|
Jockey box, white canopy, small table, camp chairs and stickers. Sound familiar? The basic tools needed to serve beer at any festival, event or function. And it was no different for Catawba Brewing Company and their humble beginnings back in the day.
The sweat equity fueled by the Pyatt brother’s passion and vision took them from a windowless ivy infested building to a beautifully architected location on the South Slope. Not only that, but there are 4 other destinations that also includes Palmetto Brewing of which they are the parent company for and the production facility for their newly released product.
Move over beer! Hard seltzers have made their presence known in the market, and Twisp is no exception. This locally-sourced hard seltzer is cocktail-inspired through the names of their 3 inaugural products. “The Spritzer,” which captivates your taste buds with red raspberries and floral hibiscus; “The Mule,” embraces the flavors we all love in ginger and lime; and “The Paloma,” subtle notes of grapefruit and lime. These refreshing products low in sugar/calories/carbs are also gluten free and tout a lot of flavor. To experience them in a private tasting of my own was a real treat. A must for anyone's fridge or cooler.
Twisp research and development took about a year. The colossal challenge was obtaining the appealing flavor profiles and clarity of the product. This steep learning curve from the beer industry led to a Denver field trip, where they experienced a multitude of seltzers introduced into the west coast market. What I found amazing was how they used their customer base from their Passport Loyalty Club to participate in blind tastings and vote on the flavors. This inclusive collaboration speaks volumes while creating a deeper sense of ownership with locals.
For me personally, I enjoy hard seltzers for they are refreshing and stimulating to the taste buds via the carbonation and array of flavors. It also presents another opportunity. Why not use them in a good cocktail? We already consume beverages that have these flavors with tonics and seltzers. Why not reduce the steps and use a hard seltzer pre-built with flavor; add a spirit and maybe a simple syrup to taste? The possibilities are endless and could be performed with ease at any social gathering.
The product is available at all of their tasting rooms, and will be distributed to large retailers at the beginning of 2020. Look out for potential new flavors. Maybe a Cosmo with cranberry and orange could be on the horizon. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @twispseltzer to keep up on all the hype!
Until we drink again, Cheers!
Be sure to check out Catawba Brewing Company’s profile for upcoming releases and events, and don’t forget to keep an eye on The Urban Gastronome to see where he’ll show up next!
|
