Connect

Get on the Shuttle!

Get on the Shuttle, the Mother Earth Shuttle!

Here’s some really cool news, I’m very excited to share: Mother Earth Brewing now offers a FREE Tap Room shuttle service for those of you staying in one of our three area hotels. If you’re visiting Kinston, and you’re ready to experience the best of eastern NC beer, get on the shuttle and come spend a while.

Here’s how it works: Our free Mother Earth Shuttle makes stops every 30 minutes at the Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and West Parke Inn.  The shuttle operates during hours that the Tap Room is open (starting at 4p on Thurs & Fri, 1p every other Sat.) The last shuttle leaves the Tap Room at 10p on Thurs & Fri, and at closing time on Sat. If you’re visiting Kinston on business, and Must do some after-hours chatting, we have plenty of lounge seating and tables. –Not to mention our beer garden that boasts abundant seating. Free WIFI? Of course we’ve got it!

If you’re curious about how beer is made, we invite you to enjoy a tour of our brewery! We offer tours starting at 1p, and on the hour until 4p, every other Saturday. For all of you locals: Bring your special guest to the Tap Room before you head to the Chef and Farmer for dinner, and order up a “beer sampler” from Travis! Post dinner come on back and select your favorite pint!

PS. If you still want to drive, there’s ample parking is available on both North St. and Herritage St., adjacent to the brewery, as well as in the parking lot behind the building, which is accessible from Herritage St. 

Spread the word!

Peace, Love and Beer………………………………………………………………TM

Putting the Craft in Craft Beer

Putting the ‘Craft’ in Craft Beer.

How is craft beer different from mass marketed, macro beer? It’s all about the way we make (or craft) craft beer, and it starts with the ingredients.

Here’s just one cool example: Team Mother Earth spent yesterday morning hand-picking each and every blackberry that will flavor a new, very limited, brew.  In fact, we picked 46 pounds of the sweet berries in just under 2 hours. If you have not been blackberry picking, take note: it’s a pretty tedious job, and trust me; I’ll forever look at a package of blackberries with new respect. Take a look at some of our pics, and you’ll get a sense of what our morning was all about. Temps were in the 90s, and we all needed a change of clothes post-picking,,, but the resulting brew will be well worth the effort. –A great experience, and just one more reason we love craft beer.

Stay tuned for more info on the beer release… but this is what we can tell you right now:

We’ll be making a double wit- adding local honey and the blackberries in during fermentation and then aging the beer in a pinot noir barrel. This beer will be celebrated (read: consumed)during a collaboration beer dinner Mother Earth will have with New Belgium brewery. The special dinner will be held in November at the Chef & Farmer. More details to come on that topic.

A special thanks to Whites Farm in Vanceboro for letting us invade your place, and all the help and advice you offered. There’s nothing better than supporting our local farmers.

Peace, Love and Beer……………………………………………………..TM

Saison is brewin'

What we've been up to...
The last week or two have been totally crazy- so I thought I'd update you on some happenings.
SAISON: Last week, I told you all about Saison- an interesting style of beer that isn't often heard of (if you missed it, read-all-about-it) We said we'd do it, and we did. Even though we had beers to brew, bottles to fill, and 4 tanks to position in place, we managed to brew a 1 Bbl batch of Saison late last week. The leading organization of the craft beer industry, the Brewers Association, says: "The hallmark of craft beer and craft brewers is innovation. Craft brewers strive to interpret historic beer styles with unique twists and develop new styles that have no precedent" We could not agree more, and that's what our 1 Bbl system is all about.
MOTHER EARTH BREWING STORE ON-LINE: We also launched our on-line store! You'll find all kinds of Ts, glasses, stickers, and even a frisbee and beach towel! (And that's just the start!) We've been working hard to choose only 1st rate materials for our products... organics and recycled... every effort has been made to select items that are as 'green' as it gets.
OUR HOP PROJECT: Last year we initiated our "Hop Project" by planting 25 hop rhizomes right here in Kinston. It is just the start, but let me tell you, we are all stunned at how well the hops have done- the growth is unreal. So we'll do a 1 Bbl and dry hop it with <LOCAL HOPS> ... keep posted.
MEDALS: Last, but Certainly not Least, we won 3 medals at the US Beer Championships! Here are all the details. A GOLD for Endless River Kolsch, a GOLD for Dark Cloud Dunkel, and a BRONZE for Sisters of the Moon IPA. We are really proud of this, and we are especially excited to draw attention to Eastern NC-- let the whole world know we make excellent beer, right here in Kinston!
Hope everyone had an outstanding 4th of July, and as always, thank you for your never-ending support of Mother Earth Brewing.
PS:: Check out the Brewfinder for dozens of new places you can experience Mother Earth beer, or take it home with ya.

Peace, Love and Beer..............................................TM

40 Bbl Fermenters: ARRIVED.

I have to say, today was a smooth day- with a huge sigh of relief, we all stood in awe of the new tanks and agreed that the Big Move went better than expected. Much better. At 8am 4 of our 9 new tanks arrived- four 40 Bbl fermenters. All set in place and soon to be put to the test as we continue to brew, brew, brew. Here's a pic of Josh-- proud-as-can-be, next to the new arrivals.

Peace, Love and Beer...............................TM

Get Your Gueuze On!

So, if you had the pleasure of visiting the Taproom last night you're probably already are well aware that we’re serving up an extra special keg of St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition. Here’s the deal- we love sharing our fav beer styles with you (yes, even styles Mother Earth Brewing does not brew!) because we want you to be educated about what’s out there—the true variety of craft beer is mind-blowing… and we know how easy it is to just stick with what you’ve come to enjoy. Hey, if it’s workin’ for ya, why switch to a new style? Well we’re not here to pry you away from your favorite IPA or beg you to drop that Weeping Willow Wit… But, we’d encourage you to broaden your beer spectrum, and give this baby a shot. Okay, that’s cool, but what the H*LL is St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition (-and what’s with the super long name?) Well, it’s a beer of course, but if you taste it, you might argue with us about that. Read on and find out why (better yet, forget this blog and come down to the Taproom in a couple of hours and have Travis serve you your very first sip!)

St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition’s style is Gueuze. So what’s a Gueuze? To put it simply: It’s a Belgian beer that is a blend of a variety of lambics. But, unlike a limbic (that is served uncarbonated) these bad-boys are highly carbonated. Their most notable characteristic is sourness. Yes, it tastes sour (significantly sour in fact) and Yes, it is supposed to taste that way. Gueuze is golden in color, is a very clear beer, and offers an aroma of fruits (often apple)- you might also notice mild oak- but you won’t find any hop aroma. ABV is around the 5-8% range (St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition comes in at 5%)

As always, we are not here to lecture you about the complexities of Gueuze… just giving you a bit of basic knowledge to spike your curiosity. All of us at Mother Earth Brewing are 110% loving this stuff right now—and seriously, it fits in great for the unreal temps we’ve been having lately as it is lively, fresh and a super-easy drink.

If you can’t make it to the Taproom this weekend, we hope you’ll be inspired enough to search out St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition and try it at home. Remember, we’re open today AND Saturday (brewery tours start SAT at 1p, and every hour until 4p)—Head Brewer Josh will be leading the tours this weekend… so get out of the sun, grab a Gueuze and go on a FREE brewery tour.

Hope to see you soon.

Peace, Love and Beer…………………………………………..TM

All About Saison

Around the brewery, we're all about trying new Saisons the last few weeks, just priming ourselves for our next 1 bbl test-batch beer. Many of you have told us how much you enjoy our 1 bbl batches… so here we go again. Like I said, the style is called Saison, and unless you’re a major beer connoisseur, you’ve probably never heard of it- and most certainly not tasted it.  Well, we’re here to change all that.

We won’t make this complicated- but we’ll give you enough info to carry on an intelligent chat about it next time you’re hanging out on the Taproom’s patio.

Mini history: Saison was originally brewed in Belgium. These smart guys brewed Saison when it was cold- so they’d have an invigorating drink to consume during the warm summer. While Saison isn’t an overwhelming popular style, it has certainly gained a following in the US over the last decade.

So what about taste? I have to be honest with you, you’ll likely love Saison or pass on refills. The flavor isn’t going to appeal to everyone—but that’s what this craft beer world is all about: variety. One thing is for sure- it is a refreshing beer, and I can certainly see why it was consumed during the summer months. Its refreshing character is partly due to the fact that it is highly carbonated, tart, and offers a strong fruity flavor. You’ll likely be really surprised when you sip it- it almost dances in your mouth- really unexpected stuff here. –So much so that I’m sure many people say “this doesn’t taste like a beer” when they first try it. ABV is in the range of 5-7%.

The plan is to brew this baby next week… again working the 1 bbl system to the max. I’ve said it before- but here I go again- I just love that thing. Check in with Travis at the Taproom for updates on its debut.

Peace, Love and Beer…………………………………………TM

Barrel Aged Tripel Overhead RELEASED!

Hi Mother Earth Fans.

Some of you may have already tried Mother Earth Brewing's Tripel Overhead, available at our Tap Room, and recently released state-wide in 4-pks. But here's a new twist to this fast-growing fav, Barrel-Aged Tripel Overhead. If you've been to the Tap Room, you've no-doubt checked out the Barrel Aging Room, and probably wondered whats going on in there... now the secret is out, and you can enjoy it in your very own home starting tomorrow! The secret? It's Barrel Aged Tripel Overhead.

If you are a visitor of our Tap Room, you may have heard all about it... the good news? 4-pks of barrel-aged Tripel are being RELEASED tomorrow (THURS 6/3) at 4pm::: exclusively at our Tap Room. So, if you love it, we encourage you to take it home with you! You can't buy 4-pks of barrel-aged Tripel Overhead anywhere else! -And this isn’t a gimmick:: supplies are very limited, as this is an exceptionally handcrafted brew.

Here's what Head Brewer, Josh Brewer has to say about it:

"Our barrel aged Tripel Overhead pours a gold color. Expect bourbon, vanilla and coconut notes in the taste with a bit of alcohol heat in the finish. This beer is super complex and changes as it warms. Really, a very rare beer indeed- so try it while you can."

For more info on the Tap Room hours, etc, check out the Tap Room link. Remember, the Tap Room is open THURS and FRI at 4p, and every other SAT.

I look forward to seeing you there soon.

Peace, Love and Beer................................. Travis, Tap Room Manager, Local Accounts Manager

An Outer Banks Experience

The Outer Banks of NC: If you have not been, you need to visit. This remote stretch of sand has become a popular summer destination for those who enjoy a slow-paced vacation. During the ‘off-season’ you get the chance to meet a lot of locals, and really get a good feel for the history of the place. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you probably already know we spent last week exploring the Outer Banks, and stayed in Hatteras. We visited Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Ocracoke too.  Of course, I made a stop at all the places that currently sell Mother Earth beer, passed out stickers and cool Mother Earth Brewing signs-- and met a great group of people along the way.  I have to say, I was pretty impressed with the craft beer selection many stores offered. I even hosted a beer tasting event at Captain Easys Gourmet in Hatteras … sharing Mother Earth beer with people from the North, the deep South, the mid-west, and even some locals. Kicking back on a screened-in porch, sun setting after a beautiful day, good tunes, and a mix of all types of people,,, THIS was a great beer experience.
Here is a pic from Zillies Island Pantry on Ocracoke Island… how cool it was to pull up and see Mother Earth Brewing as an element in their “OPEN” for business sign.

Peace, Love and Beer……………………….Josh

Movie Night @ Tap Room!

Well this is American Craft Beer Week (May 17-21), and we're (of course) proud and ready to celebrate the art of craft beer. We want to thank you for your support of the craft beer industry, and invite you to share in the celebration-- so we've put together a 'Beer & Movie Night.' 

Here's the deal: At the Tap Room, this Friday, May 21st at 8p we'll show the craft beer documentary BEER WARS... a fantastic, ultra-insiders look at the craft beer industry. Trust us, BEER WARS is unlike any documentary you've ever laid your eyes on. Oh, did I mention we'll offer $2 bottles of Weeping Willow Wit? -get 'um while they last! Learn more by checking out our News page.

Gather a gang and come on out Friday night! Here's a synopsis of BEER WARS, taken from their homepage:

In America, size matters. The bigger you are, the more power you have, especially in the business world.
Director Anat Baron takes you on a no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry that ultimately reveals the truth behind the label of your favorite beer. Told from an insider’s perspective, the film goes behind the scenes of the daily battles and all out wars that dominate one of America’s favorite industries.
Beer Wars begins as the corporate behemoths are being challenged by small, independent brewers who are shunning the status quo and creating innovative new beers. The story is told through 2 of these entrepreneurs – Sam and Rhonda – battling the might and tactics of Corporate America. We witness their struggle to achieve their American Dream in an industry dominated by powerful corporations unwilling to cede an inch.
This contemporary David and Goliath story is ultimately about keeping your integrity (and your family’s home) in the face of temptation. Beer Wars is a revealing and entertaining journey that provides unexpected and surprising turns and promises to change the world’s opinion on those infamous 99 bottles of beer on the wall.

Peace, Love and Beer................................................TM

A really good read

We had the pleasure of showing Brian Cendrowski (and wife Nicole) around the brewery last week. Brian maintains a great blog about beer. Both a beer lover, and homebrewer, the guy is very well versed in the adventures of craft beer. His write-up on Mother Earth Brewing is interesting and covers a lot of territory. If you're looking to learn more about where we came from and what we do......... or, you just want a really good read, I encourage you to check out Brian's Blog. Oh, he captured a few really nice pics of the brewery too.

Thanks for the visit Brian and Nicole... we look forward to seeing you next time you pass our way.

Cheers.

Peace, Love and Beer......................................................TM