Sampling at Savannah Craft Brew Fest 2016 yielded some interesting favorites. This year my parents and I splurged for the VIP tickets which provided food and some limited release tastings. 3 of my favorites came from the VIP this year. We managed to sample 60 beers this year.
Savannah Craft Brew Fest 2016
1. Love Child No. 7 by Boulevard Brewing
Love Child No. 7
Flanders red ale base blended from batches aged in bourbon barrels, red wine barrels, and stainless steel. The sour ale fantastically combined oak, spice, and tart.
2. Salt of the Gulf by Grayton Beer
Salt of the Gulf
Like getting the taste of ocean water on your lips, this gose (sour brewed with salt water) actually has salt from the Gulf in it. I loved the intensity. My first beer from Grayton.
3. Dawn Patrol Imperial Mole Stout by Coastal Empire
Dawn Patrol Label
I finally got to try this! A seasonal release from Coastal Empire, I always seem to miss it. While coffee was at the front, it soon kicked with a hot cinnamon that lingered.
Brew/Drink/Run reviewed Dawn Patrol here. They are a local entity with a podcast that reviews beers, gives home brewing tips, and runs (dream job, much?). They hosted the Craft Brew Fest Recovery Run which I took part in this year, running 3 of my 13.1 miles with them.
Yes, I ran a half marathon after tasting 60 beers the day before.
4. Sneaky Wheat by Scofflaw
Stickers, shirts, coozies, and coasters
This brewery just opened at the end of July in Atlanta, and I couldn’t even find their website. I think they’re too busy making fantastic beer.
Sneaky wheat sneaked up with bananas and a high ABV! I can’t wait to drink this in Atlanta and find cans in my store. It can’t come soon enough. Until then I guess you can check out their Instagram here.
5. Tart of Darkness by the Bruery
Tart of Darkness
I haven’t had a lot of sour stouts, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Too bad it’s already retired. I can’t imagine finding too many bottles of this down here southern GA (The Bruery‘s home is in Orange County).
Savannah Craft Brew Fest 2016 shout-outs
Two of my favorite beers this summer were there, so I got to taste them on draft.
Transilience by Southbound (a Savannah brewery) was a seasonal release that I fell in love with. Their last batch is pretty much gone. I got the t-shirt and will eagerly await its return in May of 2017.
Transilience
Second, I got to taste Hash Session by SweetWater. A sessionable (lower ABV) IPA with added hop resin from the machines that pelletize the hops. I’ve enjoyed cans and bottles all summer long.
And good news, it’s now available all year round.
I cannot properly express my excitement.
Read last year’s Favorite List here.
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