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Festival Pictures
1st Hickory Hops
Union Square - Hickory NC
April 12, 2003, 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.
A lot of planning and some beginner's luck with the weather made
for a smoothly-run debut festival that was entertaining and fun.
Magarita Venegas, editor of Hickory News' weekly Extra, turns the table on noted beer writer Bobby Bush, one of the state's three Beer Drinker's of the Year, who makes his home in Hickory. He's flanked by fellow members of CLASS, the local homebrew club.
After a threatening spell of cool temperatures and rain, the festival's large crowd benefited from the weekend's near-perfect weather.
Asst. brewer George Reeve (r) of Asheville's French Broad River Brewery with friend Ed Vendely (l.)
J.R. Steigerwald (r), executive director of the Downtown Development Association, was the
driving force behind the festival.
Brewer Crawford Moran (r) and T.K. (c) of Atlanta's Dogwood's Brewery discusses brewing with Bill Drew (l), an organizer of Durham's World Beer Festival.
On hand to debut the new hula-themed coconut porter from Catawba's Valley Brewery of nearby Glen Alpine were (l-r) Megan Cooley and Ashely & Andy Gibbon.
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Karl Keyes and Graeme Lay of Carolina Beer
and Beverage of Mooresville NC.
Union Square, the heart of the city, was the locaton for the fest, which benefitted Downtown Hickory.
Manager Ian Miller (l) and asst. brewer Scott Lasater (r)
of the Red Oak Brewery of Greensboro NC.
Brewer Zach Hart of the Mash House Brewery and Restaurant in Fayetteville NC.
Western North Carolina favorites The Sons of Ralph.
Brewer Mark Johnsen (2nd from l) of R.J. Rockers Brewing in Spartanburg SC, brought his usual big
volunteer contingent. Johnsen recently closed his brewpub and the festival was his debut as a micro.
Owner Jason Yates (l) and Stephen Lyerly (c) of
host Olde Hickory Brewery alongside sales manager Gretchen Agner (r). The brewery was also premiering it's new mini-kegs, seen stacked around the booth.
The closing band, Cigar Store Indians, moved the crowd.
Contrary to popular misconception, beer festivals are generally family-friendly and make a great venue to teach the value of moderation and good behavior.
David Esptein (l) and Josh Quigley (c) of
New South Brewing in Myrtle Beach SC.
Best of Beers Distributing featured Redhook and Widmer Brothers products. L-r are wholesaler Randy
Trivitt, Redhook rep Darren Wilkinson, Bryan Chandler and Tom Pittman.
The Bob Sinclair Band opened the festivities.
R.J. Rockers' Johnsen dazzled the crowd, refilling glasses from his homemade beer dispenser rig.
Brewer David Gonzalez of the
Rock Bottom Brewpub in Charlotte NC.
Brewer Ron Downer (r) oversees the sampling of his beers from the Rocky River Brewery in Sevierville TN.
Brewer Marty Velas of the Smoky Mountain Brewery
in Gatlinburg TN. Marty also is the brewer for
Calhoun's Microrewery in Knoxville TN.
Sporting devilish grins under the red glow of their tent
were brewer Tom Davis (l) of Thomas Creek Brewery
in Greenville SC and his friend Tim Rutherford (r.)
Brewers John Withey (r) and George Dusek (l) of
theTop of the Hill Brewpub in Chapel Hill NC.
Brewer Paul Philippon (c) of the Williamsville Brewery in Farmvile NC works to pour a proper sample.
Uli Bennewitz, president of the Weeping Radish Brewery in Manteo NC, presided over his brewery's
booth, which featured a large glassware display.
Brewer Kevin McNerney (r) of Atlanta's Sweetwater Brewery stayed busy sampling six of their beers. With him is his friend trout-fishing expert John McGrew (l.)
