Rear View Winter, Into Summer
June 27, 2019Our First Brew Day:
September 26, 2018
We're brewing!
With final construction going on outside but the brew house ready for action, Brewer, Gary Ritz, began brewing the first Hwy 50 Brewery beer on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.
A minor glitch started off the morning—the mill locked up first thing—but Gary and Brewer's Assistant, Dusty Collins, got it rolling, and everything worked fine from there.
What did Gary think?
It's been since 2014 that Gary last brewed commercially, and two years since the Olivos and the Ritz's started making plans for Hwy 50 Brewery. It's also been months of hands-on work to renovate the building and get the brewery equipment in, assembled, and up to speed. So Gary was pretty stoked!
"Brewing and sharing beer with friends is what I love to do best! We’re looking at this day as a kick-off. So—the Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise—brewing is going to be non-stop now, sharing with the community, and seeing people making new friends over a pint of simply great beer. That's really what this day is about."
Gary mentioned Hwy 50 Brewery's first brew day on social media and immediately got a couple hundred followers. "What's really great is posting and then hearing from a bunch of my old friends from previous brewing days. And they can't wait!"
"The best compliment a brewer can get is 'can I have another one?' and that's exactly what I'm up to today!"
So what did Gary brew? And what's up with that kilt?
As we write, a bound-to-be-fantastic Blonde Ale is fermenting away! It's an all barley ale with a percentage of honey malt and Gary added just enough hops for bitterness—including some Willamette hops for an earthy aroma and flavor.
The kilt? Basically it's a nod to Gary's Irish heritage, his mom is 100% Irish. It's also a homage to centuries of Irish beer-making tradition. Plus "It's the most comfortable thing I wear to work in. I get a little breeze coming through the door and, believe me, I appreciate it!"
Stay tuned to find out when you can get your first pint of Hwy 50 Brewery beer!
