SAVOR 2014 Brewery Profile: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery (@LCCB_FarmBrews)

Name: Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery

Location: Goochland, VA

Website: http://www.lickingholecreek.com/

Type: Production brewery

Available in DC Market: No

Sponsorship

What you need to know: Lickhole Creek Craft Brewery is a true farm brewery, named for the creek that runs through their property. They were instrumental in passing SB 430, which created the farm brewery license in the Commonwealth. This means that Lickinghole Creek uses malt, hops, and other agricultural products grown on site in their beers, though as you’ll see below, it take a few years for hop vines to flower. They’ve been open for about a year, and yes, because we are twelve, their name is funny.

Beer #1:  Magic Beaver (Belgian-style Pale Ale/ 5.5% ABV)

In Their Own Words: From their website: “Belgian beer meets American and New Zealand Hops, they live happily ever after. Named after the Magic Beaver pond on the farm’s property, LCCB’s Pale Ale is a combination of Belgian Pilsner Malt, authentic Belgian yeast and and American and New Zealand hops. Delicious and easy to drink.”

Food Pairing: Thyme Roasted Quail Legs

Our Thoughts: Of course the cunning linguists at Goochland, Virginia’s Lickhole Creek Craft Brewery have a beer named Magic Beaver. No, it is not paired with clams, mini tacos, or ham sandwiches. Get your mind out of the gutter. Too many Belgian-style pale ales focus on either the yeast or the hops at the expense of the other. At 30 IBU, this should strike a nice balance that’s seldom seen in the style. The esters from the yeast should complement the thyme and black pepper on the quail, while the hops provide a fruity contrast.

Beer #2:  Three Chopt Triple (Tripel / 9.3% ABV)

In Their Own Words: “The Three Chopt name comes from a nearby colonial era trail marked by three hatchet marks on a tree. LCCB’s Tripel is a non-stopped hopped version of a European classic. We use American grown sterling and New Zealand Grown Motueka Hops that help impart a lemon and lime characteristic with a hint of tropical fruit. Multiple hop additions throughout the boil create a textured, full flavor.”

Food Pairing: Scallop Crudo with Citrus

Our Thoughts: We don’t know if they’ll pour a bottled-conditioned version or from a keg, but the hoppy tripel is usually a winner in terms of styles. Look for bananas, cloves, and peppercorns from the yeast meeting the hops mentioned above, then a bone dry finish if this beer is well-attenuated. It should go very well with scallops.