OCTOBER BEERCATION – KNOXVILLE – CRAFTY BASTARD BREWERY

The last stop in Knoxville was at the Crafty Bastard Brewery. (Hoppy visited this brewery previously along with Pretentious Beer Co. and their sister business, Pretentious Glass, where he purchased his favorite beer glass.)

On this stop, Hoppy appreciated a Tessellation IPA, a classic West Coast style hopped to the gills with Mosaic, 6.7% ABV 55 IBU.

Should you visit their other location, Crafty Bastard West, look for a Hoppy sticker!

OCTOBER BEERCATION – KNOXVILLE – XUL BEER COMPANY

The next stop on the beercation was again in Knoxville where Hoppy visited the Xul Beer Company. Here he enjoyed Diversified Tactics, a Hazy IPA collaboration with Missing Mountain. It consists of a blend of Golden Promise and 2-Row Malt that was brewed and dry-hopped with Mosaic, Mosaic Incognito, Mosaic Cryo, El Dorado & Simcoe Hops.  7.4% ABV.

OCTOBER BEERCATION – GREENVILLE – FIREFORGE BREWERY

The last stop in Greenville was at Fireforge Brewery & Taproom. Here Hoppy quaffed a John Hopcock Hazy New England IPA. Info. on the brew is listed below.

John Hopcock – A hazy, juicy New England style IPA. According to Fireforge, John Hopcock was a nano brewer, patriot and contemporary of Samuel Adams during the American Revolution. 6.5% ABV 10 IBU.

OCTOBER BEERCATION – GREENVILLE – THINK TANK BREW LAB

The next stop on the trip was Hoppy’s first time visiting Greenville, SC. Here he visited Think Tank Brew Lab, which opened in April of this year. Hoppy enjoyed a Gold Blonde Belgian Strong Ale and a House Pale Ale. The latter was recommended by the founder/brewmaster, Ryan Kurlfink, and I found it to be an excellent hop-forward pale ale! Info on the brews imbibed are listed below:

Gold Blonde – Biscuity malt, soft peppery spice, creamy. 6.8% ABV

House Pale Ale – Citra Cryo Hops. 5.6% ABV

OCTOBER BEERCATION – CHARLESTON – EDMUND’S OAST BREWING CO.

The next stop on the beercation was at Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co. Brewery & Taproom. I visited here previously during their grand opening weekend in 2017, I have also visited their Restaurant and Brewpub on two previous trips. (By the way, I love their Muscadine Pie.) Previous Charleston visits have also included the following area breweries: Revelry, Holy City, Westbrook, Palmetto and Pawleys Island.

While at the Brewery & Taproom Hoppy enjoyed a flight of four IPAs. These were as follows:

Bound by Time – Made with good old-fashioned hop-bursting techniques and irresponsible dry-hopping technology, Bound by Time is an offering to those looking for something brimming with hop character and as unadulterated as a butterfly’s wing. 7% ABV 70 IBU.

Foresworn – Brewed with whole leaf Centennial hops. 7% ABV.

Viridi Rex – Double dry-hopped Double IPA. Sacrificing over four pounds of hops per barrel, we have evoked potent notes of mango, papaya, orange, and an ever-so-sinister warming sensation on the back of the tongue.  9.5% ABV 70 IBU.

Like Tears in Rain – Hazy IPA brewed with Simcoe Cryo, Chinook Cryo, & Mosaic hops. 6% ABV.

OCTOBER BEERCATION – CHARLESTON – FROTHY BEARD BREWING

Hoppy’s next visit on the October Beercation was at Frothy Beard Brewing in Charleston, S.C. Here he drank a flight of four IPA’s before deciding on the Dino DNA for a pint. The flight included the following ales:

They Do Move In Herds – A fresh hop IPA. Strata hops (passion fruit, pungent/dank) were used in the mash, first wort pre-boil, during boil, in whirlpool tank and in the hop back on the way to the fermenter. These hops were picked off the bine in Oregon and mailed overnight to be used the very next day. Typically, hops are dried whole and/or pelletized.  6.8% ABV.

Life Uh… Finds A Way – West Coast Style double IPA with Centennial, Cascade, Columbus used in first wort pre-boil, boil, whirlpool, hop back, and finally dry hopped. Big resinous pine and grapefruit citrus. 9.6% ABV.

Dino DNA – Whole Leaf Chinook (piney, resinous, citrus) and Whole Leaf Williamette (citrus, berry, spice) were added during first wort pre-boil, boil, whirlpool hop back, and finally dry hopped in the fermenter. We also dry hopped with Columbus (herbal, citrus). 7.8% ABV.

Bubbles! The Destroyer of Worlds – Mango IPA with Mosaic hops. 7% ABV.