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| at Kickbacks Gastropub |
Serendipity reared its beautiful head a couple of weeks ago
when David Rigdon of Champion Brands and Team Hopheads invited me to be a part
of a group to sit with Terrapin Beer Company's owners and co-founders Brian "Spike" Buckowski (Brewmaster) and John Cochran (President) last Friday (Oct 26). Spike
and John were traveling into Jacksonville that day to attend the following
day's Florida-Georgia game and had agreed to do a few promotional events Friday
evening.
Let me explain my excitement. I have spoken often of my
initial foray into craft beer about a year ago when John Woodcock (then, of
Kickbacks Gastropub) shamed me into letting him select something for me after I
grossed him out by ordering (and drinking) an Ultra or something similar in
calories.
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| with Spike Buckowski FL/GA TapTakeover |
One of my earliest taste-bud explosive experiences was with
Wake-N-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Stout. I'm sure I was told Terrapin Beer Company
brewed this magnificent nectar but I was too focused on remembering
“Wake-N-Bake” for that factoid to lodge in my memory.
Although I am now very aware of Terrapin Beer Company and
the array of selections they offer, Wake-N-Bake still holds a position as one
of my most favorites – and companion's.
So, David's invitation to speak with the honchos of the
brewery thrilled me, of course – and I wanted to make sure my questions for
them would be pithy, current and pertinent – important enough to me to even
type them out.
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| Steve Flores and Spike Buckowski - Kickbacks Gastropub |
As background, a minority stake in the ownership of Terrapin
Beer Company has recently been acquired by Tenth & Blake, the craft beer
arm of MillerCoors. There was enough concern about this that Terrapin's website
devoted their FAQ page to the buy-in by Tenth & Blake.
The concerns raised by Tenth & Blake having a seat at
the Athens, Georgia “toropean” brewer's table were conceived by the underlying
perceptions taking the verbal form of two questions:
1) Did
Spike and John really sell-out? … to now sail aimlessly and wealthily through
the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean …
or to develop a hop farm in Viana do Castilo; or,
2) Was
Terrapin in dire financial straits?
At the outset, let me say the answer to 2) above is a
resounding NO – the financial picture at Terrapin was and is fine – good and
healthy.
The answer to 1) was more problematic for me – was the
coverage of the Tenth & Blake buy-in on Terrapin's FAQ page merely
“corporate-speak”? … you know, that never fear – “everything-is-rosy-type”
marketing hype?
Why is the answer so important? … realistically, with the
MillerCoors understandable focus points on the Environment, Labor and Safety
(aka EPA , Teamsters and OSHA), if push comes to shove, will MillerCoors direct
a realignment down-ladder as far as policies which would alter how Terrapin
conducts business? … what they can brew? … when they can release? … where they
can distribute?
I had other questions for the pair and during the nearly
three-hour meeting, John and Spike patiently and generously endured the
questions – well, John more so than Spike. Spike was giving me a hard time
about my questions – in a good-natured way, though.
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| 2010 Spike & Jerome's Cuvee Délirante |
To provide comparisons in real-time, we were also provided
samples of the previous year's Collaboration Ale from these two breweries, Spike
& Jérôme’s Cuvée Délirante (Collaboration Ale). For
this initial endeavor between the two brewmasters, Spike flew to Switzerland
for the pair to work together – tough duty, huh? … makes you wonder what
Spike's high school career counselor suggested he consider for a career –
probably not anything as fulfilling as traveling the world to create
commercially successful beers!
I was reminded of my initial taste of the first Spike &
Jérôme’s Collaboration from almost a year ago – my newby taste-buds at that
time being shocked at how tart and sour it was to me. Even then though, I could
appreciate the fact it was because I was still a rookie in the craft beer world
and would probably develop a taste for that type of beer. I did.
After tasting it during the meeting, I was happy to realize
I really did enjoy it – but I could never drink a whole tulip of it – so yeasty
and sour. Well, heck – who knows? … this time next year I could be drinking a
growler of it. We'll see …
The newest collaboration was much smoother with the essence
of a woodsy Barley Wine but not quite as heavy as others I enjoy. Note – I could
drink A LOT of this one! … surprisingly drinkable, it could sneak up on you.
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| Florida Georgia Tap Takeover at Northstar Substation |
My heartfelt appreciation to David Rigdon of Champion Brands
and Team Hopheads for the invitation to be involved in this very special
meeting, to Steve Flores for providing the perfect setting and to Spike
Buckowski and John Cochran for their generous gift of the Collaboration Ale and
for graciously indulging my list of questions – typed and all.
To view more photos from John and Spike's visit and FL/GA Tap Takeover, please visit the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.369333766485572.89070.181100418642242&type=3
To view more photos from John and Spike's visit and FL/GA Tap Takeover, please visit the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.369333766485572.89070.181100418642242&type=3
Terrapin Beer Company
John Cochran's Blog
– President of Terrapin Beer Company
BFM Website
Kickbacks Gastropub
