By: Mat Cloak
The Parsons Advocate
Between the talents at Blackwater Brewing Company and Mountain State Honey Company, the Goldenrod Gold Ale will be available for the Leaf Peepers Festival. “This beer is inspired by British and Belgian gold ales,” Lincoln Wilkins, Blackwater owner and brewer, said.
Wilkins uses goldenrod honey from Mountain State Honey to create this beer. The goldenrod honey gets its name from the prevalence of the goldenrod flower in late summer and early fall that honeybees eat. “The pretty yellow flower makes a pretty golden honey,” Alisa Poling, co-owner of Mountain State Honey, said.
The goldenrod honey has a light color but pronounced, buttery flavor. These characteristics bode well for a beer. “I incorporate the honey at the end of the boil, in the whirlpool phase of the brewing process,” Wilkins said. “By adding it to a cooler side of the brewing process you get more character and aroma.”
The Goldenrod Gold Ale is returning to the taps after a six month break. Wilkins began brewing this particular beer about five years ago.
Lincoln started Blackwater Brewing Company in 2012. Prior to that, he co-owned a regional brewery, Heiner Brau, in New Orleans. “My family has been in this area since the area industrialized in 1890s, so for me this is a bit of a homecoming,” Wilkins said.
Wilkins focuses on brewing European session beers, which, according to CraftBeer.com, are defined by their “refreshment and drinkability.” Wilkins described session beers as, “produced for the appreciation of style and taste, not as much for the alcohol percentage.”
Over 2,000 beehives are maintained at Mountain State Honey. The goldenrod honey is a fall product. When the seasons change, so do the bees’ food source. Thus, tulip poplar honey is indicative of spring and bass rod honey is indicative of summer. “We try to keep the honey separate as best we can, so you have a predominate flavor somewhere,” Poling said.
Mountain State Honey products are available at Gifts to Go, Shop ‘n Save, and Jim Propst Grocery in Parsons, Bright Morning Inn, Canaan Valley Resort, Blackwater Falls State Park, Wild Ginger and Spice, and Potomac Highlands Market in Davis, and Thomas Yard in Thomas.
The Goldenrod Gold Ale is served at Barrels Brewhouse in Davis.
