Last year we planned on hosting an event for National Homebrew Day, the first Saturday of every May, however like almost everyone else we were shut down due to COVID-19. “G” is one of our brewers who has been with us since the beginning and helped build the brewery. He floated the idea of brewing Rocky Raccoon’s Honey Lager, a recipe we all were very familiar with. Rocky is a Right of Passage for most homebrewers. Besides being the most popular recipe in Charlie Papazian’s The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, it was the first recipe in the modern era to feature honey in beer. More importantly, for many, it was the first homebrew they ever tried to make that didn’t simply originate in a can and where they actually had to assemble ingredients. Without homebrewing, Stillfire Brewing would not exist. All of our brewers and some of the taproom staff homebrew, and most importantly, one of our primary owners met our Brewmaster while judging a homebrew contest he sponsored. Likewise, without Charlie Papazian, craft beer and homebrewing would never have been as accessible and successful as we see it today. The Complete Joy of Homebrewing led to several generations of homebrewing enthusiasts, some of whom became pioneers and mainstays in Craft Brewing. Charlie founded and was instrumental in the success of the American Homebrewer’s Association, Brewer’s Association, and The Great American Beer Festival.
For our cover of Rocky Racoon (featuring DJ Bandit), we could think of no better day than Saturday, May 1, National Homebrew Day. We invited some of the community of craft and homebrewers keeping in mind we have to leave space in the brewery to actually brew. Bob Carlton, a friend of 25 years and owner of Brew Depot, our homebrew shop of choice, donated honey in cooperation with our friends at veteran-owned Etowah Meadery in Dahlonega. Because this batch will use a significant amount of honey, we also reached out to another veteran organization, Doc’s Healing Hives and Honey Foundation, where veteran’s learn the fine art of Apiculture (Beekeeping). Our version of Rocky also uses Saphir hops to complement rather than compete with the delicate honey character. Another first for many of us returning to this recipe after so many years is the availability of Charlie’s very own homebrew “house” yeast. Formally known as Cry Havoc, the new White Labs number and name, WLP 1983 Fist Bump, recognizes both the spirit of cooperation in the homebrew community and the year Charlie first started using this yeast. The result is a very clean beer with a touch of tangerine and citrus from the Saphir hops as well as the fragrant bouquet of wildflower and clover honey. As if this day couldn’t get any better, Professor Papazian himself has agreed to Zoom in and share a toast with us at Noon in the brewery for old time’s sake. Beer, brewing, and Charlie. Some things only get better with age.
We will be sure to let you know when this very special beer is ready to tap.
Cheers,
Phil
