Over the years I’ve made no secret of my love of good beer. Along with bourbon, Scotch, and assorted other spirits. This past summer, after years of whining about wanting to do it, I finally started doing some homebrewing. I’m enjoying it, and now engaging in the predictable lament of not having enough time to do it as often as I would like. Brewing has a fair amount of gap. Time to idly daydream while waiting for the next step. There’s plenty of time to fantasize about doing it fulltime. Trying to make a living at it. Even the crappiest homebrewer has those daydreams.
One of the readers — usd121 — is actually living that dream. He is the head brewer at Voodoo Brewery in Meadville, PA.
Curt is debuting his first beer on Thursday. It is an IPA named HTP.
For those that can’t figure out the acronym, that’s Hail To Pitt.
Here’s a bit about the beer from Curt:
HTP is an 8.0% IPA brewed with four kinds of malted barley. HTP used only Simcoe and Zythos hops.
The deep gold body of the beer provides a strong enough malt backbone to balance out the aggressive hopping schedule (over 30lbs!) HTP received. The nose of the beer is rich in fruity and piney notes. There are hints of tangerine, citrus, and floral undertones. The medium bodied beer starts with a mildly bitter taste that gives way to the fruit and pine notes found in the nose on the back end. HTP is a bright and crisp IPA that was designed to be highly drinkable.
If you are anywhere near Meadville, you owe it to yourself (and me since I can’t be there) to stop by on Thursday to raise a pint.
Voodoo’s distribution is still quite small. And this beer is a one-off, so you can only grab a pint — or a growler — of it in Meadville.
While Voodoo does not offer brewery tours, Curt is generously offering to make a special exception if there is a contingent of Pitt Blather fans interested in meeting some Sunday at the brewery for a tasting. A tasting that would include some of the other beers (possibly even from the Barrel collection).
So… are there enough interested people in meeting up on a Sunday in Meadville within the next month. The 27th might be the best target day. In between the Superbowl and sandwiched between DePaul on Saturday and Louisville on Monday.
Who is up for beer?
With 3 Philosophers at 9.8% being a fav.
Wow I don’t know many ppl who imbibe in both bourbon & scotch. (almost like oil & water)
Chas you are truly a unique person. I look forward to the day we meet. As in it takes one to know one.
HTP Voodoo
JoJo Kemp down to Pitt, WVU and Kentucky. Will announce next week.
________
“Pitt has a great environment with it being in the inner city,” Kemp said. “I know there is a chance for me to go to Pittsburgh and right away in that pro-style offense. I’m just trying to debate if I want to go to pro-style or the spread.” – Orlando Sentinel
but right now i am very sick flu.
may be next time.
Curt, congrats! Love Simcoe hops. Hope I can try HTP sometime!
I made the mistake of NOT taking the flu seriously enough and paid the price last year. Since I’m a small business owner, I attempted to work through my illness after only giving into a three day weekend attempt to kick my symptoms and ended up being rewarded with pneumonia for my puritan work ethic habits.
Its been nine months and I’m only now feeling well enough, lung capacity wise, to restart my usual daily workout routine again.
Old guys like us have to respect the flu, or else. So take your time and get well soon!
And don’t worry Yeti. The beer is not fruity. There are some fruit notes imparted by the different hops. Rest assured it is a very hoppy west coast style IPA.
i will have one but i like mixed drinks my self
but i will get 6 for her and one for me.
Still, they’re not offering HTP. So screw ’em.
Lee, no, we can’t ship growlers. The beer won’t hold up and I won’t sell something that can’t be drank the way I designed it and intended it to be.
Shucks gotta settle for those Texas women instead of the girls of Meadville.
Life is not fair 🙂