Hogtown Craft Beer Fest, Gainesville 2019: An Afternoon of March Merry-ness

First beer of the fest: local First Magnitude Brewing
Travelers Czech Pilsner: off to a crisp start!
(photo: Linda Johnson/BrewNymph)

March 26, 2019: The Hogtown Brewers Homebrew Club -- that self-proclaimed "merry band of beer enthusiasts with a homebrewing problem" -- once again hosted the 8th Annual Hogtown Craft Beer Festival in Gainesville on Saturday, March 23.  The popular beer-sampling fest returned to the Alachua County Fairgrounds for its second year.  

Just under 100 breweries (including several homebrew clubs), arranged in the signature "pods" generally grouped by geographic location, poured beer of all styles. In addition to the large number of Florida breweries on site, regional, national and even international breweries offered beer to attendees at the sold-out fest (hey, we tried to warn you ahead of time: don't snooze on this in 2020!).  

For those who just couldn't wait to see the fest beer list, or who wanted to plan ahead, there was an app for that, including a list of breweries by name and fest location right there in the palm of your hand. At the fest entry, pick up the printed program and fest glass and ....  go! 

North Florida Breweries Team With Sierra Nevada Brewing to Brew Resilience IPA for California Camp Fire Relief

UPDATE, 12/28/2018: I've now obtained the Resilience IPA in cans: it's a hearty, hoppy IPA, with notes of citrus, floral and pine. KEEP READING...... 

Photo: 12-28-2018. Cans of Resilience IPA, along with
coasters of the five North Florida breweries featured in this story.
(photo: Linda Johnson)

December 10, 2018: It seems that breweries, large and small, are no strangers to charitable causes or donating supplies to assist those in need when disaster strikes. In November 2018, California saw wildfires tear through acres upon acres of forest, destroy cities and towns in their paths, and claim lives. The images were stunning and heartbreaking. A number of employees at California brewery Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., of Chico, were personally affected. Shortly thereafter, the brewery established a fund, the Camp Fire Relief Fund, with $100,000 to start efforts to assist those impacted by the events. 

Graphic by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Being a large brewery, though, founder Ken Grossman also set out to brew a beer and donate all of the proceeds to the cause. And, what about asking every brewery across the nation to also participate in brewing this special beer and donating the sales back to the fund? With malt and hops suppliers agreeing to donate the raw materials to the endeavor, "Resilience Butte County Proud IPA" was born. Over 1400 breweries pledged to brew the beer, with a recipe provided by Sierra Nevada. With brewing having started in November, the beer will hit taps throughout the country in December and January. Sierra Nevada will distribute the special beer in cans. The IPA is 6.8% ABV and 65 IBU. 

Over 60 Florida breweries are participating in the nationwide brew.

When asked why Jacksonville's Bold City Brewery decided to join the effort, Co-Owner Brian Miller simply stated, "the question is, why wouldn't we?" He added that "the decision to get involved was easy" and that with peoples' lives destroyed, and although Bold City Brewery's part is minimal, "anything will help," and they are happy to be a part of it. Bold City's brewers will brew the beer in January, and it will be available on tap late January to early February.

Founder Gabe Grass of GrassLands Brewing, Tallahassee, saw the initiative as an extension of the brewery's "Craft. Community. Conservation." mission. With its assistance efforts following Hurricane Michael, GrassLands Brewing "was just as happy and as honored" to participate in the Sierra Nevada project. "We value engagement with the community, and in this sense, it's the community at large."  He added that the "camaraderie and selflessness of breweries like Sierra Nevada and the others is what fuels us on a day to day basis."  GrassLands brewed its beer on December 5, generally following the prescribed recipe. The beer will be available in the Tallahassee tap room in December. "Craft beer is universally popular, but the industry also represents a complex and intimate relationship with the community," he added. "This type of initiative is a great example of why I got into the brewing industry to begin with."

One of the first North Florida breweries to tap Resilience IPA is First Magnitude Brewing, Gainesville, with a tap room release on December 10. Co-Owner John Denny expressed not only his respect for Sierra Nevada Brewing and being "impressed with the scale of the effort," but "how quickly they pulled it together." Confirming the mindset of craft breweries to pitch in, he added, "it highlights how many craft breweries are community-minded and willing to help with charitable causes." First Magnitude's President Christine Denny worked in environmental science for 17 years, with one of her specialties being fire ecology. Having taught about the natural role of fire in Florida ecosystems and ways to protect homes from fire, the brewery wanted to help those affected, "even in a small way." 

"We were instantly on board," said Linda Horn, Co-Owner of Atlantic Beach Brewing Company in the Jacksonville area. "With the enormity of the devastation, we felt helpless while watching the news coverage." Atlantic Beach Brewing brewed ten barrels of the beer during Thanksgiving week, with an anticipated release of December 18. "It's one small way we can contribute to the rebuilding of people's lives, homes, schools and businesses," Linda commented. The brewery is "proud to be a part of such a great industry that gives back and helps one another regardless of business size or geography." (Ed. Note, December 15: ABBC will tap the beer on December 20).

According to Southern Swells Brewing Co-Founder Corey Adams, the brewery "got involved because it is a unique opportunity to make an impact by simply doing what we love, brewing." He added that being able to make a donation to the cause "through simply brewing Resilience is the least we could do." Southern Swells brewed the beer on November 28 "with just a little more dry hopping," and it will be available on December 20. With that level of devastation being unfathomable, he added, "Sierra Nevada’s idea to not only brew Resilience but to invite other breweries to do the same was amazing, and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to join the other breweries participating."  (Edited 12/15/2018)

When it's all said and done, over 17,000 barrels (4.2 million pints) of Resilience Butte County Proud IPA will make its debut throughout the country beginning in December, with all funds received from the sales of the beer being donated to the Camp Fire Relief Fund. 

In addition to the breweries mentioned above, other North Florida breweries also participating in the relief project include Ology Brewing, Tallahassee; Blackadder Brewing, Gainesville; Fool's Fire Brewing, Tallahassee; and Eastpoint Beer Company, Eastpoint.  

A full list of the participating breweries can be found here.  Homebrewers can also try their hand at brewing the beer with the homebrew recipe. 



When the beer is tapped at a location near you, give it a try, and help out the cause. 

And...... there's a badge for that, too!








Thanks to the above breweries for the comments! 


Til next time,

Linda

Linda Johnson,
Certified Cicerone®
www.brewnymph.com

All's Fair at Hogtown Craft Beer Fest 2018, Gainesville

April 26, 2018:  It had: over 100 breweries, six homebrew clubs, 47 special tappings, nine pods, food trucks, music under the pavilion, plenty of on-site parking ... even rain and sunshine. The 7th Annual Hogtown Craft Beer Fest presented by the Hogtown Brewers on April 21 pretty much had it all at the Alachua County Fairgrounds, a new fest venue this year. 

This was my sixth trek to Hogtown, and the beertrip once again included more than a beerfest -- it's a Gainesville weekend! 

Cypress & Grove Brewing, Gainesville: Cool New Place

August 29, 2017:
It seems that new breweries are always "cool," but Cypress & Grove Brewing, which opened its brewery just this past June in a former Gainesville ice plant, gives new meaning to "cool brewery."  

The brewery is located just a bit north of downtown Gainesville and University of Florida, two blocks off of Main Street, at the intersection of NW 4th Street and NW 10th Avenue. Unless you're a map geek, that may not be especially significant by itself, but those cross-streets were formerly named Cypress and Grove. Ah, yes, the name! 

A Firkin Good Time at First Magnitude Third Anniversary

Driving into Gainesville last Saturday, the skies were dark except for the bright lightning bolts that flashed up ahead toward the downtown. Knowing that parking at First Magnitude Brewing would spill over onto nearby Main Street for what was expected to be another rockin' Anniversary party, a rain poncho and umbrella sat ready for duty. In what may have been a case of celestial intervention, however, the rain clouds decided to move on, clearing the way for First Magnitude Brewing's Third Anniversary party inside and outside. (Caution: lots of photos and fun in this story!)

Beers in a Pod: 6th Annual Hogtown Craft Beer Fest

What had 113 breweries, 5 homebrew clubs/shops, around 368 beers, ciders and meads, and 10 pods all in one place? Answer: the Sixth Annual Hogtown Craft Brewers Festival, presented by the Hogtown Brewers in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, April 22!

Craft beer enthusiasts descended upon Gainesville's Tioga Town Center for the 1pm start of the annual beerfest that features breweries from all across Florida, in addition to regional, national and international breweries. Weather was perfect for beer sampling, with a mix of sun and clouds. What more could you ask for?

First of Its Kind Collaboration: Florida-Grown Hops to Your Glass from First Magnitude Brewing and Florida Hops Consortium

Photo by Linda Johnson, 4/23/2017

[Ed. Note and Update, 4/23/2017:  I am thrilled to drink the historic Apopka Hop Pale Ale, the focus of this story. Made with six hops, the beer is floral, with citrus and earthy notes. It's a smooth-drinking tasty brew. According to First Magnitude, the in-house release on April 6, featuring the beer in bottles and on draft, sold out within a couple of hours.] ....

Whether or not you realize it when you drink that beer, beer and science just go together. On April 6, First Magnitude Brewing Company (Gainesville) will release a limited batch of a true original pale ale. The beer is not only a product of First Magnitude's skilled brewers led by John Denny, but it's also a testament to advances in scientific research. When the brewery releases its "Apopka Hop Pale Ale," the public will get a taste of the first beer brewed exclusively with 100% Florida-grown hops.