Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Nelson County
The Brew Ridge Trail, Virginia’s Original Beer Destination, is coming together to celebrate award-winning local craft beer in Central Virginia with the first Brew Ridge Trail Week from March 14 – 19, 2016. Brewers from Blue Mountain Brewery, Blue Mountain Barrel House, Devils Backbone, South Street, Starr Hill and Wild Wolf collaborated on a Belgian-Style Quadrupel Ale to be released that week in each member’s tap room. A contest was held to name the collaboration beer and the name “Too Many Cooks” was selected.
“The latest Brew Ridge Trail collaboration beer is the first of this series created at South Street Brewery, and it completes the cycle of all six breweries on the trail having hosted a collaboration brew,” said Blue Mountain Brewery Founder and Brewmaster, Taylor Smack. “For such a momentous event, we chose one of the biggest beer styles out there, the Belgian Quad, which is also a fun beer to tackle because it lends itself to the addition of so many different ingredients.”
Brewed at South Street Brewery on January 20, each brewer provided different ingredients that went into the recipe for “Too Many Cooks.” Local honey, Belgian “candi” sugar made from sugar beets, dark German malts, Slovenian hops, star anise, orange peel and more were all part of this beer that features yeast from the Rochefort Trappist monastery brewery. “Too Many Cooks” promises to be a heady ale with deep, naturally spicy Belgian flavors, topping out at 12.55% alcohol by volume.
Special events are scheduled at each of the breweries during Brew Ridge Trail Week, including tap takeovers featuring the collaboration beer at select retail accounts around Virginia, as well as happenings at each of the trail members’ brewery locations. Brew Ridge Trail Week kicks off with an Industry Night and “Meet the Brewers” event at Starr Hill on March 15. The “Too Many Cooks” collaboration beer will be officially released at South Street on March 16.
Other highlights during the week include: Devils Backbone Mug Club event on March 14; Locals Night at Blue Mountain on March 16; Saint Patrick’s Day Parties at Blue Mountain Brewery and Wild Wolf on March 17; Whoa Nelly Launch Party at Wild Wolf and Friday Cheers at the Blue Mountain Barrel House on March 18; Reilly’s 5k Run at Devils Backbone and St. Patty’s Day event at Starr Hill on March 19. For a full list of events, visit www.BrewRidgeTrail.com/Events
