Microfestivus Note: Weeping Radish Returns To Roanoke

I’m re-posting this entry that originally appeared on the blog back in April. It was the first post I put up about any individual brewery that’s coming to this year’s Microfestivus, Roanoke’s annual beer festival. Since the event’s line-up is really beginning to take shape, with new brewery attendees being added weekly, I thought it would be a good time to put this one back up. Enjoy!

After a hiatus from Roanoke’s Microfestivus Beer Festival, Outer Banks brewery Weeping Radish will return this summer when the festival is held August 14^th. I remember eating at the Weeping Radish German restaurant and brewpub on the Outer Banks in Manteo years ago on family trips. The food and beer were always good, and the idea of a restaurant proud of their beers enough to feature only their own at the restaurant was both admirable and endearing. The brewery has gone through more than a few interesting changes since it last found its way to Roanoke, notably that it has moved from that brewpub and restaurant centered operation to an impressive, environmentally conscious “Eco Farm and Brewery”. Weeping Radish has become a solid proponent and wonderful example of the agriculturally sustainable, locally grown, eco-friendly, community based, natural back to basics philosophy that seems to be slowly growing in popularity in America. The Farm grows its own produce and eggs that it sells and uses in its restaurant, and buys local beef and pork for its on-site Master Butcher. According to the website, there are also areas of the farm devoted to the education of the community on local product as well. Brewery owner Uli Bennewitz describes the brewery’s current mission as “An integrated approach to a complex issue. Craft brewing, sustainable agriculture, and the survival of crafts”.

One of the brewery’s beers, its Black Radish Schwarzbier, has also been included on thebrewsite.com’s list of “50 Beers To Try Before You Die”. I’ve had the Black Radish many times before, and it is quite good, rating highly on beeradvocate.com as well. Luckily, the Black Radish should be one of the brewery’s beers that will be showing up at Microfestivus this year. The brewery was gracious enough to let me know which ones should appear, and along with the Black Radish, a Kolsch style beer and their “Fest Beer”, an amber lager, will be available for tasting.

For more information on the brewery and its goals, visit the website: www.weepingradish.com