This year’s Hickory Hops, Hickory’s 6th
annual outdoor beer festival, offers plenty for everyone, from
inexperienced beer novices to hardened beer fest veterans
anxious for some unusual. Mark your calendar, April 12 is the
date. Rain or shine, under then tents, from 1:00 until 7:00.
No one under 21 will be allowed to enter
including non-drinkers/designated drivers and no pets please.
The Cask-Conditioned Ale Tent is a special
booth set aside for beer made in a centuries old style. Back
before the days of pressurized carbon dioxide containers and
refrigeration, all beer was cask-conditioned. That means that
the yeast is still present in the stainless steel or wooden cask
from which it is served, although it has settled to the bottom
and is not poured into the glass.
Practiced today mostly by small English
breweries and creative American craft brewers, this traditional
style - in which the beer is fermented, conditioned and served
from the same vessel – results in a remarkable different
mouthfeel and flavor profile for most beer. Served warmer,
usually at cellar temperatures of about 55°F, and possessing
noticeably less carbonation, cask-conditioned ales typically are
smoother in texture and more prominent in flavor than their
force-carbonated counterparts. Proper care is essential to
ensure cask-conditioned ale’s drinkability. The effort provides
a fresh and natural taste that is unforgettable. OHB brewer
Steven Lyerly organized the Cask-Conditional Ale Tent.
The Carolinas Championship of Beer
introduces its third rendition this year. Several weeks before
the fest, most of the festival breweries were submitted beer for
a blind-judged competition. In mid-April, over 120 beers
spanning 85 different beer styles will be analyzed by a panel of
certified judges, brewers and experienced judges. Gold, silver
and bronze medals will be presented to winning brewers at a
private brewers’ dinner prior to the fest. During Hickory Hops,
following the first band, plaques will be awarded to three Best
of Show winners.
And that brings us to Hickory Hops. For the
6th year in a row, our small burg is blessed with the presence
of breweries from all over the South. Though they vary in size
and scope, by their very name, microbreweries are small
businesses. The brewers are here to give their beer away in
hopes that you will patronize them in the future. Show them your
respect and appreciation.
Beer festivals are fun. Following a few
helpful hints will make your fest experience more enjoyable: