BEERCATION 2022 – BIG TUNA RESTAURANT & BAR – SOUTH CAROLINA
Hoppy visited the Big Tuna Restaurant & Bar aka Old Fish House at the boardwalk in Georgetown, SC. Here he dined on a Flounder while sipping a Huger Street IPA from Palmetto Brewing in Charleston. Palmetto describes it as Chinook and Cascade hops coming together to provide the aroma and flavor of subtle citrus and a variety of caramel malts which keep things balanced with a subtle, simple sweetness the likes of which you can only find in the South. It is 7.2% ABV; 58 IBU
Front Street EntranceBuilding ArchitectureGeorgetoen BoardwalkWildlife View from Boardwalk Next to Big TunaBoardwalk Entrance to Big TunaSeating in Boardwalk Section of RestaurantWall DecorWall DecorFront Street Restaurant SectionFront Street BarWall DecorResident ParrotStickerHoppy Likes Being Top Dog ….. er, Hop!
BEERCATION 2022 – SOUTHERN HOPS BREWING – SOUTH CAROLINA
While in Murrells Inlet Hoppy also visited Southern Hops Brewing’s recently opened second location. (Their original location is in Florence.) Here he enjoyed a 5 Points IPA which is brewed utilizing five different hops. This version clocked in at 6.7% ABV.
Exterior Logo SignageExterior with Hop Binesand SeatingInteriorTaps and Draft BoardsInterior from Back to FrontBreweryWall DecorWall DecorOutdoor SeatingOutdoor Fire PitOutdoor DecorDelicious NachosHoppy on Way to Kitchen!
BEERCATION 2022 – INLET BEER GARDEN – SOUTH CAROLINA
A visit to Murrells Inlet would not have been complete without Hoppy stopping at the Inlet Beer Garden nestled outdoors, between the Dead Dog Saloon and the Claw House, on the Marshwalk. Here he enjoyed trying a couple of pints from the sixty plus craft beers that they have available.
Signage & ViewView From Seat (2019)Tap Handles/Draft List (2019)Tap Handles/Draft List (2019)Delicious Seafood Nachos“Cheers to good beer and food” – Hoppy
BEERCATION 2022 – HOPS & HERONS BEER FESTIVAL – SOUTH CAROLINA
Hoppy attended the 2022 Hops & Herons Beer Festival at the Conestee Nature Preserve in Greenville, SC. It took place in the scenic Henderson Meadow within the preserve. The following breweries were listed as attending: Eighth State Brewing, Tetrad Brewing Company, Birds Fly South, Carolina Bauernhaus, Liability Brewing, Brewery 85, Think Tank Brew Lab, Voodoo Brewery, Double Stamp Brewery, 13 Stripes Brewery and Grateful Brew.
Hoppy’s favorite brews at the event were not hop-laden brews, but a Marzen and a Sour.
These were as follows:
O-Fest Marzen from Think Tank Brew Lab which clocked in at a higher ABV than normal, for a Marzen, at 7.3%
An American Sour: Tart Cherry Ale from Birds Fly South Ale Project in collaboration with Thomas Creek Brewery. 6.8% ABV
Beautiful music was provided by The Well Drinkers, described as a progressive, original bluegrass and Americana band.
BEERCATION 2022 – FRONT STREET BREWERY – NORTH CAROLINA
The final brewery that Hoppy visited in North Carolina was Front Street Brewery in Wilmington. The historic building that it is located in began as a dry goods store in 1865. Front Street opened in 1995, as the first brewery in the city. As well as being a brewery/restaurant, they carry an extensive collection of bourbons and other whiskeys.
While here Hoppy quaffed a flight of the following ales:
Port City IPA – Wilmington’s original IPA since 1995, is a hybrid of West Coast and New England styles: bold, citrusy, and juicy at first, but finishing dry and refreshing with notes of pine. 6.9% ABV
Black Razz House Blend – high notes of real Raspberry wheat played against the mocha depths of chocolatey Scottish ale. 6.2% ABV
Tomb Rocker Heather Ale – an incomparably smooth complex ale bursting with flavor including vinous notes of red wine, tangy cherry, honey, delicate flowers and herbs, and old-fashioned candy. 9.2% ABV
That Kind of Jive Blueberry Sour Wheat – a sour wheat fermented with lactic yeast, conditioned on vanilla extract from End of Days Distillery, plus copious blueberry puree. 5.1% ABV
Dr. Purple Barrel-Aged Sour – brewed with a mind-blowing amount of tangy purple blackcurrant juice and aged in oak barrels for three years for a perfect sour depth and complexity. 5.8%
EntranceExteriorEntrance area/BrewerySeating/BreweryTapsDraft BoardDraft ListDraft ListFlightRestaurant SeatingSkylightBar & Upstairs SeatingBar to Front EntranceBack Bar
Hoppy attended Fall Fest at the Sun King Brewery in Indianapolis, last Saturday. It was described as a celebration of Barrel-Aged and Sour Beers. All of the beers tasted were superb! If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be the Hot Rod Lincoln – A Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Chocolate and Cherry. It is 11.4% ABV; 55 IBU.
This is a list of the beers that were offered:
Fall Fest Draft List
The following are images from the Fall Fest.
The event coincided with the first snow of the season.Waiting Line for SamplesOutdoorsFood BoothFestival Goers InsideFestival AttendeesFestival AttendeesFestival Attendees