Tag: Hillbilly Elegy

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Ohio / Kentucky Brewery # 3 – Nostalgia Brewing

Our final Hillbilly Elegy inspired stop is the memoir appropriately named, Nostalgia Brewing.

The brewery and taproom is located north of Columbus in the town of Gahanna. And their beer names lean into the movies and sports area….such as….

The Hunt for Red Oktoberfest Vienna Lager – “You don’t need Jack Ryan to save you from this one – it’s a seasonal beer, get it before it’s gone!”

Dawg Pound Brown – “Dating back to 1985, the Dawg Pound is known for it’s vocal support through thick and thin.”

7734 Helles – ” 7734 is a nod to the days of quickly hitting the “C” before the teacher noticed you spelled hELL on your calculator.”

3 Hour Tour Farmhouse Saison – ” Hints of juniper and ginger, this refreshing beer might be your choice if you’re stuck on an island with a fella named Gilligan.”

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Ohio / Kentucky Brewery # 2 – Dreaming Creek of Richmond, Kentucky

Alighting in Richmond, Kentucky, we find Dreaming Creek Brewery. Founded by co-owners — Michael Bradley, Taryn Edington, Charley Hamilton and Darrin Wilson who started with a bar first and then branched into brewing.

And here are the beers that I would sample first…

1792 – Kentucky Common

Wilderness Road– Amber Ale

Play for Souls – Belgian Pale Ale

London Fog – Strong Bitter

Natural Bridge – IPA

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A Book & A Beer – Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

I am not a big memoir reader (except for this year it seems) but as the author of Hillbilly Elegy states at the beginning of his book, this isn’t really a memoir.

It is a hybrid memoir with scattered bits of social policy thrown in. To me, the history of the J.D. Vance’s growing up is fascinating with one of the key take-aways being that the skills that he needed to survive childhood are not the same ones that he needed as an adult. I found the political and how to help the poor (aka hillbillies) to be a bit simplistic at times though Vance does go out of his way to say that the problem doesn’t have a one size fits all solution. Those thinking that he is some staunch Republican would find little in common with the current powermongers in DC or with most Republicans. He is basically right-center on the spectrum.

I will be highlighting breweries in Ohio and Kentucky where the book was primarily set this month, so for my recommendation, I would suggest (if still made) have a beer that was around when you were growing up. For me, I would find some Widmer or McMenamin’s to take me back to my past and the places that made me who I am.

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Ohio / Kentucky Brewery # 1 – Somewhere in Particular Brewing

It seemed kind of a given that given the name of this brewery and the fact that the brewery tour them is Hillbilly Elegy that I would start with Somewhere in Particular Brewing Company. Also, love the fact that the name is super cool and also an acronym for what you do inside.

Here are the Ohio brewed beers that I would try first…

Liquid Weekend Table Beer – sessionable lager

Peppin the Short – West Coast IPA

Very Berry Bity City – blackberry sour

Harry Porter – the original SIP flagship beer

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In the Tap Lines for October

header_attractionsHave we entered Fall?  L.A. has seen 90+ then practically shady temps, then back up again.  The weather whipsaw might be best suited to those lighter Oktoberfest beers.  Now onto what is coming up this month….

~ e-visits to three breweries from Ohio (see A Book & A Beer below)
~ special featured reviews of the Firestone Walker Hoppy Lion Variety Pack
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Eaters Digest
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your October started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) October 1st – MacLeod Ale night at Tony’s Darts Away
2) October 13th – DTLA Brewers United Fest