Breweries Get Ahead

Year of beer sees new suds on the rise

Between the various breweries in Northwest Arkansas, beers of many varieties are available to legal-aged consumers. This sampler flight was brewed at Fossil Cove Brewery in Fayetteville.

Between the various breweries in Northwest Arkansas, beers of many varieties are available to legal-aged consumers. This sampler flight was brewed at Fossil Cove Brewery in Fayetteville.

Friday, December 21, 2012

— Technically speaking, Northwest Arkansas’ beer revolution kicked off in November 2011 when, after many dormant years, the brew tanks at West Mountain Brewing Company in downtown Fayetteville offered their first batches.

2012 that many other breweries poured their first pints. Tanglewood Branch Beer Co. debuted its homemade beer on May 7. Later that month, Jesse Core took on duties as head brewmaster at Dickson Street staple Hog Haus, updating brands already established there while adding his own. During May’s Fayetteville Foam Festival, a collection of brews from around the country, brewer Ben Mills of Fossil Cove Brewery showed off his beer for the first time. He would open his showroom and tasting room on June 1 in Fayetteville. Following a few months later was the Saddlebock Brewery, located between Fayetteville and Goshen.

Saddlebock brewer Steve Rehbock says market research told him Northwest Arkansas was in need of a brewery of Saddlebock’s size. In the months since opening, Saddlebock has brewed several different kinds of beer totaling about 9,000 gallons of product.

“I’ve been planning on doing something smaller for a couple years. We realized we could open a significant operation,” Rehbock says.

So far, Saddlebock beers can be found in about 60 locations in Benton, Carroll and Washington counties. Further expansion is expected, Rehbock says.

He says although the locally made beer market got crowded in a hurry, it’s become a friendly endeavor. He says he and other local brewers have found opportunities to swap supplies, and one of his products is currently on tap at Tanglewood alongside beers brewed there.

The small batch system many of the local breweries employ means that a host of diverse or seasonal beers are made throughout the year. Fossil Cove brewed a pumpkin ale for the holiday season. Tanglewood brewed a sweet potato ale during the holidays, and West Mountain has several times offered a Southwest-inspired stout flavored with hints of chocolate and chili spices.

More breweries may be coming to the area soon. Core, the brewmaster at Hog Haus, is at work on a commercial brewery facility in northeastern Springdale called Core Beer. Additionally, a company called Apple Blossom Brewing Company has recently incorporated in the state of Arkansas with the idea of opening a brew pub in Fayetteville sometime in 2013.

After years of standing empty, the tanks at West Mountain Brewing Company on the Fayetteville square are being used. House-made beers debuted in November 2011 and were soon followed by products from several other local breweries

Whats Up, Pages 15 on 12/21/2012