Boone Brewing Company - Blowing Rock Summer Ale

This brew is Boone’s take on a Belgian witbier, and as such it’s brewed with coriander and orange peel, as is traditional for the style. On the pour, this unfiltered wheat beer is quite hazy, presenting a golden straw color with a crisp head of white foam. In the aroma department, expect a core of crackery pale malt with distinct wheat notes. The Saaz hops and Belgian yeast strain contribute a spicy quality that’s accompanied by herbal coriander notes and a touch of citrus. On the palate, this witbier delivers plenty of pale malt with a doughy edge and the signature wheat “twang.” There’s a bit of citric acidity, while the hops and coriander add pleasant spice notes, and some of our tasters picked up on hints of banana as well. Enjoy this brew with Edam cheese squares, or a Spinach and Feta omelet.

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 realized 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, and their beer can be found throughout the Carolinas. For more info, visit www.boonebrewing.com.