Five years.
Five years?!
FIVE YEARS!!!
In February, during our grand opening weekend for the new brewery, I told people that five years ago, if you would have told me that there would be a new 12,000 square foot barn on our farm with a new brewhouse, new cold storage, new canning line, etc., I would have laughed and said, “You’ve obviously been drinking.”
And here we are, five years later with all of those things and celebrating our 5th Aleiversary to boot.
For the first time at an Aleiversary, Brian and I did not spend a crazy portion of the day working—i.e. parking cars, changing out trash, etc. Instead, we were able to divvy up employees to cover all the non-stop tasks, and we jumped in every once in awhile to pour a few beers, make change, give an employee a break, etc. We were able to spend some time with some of our retail and distributor partners, and best of all, we were able to talk to many of you!
Also for the first time, we were open on Friday and Sunday of the Aleiversary Weekend, too. Friday we spent most of the day into the evening in the tap room. There were some people that came out at those times because they wanted a four-pack of Mule Team or they wanted to drink some of the small batch beers, but they didn’t want to face the Aleiversary crowd. (If you came out on Sunday and hoped to see us…sorry…we were recovering from the Aleiversary after party with our staff.)
Saturday started out with brilliant sun and a light wind that got colder as the sun disappeared behind clouds. Several folks camped out in the lawn using the deck as a windbreak, and everyone else pretty much piled into the tap room where they somehow still found room for dancing to Casey Lynne and the Dealbreakers and Deep Fried Squirrel.
The 2016 Mule Team IPA and the Seventh Trumpet Imperial Stout were enjoyed by many as part of the Aleiversary festivities. Cases of Mule Team four-packs found their way out the door. Paw Paw French Saison came back again this year, with plenty to go around (instead of one little keg). Aux Arcs (French, pronounced “Ozarks”) a dry-hopped French saison made its debut, and more than one person claimed it to be a new favorite. All of those beers are small batches, but they will be available for awhile in the tap room, and they will make their way into the retail market in very limited numbers of kegs. Hopefully, you’ll get your chance to try them, too.
Twisted Mike’s Food Truck and Mike and Julie’s Smoked Meats stayed busy with their food fare. Did you try the fries from Twisted Mike’s? I think they were called “crack fries”, and they were craaazy good. Can we get a show of hands from those than enjoyed Mike and Julie’s nearly famous nachos? Yes, that was quite a few of you. Suffice it to say, in Brewcyrus, we like our beer with potatoes.
We are still pinching ourselves that five years are in the books here on the Piney River Farm. We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for all of you, the great beer drinking folks that have supported us in so many ways over the past 5 years.
You know who you are.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Who knows what we’ll be saying and writing about for the next five?
Cheers!
Looks like this was a blast! Damn sorry we couldn’t make it out. Carrie had a training all weekend and I was buried in a couple of house projects. We are planning to come out with a few friends for an afternoon later this spring. Actually we were wondering if it was possible for us to take shifts with the kids (there will be a few) hanging out down by the river? Maybe Andy would want to join in?
Cheers
Harwood