticket site link.
- 8/24-8/29: Daily spotlights on each brewery focusing on histories, founding stories and future plans.
- 8/31-9/11: Daily spotlights (possibly video interviews) with the brewmaster of each brewery. Owen Ogletree will also post beer tasting notes and reviews on social media.
- 9/12: Pick-up day with Facebook live events from participating brewers discussing the brews and exciting upcoming releases.
We hope we can count on you to purchase a ticket and provide much-needed funds for the animals!
By the way, these stressful days are the perfect time to adopt from the Athens Area Humane Society. Check out their website to scope out a new furry friend.
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 Remember to grab some take-home beer from your local craft breweries and craft beer stores. These businesses need your support right now! Look below for a few Georgia beers (and a mead) that Owen has enjoyed in the last couple of weeks...
 Steady Hand Beer Company
Future Mind Porter
This dry, delicious American Porter offers notes of dark chocolate, bitter cocoa, coffee, light hops and a wonderful roasted malt character. During the current fad of pastry stouts, it was great to enjoy a well-made dark beer that's not too sweet. This beer would pair well with blackened meats or vanilla custard.
 Schoolhouse Brewing
She Wore a Raspberry Sorbet
This raspberry fruited Berliner Weisse from Marietta's new Schoolhouse Brewing glows with a gorgeous raspberry hue and tastes of wheat, fruit and a balanced note of lactic acid for sourness. Try it alongside chicken tacos with cilantro and pico de gallo. With a tart, fruity drink this good, who needs a margarita?
 Monday Night Brewing
Cardigans of the Galaxy
Definitely one of the best Double IPAs I've tasted in some time, this 9.5% ABV beast packs a big wallop of aroma and flavoring hops, but the wonderful finishing bitterness makes this IPA stand out. Generous additions of Columbus, Mandarina Bavaria, Simcoe, Citra, Ekuanot, Mosiac, Comet and Galaxy contribute to this hoppy masterpiece.
Wild Heaven Beer
Fig Branca
 This dark, creamy, 10% ABV, sweet stout brewed with lactose, cocoa nibs, and Fernet-marinated figs goes down smoothly with lingering notes of chocolate, spice and alcohol warmth. If you love complex, chewy stouts, this is the beer for you. Enjoy it with vanilla cheesecake or peach cobbler.
Wild Heaven Beer
Fauci Summer
Be sure to also try Wild Heaven's Berliner Weisse that's fruited with pomegranate, black cherries and lemon verbena. At only 3.5% ABV, this delightfully tart ale packs an impressive mouthful of complex fruit and herbal character. It's perfect for summer.
 Southern Brewing Company
Double Fog Machine Hazy DIPA
SBC's new Double IPA is filled with luscious malt, oat and cereal notes that are enhanced by intense, tropical fruit and pineapple character from the blend of appealing, aromatic hops. This 8.5% IPA goes down deceptively smooth and would make an excellent accompaniment to grilled seafood.
 Monks Meadery
Dragon's Nectar
The guys at Monk's Meadery are masters at creating lower alcohol honey wines that still offer fantastic complexity. This 6% ABV mead contains additions of passion fruit, hibiscus and dragon fruit for a symphony of herbal, spicy, fruity notes that highlight the delicious honey backbone.
 NoFo Brew Company
Reizen Belgian Blonde
NoFo stands for "North Forsyth" county, and this new brewery's spacious and attractive tasting room in Cumming pours a range of delightful classic styles, with a few trendy beers thrown in for fun. Reizen Belgian Blonde Ale is made with Pilsner and Vienna malts, Hallertau Mittelfrüh and Saaz hops, and a spicy Belgian yeast strain for a truly authentic taste experience.
 NoFo Brew Company
Rhine River Doppelbock
You guys know that I love malty Doppelbock lagers, and NoFo simply nailed this 7.8% ABV example. Expect a beautiful brown hue with flavor notes of toffee, dark bread crust, toast and hints of dark fruit complexity. This tasty brew goes well with mushroom pizza and mole enchiladas.
 Akademia Brewing
Helles Lager
Akademia took my taste buds back to Munich when I sipped their delightful new Helles. This golden lager is made from German malts and hops and shines with a brilliant clarity, honey-like malt note and floral, spicy noble hops. Lagers don't come much better than this one. Enjoy it alongside warm pretzels with spicy mustard and grilled beer brats.
 Twain's Brewpub & Billiards
Germantown Pils
This extraordinary German-style Pilsner is one of the best I've ever savored. Twain's talented brewer Mike Castagno did an amazing job in creating a smooth, clean, technically-accurate, appealing lager with elegant German malt complexity and light notes of European hops. Head to Twain's Billiards & Tap in Decatur to grab a four-pack before it's gone.
 Creature Comforts Brewing
Loopulus Hazy Double IPA
This glass of hoppy, hazy heaven was brewed originally in 2017 in honor of the Brick Store Pub's 20th anniversary. I'm pleased to see it back on shelves for a limited run. With 8% ABV and a profile of Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops that create notes of tropical fruits and citrus, the malty canvas of this ale offers a chewy softness from cereal grains, followed by a slightly sweet, satisfying finish.
 The Lost Druid Brewery
Hercynia Bavarian-Style Hefeweizen
This interesting German-inspired wheat beer from Avondale Estates boasts the famous clove and banana character typical to Hefeweizens, but Hercynia also includes intriguing, complex hints of a variety of cereal grains, along with spicy, fruity character from the yeast.
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 Tantrum Brewing
POEMS AT MIDNIGHT
Raspberry & Blackberry Berliner Weisse
Tantrum Brewing in Cleveland, Georgia has released its newest version of Poems at Midnight craft Berliner Weisse - this time with a delicious dose of raspberries and blackberries. Look for a crisp, bright, lactic acidity with no hop character at all. The fruit additions blend well with the wheat character and sourness, producing a tasty medley of berry flavors. Try it alongside cheesy nachos and spicy tacos.
ABV: 5.2%
IBUs: 0
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- Black is Beautiful Stout
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 Atlanta's Steady Hand Beer Company has created a version of the Black is Beautiful stout, a worldwide collaborative project spearheaded by Weathered Souls Brewing in San Antonio. "The importance of this beer is to bring awareness to the injustices faced by people of color," noted Steady Hand's Abby Heringer. "We put our own twist on the collaborative stout with the culinary inspiration of locally renowned chef Deborah VanTrece and Atlanta-based hip-hop artist and producer DJ Jelly. Proceeds from this beer will be donated to local organizations that support equality and inclusion."
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- 04/11/2021 - CLASSIC CITY BREW FEST, Athens, GA. 25th ANNIVERSARY. Hopefully, this new date will work out! 50+ exciting cask ales, local Athens draft beer booths, live music from Jim Cook, BBQ food truck and special beers uncapped each hour! Tickets will be discounted to only $39.99! This will be Georgia's BEST beer festival value! Tickets will be on sale again soon.
- 2021 ATLANTA CASK ALE TASTING. Date is currently set for Saturday, January 9 at Bold Monk Brewing, but this may change, based on COVID-19 conditions. We will keep you posted.
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- Brewtopia Events on Facebook & Twitter
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 CLICK HERE and hit the Brewtopia Events "like" button on Facebook to see photos and posts as we explore craft beer around the world. Also be sure to follow Owen Ogletree on Facebook.
 Follow Brewtopia Events on Twitter.
UP NEXT...
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We all know that craft beer brings good people together. The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the care, creativity, generosity and fortitude possessed by America's beloved craft brewers. We are in this together, and craft beer always makes things better.
Photo: brewersassociation.org
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