17th annual beer fest on tap this weekend at Split Rock Resort

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November 21, 2008

17th annual beer fest on tap this weekend at Split Rock Resort

By Mike McGinley mmcginley@timesleader.com
Features Writer

Six years ago, Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons, Colo., was brewing beer in the basement of the company’s restaurant.

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Thousands turn out for the annual beer fest at Split Rock Resort at Lake Harmony each year. About 3,500 are expected for this weekend’s 17th annual tasting party.

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Now, it sells more than 12,400 barrels of beer to 22 states.

The brewery will be one of 30 represented at the 17th annual Great Brews of America Beer Festival at Split Rock Resort at Lake Harmony tomorrow and Sunday.

“It’s a good party,” said Shelly Lutz, director of special events at the resort. “It’s four hours so it’s not too long for anyone to get intoxicated.”

Lutz said breweries travel in from as far as the West Coast and bring two to four different beers apiece. In addition to Oskar Blues, breweries such as Stone Brewery and ReaperAle Brewery in California will attend as well.

Marty Jones, of Oskar Blues, said his company will bring three favorite beers: Dale’s Pale Ale, Old Chub Scottish Style Ale and Gordon Ale.

While he knows America’s flagship beer may still be the regular malt with large amounts of corn and rice, he’s seeing more switching to ales.

The signature Dale’s Pale Ale has 65 bitterness units, making it a “shocking beer in a can,” Jones said.

It’s a pine, citrus-tasting beer comparable to the Sierra Nevada, he explained, adding that it’s like a “pale ale on steroids.”

As for its Scottish-style ale, it’s made with seven different malts, including beechwood-smoked malts imported from Germany, giving it a coffee-flavored cocoa taste.

“Instead of making a beer that appeals to millions of people, we make beer that thrills us and then find people who like it.”

Oskar Blues is a bit different from other breweries because it cans, not bottles, all its own beers.

“We did the cans as a joke, but then we discovered all the wonderful freshness-keeping powers that cans can offer,” Jones explained.

Local brewers, including Wilkes-Barre’s The Lion Brewery, will be represented at the beer festival as well. The Lion will bring its signature Lionshead pilsner beer, among others.

“It’s a hometown beer,” said Mike Luksic, director of sales and marketing. “It appeals to all drinkers.”

Besides the regular Lionshead, other Lion Brewery beer available will be Lionshead Light, a Stegmaier Holiday Warmer, Stegmaier Porter and Pocono Pale Ale.

In its third year, the holiday warmer, Luksic said, is available only in November and December and has been a pretty good seller for the company.

The Stegmaier Porter, he said, is a darker beer and a year-round product.

“It’s an old recipe from the Stegmaier Brewing Company,” he said.

“We go through a lot of beer. It’s a great way to sample,” explained Luksic, who will bring 10 to 15 halves of beer.

Visitors will be able to sample only two ounces at a time, but Luksic said the good news is “a lot of people come back when they like it.”