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03/07/10
Stopped by Pies and Pints
in Fayetteville yesterday to sample the
wares. The place is modern/Scandinavian in
decor; decent crowd for a Sunday afternoon.
Friendly prompt service. Had the "Thai
Pizza" (Delicious!) with green curry sauce,
coconut, shrimp, and fresh basil and
cilantro.
The main reason for the stop was to try the
new beers from Bridge Brew Works
of Fayetteville.
Our waitress explained the choices as "the
Ale" and a "seasonal". The Ale was
straw/copper in hue, with a sturdy mouth
feel and clean finish. More body than your
average American lager, but not too hoppy.
Very respectable, though the Beer Snob might
expect more complexity. I look forward to
drinking it again.
The "seasonal" was an amber/brown color with
similarly restrained hop profile; not
bitter, not floral, not fruity. Highly
drinkable and clean.
My first impression: highly competent
brewing aimed at "the masses". Ken Linch
knows what he's doing. I respect these solid
efforts and look forward to a bright future
for this brewery. As these well-crafted
beers find their niche in the market, I hope
to try some more adventurous Bridge Brew
Works offerings.
Ask your favorite beer bar to get a keg of
their stuff. It's worthwhile.
The Chairman
03/06/10
The
Bridge Brew Works of Fayetteville, WV is
officially up and running. Brewers Ken Linch
(a self-taught former home-brewer) and
Nathan Herrold (former
brewer at WV Brewing Co.) are
producing two flagship brews: Long Point Lager and
Bridge Brew Ale, as well as a specialty Black Lager.
Linch
and Herrold operate a brand-new
steam-jacketed brewhouse, with two 10 bbl and 1 20
bbl fermenters at Wolf Creek Park near the South
Fayetteville exit . They brew
with carbon-filtered municipal tap water with no
added minerals. There is no brew pub or
on-premises taproom, but the beers are available at
area restaurants, including Pies and Pints and
Studio “B”. Wider southern WV
distribution is pending through Mountain Eagle of
Beckley.
Long
Point Lager is a refreshing golden-red
medium-bodied beer made with premium German malted
barley and Hallertauer-Mittelfreuh hops. It finishes
out at 4.61% ABV, and is a quality
beer which will not offend drinkers of mainstream
American lagers.
Bridge
Brew ale is an English style Amber with malty flavor
and moderate bitterness. Scottish
malt and Kent Golding hops round out this tasty
5.56% ale.
The
seasonal Black Lager will delight the beer snob,
with its deep burnt red color and raisin-caramel and
roasted malt flavors ending in a balanced semi-dry
finish with Noble Hallertaur-Mittelfreu hops and
5.01% ABV.
These
beers are very worthwhile. Bridge Brew
Works expects to offer 750ml bottles of special
brews by next year.
Ask your favorite
beer bar to stock all three.
The Chairman
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