Filter by: Journalism Clips or Blog Posts.
Smooth flavors, music draws thirsty crowd to Blues-N-Brews
Posted June 14, 2011 at 23:11 in clips
By April Dudash
Staff writer
The Fayetteville Observer
A man sidled his nose up close to the fresh, creamy beer suds, took a whiff and then downed his drink in approval.
At the eighth annual Blues-N-Brews Festival on Saturday evening, a thirsty crowd filled up downtown Fayetteville’s Festival Park for a chance to sample an assortment of beers.
The annual fundraiser was organized by the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.
Participants braved temperatures that brushed the 90-degree mark to sprawl out in folding chairs and clutch a topped-off glass of golden brew, all while enjoying smooth blues music.
Cathie Tasker, who was visiting the festival with her family, was watching the blues band from the lawn. She cut herself off at two beers – she was driving later.
But she said her favorite sampling had to be Purple Haze from Abita Brewing Co.
“It had a lovely scent and a nice, light flavor, more like punch,” Tasker said.
After many refilled their glasses, they stood in a circle as they taste-tested, chatting about their finds.
Local beer enthusiast and U.S. Army Special Operations Command historian Troy Sacquety came out to see what was offered. As a home brewer, he owns a half-barrel pilot brewery in his own garage. He also helped kick-start a homebrewing organization called Special Operations Brewers, or “SOB.” for short.
He had already enjoyed glasses from LoneRider and Natty Greene’s, both North Carolina brewing companies.
“When you go to a lot of festivals, you’ll get the bigger craft brews, but you’ll never get a chance to try smaller, local ones unless you go to that particular area,” Sacquety said.
Bob High with Natty Greene’s Brewing Co. made small talk with the line of people waiting to try his Buckshot Amber Ale and Wildflower Witbier.
“This is the one you want to be drinking during the day, all day,” High joked, pointing to the Witbier. “This is your summer beer, right here.”
And with flavors of orange peel, coriander and chamomile, that particular summer brew was in high demand and kept High’s hand on the tap.
“It’s a Wildflower kind of day!” he exclaimed.
A few booths down, the local Mash House Brewery and Chophouse Restaurant was passing out four beer types among a scattering of free peanuts. Mash House brewmaster Zach Hart was on hand to give thirsty onlookers samples.
Hart said he was in a “corporate grind” before he made the brewery switch to the Mash House, where he had the freedom to try his own brewing recipes.
“They’re kind of like my little babies,” he said, motioning toward the taps. “I like to sit back and listen to people and what they say.”
As the sun set, beer drinkers and blues lovers settled onto blankets on the Festival Park lawn. The sweet smell of cigars lingered.
“Does everybody love the blues?” the lead singer on the stage asked. “It just move ya, ain’t it?”
And as the sweet guitar chords picked up again, a few couples joined hands and began a slow, swaying dance.
Staff writer April Dudash can be reached at dudasha@fayobserver.com or 486-3569.