Black Mesa to debut new beer on New Year’s
The Thirsty Beagle has learned that Black Mesa Brewing Co. will release its second beer at midnight at an Oklahoma City New Year’s Eve party.
The beer? They’re calling it Black Mesa ESB — which actually stands for Endless Skyway Bitter in this case. Here’s the logo art for the beer:
The specifics, provided by Black Mesa’s Brad Stumph:
Our ESB is inspired by a traditional English bitter, but we used a blend of West Coast hops to give the beer an American character. Like the finest English examples, it will be well-balanced with a nutty maltiness and only a slightly bitter finish. West Coast hops provide a subtle grapefruit note that give this beer an unmistakably American perspective. It will finish crisp for a sessionable feel; but at 6.0% ABV, it’s not recommended for extended sessions.
We approached the name just as we did the recipe. Although most people will probably order it as a Black Mesa ESB, we hope to overhear the patrons of our favorite hangouts someday ordering an Endless Skyway Bitter. ”Endless Skyway” is a phrase borrowed from Woody Guthrie’s “This land is your land”; a folk tune that is distinctly American, from a man who is distinctly Oklahoman. I think you probably see the correlation we are going for here, a distinctly American beer from an Oklahoma brewer.
If you see a pattern forming with our two releases, it’s no mistake. Our Blonde, although it is an American Blonde ale, is modeled from a German-style Kolsch, with tweaks to give it an American twist. Now we are releasing our take on an ESB with hops made wildly popular by the American palate. We just really enjoy taking Old World styles and updating them with our own perspective.
So how can you try the beer?
It will be released at midnight at a New Year’s Eve party at Grandad’s, 317 NW 23. The night will include a special commemorative Black Mesa cup and live bluegrass music from The Dizzy Pickers.
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