{"id":8428,"date":"2016-05-08T16:08:48","date_gmt":"2016-05-08T20:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hagarty-on-wine.com\/OnWineBlog\/?p=8428"},"modified":"2016-05-08T16:30:41","modified_gmt":"2016-05-08T20:30:41","slug":"ill-drink-to-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hagarty-on-wine.com\/OnWineBlog\/ill-drink-to-that\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019ll drink to that"},"content":{"rendered":"

Craft beer soars to national prominence<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1979, there were just a handful of craft breweries in the United States. It was also the year President Jimmy Carter signed legislation allowing homebrewing. As the hobby gained traction it became apparent to many newly minted brewers their products might have commercial appeal.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_6523\"So what started out as a flurry of home suds-makers turned into an avalanche of one million hobby brewers. That cohort in turn led to a proliferation of professional artisan brewmasters.<\/p>\n

But an avalanche? Indeed. From a scattering of craft breweries in the early 1980s, the industry has burgeoned to over 4,200 today. It\u2019s a classic example of free enterprise and entrepreneurial spirit being unleashed by market opportunity.<\/p>\n

Moreover, it catapulted the U.S. into the world\u2019s leading craft beer producer. Today, some of the finest beer in the world is being produced in America.<\/p>\n

Craft beer has joined forces with artisanal wine and distilled spirits as a growth industry. Across the spectrum of \u201csocial lubricants\u201d quality is trumping quantity.<\/p>\n

The phenomenon is evident in communities across the country and Prince William County is no exception. Currently there are five county establishments serving fresh brewed beer daily.<\/p>\n

So grab your growler or mug and head out to taste the county\u2019s malted barley products.<\/p>\n

And as you drain the last drop of your favorite brew, keep in mind Ben Franklin\u2019s in-tavern observation, \u201cBeer is proof that God loves us.\u201d<\/p>\n

BadWolf Brewing Company<\/strong>
\n9776 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110
\nCreating a line of craft beers that appeal to the
\nlocal palate using whole ingredients, never artificial flavors or extracts.
\n(571) 208-1064
\nVisit http:\/\/www.badwolfbrewingcompany.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

BJ\u2019s Restaurant & Brewhouse<\/strong>
\nFully stocked handcrafted and award winning beers produced
\nby talented and passionate brewers.
\n13930 Promenade Commons St.
\nGainesville, VA 20155
\n571- 222-6950
\nVisit http:\/\/www.bjsrestaurants.com\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Heritage Brewing Co<\/strong>
\nA veteran owned and operated microbrewery
\nwhose goal is to only produce the finest beer made
\nwith the best Ingredients.
\n9436 Center Point Lane
\nManassas, VA 20110
\n571-358-8463
\nVisit http:\/\/heritagebrewing.com\/beers\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Ornery Beer Company Public House<\/strong>
\nThe county\u2019s first brewpub serving meticulously crafted house ales
\nand lagers paired with a creative menu.
\n14389 Potomac Mills Rd
\nWoodbridge, VA 22192
\n703-490-6400
\nVisit http:\/\/www.ornerybeer.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Tin Cannon Brewing Company<\/strong>
\nA nano brewery creating craft brews on premise
\nfor sale in their own taproom.
\n7679 Limestone Dr #130
\nGainesville, VA 20155
\n571-248-0489
\nVisit http:\/\/www.tincannonbrewing.com\/<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Hop to it<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most beer drinkers fall into one of two camps: Those who like a strong hop impact in their beer and those who prefer a more modest touch. The former folks are typically called \u201chop heads\u201d and wear the moniker with pride. The rest of the beer world often wonders, \u201cHow can you drink that stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n

But beer without some hop impact would be tantamount to drinking Kool-Aid. Hops are a critical component of any beer. They contain an essential oil with a very bitter flavor. The bitterness counters the sweetness from the malt and creates a balanced libation. It also acts to preserve the brew.<\/p>\n

One of the strongest of hoppy beers is called an India Pale Ale. It can contain 60, 70 or even 100 IBUs, or International Bittering Units; an industry measure of hop strength.<\/p>\n

Conversely, a pilsner or stout beer will contain 20 to 30 IBUs.<\/p>\n

Currently, much of the domestic hop cultivation occurs in Washington State but there is an emerging Virginia hop industry that will be producing some distinctive brews in the years ahead.<\/p>\n

Doug Fabbioli, award winning vintner and owner of Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg, is a nascent hop grower. \u201cIt\u2019s a burgeoning industry in Virginia that dovetails well with our labor, agriculture and management practices in the vineyard.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can contribute flavors that make Virginia beer unique, we are very happy to be part of the hop growing industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fabbioli estimates there are well over a dozen hop growers in Northern Virginia alone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Published in the Spring\/Summer 2016 edition of inPrinceWilliam magazine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Craft beer soars to national prominence In 1979, there were just a handful of craft breweries in the United States. It was also the year President Jimmy Carter signed legislation allowing homebrewing. As the hobby gained traction it became apparent to many newly minted brewers their products might have commercial appeal. So what started out […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[5],"tags":[875,876,285,877,878,879],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n