On Saturday January 9th five hundred people converged upon the Jamestown Ice Arena for the sold-out First Annual Jamestown, NY Grapes + Hops Festival. There were a number of wineries, breweries, and food vendors offering an assortment of local treats. The food vendors included Rudy’z, Betty Dixon Candies and The Basket Co. providing their carefully thought out nut mixes. There were also other vendors like CHQ Local Food, educating the public on their unique food delivery service.
On the grape front, Merritt winery served a number of their most popular wines including their famed Bella Rosa. Mazza was also well represented and their wines drew crowds of interested wine lovers who sipped and swirled while discussing the inventive grape compilations they had on display. There were also about a half-dozen other wineries including Sparkling Ponds Winery, providing generous samples to the revelers.
Great Local Breweries Showcased their Unique Creations Featuring Fine Hops
The hop half of the event was represented by the Hamburg Brewing Company, Five & 20 Brewing, the Ellicottville Brewing Company and the Southern Tier Brewing Company. I had the good fortune to pour beer from the Fresh Beer Express for Southern Tier where we featured six taps, pouring some of the breweries most popular beers. The new 2XSmash, a single malt and single hop IPA that showcased the unique citrusy flavor of Mosaic Hops was a big hit at the event with many people returning for seconds (and in some cases thirds). Another popular choice was the Back Burner, a seasonal Imperial Barley Wine Style beer, which packs a serious punch at 10.5% ABV. Normally, I am not a fan of Barley Wine Style beers, but this one was loaded with rich barley and hops for a satisfying drinking experience.
I spent a couple of moments chatting with the charming ladies from Hamburg Brewing Company and I was able to sample a couple of their carefully crafted brews. I was most smitten with their Irish Red Ale. I was impressed with the depth of flavor packed into this satisfying amber beer. The beer was smooth and vaguely bitter with only 20 IBUs and it featured hints of caramel without being undermined by sweetness.
I had a pleasant talk with Jimmy Walsh, brewer at Five & 20, about all of the exciting things going on at this up-and-coming brewery. They were featuring a number of their carefully crafted beers that were also drawing a crowd and eliciting nods of approval from tipplers.
By the end of the event many of the attendees were dancing to the music coursing through the arena, with smiles of contentment on their faces. The Grapes + Hops Festival was a success from all angles, cementing the fact that this will certainly be an annual event. But do not fret if you missed this exciting experience. The event organizers told me that there is a Wine Festival planned to take place at the Jamestown Ice Arena on Saturday May 7th. Pre-sale tickets are available for $25 and can be found at www.JamestownArena.com.
Loren Mayshark is the award-winning author of Death: An Exploration and Academic Betrayal. For more, you can visit his website lorenmayshark.com and you can keep up with him on Twitter at @LorenMayshark. Sign up for his newsletter and receive regular updates and a free gift.
