Santa Rosa Beach, FL — Grayton Beer Company will brew the 2017 seasonal harvest ale on Friday, August 11, 2017, upon the arrival of freshly harvested hops.
“Every year in August, nature gives us a reason to celebrate,” said Tyler White, Head Brewer for Grayton Beer Company. “Hops are harvested as the summer draws to an end. When the flowers are first picked they contain beautiful, unique flavors and aromas that simply cannot be attained at any other time of the year.”
The hop harvest is always a special time in the life of craft breweries because it offers the opportunity to incorporate fresh hops, known as “wet hops” into limited edition fall seasonal beers.
Dry hops are the most common hops used in the brewing process. Hops, the flower cones that contribute to a beer’s aroma, flavor and bitterness are picked, dried and baled for use throughout the year. Grayton Beer Company uses dry hops when brewing their year-round styles such as FishWhistle IPA, White Dunes and the popular 30A Beach Blonde.
The brewery has selected Centennial hops from Hop Head Farms, located in Hickory Corners, Michigan, for this year’s fall seasonal. The brew team is anxiously awaiting their delivery, as the wet hops must be utilized within 48 hours of harvest. The 500-pound supply will be freshly picked and gently packed in vented crates, then shipped in a refrigerated truck nearly1,000 miles inside of 24 hours from leaving the bines. The time following the arrival of the fresh hops is pivotal for the brewers. No matter what time, the entire team will be on hand to greet the hops and immediately incorporate them into the brewing process.
60 barrels of the 2017 harvest ale will be brewed and packaged into kegs for distribution to on-premise accounts in the SoutheasternUnited States and the brewery taproom, with the majority reserved for key account partners in Northwest Florida. The brewery will host a launch party to celebrate the release of the harvest ale in mid-September.
WHO: Founded in 2011, Grayton Beer Company is a family owned brewery on the Northwest Florida coastline with a 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility. They brew classic, contemporary beers using the finest available ingredients for an easy-going Gulf Coast state of mind. The Santa Rosa Beach brewery now has a hand-made 40-foot bar that features over 20 beers in their taproom.
WHERE: Grayton Beer Company
217 Serenoa Road
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
WHEN: Friday, August 11,2017