Since discovering one of my most coveted brews a few short years ago, I have made an annual trip to Easton, Pa for what I refer to as my pilgrimage. I make this not-so-difficult journey for Weyerbacher’s Riserva event. Admittedly I have attended several releases that were small batch releases but the one that is a constant is for Riserva.
Riserva – This master brew is considered an american wild. This designation means that with each batch the flavors and taste will be slightly different due to wild yeast. Many would also call this style a sour, given the flavor profile when consuming. In some respects this beer reminds many of a wine. The tartness and berry flavor practically bridge the gap, and I have met several wine drinkers the don’t like the traditional idea of “beer” who very much enjoy this brew. I garner ripe raspberry flavors (from the raspberry puree), and tart and sour tingle on the palate, depending on the year, is intensified. This current, 2014, version I feel has an earthy taste to it along with tartness and muted sourness. The 2010 version, my favorite, was mouth-puckering sour with a lasting vinegar tinge that was not unpleasant. Both versions are redolent of raspberry and dark fruits and mildly effervescent. Each version also boasts a respectably high ABV(11.4%) that will sneak up on you in delicious fashion. 10/10
I shall leave it to your discriminations to decide if this brew sounds appealing. Clearly it has great appeal in my heart/stomach. Obviously this brew has prompted routine visits to the brewery to enjoy and buy substantial quantities. This years trip, however, was a little more curious.
In past years the event has been held on Saturdays. Last year it moved to a Friday night. Presumably this was to provide enough of the beer for purchase when the most people would not be working and able to attend the event. Having attended each for several years, my expectations were already formulated for this years release. I expected a substantial line, lots of people sharing beers in the parking lot, several stations to try other offerings, and a crowded but well-organized event.
When news leaked that the beer was to be provided to distributors for sale, presumably to whoever showed up at the right time, or knew the owner of the distributor, or any other prohibitive possibility, I started to panic. What if there wasn’t enough at the release? Would I be making a trek for no reason?
These concerns were further escalated when I found out that the release was on a Thursday! And it was releasing at noon! The even more troubling information was the quantity, 50 cases! Surely this wouldn’t last. I had off on the weekend and didn’t think I’d be willing to roll the dice on getting bottles on Saturday. So I proceeded to beg, borrow, swap and make rash promises to have off that day.
I was to play the mule as no one else was available for the excursion, (who but of the retail employee could pull off such a random day off) and embarked with my shopping list in tow. After a leisurely and mildly nervous drive I arrived at the brewery, and remarked at the lack of cars in the parking lot. In the past, even when arriving 15 minutes before the official release, I had to park in the back lot behind the building and wait behind 50 people in line for the doors to open. This had no such drama. I parked with three other vehicles and sauntered confidently up to the new, logo-emblazoned glass entryway of the smirking jester.
Two things impressed me. One, there was no one there. If you count the three people at the new(to me) bar, I suppose you could consider people present. In comparison to my experiences though, no one. Two, this was a vast improvement from my past visits. Welcoming staff greeted from behind a tall, granite(ish) bar with gold taps and room to accommodate at least 75. Standing room outside of the bar could easily encompass hundreds more. I was given an explanations regarding the newly renovated tap-room as well as a sample of my choice. I was also provided a wrist band with tear off numbers allowing for several more samples.
After cursory chatter, I asked for someone with whom contact had occurred leading to the event, and was then directed close by. Upon introduction(discussion had been online only to this point) we engaged in gratifying palaver about various, Weyerbacher beer centered, topics. I inquired about the logic behind the new event timing and set up and received a gratifying and thorough explanation regarding the decisions about timing, release quantities, distribution, and set up of future events. When I expressed my concerns about being able to attend and obtain at this particular event, concerns of which he was aware, I was greeted with a somewhat shocking answer.
“It’s just fucking beer, right?”
I would be remiss if did not acknowledge that this comment was also predicated by discussions of trying to satisfy many requests for this brew. We also discussed the safety of patrons at the facility and the use of the wrist bands to make sure that people in attendance and buying the special offerings were lucid to return their purchases to their homes. There was dialogue about people clamoring for rarities and special offerings and not enough bottles to go around. We chatted about foolish lotteries and inane practices to obtain different beers. He had insisted that everyone should be able to get a shot at the beer and that was the reason that the event times were changed around. The insistence was, were there someone who absolutely couldn’t make it at the set date and time and really, really wanted to purchase, provisions would be made.
I suppose, even after all of the helpful dialogue, I was still a bit shocked to receive such a candid and emphatic reply to the concerns I had voiced. The efforts I had made to get to the event and puchase for friends and family also made this singular comment seem strange. I am fully aware that with beer as with so many things you get out what you put into it. My immediate response to the statement was “But by being here, chatting with you and being excited about it, and making pre-visit efforts to ensure my procurement of the beer, I am one of those people.” I felt mild fanboy shock, as if I were meeting Christian Bale and he just casually said “I actually really hated playing Batman.” I couldn’t hold it against Bale for feeling the way he did. It’s just an opinion after all. Just the same, I couldn’t fault feelings of the Weyerbacher rep even if it did seem to clash with my perceived scope of his role. The interaction did create great cause for contemplation.
Maybe I make too much of it. Maybe it’s an interest that I inflate in importance. Maybe it’s something I like to share with others and write about. Maybe its channel for socialization. Maybe it helps people cope with family reunions. Maybe its that extra push that managed propelled you to ask your wife out all those years ago. Maybe it’s the reason you have your first child. Maybe it’s why you thought that concert was the best one you ever heard. Maybe it’s the source of your livelihood. Maybe it helps you relax at the end of your hard day. Maybe it helps you create. Maybe it helps you destroy. Maybe it helps your team win. Maybe it consoles you when your team loses. Maybe it just tastes good. Maybe it makes you feel good. Maybe it makes you feel nothing.
Maybe it’s just fucking beer.
Humbly yours,
J