Parkway Brewing Celebrates It’s One Year Anniversary
It’s not that didn’t enjoy the beer, I most certainly did. As a matter of fact, after several return trips to Salem’s Parkway Brewing for further “research” of their Get Bent Mountain IPA, I was singing its praises to anyone who would listen. But it wasn’t completely the beer that convinced me Parkway would be around for some time to come. It was the crowd. It was the folks sitting at the picnic tables inside, laughing and swapping old stories – as should be done over beer – and when the weather turned warm, the groups spilled out onto the patio as well. These return trips only cemented the obvious, that regardless of weather, inside or out, nighttime or early afternoon, weekend or weekday, the crowds of people who obviously knew each other would continue to gather – choosing the brewery as their destination to hang out, at least for a while. It was clear the brewery had, by planning or by luck, or a combination of the two, become what all local breweries should aspire to be, a place where locals truly enjoy gathering, to share a pint or two, and a good time.
Of course, the beer needs to be good as well, and for me, that’s where the IPA comes in. Currently holding a rating of 90 on BeerAdvocate.com, and though the recipe seems to have changed a bit over time, the beer continues to be a “go-to” for Roanoke craft fans. Others from the brewery include the likeable Raven’s Roost Porter, which has seen a couple of different barrel treatments, their Belgian Blonde Bridge Builder, as well as a barrel aged Dubbel. Here’s hoping that 2014 brings Get Bent Mountain’s bigger brother, an Imperial version that the brewery has planned on for some time, to market.
But whatever beers the brewery has in the works going forward, it seems clear Parkway has carved out their spot in the growing craft beer market here in Roanoke. Tonight, the brewery officially celebrates doing so with their one year anniversary party. I’m sure there will be plenty of talk and maybe a few toasts surrounding how the current line up of beers got Parkway to this point, or speculation of what’s to come. But making those points, and as much of a testament to Parkway’s current success as anything else could be, will be the crowds, gathered around the wooden picnic tables to share a beer, once again.
Cheers, Parkway.
The Beer Road 
[…] It’s not that didn’t enjoy the beer, I most certainly did. As a matter of fact, after several return trips to Salem’s Parkway Brewing for further “research” of their Get Bent Mountain IPA, I was singing its praises to anyone who would listen. But it wasn’t completely the beer that convinced me Parkway would be around for some time to come. It was the crowd. It was the folks sitting at the picnic tables inside, laughing and swapping old stories – as should be done over beer – and when the weather is warm, the groups spill out onto the patio as well. My return trips only cemented the obvious, that regardless of weather, inside or out, nighttime or early afternoon, weekend or weekday, the crowds of people who obviously knew each other would continue to gather – choosing the brewery as their destination to hang out, at least for a while. It was clear the brewery had, by planning or by luck, or a combination of the two, become what all local breweries should aspire to be, a place where locals truly enjoy gathering, to share a pint or two, and a good …read more […]
Parkway Brewing Celebrates It’s One Year Anniversary | VA Beer Trail said this on January 26, 2014 at 11:45 am |