Craft-Beer-Go-Boom!
I
t’s long been official that craft beer is a really big deal. There
are more breweries in operation now than at any other time in
our nation’s history and the number of breweries currently in the
planning stage are staggering. Too many you ask? Will the market
become oversaturated?
Beer is not simply a fad. The proof is in its cultural history over
the many centuries. We here in America are at the beginning of our
own beer revolution. As the craze for beer with flavor rips across
the country, Nebraska has found itself right in the thick of it.
Several breweries have opened across the state in the past year and
their beers have been nothing short of fantastic. The future of craft
brewed beer is looking bright in “The Good Life” state. Let’s take a
walk through some of the Nebraska breweries everyone should be
looking forward to soon.
“Several of the beers
in their lineup are
old school styles that
resonate well with
Nebraska’s heritage.”
Ploughshare Brewing Company – Lincoln
With plans to officially open in the spring of 2014, Ploughshare
Brewing Company has a very interesting business model. Founder
and head brewer Matt Sticnhfield is creating, as he explains, “a
microbrewery that produces beer for sale to wholesalers.”
Matt’s brewery will be located near downtown and the University
of Nebraska. It’s going to sport a beautiful tasting area offering a
limited menu of “locally-sourced wholesome choices created in a
compact kitchen.” The main idea of the taproom is to offer a place
for beer lovers to come and “get to know” the Ploughshare line-up
while not competing head-to-head with other local restaurants
where he plans to have his brews offered. Matt further explained,
“Our drink list will have Ploughshare beers, a few wine choices
and a couple of gluten-free items. That’s it. We’re a brewery with a
taproom, not a restaurant that happens to sell its own beer.”
What can you expect to find on tap at Ploughshare? Matt
said that several of the beers in their lineup are old school styles
that resonate well with Nebraska’s heritage. They include a preProhibition pilsner and a cream ale, along with various traditional
German, Belgian and Irish styles. In order to brew those to taste like
the real McCoy, they must use traditional ingredients like six-row
barley and local grains.
“We are having a special brew house engineered that allows us
to brew authentic beers with body and substance,” Matt explained.
“The goal is for our beers to exude the character of the best
traditional beers from Europe as well as those from America’s golden
years before Prohibition.”
Matt is not exactly wet behind the ears in the craft beer industry.
He has brewed professionally on and off over the past twelve years
on top of his twenty years as an amateur homebrewer. He is also
a Certified Cicerone (beer sommelier) as well as a professional
beer judge that has helped choose the medal winners in the Great
American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup over the last eight
years.
When asked what drives his passion as a brewer, Matt explained,
“A lot of people can brew a decent beer, which is great, but few
people achieve what I call ‘the last five percent’. That five percent
is where the mystery and the mastery lay. As a brewer, it is that last
part that I’m always pursuing.”
fsmomaha.com
“As the craze for beer with flavor
rips across the country, Nebraska
has found itself right in the thick
of it.”
by Jason McLaughlin
“Ales, lagers and
barrel-aged beers
will be brewed with
their system bought
from Thunderhead
Brewing.”
Goldenrod Brewing Company - Omaha
Named after the official state flower of Nebraska, Goldenrod
plans to open its Midtown brewpub in early 2014. Living the
brewers dream, Phil and Bernie Doerr, along with Tony and
41