Tuscaloosa’s Original Beer Festival – 2014 Suds of the South – Recap

Choices ranged from your normal pale ales and stouts to beers made with coffee, jalapenos, chocolate and cucumbers! The 2014 Suds of the South is in the books. 

In its fifth year, Suds of the South - Tuscaloosa's Original Beer Fest was a complete success. Over 400 craft beer lovers from all over came together at Wilhagan's on 4th Street to spend a beautiful Alabama afternoon sampling beer. Doors opened to VIP ticket holders at 3pm with the regular ticketed patrons piling in at 4p.

Wilhagans is made up of three large rooms that essentially flow into each other making for one gigantic space, perfect to fill with beer vendors and that's exactly what they did. Each of the large room's walls were lined with tables upon which sat coolers, kegs and displays, ready to serve the thirsty beer lovers.

This year's festival welcomed experts from over 20 different breweries from around the south as well as "Southern Sympathizers" from New York and Colorado.

Breweries on hand were Tuscaloosa's Druid City Brewing Company which featured the much talked about Northporter Cask with chocolate and peppers. It was a take on their standard North Porter brewed with chocolate and a stinging pepper flavor that made for one of the two most interesting and unusual beers of the day! All of the "dragon's breath" comments we all got that day can be attributed back to these guys too!

Birmingham was well represented by Good People Brewing Company, Avondale Brewing Company, Cahaba Brewing Company,and the city's newest Trim Tab Brewing Company who presented the second most interesting beer of the day... their Cucumber Saison. When exhibited to me by brewery representatives, they made it clear that this beer was not for everyone. Now I can appreciate the creativity and love that was put into making this but I preferred their Rye Brown instead. Though not the only farmhouse style ale brewed with cucumber, Trim Tab's offering is light and crisp, unlike any beer I've ever had. I recommend you give this one a try next time you visit their brewery.

Also on hand representing Huntsville were Rocket Republic Brewing Company, Old Black Bear Brewing Company, Railyard Brewing Company, Straight To Ale, Yellowhammer Brewing, The Brew Stooges, and Blue Pants Brewery who get my vote for one of the top 5 best beers of the day for their Pinstripe Stout brewed with locally roasted coffee. Unlike most stouts of this kind, the coffee was very prominent in the smell before the darkly colored liquid ever hit my palate.

Other breweries from outside of Alabama included French Broad Brewing Company out of Ashville, NC who brought their Barleywine. When asked to describe this the other day I said, "Imagine if you were to mix a sweet red wine with a lightly hopped beer." I loved it.

Terrapin Beer Company of Athens, GA was on hand as was Atlanta's Sweetwater Brewing Company, Louisiana born Abita Brewing Company, and Southern Star Brewing Company out of Conroe, TX.

Creators of 'Suds of the South' each year welcome two breweries which they label as "Southern Sympathizers" and this year Southern Tier Brewing Company out of Lakewood, NY and New Belgium Brewing from Fort Collins, CO took the title.

All in all, a good time was had by all and hopefully a few more people have been educated about great, lovingly and locally made beer.

Follow Suds of the South on Facebook for updates and announcements about next year's event and any other events they may be a part of before then.

A special thanks to Jeff Hanson for letting us use his photos!