Oskar Blues Brewery gets freaky with an Alabama four-way collaboration

Oskar Blues Brewery, founded by Alabama-native Dale Katechis which has locations in Colorado, North Carolina and soon to be Austin, Texas, is joining forces with The Hangout Oyster Cook-Off and Craft Beer Weekend to brew a collaborative beer and shine a light on the growth of Alabama craft brewing.

In early September, Oskar Blues invited Straight to Ale (Huntsville, Ala.), Good People Brewing Co. (Birmingham, Ala.), Cahaba Brewing (Birmingham, Ala.), and Fairhope Brewing Co. (Fairhope, Ala.) to its Brevard, NC., brewery. The five breweries developed a recipe and began brewing their collaborative brew, named the Hoptub Bath Machine. The light and crisp brew, which features bright flavors of pear and lemon, with green peppercorns adding a depth of flavor and subtle spiciness, will debut in late October, just prior to The Hangout Oyster Cook-Off and Craft Beer Weekend. Hoptub Bath Machine will have limited 6-pack availability in select Alabama markets and along the Florida panhandle in October, and will make its official debut to the public on the Friday of the Hangout Oyster Cook-Off and Craft Beer Weekend.

“It’s great to dig in with the crew that is driving the craft beer scene back home in Alabama,” said Dale Katechis, soul founder of Oskar Blues Brewery.

Katechis brewed his first beer in a bathtub while studying at Auburn University. This brew was the start of a path that eventually created the award-winning, best-selling Dale’s Pale Ale. This fall, he gave back to his alma mater with an endowed fellowship program for students accepted into the Brewing Sciences and Operations certificate program (this year’s scholarship recipients were invited to join the collaborative brewing process in Brevard). During the upcoming Oyster Cook-Off in Gulf Shores, Katechis will join a panel discussion to share his expertise and discuss the future of Alabama craft brewing.