Weekend Tap Update – Big Lick Beertopia ’13 Style

Normally, the Weekend Tap Update post attempts to point out some of the newest craft beers that have just arrived on draft in time for the weekend around Roanoke. Without a doubt, the “usual suspects”, the restaurants which devote their selections to craft beer will likely have a few surprises over the next couple days, as they do most any weekend. But considering that Big Lick Beertopia is tomorrow, the post today will point out at least a couple beers not to miss should you be heading out to the festival. (And you should, of course – plenty of great craft beer, on the grounds of a baseball stadium, and for a good cause – yes, you should.)

With this in mind, and using the information which has been pushed out on the Big Lick Beertopia Facebook page over the last few days (a listing of beers from many of the breweries, plus a map), here’s a couple brews not to miss:

Just to the right of the centerfield wall will be located both Richmond’s Legend Brewing Company and Baltimore’s Heavy Seas. Legend will be featuring their Hopfest IPA, a newer beer to the Virginia brewery’s lineup. Plenty of citrusy hop aroma and flavor dominate Hopfest, and just about the moment you begin to decide that it is a fairly well balanced out IPA, the prickly grapefruit tastes remind you who’s in control, and then makes sure you remember with a dry-ish finish and a decent amount of lasting bitterness – which all may sound like the last month you spent with that particular ex boyfriend or girlfriend – but trust me, this is a beer you’ll want to continue to spend some time with. On the other hand, you may want to make your way over to the Heavy Seas tent, where apparently a firkin (small cask) of their English Pale Ale Powder Monkey will be available. It’s not terribly often that cask ales make their way to the Roanoke/Salem area (although a nod must be given to Billy’s in downtown Roanoke, for regularly having one), so if you’re still getting your feet wet on what cask conditioning can do for a beer or beer style, this is an opportunity to do just that.

Of course, they’ll be plenty of Virginia breweries at the event to help promote the interest of craft beer from the state, including our own area’s Parkway Brewing, Sunken City Brewing, and Roanoke Railhouse. Others include Devils Backbone, Blue Mountain, Lost Rhino, Dominion, Blacksburg’s Bull & Bones, Bold Rock Cidery, Apocalypse Ale Works, and Wild Wolf to name a few. One other individual beer with a bit of a limited release status but worth checking out will be Victory Brewing’s Swing Saison. Also, one particular out of state brewery making an appearance is South Carolina’s Skull Coast, worth noting since (if memory serves me right) it will be the first time their beers have been represented at an area event.

There are plenty of great craft beers to be found this weekend, and all in one place at Big Lick Beertopia, so make your way out, Roanoke area craft fans! If you don’t have tickets yet, today (Friday) is the last day to purchase them at a discounted rate, and plenty of spots around town are selling them, check out the event’s Facebook page for a full listing. Cheers!