Sunday, August 29, 2010

Sounds like Bryson pulled it off

(Lew Bryson at his eponymously-named beer and bourbon event at Allentown Brew Works)
Thanks to The Pour Curator, Greg Heller-Labelle, for not only making good use of my comp'ed media pass for the event, but for sending along the following words and pictures to help describe the event for all of you. I would have been one of those bourbon neophytes, as Greg describes further below and probably would have appreciated the full slate of Buffalo Trace. The various takes on already-interesting beers sound like it made for an afternoon and admission well-spent. I'm hoping and looking forward to a reprise next year. You, too, can thank Greg by paying him a visit over at his site, The Pour Curator and checking out his contribution to the world of beer and art. (since writing this, I see that Brian Parker also has his own review of the event up over at his I Am Beer Wise site)
(Rick Anstotz from Yards Brewing Company)
The *Yards Bourbon Barrel aged Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale* was maybe the beer that picked up the most vanilla Bourbon flavor. The *Stoudt's Bourbon Barrel Cask-Conditioned Scarlet Lady* was a special one-off for the occasion, and that was the beer that was most transformed by the bourbon barrel-aging. Anyone who’s had a Scarlet Lady is familiar with the lively, hoppy ESB, and it was close to impossible to believe that the earthy, mellow, round tasting brew at the event was the same beer.
(Josh Bushey of Allentown Brew Works)
The Brew Works had three selections. The *Beau’s Perfect Porter* and *Black Dog Stout* were mellowed versions of flagship beers, but they also had a kegged *Apple Lambic* that was a nice tart change of pace from all of the rich vanilla flavors. Weyerbacher poured their popular bourbon barrel-aged brandywine, the *Insanity.*
(Lew Bryson, presenter)
The third floor was devoted to bourbon, including multiple sessions by *Lew Bryson,* who talked on everything from the Pennsylvania roots of whiskey to the modern innovations and procedures that create great bourbon today. The full slate of *Buffalo Trace* distillery products was a particularly popular hit, in part because it offered tastes for all palates, including the bourbon neophytes in attendance.

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