Black Mountain Brewing brings winning flavors to Oktoberfest
Local German beers grab two medals at N.C. Brewers Cup
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 12, 2022
Amadeus Hill, the head brewer at Black Mountain Brewing, serves up an Exotic Particle, one of two beers from the local brewery to win medals in the 2022 N.C. Brewers Cup. Photo by Fred McCormick
There is a bit of redundancy in the phrase, “craft beer,” as the skill and precision involved in the brewing process have been honed by human beings for thousands of years. The very origin of beer, as we know it today, is rooted in creativity and innovation.
Making a perfect batch, however, is an endeavor Black Mountain Brewing takes very seriously, and the hardware it collected at the 2022 N.C. Brewers Cup proves its well on its way. As the downtown brewery prepares to kick off Oktoberfest, from 12-8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15, two award-winning beers will be featured among seven German styles.
In its 11th year, the brewing competition, which is administrated by the N.C. Craft Brewers Guild, included nearly 900 entries by 118 independent breweries in the state. Black Mountain Brewing, in its first year in the Brewers Cup, was one of four Buncombe County breweries to bring home two medals.
The silver medal in the hybrid beer category, awarded to Altered Consciousness, and the bronze for its smoked beer, Exotic Particle, reflect the brewery’s effort to make beer that local customers enjoy, according to head brewer Amadeus Hill.
“Over the course of the last year we’ve put a little more effort into having malt-forward beer,” said Hill, whose resume includes experience as a cicerone and three years creating recipes alongside Gary Sernack, the director of brewing operations and co-owner of Black Mountain Brewing and founder of Bhramari Brewing, Co. in Asheville.
“After tracking sales the last couple of years, we’ve seen there is a great market for that kind of beer, and people like it,” Hill continued. “We’ve spent the year making beer we knew people in Black Mountain liked, but winning these awards shows that people outside of the town also think it’s great.”
The creatively named Altered Consciousness is a modern take on the altbier style that has been brewed in Rhineland, Germany for centuries.
Altered Consciousness, one of two beers from Black Mountain Brewing to a earn a medal in the 2022 N.C. Brewers Cup, will be on tap, Oct. 15, as downtown businesses celebrate Oktoberfest. Photo courtesy of Black Mountain Brewing
“It’s a light, easy and malty beer,” Hill said. “It’s an amber beer, which was made with ale yeast, but treated as a lager. These yeasts have been specially propagated over hundreds of years to ferment at a lower temperature, resulting in a lager-like product.”
While a traditional lager can take up to nine weeks to make, the process involved in making a hybrid ale takes only a fraction of that time. The Exotic Particle, a beechwood smoked Kolsch, was another light and easy brew to earn recognition in the competition.
“The interesting thing about a Kolsch, compared to other lagers or pilsners, is they have a little more of a floral flavor to them,” Hill said. “This one has a nice bouquet, complemented by just a kiss of the smoke flavor.”
The Exotic Particle and Altered Consciousness will be among a wide variety of beers featured at Black Mountain Brewing during Oktoberfest, which it will host with several downtown businesses, including Foothills Grange, and Black Mountain Kitchen + Ale House. The event is based on the traditional beer festival which has been held in Munich since the early 19th century.
“Since February, we’ve been stashing away the German beer we’ve been making,” Hill said.
The selection will include the brewery’s German pilsner, Chromatic Frequency, one of its most popular offerings.
“We also made a beer in collaboration with Bhramari, which is one of the best barrel-aged beers I’ve ever had,” Hill said, explaining the unique qualities of Two Way Mirror, a doppel Oktoberfest aged in Weller 12-year barrels. “Not a lot of people barrel-age lagers, which gives it a special edge on its own, so it was fun to be part of that process. It’s a truly exceptional beer.”
While locally brewed beer and German-inspired cuisine will be featured prominently during Oktoberfest, the celebration will also host traditional games, including hammerschlagen, axe throwing and a stein hoist. Other family-friendly activities will include a costume contest and a live performance by the Oompah Band.