Connoisseurs sample brews
'LAUNCH THE SUMMER': Sackets beer & wine fest finds a better time of year
By ALEC JOHNSON
TIMES INTERN
SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2008
SACKETS HARBOR ? Beer connoisseurs wielding miniature mugs sampled a heady array of brews Saturday at the debut of the Sackets Harbor 1812 Beer and Wine Festival.
"It used to be Octoberfest, but due to inclement weather, we scratched that," event organizer Joel H. Derouin said about an hour into the afternoon event. "Usually by this time it's either snowing, raining or the tent has blown down."
A host of brewers, distributors and wineries brought their goods for the sampling.
"We have seven brewers, four distributors, three wineries and about 100 barrels of beer," Mr. Derouin said. "With admission you get a 4 oz. sampler which allows you to sample all the products."
According to Mr. Derouin, 2,000 miniature mugs were purchased for the event.
Admission, which cost $20 for the general public, $15 for military and $10 for designated drivers, went to a fundraiser for the Sackets Harbor Fire Company Inc.
Busters Brew Pub and Microbrewery at the commons, Fort Drum, which won best brewery at the last Octoberfest, was back with a new lineup of draught beers. One of those brews was Buchanan's Top of the Mountain Ale, brewed by Brig. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, who attended the festival before departing for Iraq on Saturday evening.
Buster's brewmeister, James A. Arquiett, said the beer was "charged up with hops."
Gen. Buchanan, a brewer of about 18 years, poured the first few mugs of Buster's beer alongside Barbara B. Oates, the wife of Maj. Gen. Michael Oates, commander of 10th Mountain Division's forces in Iraq, highlighting the community's connection with Fort Drum.
"I'm learning to pour. I didn't know how to do that," Mrs. Oates said while mastering the correct pouring angle.
Both Mrs. Oates and Gen. Buchanan spoke about the importance of involvement between the community and Fort Drum. "We have a lot of families that live in Sackets," Mrs. Oates said. "It's a great place for our military families."
Gen. Buchanan spoke about partnerships between Fort Drum and surrounding communities. "We wouldn't be as effective in Iraq without the support and partnerships we have here," he said.
Some other breweries present were the Sackets Harbor Brewing Company, Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, and Middle Ages Brewery, Syracuse.
As he was setting up the kegs Saturday morning, Andy S. Gersten, brewer for the Sackets Harbor brewery explained their selection of beers. Their traditional 1812 Amber and Thousand Island Pale Ale were coupled with two specialty beers, St. Steven's Irish Stout and Featherhammer Maiboch.
"We brought the Maiboch out because it is a spring seasonal," Mr. Gersten said. "It's full bodied, malty and has a little bit of hops on the finish."
The St. Steven's, an Irish dry stout, is a nitrogen beer with a bit of a coffee taste. Steve Flynn of the Sackets Harbor Brewing Co. said "It's named after me, of course."
Mr. Flynn was happy the festival was moved to the spring, citing a lack of events in June and the better weather.
"We decided to do it in June to launch the summer off," he said.
John E. Pedersen, head brewer of Lake Placid Pub and Brewery had two beers, Ubu, an English strong ale, and Lake Placid, a West Coast style India pale ale on tap. Both are available in bottles locally.
"We wanted to bring something that people could get in the area," Mr. Pederson said. "If they like it, hopefully they will go out and buy some more."
Middle Ages Brewing Company had both Swallow Wit and Wailing Wench on tap. Swallow Wit is a light wheat beer, a spin off of a Belgian style ale, and the Wailing Wench is full bodied and loaded with hops.
"We brought both extremes, something light and something for the hop-head," said Matthew A. Vogelsang, retail manager for the brewery.
A chili and chowder cookoff provided food for the hungry beer drinkers. Danielle L. Lundy, who was overseeing a batch of vegetarian bean chili entered by Calla Lilies, a local gift shop, said "Everybody seems to be enjoying the chili and chowder. I just hope we have enough."
At the end of the day votes for best beer, best brewery, best wine, best winery display, best chili and best chowder were to be tallied.
"We let the people do all the judging." Mr. Derouin said, "The winners get plaques."
SOURCE: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080608/NEWS03/706594479
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