Something’s Brewing in Gnawbone!

By: Kelly Denney

Edited by: Joe Steele

On Saturday, July 28^th eXplore Brown County will play host to, “The 3^rd Annual GnawBrew Art, Music, Homebrew Party!” After receiving and reading a Facebook Event Invite, I contacted Doug Talley, the organizer and host, to get the skinny on this high gravity happening.

What’s the history behind this event?

My band, Gravel Mouth had our first gig in my backyard in the summer of 2010. Around then, Facebook was fairly new to me and I created my first event page and invited my friends to come out. I’d always been into brewing and wanted to share some of my creations as well, so a party was born. Over 70 friends and even some strangers (with a laugh) made their way out to the hills of Gnawbone. Over the next year the band grew and so did the party. Knowing it would be too big for the backyard, we rented out the Red Barn Jamboree, brewed a lot more beers and invited a few more bands to share the stage. And once again, with the help of the internet, over two hundred people came.

Now, you said this event was and is free; really, two hundred plus people?

Yeah! Totally. It’s a party; that first year, it got people to see the band as well as giving them personal thanks from us for the last year of support. And making homebrews, you want people to enjoy it. The quicker it is drank, the quicker we can start on the next batch! In my opinion it’s a very small price to pay for a good time. Then the second year, other brewers came forward to donate and to help make it a little bigger and better. As a new band, we did well that first year and so we paid some forward to rent the Red Barn and be able to have our friends’ bands come play.

Now this year, we took it to the next step. One of my oldest friends, Joe Steele, is close with Gary Bartels, the owner of eXplore Brown County, and having played there and enjoying the place so much, we decided to approach them and host it there. On the homebrew side, we again looked to the local beer community to get beers and support. Powerhouse Brewing Company from Columbus jumped on board, and Big Woods Brewery in Nashville jumped in with both feet, not only offering up the knowledge of their brewers, but setting up their homebrew supply store for the day. They also announced that the winner of the best homebrew competition will have their recipe put on tap at the brewery. It’s been just a great evolution of a cool event.

Didn’t you say food too?

Yes, of course. Any event needs libations, entertainment AND food. Once again, what started out as big cookout, has evolved into some great institutes offering up their wares. Snappy Tomato in Columbus is bringing a bunch of pizzas, as well as Big Woods from their Nashville pizzeria. The Columbus Bar will also be bringing some treats. We really just want to do whatever it takes to have a good time; that is what it is all about.

What time should everyone get there? Is there a plan of events?

We’ll be out there on Friday just to camp and have fun. There isn’t anything planned on that Friday besides some set up and soundchecks and you never know where those may go, but you can bet we’ll have a laugh, jam a bit and lighten some coolers.

On Saturday, the event starts at noon; we’ll have some of the local professionals in the brewing community give presentations on whatever they choose!

No guidelines for them?

No way, we just asked the different brewers if they could take the stage and talk about something of interest to our chosen crowd. They’ll come up with something great. I can’t wait to hear em!

Then at 3:30 pm, we’ll tap the kegs. Serving numbered samples to the twenty judges for the competition and then at 4pm when the music starts, to those in attendance. For the competition we won’t share the types of beer or brewers, just blindly taste them and see which ones you enjoy the most. The judges will simply rank their top three favorites. The top three beers will then go to the main judges and from them, we hope to hear the winner of favorite beer. This is not about type or any technical aspect of brewing, simply, the favorite. Once the winner is announced, we will label all of the beers and continue to sample them into the evening!

And with the sampling and mingling of brews, we’ll need some music, so acoustic acts will perform from 4:00pm until around 6pm.

Around four, we’ll also serve the food. Just eat, drink and enjoy yourself. If folks are up to it we are encouraging that people bring some of their favorite beers. We’ll have a beer-share table. The concept is that if you have a favorite beer, put a few bottles on the shared table and taste the ones someone else felt were good enough to bring.

At six, the music will take the focus and we will have bands playing on the main stage until midnight. Then those who came just for the free event should locate their designated driver and make their way home and those of us, who are camping, circle a campfire and enjoy the night.

Honestly, it sounds too good for free!

No man, you get more when you give. Everyone involved is giving because they know they will get a great time. Big Woods will have an opportunity to showcase their awesome homebrew store to their target market. The brewers will get feedback from those tasting the beers and have the opportunity to get their beer on a brewery tap. How cool is that? eXplore Brown County is giving us the use of their amazing facility, but it is an event where many will stay to camp and they will get business there. The cabins and most of the RV sites are already sold out. Snappy makes awesome pizzas and a bunch of people with a great beer in their hand are going to have a bite. Subconsciously, they’ll salivate next time they drive by!

You know even the sound is being donated. Phil Forney owner of Primo Sound Productions, who is an amazing sound guy, is doing it just for the good times. Not to mention the other bands on the bill will see how great it is to work with him and it will pay forward.

Also we have some absolutely wonderful artists that will be displaying their works and possibly if inspiration strikes may even be creating some art live on site. I can’t wait to see what Jennday Talley and the other artists have in store for that aspect of the party!!! Not to mention that we have a few local vendors that will have some great handmade craft items and jewelry on display and for sale at really great prices.

Sounds cool; is there anything else you wanted to add and I didn’t ask?

Not really. Just come out and have a good time. If you plan to sample a homebrew, then plan to reserve a campsite. It is only $10 a person. And if you have an interest in this great hobby, get some materials from the homebrew store. You know, if you like a musician that plays, go see them down the road some time.

If we all just bring a little to the table, we all leave fuller than we thought.

The schedule for the day will look something like this...

Saturday July 28th
12:00p Gates Open
12:30p Onsite brewing begins.
(Come see how beer is made or come show folks how YOU MAKE YOUR BEER!!!)

1:00p-3:00p We will have professional Brew-masters speaking on brewing; giving tips and answering questions.

4:00p Homebrews are tapped, food will be served and the music begins!

This year’s lineup will showcase all local musicians and local as well as regional Hoosier artists.

Music Line-Up:
4:00p-4:45 Jeff Morgan
5:00p-5:45p STOOPITOOF
6:00p-7:00p Baked Beingz
7:15p-8:15p White Lightning Boys
8:30p-9:30p Tha Bone Boogity
10:00p-12:00a GRAVELMOUTH

Things you may want to bring:
1.Lawn Chairs
2.Tents
3.Fishing Supplies
4.Some cans of your favorite chugging beer
5.Bottles of water (Gotta stay hydrated!!)
6.Some pocket cash in case you wish to purchase vendors items.
7.Bug Spray
8.Sun Screen
9.Trash Bag for your area (Please help us keep it clean!!!)
10. BRING YOUR PARTY HATS BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA PARTY!!

For more information visit the Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/297294547031274/