Higher (ABV) Education
by Kurt Epps—The PubScout
It was a night filled with many things.
Classroom videos.
Pizza.
Snacks.
History.
Geography.
Hops.
Beer.
Laughter.
And even diplomas, mortarboards, a dignified graduation processional with accompaniment from Elgar (Pomp and Circumstance) and the naming of the Tap Time Beer Skool’s first valedictorian.
With all the extras and perqs, none of the students complained about the slightly higher cost of the course. After all, they got to sample a wide variety of IPA’s from NEIPA’s to the West Coast styles to a Belgian IPA to some extremely hard-to-find classics. Students even got to greet a celebrity when Patrick Legendre, Beer Cerevisionary of the famed Oyster Rock restaurant, showed up bearing “gifts.”
This Beer Skool event, inspired by Tap Time owners Keith and Christa Berciunas, was dedicated to learning about IPA’s—India Pale Ales—their history, their varieties and their ingredients.
Skool Master Keith–below– (who notably left his “Board of Education” paddle secured to the wall this time) arranged a video for the class to absorb as they absorbed their first Pale Ale—Puppy Drum— from Wrightsville Beach Brewing. They also chowed down on pizza that the thoughtful Skool Master provided.
With the basic pale ale added to their palate, the rest of the beers took turns, seeking to impress. Hardywood’s (VA) The Great Return with its bright grapefruit aroma was next, and student Killian raved about it—all night.
Then three canned entries made an appearance—Coast Brewing’s (N. Charleston) Hop Art, sporting a 7.7% ABV, a 6.3% and Megalicious NEIPA, a beer from Brussels brewing in Patagonia, Argentina clocked in at 6.5%.
Then the big boys came out. Meeting’s Over, a 9.7% DIPA from 26 Degree brewing in Pompano beach, FL began the assault. Then, a surprise beer from Keith’s own beer vault ( which some say has more intrusion protection than Fort Knox) appeared. It was none other than Russian River’s Pliny the Elder, which of course required a brief history lesson about the eruption Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D and Pliny’s role in describing it. Generally speaking, it was exceptionally well received by most. Killian still liked the Hardywood better, but he grudgingly gave Pliny second place.
Coast Brewing’s Boy King, another 9.7% monster DIPA, tasted sweet to those who had not cleared their palates from the Pliny, but newbie Jeff said that the more he drank of it the better and smoother it got. That’s a pretty standard experience, and most professional beer tasters will attest that second sip of a beer is where the “rubber meets the road.”
Then the student field trip took a journey to Belgium for La Chouffe’s outstanding Belgian IPA, another 9% offering. Many declared it to be their favorite so far, especially John, Carol and Susan.
Saving the best for last, Keith raided his vault again to produce four bottles of Dogfish Head 120. No exact ABV was provided for either r the 2017 or the 2019 iterations, other than to suggest that the number was somewhere between 15-20%.
Students got to sample one alongside the other to see if they could detect any differences, and many did. With Amy and Kris assisting in the distribution of all the beers, the assembly was very much pleased. And then the special ceremony began.
Three of our students, Eric, Derry and Karlie (our Valedictorian) had completed their fourth consecutive Beer Skool session, making them graduating “seniors.” A beautiful diploma certificate, signed by the school’s dignitaries, was awarded to each, along with their mortarboard graduation caps, and the trio began a dignified procession onto the main floor. (That it originated near the restrooms seemed to bother no one.)
And with Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” playing through the pub, our deserving seniors were properly feted.
The positive vibes and camaraderie were just beginning to subside, when, lo and behold—in walked Patrick Legendre, cerevisionary and GM of the fabulous Oyster Rock Restaurant—bearing foamy gifts.
One of them was Heady Topper (if you have to ask, you need to enroll in Beer Skool), which server Kris had never experienced. So impressed was Kris with the King of the NEIPA’s, that he contacted his old friend—a Cicerone—to let him know of his good fortune. The Cicerone has not yet replied. Jealousy regarding Heady Topper can run deep.
The next Beer Skool—Beers of Summer-Plus—is slated for May 17, and you can sign up directly at the Tap Time bar or via Facebook when the announcement goes live.
See you there! Na Zdravi!
The PubScout–immersed in the craft beer scene since 1996
Click the Instagram link on my homepage to see pictures of the “Student Body.”
