|
|
|
|
Owen Ogletree's Brewtopia Brewsletter
July 20, 2023
Owen is founder/editor of Brewtopia.info, columnist for Southern Brew News and Beer Connoisseur Magazine, lecturer at Knoxville's Brewing & Distilling Center, founder of the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting and Classic City Brew Fest, a BJCP National Beer Judge, and judge for Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.
|
|
Follow our craft beer adventures...
|
|
|
|
- Join a Brewtopia Group Beer Trip in 2024!
|
These epic Brewtopia beer trips are hosted and organized by Owen Ogletree, craft beer expert, world beer traveler, beer columnist and national beer judge.
- The most affordable and enjoyable beer journeys available.
- We focus on great beer! Learn about the history and qualities of classic beer styles.
- You don't have to be a beer expert to love these trips.
- Completely stress-free, relaxing journeys. Leave the planning to Owen!
We will do three beer tours in 2024. Mark your calendars:
INSIDER NEW ORLEANS BEER & FOOD TOUR
February 21-25, 2024 - SPOTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE: Register by clicking here.
We fly into MSY during the day on February 21, with a group dinner that evening at 7 PM (the rest of this day is free time). Fly home on February 26. Everyone will get a hotel room from me on February 21 for five nights, checking out on February 26.
Experience the best of the city's breweries, pubs and food! Owen has visited New Orleans almost 50 times and knows all the best spots and hidden gems! This tour involves considerable walking (or Ubering on your own). Airfare and airport transfers are not included.
- VIP visits to all of New Orleans' best breweries.
- Sip cocktails in some of the city's most historic bars.
- Explore hidden gems in the lovely French Quarter.
- Savor exquisite food at many of the city's favorite restaurants and pubs.
- Cruise across the Mississippi River to check out an English-themed pub.
- Take our luxury charter bus across massive Lake Pontchartrain to visit breweries such as Abita, Gnarly Barley and Low Road.
- Ride the St. Charles streetcar to see the garden district and personable pubs.
- Experience live New Orleans music.
- Peruse the colorful Mardi Gras Museum.
- Walking tour of the French Market and Jackson Square.
- Befriend alligators on a Cajun boat swamp tour.
- Tour the beautiful Faubourg Brewery (AKA Dixie) to learn about its history and taste all the experimental beers.
- Tour the historic Sazerac House Distillery.
- Enjoy gumbo, grilled oysters and local beer at Acme Oyster House.
- Includes one evening of free time to explore the French Quarter on your own.
- Includes tours, group ground transportation, private charter bus and driver, guides, information, hotel, and all food and drinks for group meals and group gatherings. Breakfasts are NOT included for this trip, but many breakfast options exist close to our hotel.
- $1795 per person (double occupancy) - add $399 for a single room.
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA CRAFT BEER EXPERIENCE
May 31-June 8, 2024 - SPOTS OPEN UP FOR REGISTRATION THIS FALL.
Buenos Aires is a delightful city, and the craft beer scene is blossoming. NINE DAYS gives up plenty of time to explore all the gems in and around the city. This trip involves considerable walking (or inexpensive Ubering on your own). Airfare and airport transfers are not included.
- Follow Owen to visit the best pubs and breweries in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas.
- Experience Argentina's super enjoyable CASK ALE FESTIVAL at the welcoming Notre Dame Pub in Lujan.
- Enjoy an authentic farmhouse asado BBQ cookout with local craft beers to sample.
- Cruise down the picturesque Río de la Plata estuary river to visit the lovely town of Tigre for lunch and beer.
- Experience amazing beers at the awards party for the Argentinian Craft Beer Competition.
- Explore historic sights in Buenos Aires: central square, majestic Colon Theater, grazing lunch at the central market.
- Feast on authentic Argentinian Fugazzeta stuffed pizza.
- Feast on Argentinian meat, empanadas, and malbec wines.
- Wine tastings and a visit to a renowned winery.
- Visit Eva Peron's grave on a tour of the majestic Recoleta Cemetery.
- Experience a tutored beer tasting at the renowned Bierlife pub.
- Tour the cathedrals in the lovely neighborhoods of San Isidro and Lujan.
- Sample World Beer Cup winning beers and "lambics" at Juguetes Perdidos Cerveza and Prinston Brewery.
- See where Guinness is brewed in Argentina and taste the difference.
- Some free time is included to explore the city's smaller pubs and cocktail bars on your own.
- Includes tours, group ground transportation, private charter bus and driver, guides, information, hotel, and all food and drinks for group meals and group gatherings. Breakfasts are included each day at our hotel in Buenos Aires.
- This extended tour is $2295 per person (double occupancy) - add $499 for a single room.
CHECK OUT THE CZECH REPUBLIC
October 5-11, 2024 - SPOTS OPEN UP FOR REGISTRATION THIS FALL.
Prague and the Czech Republic rank as some of the most beautiful spots in all of Europe, and the pilsner lagers and other craft brews are outstanding. This trip involves some urban walking (or Ubering on your own). Airfare and airport transfers are not included.
- Learn the history of the world-famous Pilsner lager style.
- See all the best areas and beer taverns in beautiful Prague.
- Hike across the scenic Charles Bridge to Prague Castle and the tasty Strahov Monastery Brewery (or Uber there).
- Experience the new Bohemian Goose Brewpub.
- Dark beer and house cheese at the historic U Fleku Brewery (one of the oldest brewpubs in the world).
- Check out the Prague Astronomical Clock and Wenceslas Square.
- Day trip on our private charter bus to scenic České Budějovice for a VIP tour, tasting and lunch at the state-owned Budějovický Budvar Brewery.
- Travel on our private charter bus to the brewing town of Pilsen for a two-day experience that will include: Pilsner Urquell Brewery, Pivovar Proud experimental brewery, the ancient Pilsen underground tunnels, and the Pilsen brewery museum. Lunch at the beautiful Pilsner Urquell tavern.
- Drink fresh Pilsner Urquell from ancient wooden tanks in the brewery's cavernous underground cellars.
- Short trip to the family-owned Purkmistr Brewery for exceptional beer and lunch.
- Some free time is included to explore Prague and Pilsen on your own.
- Includes tours, group ground transportation, private charter bus and driver, guides, information, hotel, and all food and drinks for group meals and group gatherings. Breakfasts included each day at our hotels.
- $1995 per person (double occupancy) - add $399 for a single room.
Find out more:
https://www.classiccitybrew.com/brewtopiatrips.html
Click on the photo for a short video from this year's RAND cask ale festival in Argentina. This event will be a highlight of our June tour in Buenos Aires:
|
|
- Georgia Craft Brewery News
|
Visit Athentic Brewing in Athens to try a few of co-owner Paul Skinner's new creations. Offering a comfortable, lively and inclusive atmosphere, Athentic's taproom will be pouring exceptional beers that include Crispy Boh Czech Lager, Saison de Athentique, Phoebe Petite IPA, Rapid Recovery Blonde Ale with kudzu blossoms, Oktoberfest Festbier, Kiss of Smoke Blonde Ale, King Kush Hazy IPA, and Gather Round with Peaches barrel-aged sour ale.
Moon River Brewing announces its third annual beer festival in Savannah. "Midday in the Garden of Ales & Lagers" takes place on August 26 at the picturesque brewery at 21 West Bay Street. Attendees will enjoy a wide selection of delicious beers, meads and ciders while enjoying live music and a special food menu. "I'm excited that the support we’ve received has allowed us to continue holding this event," says Moon River brewmaster Alex Yendell. "Many brewers throughout Georgia know each other, so we'll be excited to have everyone in town at the same time."
 Athens' Creature Comforts installed a traditional cask ale beer engine a few months ago, and the brewery's firkins have proven extremely popular in the taproom. As a bonus, Creature Comforts recently received its Cask Marque certification award. Over August and September, look for Creature beer releases that include A Little Bit of Both DIPA, Flanerie Belgian-style Wit, Hop Agenda: Cashmere IPA, Dark Mild Ale, Silent World Black Lager, Oktoberfest Marzen, Twenty Mile Drive Hefeweizen, and Goed Cold Bier Pilsner that was brewed in collaboration with Atlanta's Halfway Crooks Beer.
 Atlanta's Torched Hop Brewing blows a hole in National IPA Day on August 3 with the release of its Chasm West Coast IPA. Brewer/co-owner Chris Bivins notes, "After a massive sinkhole opened in front of our brewery in early July, we felt Chasm would make a fitting name for this beer that was hopped with Citra and experimental hop variety HBC 586. In addition to draft and cans, we'll tap two casks with different dry-hops in each."
 Strap on the lederhosen and venture out to "NoFoberFest" on September 16 at any of NoFo Brew Co's three Georgia locations in Cumming, Cleveland and Gainesville. An exciting range of games, pretzels and steins of refreshing marzen, dunkel, and hefeweizen will be on hand. NoFo also scored two medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship for the second year in a row for its Bluebird Day Pilsner and Collateral Mexican Lager.
|
|
|
- 09/16/2023 OKTOBERFEST at BOLD MONK BREWING in Atlanta. Bold Monk Brewing celebrates Oktoberfest with its release of the annual favorite Festbier. The Oktoberfest celebration takes place on the traditional beginning day of Munich's Oktoberfest on September 16.
- 01/20/2024 ATLANTA CASK ALE TASTING. Mark your calendars for one of Atlanta's favorite craft beer fests that's returning again to the wonderful Bold Monk Brewing. Tickets on sale now!
|
|
- What's New from Modern Hops?
|
 Georgia craft beer distributor Modern Hops announces exciting new brews hitting Georgia retail stores, restaurants and bars right about now. Here's a taste:
Narrow Gauge Brewing | Florissant, MO :
DDH Fallen Flag (7% New England IPA) is a hazy IPA with an addition dry-hop of Citra and Mosaic. [UnTappd 4.25]
Chicken Out Pils (4.2% Zwickelbier) is a Kellerbier-style lager brewed with Wai-iti and Callista hops.
Dark Mild (3.2% Mild) is a traditional-style Dark Mild brewed with handmade invert sugar #3.
***
 Short Throw Brewing | Richmond, VA:
Slid To My Crib (6.4% Fruited Sour) is a thick fruited Gose with fresh raspberry, cherry, and blueberry purees. [UnTappd 4.15]
Who Got Da Props? (12.6% Double Stout) incorporates Short Throw's silky, chocolatey malt base with cocoa nibs, marshmallow, peanut butter, and coffee.
***
Stillwater Artisanal | Baltimore, MD:
Extra Dry (4.2% Farmhouse Ale) is a Japanese rice saison brewed with Citra, Hallertau Blanc and Sterling hops.
***
 Southern Brewing Company | Athens, GA:
Savage (6.57% New England IPA) is an aggressively hopped Hazy IPA loaded with Azacca, Mosaic and Simcoe hops for a stone fruit and danky kick.
Grapefruit Fruit Flash (4.7% Fruited Wheat) is a summer crusher. This refreshing wheat beer with a dash of grapefruit is perfect for any summer pool session.
Modern Hops is a valued sponsor of this Brewsletter.
|
|
- Follow Owen Ogletree and Brewtopia Events on Social Media
|
UP NEXT...
-
In late July/early August, Owen Ogletree and Sachin Patel travel to the beer kingdom of Franconia, Germany with Joel Shelton of Inner Circle Beer Tours. We then jet from Munich to London to lead a beer group to the Great British Beer Festival and London's best pubs and breweries. Expect some epic posts and photos from these two weeks!
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
