Marshall Brewing Company pioneered craft beer in Tulsa and helped lead the way for more brewers in the area.
And with more brewers comes more events showcasing craft beer, such as The Hop Jam festival coming up May 18.
It’s the first year for the beer and music event, a collaboration between the band Hanson — Tulsa brothers who also brew beer — and the state’s breweries.
At The Hop Jam, guest brewers will feature special limited-edition brews as well as their premier beers.
Exclusively for The Hop Jam, Marshall Brewing Company has created a special beer named after the Tulsa World called Newshound. Newshound is a hoppy German-style wheat ale, said Wes Alexander, director of sales.
“It will be dry hopped with amarillo hops adding a citrus note to the banana and clove aromas that are the hallmark of German wheat beers,” Alexander said.
In addition to Newshound, Marshall also will bring Revival Red Ale and a preview of the Arrowhead Pale Ale, a popular summer seasonal that won’t be released until about a week after the festival.
Phantom of the Hopera is another Marshall that will be available at The Hop Jam. The base for this dry-hopped stout is Marshall’s barrel-aged Black Dolphin Stout. Chinook and citra hops will add a special punch just for this event, he said.
“It is exciting to see interest in craft beer from folks outside the craft beer industry. The Hanson brothers are the pride of Tulsa, and fans will be coming from all over, so this event will showcase Oklahoma beer in an audience that is somewhat amplified,” Alexander said.
It’s a big weekend for the state’s brewers, he noted, saying that the Oklahoma City Craft Beer Fest is Saturday.
What can we look forward to in the near future from Marshall?
“We have been experimenting with a Belgian IPA. I can’t release the name of it just yet, but it is going to be a really exciting beer for us,” Alexander said.
He explained that the beer will be dry hopped with citra, amarillo and nelson sauvin, “hops that provide really nice citrus notes that characterize a Belgian beer. The flavor can be kind of spicy and floral and provides some sweetness.”
It’s a bigger beer for Marshall, Alexander explained, at 7.8 percent alcohol by volume.
“It is really exciting to see all of the new beers and new brands that are emerging in Oklahoma. There is a kinship among the brewers who all have different background and different business models,” Alexander said. “And we are proud that much of our hard work and efforts have made it easier for those new breweries.”
We are taking a look at the brewers who are scheduled to be at Hop Jam and offering some background and picks from Tulsa World’s beer blogger, Tom Gilbert (tulsaworld.com/whattheale).
Prairie Artisan Ales
Marshall Brewing Co.
COOP Ale Works
Choc Beer
Roughtail Brewing Company
Willows Family Ales
Mustang Brewing Company
Anthem Brewing Co.
Battered Boar Brewing Company
Dead Armadillo Brewing Company
Black Mesa Brewing