Boone Brewing Company - Blowing Rock Oktoberfest Lager

Ahh, yes, it’s that time of year again. In the beer world, the end of summer and beginning of fall is accompanied by the release of many Oktoberfest-style (aka “märzen”) seasonal beers, and we’ve got a good one lined up for you this month. Boone’s version pours a deep copper/ amber color, as one expects from the style. We really like the nose on this beer – the variety of specialty malts create a solidly malty aroma with notes of toasty bread and caramel, while the hop profile is subdued, offering just a touch of balancing spice and grassiness, and a distant impression of lemony acidity. On the palate, expect the malt core of this brew to come through full and juicy with a creamy, almost vanilla-like, hint. Hops provide a touch of balancing bitterness while still letting the brew steer a little towards the sweeter side before drying out a bit in the finish. A really nice rendition of a märzenbier from a domestic brewer, this brew will go great with grilled beer-poached brats with sauerkraut. Prost!

North Carolina’s High Country on the western end of the state is home to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, but until recently was not home to a local beer. Thanks to High Country residents Todd Rice and Jeff Walker, founders of Boone Brewing Company, that issue has been remedied quite thoroughly. The concept for a local beer began in 2005 when the two beer-loving businessmen recognized the open niche for a locally recognizable regional brand based in and around Boone and Blowing Rock, NC. They wanted to create beer that would appeal to the connoisseur while remaining approachable for the more casual drinker. From a more philosophical angle, they also were aiming for a beer that they felt would celebrate and capture the essence of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the High Country lifestyle. Over the course of the following three years Todd and Jeff perfected their recipe through many trial batches. Needing to partner with a regional distributor, they reached out to Charlotte’s Tryon Distributing Company who, faced with 14 other new beer lines, conducted a taste test to determine which they should carry. Boone’s beer won that test. However, as we’ve seen repeatedly since our club’s beginning in 1994, many brewing companies fail to gain traction in the market despite having good beer. In the case of Boone Brewing Company, Todd’s significant experience in PR, marketing and sales combined with Jeff’s extensive experience in the international beer and wine distribution industry to give the duo the business acumen necessary to pull off a successful brewing company launch. In July 2008, Boone’s beers hit the market with their flagship Blowing Rock High Country Ale in several local stores, pubs, and restaurants. The response was positive and immediate, with the beer flying off the shelves and new accounts rolling in left and right. Now, Boone has grown to offer several other year-round and seasonal brews, including this month’s Oktoberfest märzen, and their beer can be found throughout the Carolinas. For more info, visit www.boonebrewing.com.