Updated 3/9/10

The chatter of opening up the deck has started at McKenzie Brew House, and just think of it- sitting outside and drinking beer…

...at the same time.

I know it personally seems likes it's been ages since I've had the pleasure.  I believe it was in this very blog last fall that I wrote about sitting on the beach on a cool September night, sipping on the last yellow beers of summer. 

The winter has been a great one for us.  After years of talking about it we finally pulled of our first ever beer dinner.  It was a smashing success and the next one is already being planned.  On Sunday we held our first ever home brew competition and it was a great thing that exceeded both my expectations and those of my taste buds.  

The competition was a Belgian themed event that saw brewers from as far away as Florida rack their carboys and rack their brains for 21 of the most inventive beers I've ever tried in one place.  Ingredients included maple syrup, vanilla, hibiscus, blood oranges, figs, wild yeasts and lots of different sugars and spice.  Our champ in the end was Matt Talecki from down the road in Phoenixville for his "Dark Night", a strong dark ale.  We are really psyched to brew it with him sometime in the next couple weeks, and you can look for it on draft in May.  

Before that, Reilly's Irish Red is flowing now through St. Patty's Day and beyond, and our French Country Spring Ale is in the works.  Yes, it is that time again.  Thank all that is good.  

Ryan Michaels

Head Brewer