On Saturday afternoon I poured the heck out of Sly Fox’s brews at Geraghty’s Fall Beer and Food Fest, with proceeds benefiting the Burlington City Recreational Activities, giving kids the opportunity to be kids and play and keep them out of trouble.

I showed up, met Chris from Hunterdon and after listening to him rattle off a couple things I would need, I jumped right in. I iced my cooler coils and hauled the 2 kegs into a tub, icing them down as well. Everything was already connected, so I got a pitcher from the bar, cleared the lines and got my tap handles put on.

I was the very first table, with Yards to my right. Toby, Yards’ warehouse manager, was there with his girlfriend Maria. Toby manned the next tap handles down as a favor for Tröegs, while Maria poured for Yards. We poured ourselves samples to check the lines a little more thoroughly, and then settled in to wait for the brewfest patrons.

The turnout was pretty light—not what I’m typically used to. Lines were nonexistent, that is, unless someone took too long to make up his mind about which beer he wanted. I was prepared, informing fest goers about Pikeland Pils‘ GABF awards and its light, crisp taste (perfect for a day that was in the 80s and sunny) or of the new seasonal, Oktoberfest and its Vienna malts and amber hue.

There were a lot of Pikeland Pils fans (makes sense … it’s one of Sly Fox’s top sellers). One the slightly stranger moments of the day was when a woman leaned over the cooler and giddily whispered to me “This smells like pot!” I smiled, told her hops and marijuana are from the same family and sent her on her way. (I didn’t think the Pils smelled at all like pot, but then again, my senses are more refined in regard to beer aroma).

I had another woman come back to me for a total of 8-10 times, saying she didn’t like anything else there—that included Victory Hop Devil and Festbier; Southampton Publick House’s Pumpkin; Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin and Autumn Fest, and a lot of other great beers covering almost every category—literally something for everyone—but everyone’s tastes are different.

As a whole, the fest goers were 98% male, and the women who were attending typically made a beeline for my table and Pils. I had a lot of people look at the dark brown beer in my personal pint glass and say “What are YOU drinking?” I’d smile, point to Toby down at Tröegs and say “Java Head Stout.” I love that beer!

And so the afternoon went on. Ray stopped by and got to hang out—I even let him pour a few beers so I could check out what else was on tap. I had a great time, up until I went to get a taste of Southampton’s pumpkin. On my way there, a short, grizzled man stopped me, and informed me how disappointed he was in me and Sly Fox and how we didn’t bring our A-game. I pointed out this was a Fall fest, we brought appropriate beers. He wouldn’t listen, just kept complaining. I finally told him I was only a volunteer, a homebrewer, and I had no control over what was sent. That still wouldn’t shut him up. So I told him that if he didn’t like what I had to pour, he could just skip my table, because there were plenty of other tables to visit. Seeing that he couldn’t be reasoned with, I stepped around him, got my pour from Southampton, and went back to my taps. Man, there’s one in every crowd I guess.

While the crowd remained light throughout the afternoon, I had a fun time talking with Toby and Maria, as well as the fest goers. I even had one gentleman, a homebrewer with 23 years experience, say I sounded like I was part of the industry based on the discussion we were having about homebrewing and Stoudts and prices. I smiled at that. Maybe someday I will be part of the craft beer industry—I think that’d be pretty damn cool.

Brewfests, Craft Beer 3 Comments »