I know that this song is relatively popular and has been around for many a decade. But if I ever hear the 1974 song ‘Take Me to the River,’ the only thing I am ever able to think of are the Big Mouth Billy Bass toys that were insanely popular for 10 minutes in the ’90s.
You know, the ones that look like a fake plastic fish on a plaque on the wall, but when you press the button it would jump to life and sing this song. Funny enough, co-writer Mabon “Teenie” Hodges states he earned more royalties from the sale of those toys than he did from any of the recorded versions.
I almost felt guilty about this mental association, since it was clearly the inspiration for the signature release and VIP bottle offering at the 7th Anniversary music festival and assorted festivities for long time Ft. Lauderdale beer stalwart Tarpon River Brewing.
Having gone to the anniversary, it was amazing to see how long they’ve been around. It seems like they just opened yesterday, but it also seems like it’s always been a part of the beer scene here.
In a way they have, because founder Adam Fine has been in South Florida beer much longer than this blog has been around. I remember hunting down his Native Brewing imprint, featuring a couple of additional brews such as The Eleven Brown Ale (which is also on tap at Tarpon River, FYI).
All of this is to say Tarpon River has quite the beer pedigree. It’s why I had to circle back to Take Me To The River (Witbier, 5.2% ABV) and try a little for myself.
Take Me To The River is Tarpon River’s annual birthday beer. I was a little surprised this year’s iteration was a wit, only because a bottle release attached to an anniversary is usually some big, dark, barrel-aged monstrosity, as this has been in the past.
Yet here we are with a light, refreshing, and flavorful blueberry wit.
The color is a sort of light magenta that’s actually kind of cute. The aroma definitely brings the berries forward. It’s not candy, it’s not tart, it’s just nice and soft and fruity.
The flavor is fantastic; I expected nothing less from them. As a witbier, it’s got the soft, fluffy, wheat malt base, they they step back and let the blueberry really shine. It’s just hard enough for a slight ting, it’s just berry enough to be fruity, and it’s not syrupy at all. It’s just the right amount of everything and immensely drinkable.
So much so, I can see this being a year-round can release from them. I know a lot of beer circles where this would go over immensely well.
So Happy Anniversary to Adam and his crew. They’ve been around for a very long time and it’s nice to see from the size of the event even early on, how much the community continues to embrace them.
And now that I know The Eleven is on tap, I need to go back.
Drink Florida Craft,
Dave
@floridabeerblog
[email protected]
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