This weekend, I got to combine many of my favorite things: traveling, camping, hiking, getting to know some really cool people, and of course, drinking beer. My new labmate Maggie heard about the High Country Beer Festival from a friend, invited my other labmate George and me to join her, and the idea spread like wildfire. In the end, eleven of us headed to Boone to enjoy the mountain air and the company of hoards of
Appalachian State fans.
I didn't know what to expect having never been to a beer festival or any drinking event more organized than your average Schwasted for the King party. Fortunately, it was even more fun than I my rightfully high hopes. For thirty dollars, I got a six ounce custom festival glass and as much beer as I could transfer from any brewery representatives keg to my belly in four hours. This is a challenge I can get into!
Here you can see George observing the spectacle of hundreds of beer fans crammed into an unusually small and sunny space. The great thing about this set-up is that it's easy to hit many different brewers in as little time as possible. And boy does that sun make you thirsty. Porta johns available for dispensing of excesses liquids.
There were some fifty odd breweries represented at the festival, with each brewery providing between two and five different beers to sample. Maggie demonstrates the proper way to interact with your friendly microbrewmaster.
Get beer.
Appreciate.
Thanks for DDing, Maggie!
Some of my favorite beers at the festival were the New Belgium Hoptober, Huske Hardware House Watermelon Wheat, and the Duckrabbit Milk Stout. Three delicious, but very different drinking experiences. And all from right here in North Carolina!
After four hours of good times, we headed to Walmart to stock up on cheap beer for the rest of the night. We camped off a dirt road on the outskirts of Linville Gorge. Good times were had, most of which I don't remember. I'm told I spent a lot of time bonding and throwing a stick around with Obsidian (Sid for short), Maggie's one hundred pound black lab.
The next day, George and I at least were awoken just a bit too early and hung over by the other members of our group, who were eager to spend the day rock climbing. However, their eagerness to take on the day meant they made some deliciously salty ham and eggs. Best. Hangover. Cure. Ever. So while the other eight people chose to cling to rock on thin lines way too high in the air, Maggie, George, and I went off to explore the sights of Linville Gorge, also called the Grand Canyon of North Carolina.
The view from the top of Hawksbill Trail. 
The three, or rather four of us at Linville Falls.
All photo credits to George.
Beautiful weather and great friends, old and new, makes for a most excellent Sunday afternoon. We plan to head back again when the fall colors set in. I can't wait!
