PROFILES IN BREWING By Bobby Bush, author of "Beer & Loafing" Scott Pyatt of Catawba Valley Brewing Company in Glen Alpine, NC Why buy anything if you can build it from parts picked up at flee markets, landfills and plumbers' supply shops? Why spend $12,000 on a walk-in cooler when a little manual labor, involving wiring and gas work, and $500 of materials produces a perfectly suitable beer refrigeration unit. According to brewer/co-owner Scott Pyatt, Catawba Valley Brewing Company has everything that other breweries have. He "just didn't get it all at once." And besides, his almost-four-years-old Glenn Alpine, N.C., microbrewery is debt free. Ingenuity and cheapness have their rewards. Over five years ago, Scott left a good Colorado job in the ski industry (read: ski instructor) to move to the Hickory area. Because it was an excuse to spend time with his brother, Billy, and to "build a lot of neat stuff," the siblings began homebrewing. The response to their brewing efforts, served at picnics, wedding receptions and birthday parties, was overwhelmingly positive. With his stint as ski instructor the highlight of his rsum, Scott was unsuccessful in finding a real job near home. So he and Billy, along with Billy's wife Jetta, founded Catawba Valley Brewing Company (CVBC). Scott admits that the trio "did not see a great economic outlook" for their venture, but building and running a brewery "looked ike fun."And fun it has been. Until recently, CVBC has been virtually a one man operation, with Scott brewing, selling and delivering. With the final payment on the CVBC delivery van this past summer, Scott hired, Andy Gibbon, a kid from Cleveland, Ohio, as a brewing assistant. Currently available in western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and upper South Carolina, the self-made micro offers five keg-only beers. (Scott says that "if [he] had enough money to buy a bottling line, [he'd] quit" the beer business and use the money elsewhere). Light in body and color, Buffalo Nickel is a crisp finishing, light pale ale with a healthy addition of hops. Indian Head Red wafts citrus aromatics. Deep red in hue, this medium mouthfeel brew sports a well balanced malt profile and finishes sweetly. British-influenced, Brown Bear Ale combines pleasing malt flavor with low bittering quotient, closing with subtle coffee taste. Five different malts and six hops additions, along with a proprietary hops infusion process, give Fire Water IPA a potent hops floral and bitter presentation. Brewed with organic malt, river water and free range yeast, Honest Injun Stout is "nothing like Guinness, not a light-ass beer." Within its black body lies sweet malt complexity partially offset by hops bitterness, resulting in a "cranker on alcohol and taste." When queried on productivity, Scott responded that "sales numbers aren't everything," so he hasn't totaled his 2002 beer barrels yet. The important matter is that CVBC has grown in each of its four years. But, based on a recent announcement, the cramped brewery has excess capacity. To be issued under the brand of King Beverage, Scott and company will soon be releasing a new series of beers. The concept, originally introduced as naturally flavored beer such as King Coconut Ale, is still evolving and may include other different beers also. As for the first King issue, King Coconut, Scott adds toasted coconut to a light porter, post-fermentation. The result, by all accounts, is "wonderful." Plans call for two more King Beverage releases in 2003, all made with natural flavors, rather than extracts or artificial ingredients. Catawba Valley beer has as much character as its brewer. With his intense, excessive type-A personality, Scott Pyatt is an ingenious tinkerer and a creative brewer. The ski industry's loss is a blessing to beer. A little more cheapness, please. Catawba Valley Brewing Company P.O. Box 1154, 204 E. Main Street, Glen Alpine NC 28628 (828) 584-9400 Read more by nationally recognized beer writer Bobby Bush at: http://www.realbeer.com/library/authors/bush-b/ |
CALENDAR As spring approaches, so does the festival season. Here's a brief list of events coming up for the next three months. We are still compiling our list, so the best way to stay current is to check the website's calendar, which is updated with every new listing, and has contact info and links to each event. http://beersouth.com/calendar.html 4/5 -> 8th Classic City Brew-Fest - Athens GA 4/12 -> Hickory Hops - Hickory NC 4/26 -> 10th Southeastern Microbrewer's Festival - Chapel Hill NC 5/7-10 -> National Craft Brewer's Conference - New Orleans LA 5/10 -> Greenville Beer Fest - Greenville SC 5/17 -> Virginia Beer Festival - Norfolk VA 5/17-18 -> 9th River City Beer & Seafood Festival - Richmond VA |
NEWS NORTH CAROLINIAN AGAIN NAMED BEERDRINKER OF THE YEAR Congratulations go out to Ray McCoy, a computer consultant from Clemmons, North Carolina, who was selected as Beerdrinker of the Year for 2003 during the annual competition sponsored by Wynkoop Brewing Co. in Denver, Colo. McCoy becomes the third person from the Tarheel State to win the award in seven years, joining 2001 winner Cornelia Corey, Ray's significant other, and Bobby Bush of Hickory, the 1998 winner. McCoy bested two other finalists John Ahrens of Mount Laurel, N.J., and John Marioni of Bothell, Wash. in a two-hour oral exam Jan. 18 at Wynkoop. Marioni, 38, brews beer with hops he grows in his backyard and keeps a detailed list of every beer he drinks during a year. Ahrens was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the owner of the world's largest beer can collection. McCoy, with 10 years experience, told the judges he considers himself a relative newcomer to the passion, but that "It's not the time you spend drinking beer that counts, it's the intensity," McCoy won $100 to spend at his home brewpub, Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery in High Point, N.C. and also won a lifetime of free beer at Wynkoop, whenever he's there. Source: Wynkoop.com & news reports FORMER MEMPHIAN FINDS CALLING BOTTLING RUM IN TENNESSEE Given that there are similarities between brewing beer and distilling liquor, it not unusual to find brewers intrigued by the distilling process. There are even a few breweries scattered around the country that incorporate a distillery into their operations (but none that we know of in the south.) Below, you'll find a link to a story out of Memphis about a man who's realizing his dream to distill rum, in a very rural county in Tennessee. It's an interesting story dramatizing the hard work, complexities and patience required to go in to the distillery business. |
The material presented on this site is based on information believed to be correct, but is subject to change at anytime. If you have an update, correction, suggestion or any other contribution, please send it to us at: updates@beersouth.com. We welcome your input. (c) 1999 - 2003 by Beer South. All Rights Reserved. |
The material presented on this site is based on information believed to be correct, but is subject to change at anytime. If you have an update, correction, suggestion or any other contribution, please send it to us at: updates@beersouth.com. We welcome your input. (c) 1999 - 2003 by Beer South. All Rights Reserved. |
February 2003 Buzz |
NEWS NORTH CAROLINIAN AGAIN NAMED BEERDRINKER OF THE YEAR Congratulations go out to Ray McCoy, a computer consultant from Clemmons, North Carolina, who was selected as Beerdrinker of the Year for 2003 during the annual competition sponsored by Wynkoop Brewing Co. in Denver, Colo. McCoy becomes the third person from the Tarheel State to win the award in seven years, joining 2001 winner Cornelia Corey, Ray's significant other, and Bobby Bush of Hickory, the 1998 winner. McCoy bested two other finalists John Ahrens of Mount Laurel, N.J., and John Marioni of Bothell, Wash. in a two-hour oral exam Jan. 18 at Wynkoop. Marioni, 38, brews beer with hops he grows in his backyard and keeps a detailed list of every beer he drinks during a year. Ahrens was once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the owner of the world's largest beer can collection. McCoy, with 10 years experience, told the judges he considers himself a relative newcomer to the passion, but that "It's not the time you spend drinking beer that counts, it's the intensity," McCoy won $100 to spend at his home brewpub, Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery in High Point, N.C. and also won a lifetime of free beer at Wynkoop, whenever he's there. Source: Wynkoop.com & news reports FORMER MEMPHIAN FINDS CALLING BOTTLING RUM IN TENNESSEE Given that there are similarities between brewing beer and distilling liquor, it not unusual to find brewers intrigued by the distilling process. There are even a few breweries scattered around the country that incorporate a distillery into their operations (but none that we know of in the south.) Below, you'll find a link to a story out of Memphis about a man who's realizing his dream to distill rum, in a very rural county in Tennessee. It's an interesting story dramatizing the hard work, complexities and patience required to go in to the distillery business. |
Greetings, Well, it's been an interesting month, weather-wise, for most everyone in the south. Odds are good you've endured lots of rain, snow, ice, or cold. Even the Sunshine State got a taste of winter, with recent frost warnings as far down as mid-state. Looks like the groundhog got it right when he saw his shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of winter. It must have been a really dark shadow! Compounding the glumness of the weather is the news from the domestic and international fronts. Whadaya' say we all whisper a little prayer for Spring to get here soon to brighten our mood......The Beer Bwana |
BREWING CHANGES Closings FL / Auburndale - The Florida Brewery: Known locally for it's popular Dunk's beers, the beer brewing portion of the business has ceased. The facility also produced brews under contract for such labels as Gator Lager. The brewery's operation now consists of the production of malta, a non-alcoholic beer-like beverage popular in Latin America. KY/ Bowling Green - Hops Restauarant & Brewery: The last remaining unit in the Bluegrass State was shuttered as part of the chain's recent closing of non-profitable units. Openings VA / Fredericksburg: Blue & Gray Brewing: A new microbrewery opened in late 2002 under the direction of brewer Jeff Fitzpatrick. One notable aspect of the brewery is that it uses hops grown locally at its hop farm in the brewing of its beers. Hops, always a tricky crop, are particularly difficult to grow in this country outside of the Pacific Northwest. FL / Tampa - Hoppers Grille & Brewery: The third area brewpub (fourth unit overall) for brewer brewmaster Franz Rothschadl and his investor group. It opened in early February in the rapidly growing Westchase area of western Tampa / North Bay and joins the Palm Harbor and Trinity locales. Rothschadl, and head brewer Tracey Caley say they plan to add one more Tampa unit before looking further afield to such areas as Sarasota or Orlando. |
RESOURCES Thanks to everyone who responded to our request in the last newsletter for information regarding their satisfaction with the Topica service that Beer South uses to deliver the Buzz newsletter. Your response was 100-percent positive, so we'll keep using Topica until, and if, something better comes along. If, for any reason, you have a negative opinion of Topica, but have not made that known to us, please do so. |
CALENDAR As spring approaches, so does the festival season. Here's a brief list of events coming up for the next three months. We are still compiling our list, so the best way to stay current is to check the website's calendar, which is updated with every new listing, and has contact info and links to each event. http://beersouth.com/calendar.html 4/5 -> 8th Classic City Brew-Fest - Athens GA 4/12 -> Hickory Hops - Hickory NC 4/26 -> 10th Southeastern Microbrewer's Festival - Chapel Hill NC 5/7-10 -> National Craft Brewer's Conference - New Orleans LA 5/10 -> Greenville Beer Fest - Greenville SC 5/17 -> Virginia Beer Festival - Norfolk VA 5/17-18 -> 9th River City Beer & Seafood Festival - Richmond VA |
PROFILES IN BREWING By Bobby Bush, author of "Beer & Loafing" Scott Pyatt of Catawba Valley Brewing Company in Glen Alpine, NC Why buy anything if you can build it from parts picked up at flee markets, landfills and plumbers' supply shops? Why spend $12,000 on a walk-in cooler when a little manual labor, involving wiring and gas work, and $500 of materials produces a perfectly suitable beer refrigeration unit. According to brewer/co-owner Scott Pyatt, Catawba Valley Brewing Company has everything that other breweries have. He "just didn't get it all at once." And besides, his almost-four-years-old Glenn Alpine, N.C., microbrewery is debt free. Ingenuity and cheapness have their rewards. Over five years ago, Scott left a good Colorado job in the ski industry (read: ski instructor) to move to the Hickory area. Because it was an excuse to spend time with his brother, Billy, and to "build a lot of neat stuff," the siblings began homebrewing. The response to their brewing efforts, served at picnics, wedding receptions and birthday parties, was overwhelmingly positive. With his stint as ski instructor the highlight of his rsum, Scott was unsuccessful in finding a real job near home. So he and Billy, along with Billy's wife Jetta, founded Catawba Valley Brewing Company (CVBC). Scott admits that the trio "did not see a great economic outlook" for their venture, but building and running a brewery "looked ike fun."And fun it has been. Until recently, CVBC has been virtually a one man operation, with Scott brewing, selling and delivering. With the final payment on the CVBC delivery van this past summer, Scott hired, Andy Gibbon, a kid from Cleveland, Ohio, as a brewing assistant. Currently available in western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and upper South Carolina, the self-made micro offers five keg-only beers. (Scott says that "if [he] had enough money to buy a bottling line, [he'd] quit" the beer business and use the money elsewhere). Light in body and color, Buffalo Nickel is a crisp finishing, light pale ale with a healthy addition of hops. Indian Head Red wafts citrus aromatics. Deep red in hue, this medium mouthfeel brew sports a well balanced malt profile and finishes sweetly. British-influenced, Brown Bear Ale combines pleasing malt flavor with low bittering quotient, closing with subtle coffee taste. Five different malts and six hops additions, along with a proprietary hops infusion process, give Fire Water IPA a potent hops floral and bitter presentation. Brewed with organic malt, river water and free range yeast, Honest Injun Stout is "nothing like Guinness, not a light-ass beer." Within its black body lies sweet malt complexity partially offset by hops bitterness, resulting in a "cranker on alcohol and taste." When queried on productivity, Scott responded that "sales numbers aren't everything," so he hasn't totaled his 2002 beer barrels yet. The important matter is that CVBC has grown in each of its four years. But, based on a recent announcement, the cramped brewery has excess capacity. To be issued under the brand of King Beverage, Scott and company will soon be releasing a new series of beers. The concept, originally introduced as naturally flavored beer such as King Coconut Ale, is still evolving and may include other different beers also. As for the first King issue, King Coconut, Scott adds toasted coconut to a light porter, post-fermentation. The result, by all accounts, is "wonderful." Plans call for two more King Beverage releases in 2003, all made with natural flavors, rather than extracts or artificial ingredients. Catawba Valley beer has as much character as its brewer. With his intense, excessive type-A personality, Scott Pyatt is an ingenious tinkerer and a creative brewer. The ski industry's loss is a blessing to beer. A little more cheapness, please. Catawba Valley Brewing Company P.O. Box 1154, 204 E. Main Street, Glen Alpine NC 28628 (828) 584-9400 Read more by nationally recognized beer writer Bobby Bush at: http://www.realbeer.com/library/authors/bush-b/ |
=============================================================================== Thanks to: Mark Johnsen, Ken Koenig, Rich Lasusa, Tom Moench, Stephen Phelps, Kim Senn Until the Ides of March, cheers! The Beer Bwana |
