I can admit it – while I love beer, from time to time I do enjoy a great glass of wine. I’ve had the opportunity to tour several vineyards in Virginia and have found what I believe to be a very distinct difference between winemaking and beer brewing.
Organic Winemaking vs. Industrial Brewing
Winemaking is a very organic process. Winemakers use open fermentation in the early stages and while wine is kept warm in order to turn sugars into alcohol – heat is not added to the process. For the most part, wineries use vats – there aren’t a lot of pipes and valves. And it’s not uncommon for wineries to leave the barn door open during any stage of the progression. To me, it’s a very natural process.
On the other hand, breweries are very industrial. Even in small breweries, there are big steel vats, pipes and plumbing everywhere. And if you’re not careful, you just might smack your shin against any number of valves sticking out of the vats. The first step in the brewing process is adding heat for the “boil.” And breweries are typically closed environments to protect the process from outside contaminants.
So while beer and wine seem to go hand-in-hand, the environments for creating each delicious beverage are very different. As the popularity of craft beer grows, I’m finding that more and more winemakers are exploring the world of brewing. Some do it for fun, some do it out of passion – all do it because they just love beer.
Corcoran Brewing Company – A Journey from Grapes to Hops
I recently ventured to Corcoran Brewing Company for a Sunday afternoon tasting in the glorious mountains of Waterford, VA. The brewery is in a small building nestled in a quiet field not far from the vineyard. While Jim and Lori Corcoran have grown a wildly successful vineyard, Jim’s love of beer inspired him to build a brewery and follow his passion. The brewery opened its doors on July 30, 2011.
Knowing that they would need an outstanding brewer, Jim and Lori brought in Kevin Bills as their Brewmaster to create sessionable, flavorful beers in his favorite styles. A supporter of the “buy local” philosophy, Kevin enjoys gathering and using as many local ingredients as possible for his seasonal brews. During my visit, I shared the tasting room with piles of freshly picked pumpkins, anxiously waiting to be transformed into a pumpkin beer that should be ready right around Halloween.
Corcoran Brewing Company hosts a ½ barrel system, but Brewer’s Assistant, Brian Spak, explained that it’s a challenge keeping up with demand. Brian estimates that on a good weekend, the brewery sees 500 guests pass through the tasting room which quickly depletes its supply. While I was surprised to find that I was the only person there at 1p.m. on a Sunday, the small tasting room soon started to fill up with people anxious to enjoy Corcoran’s tasty brew.
There was a lot of construction happening at the brewery which prompted me to ask “What the heck is going on here?” Due to the high demand for the beer and the surprisingly busy tasting room, Corcoran is expanding with a new brewing room and a new seven barrel system. This new brewing system should help Kevin and Brian brew more beer and the tasting room to expand to twice its size.
While Corcoran is not in distribution, they welcome visitors to bring their own growlers or purchase one at the brewery.
The $5 tasting included a commemorative tasting glass and a lineup of enjoyable styles. Brian poured my tasting and explained that the beers were created to be sessionable as well as accessible for most beer drinkers. I found that while each beer had its own characteristics, none of them were over the top in hoppiness or bitterness. The tasting included:
Wheatland – 5.25% ABV
American Hefeweizen
This light yet flavorful Hefeweizen presented with a hint of banana and proved to be very drinkable. Its mild flavor and crisp mouthfeel make it a great beer for a hot summer day.
P’ville Pale – 5.4% ABV
American Pale Ale
Not too hoppy and refreshingly mild, this golden ale is a lovely blend of American, German and UK hop varieties. This is the perfect beer for folks who are looking for a crisp beer with a mild mix of flavors.
Catoctin Ale – 5.5% ABV
English Pale Ale
This was by far my favorite beer of the day. Brewed in the English style, this malty pale ale has a lot of personality. While you could really taste the malt, the beer leaves a silky coating on the inside of your mouth and leaves you with a little bitterness at the end. This beer would pair wonderfully with a nice pork dish.
LoCo IPA – 6.4% ABV
Loudoun County India Pale Ale
This IPA leans more toward an English style IPA with a darker color, distinct malty notes and (unlike American IPAs) a hoppy bitterness that doesn’t overpower the flavor. This is an IPA that can be enjoyed by IPA lovers and IPA newbies alike.
Slainte Stout – 4.5% ABV
While the tasting notes indicate a smooth chocolate finish, I found a big coffee flavor and aroma in this very drinkable stout. It’s slightly lighter that your typical stout and is a great offering for people who don’t normally drink stouts.
Find out more about Corcoran Brewing Company at http://www.corcoranbrewing.com/.
Napa Smith Brewery – Creating Great Beer in Wine Country
When I think Napa Valley – I think fine wine – some of the best wine in the country. So I was surprised to discover Napa Smith beer. Beer from wine country? How could that be?
They started by recruiting one of the best – brewmaster Don Barkley, considered one of the founding fathers of the craft beer movement. In keeping with their Napa winery neighbors, Napa Smith beers are meant to be paired with food and each bottle has a food pairing recommendation on the label. Napa Smith is now available in our area, look for one of these flagship brews:
Amber Ale – 5.75% ABV
This is a well-balanced ale that starts out slightly sweet, and progresses to a clean dry finish. Mildly hoppy, the maltiness really grabs onto your taste buds.
Pale Ale – 5.25% ABV
This medium-bodied pale ale presents with grassy hops followed by sweet malt and just a hint of caramel. The subtle hoppiness makes this ale easy to pair with almost anything.
Wheat Beer – 4.8% ABV
Napa Smith’s wheat beer has a light and clean taste that is characteristic of this style. Enjoy hints of butterscotch and the aroma of wheat and grain. This is a lovely beer to enjoy on a lazy summer day.
So, the next time you need a cold drink to enjoy with a delicious meal – remember Napa. Napa Smith Brewing that is.
Find more information on Napa Smith Brewing at http://www.napasmithbrewery.com/
