Every time I travel, I always make it a point to ask the locals if they have a local beer I could sample. Considering the fact that for a year, I wrote a column for a beer publication called the Ale Street News entitled, “What’s On Tap?” where I reviewed beers – it’s only natural that I ask to sample the local brew so I can see what my latest destination has to offer.

Last week, I was in Huntsville, Alabama and found myself at Humphrey’s Bar and Grill on Tuesday night and asked the bartender if I could sample their local brew. He explained to me that their local was Olde Towne Brewery – but I could not sample it since they had been temporarily put out of business due to a fire that took place on July 5, 2007 – but informed me that two guys from Olde Towne Brewing Company were sitting on the other side of the bar…

…which prompted me to immediately go over and talk to them and find out about their unfortunate predicament, their beer – and their plans for the future.

I went over and met Kevin McCormick, Olde Towne’s Assistant Brewer, and Milton Lamb, the brewery’s Sales and Marketing Director. We introduced ourselves and I informed them of my obsession with always trying local brews and my former column. They gave me details of their brewery’s history and the fire that consumed it. Then, they told me that they would have their first batch of brew ready for kegging and drinking that Thursday – and were then kind enough to invite me and my colleague to come sample their first batch of suds in one year and ten days…

…like I was going to say no.

That Thursday, my colleague and I arrived at 3200 Leeman Ferry Road in Huntsville at the new home of Olde Towne Brewing Company, which has been in business since August of 2004 but recently reopened. We were greeted by Kevin and Don Alan Hankins, Brew Master and Co-Owner of the brewery – and Barley, who is their four month old puppy and mascot of the brewery. After a tour of the facilities and an explanation of their brewing process, they explained the reason why they have a top hat on their tap handle and logo. The hat signifies the other owners wife’s uncle, “Uncle” Gus Paulus – who is from Utah and who was a moonshiner and bootlegger. There was a picture of him wearing a British Bowler’s hat in the former brewery which got destroyed – but nonetheless – the tribute continues.

The first beer they let us sample after our tour was their Hefeweizen while we sat at their new bar made out of bricks from their original brewery that was now sadly lost – but born again with their silent tribute to it. After one sip of this German Style Wheat Beer – I knew these guys were no joke.

In their own words on their website, they claim their Hefeweizen is, “unfiltered and naturally cloudy. The spicy aromas of cloves, citrus and banana are beautifully balanced with the crisp, clean flavor and finish of this beer.” As a beer aficionado and someone who has sampled literally thousands of different beers – I can tell you first hand that they are lying…

…because that description doesn’t even do it justice.

My colleague who was with me is from Darmstadt, Germany. He has had the world’s best Hefeweizen – and after he took his first sip of Olde Towne’s version – two words came out of his mouth – “Spot on.” The beer was perfect. With a great scent and a taste that laid the smack down on any Hefeweizen I have ever had in the past – I can say with no doubt in my mind that Don Alan can teach a class on how to brew the famous German beer. As he said, it really was spot on – and trust me, I would know..

After finally wrestling their amazing Hefeweizen away from me, I tried their Pale Ale – which was released from it’s fermenting tank only an hour earlier – I was in Heaven. Like a fine cologne, the aroma made me smile and want to dab it on my wrists and neck rather than drink it – but once I did – I realized that there was not profit and dollar signs in the eyes of Don Alan, Kevin and Milton – but passion. They took great pride in their beer, and I did not know that because they told me – but because I sampled it – and I sensed the flavor and finish, which as we all know and as they say correctly on their website, “are all crucial in a great Pale Ale.” He said that he usually uses Cascade Hops, which are the best in the industry – but since most major breweries gobble them up like Hungry, Hungry Hippos – he had to settle for Shanook and Glacier Hops. It was so good despite the change in Hops, that rather than sample their Pale Ale after my glass was empty like they asked me to – I had a few more glasses of their Hefeweizen – because like a really good book – I didn’t want to put it down.

I asked them what their future held, and they told me that they plan to get their golden nectar back into the over 65 bars in both Birmingham and Huntsville that it was sold in before the fire – and to expand to Mobile and other states like Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Florida. They also said that they will be selling merchandise like men’s and women’s T-Shirts, pint glasses and hats on their website very soon. I know I wear my shirt and hat that they so generously gave me very proudly – including all the way home from “Bama” – and I am sure that anyone else who buys one will do the same as well.

Olde Towne Brewing Company, in addition to the beers I sampled, makes an Amber, a Pilsner – as well as Seasonals like their Pumpkin Ale which will be available in the fall. Should anyone who reads this make it to Alabama, please make sure you stop at their oasis in the Gulf Coast – because while everyone has had a good beer in their lives – very few have had a great one.

Sweet Home Alabama indeed.

Cheers boys – welcome back – see you again someday.