Celebrate - Have A Pluff Mud Porter!
It was the Second Anniversary for the makers of
Pluff Mud Porter.
I went to where the craft beer is made and bought one at
Holy City Brewing on Dorchester Road.
Wow. What an exciting two years it has been for Charleston and we beer drinkers.
They make more than just the porter that I really like.
I didn't sample them all but I did buy a t-shirt.
The celebration was set for Noon to 8:00pm and I got there late - around 6:00pm.
At an outside stand pouring my porter, the staffer remarked it had been very busy and now was calming down.
She added that there was a nice breeze all day.
Biggest breeze-maker I've seen in a while.
I did arrive just as the Keg Tossing contest started.
Don't know if he won but he had good form and the crowd murmured approvingly. And sipped their beers.
Because it was mainly a family gathering with lots of children running around, I was not surprised to see a small black 6.5 gallon keg brought out for the small fry to toss.
It too was empty of course, although I heard comments like "Well, maybe it's a Lite beer, and something about "half-pints."
I was late so the band had just stopped playing. I had hoped they were taking a break but they laughed when I asked.
There was an impressive large storage container sitting across from the main buildings.
It was a perfect "canvas" for the familiar skyline of our Holy City.
I neglected to get the name of the artist but I'll ask and update this later.
That's my way of doing reverse fact-checking.
The beer was good, the day had cooled off and I wanted to show my appreciation for some nice guys who make a fine product.
You'll see me around town wearing my new black t-shirt.
Probably with a Pluff Mud in my hand.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
The link to the brewery has some excellent photos by Chrys Rynearson.
He has a REAL fisheye lens and knows how to use it!
Labels: 2nd Anniversary, chrys Rynearson, half-pint kids, Holy City Brewing Company, keg toss, Pluff Mud Porter
To New Heights....
We've all seen those roll around tall ladders in stores.
You know, the staff pushes them where they want them then uses a foot pedal to lock them in place.
Not so much a ladder as a rolling set of stairs.
Not a cherry-picker or a lift bucket like you see outside used by tree trimmers..
Not the complicated looking
X shaped scissor-like contraption.
Anyway, I was in Mt. Pleasant at the new
BOTTLES wine and beer store.
Talking with one of the owners, I noticed a nearby "stair ladder" and asked if I could climb up and take a picture?
He said
"Sure, just be careful."
About a month ago, just after they opened the "not-so-big-box" spirits superstore, I had looked up and snapped a picture of the interesting chalk mural at the back of the store.
A little bit distorted from below.
Now I was on an equal level. It was a nice sturdy shooting platform.
The large drawing is at the end of an aisle marked
"Local Brews."Hmm. I saw
Holy City Brewing Company drawn in chalk. I had had some of their tasty Pluff Mud Porter at several places around town. Here it was available at the
Growler Filling Station in the center of the store.
The
Palmetto name is familiar. I had learned it was Charleston's oldest beer maker when I toured the downtown facility.
The newest - and swankiest - brewer would be
Westbrook not that far away right there in East Cooper.
They had just started selling their beer in 6-packs of cans and Palmetto was in bottles.
As I carefully climbed back down, I realized there was a fourth "local" that was missing from the mural. In fact, it wasn't for sale in the store at all.
Must be a story behind that I thought as I had my growler bottle filled and sealed.
Too bad.
(Click on the photos for more detail.)
I was surprised it had taken so long for a BIG wine and beer store to open in Mt. Pleasant.
Glad these fellows decided to do it.
I know I'll be back.
Might even climb up high for another overview.
Carefully of course.
Labels: Bottles, chalk mural, Holy City, Palmetto, Pluff Mud Porter, Sprits Superstore, Westbrook
Run Forest, Run !
My
Photography Group has its monthly meeting tonight and I scrambled to select some photos to take with me.
We come up with an optional theme each time for the popular SHOW & TELL.
Tonight it's
"Things Found In A Forest." You can bring 15 or so of your favorite shots but I try to include a few themed one too.
Yesterday I realized I hadn't foraged in a forest lately so I strolled around my yard instead. The red leaf sat alone among all the browns and green grass.
Yes, I removed all the other colors with Photoshop.
My large magnolia tree in the front yard had already bloomed with its beautiful - but brief - delicate white flowers.
But, deep in my "forest," I saw scaly growth on several limbs.
I believe it's called lichen.
Checking online, I see that's a combo of fungus & algae.
Looking down I saw another additon for tonight's presentation.
The cones were scattered amidst the large leaves.
I tweaked the picture a bit with Photoshop to add some detailed drama.
While we were growing up, my brothers and I would throw these at each other, pretending they were
"hand grenades."Playing
"WAR" during the 1940s seemed like the thing to do. Almost patriotic for my WWII
Youngest Generation.
I also will share with the group my visit to the newest craft beer brewery that has popped up here.
What a fine addition by four enterprising young men.
Holy City is on Dorchester Road between I-526 and I-26, tucked behind some warehouses.
The friendly Tasting Room is cozy and comfortable. I sampled small tastes of all four of the lastest offerings.
The
Bowens Island Oyster Stout (ABV 5.5) was introduced only a few days ago and joins their
Pilsner and the
Pluff Mud Porter (ABV 5.0), a nice dark beer that's become popular around town.
I bought a jug of
Hurricane Category 3 IPA(ABV 7.0) to celebrate the end of "H" Season.
Drink local, I say.
(Click on the photos for more detail). It's only been a few years since South Carolina allowed brewers to provide beers with more than 4.0 or 5.0 ABV (Alcohol By Volume) and Coast Brewing was the leader in persuading our lawmakers to make it legal to sit and sample a beer at the brewery. Thanks Jaime!
Labels: ABV 7.0, algae, Bowens Island Oyster Stout, Category 3 IPA, Dorchester Road, fungus, Holy City Brewing Company, I-26, I-526, Jaime at Coast Brewery, Pluff Mud Porter
I didn't sample them all but I did buy a t-shirt.
