By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor
Braxton Brewing Company celebrates its fourth annual Dark Charge Day with event today in and around the Tap Room at 27 W 7th St., in Covington.
Braxton Brewing Company Co-foounder Jake Rouse with the three-year, bourbon tasting collection (photos by Mark Hansel).
Braxton co-founder Jake Rouse said everyone associated with the company is very excited about Dark Charge Day this year.
“It’s our single-day release of our bourbon-based imperial stout, aged for a year,” Rouse said. “This year is really unlike any year we’ve ever had in the past, we’ve spent a ton of time and effort creating an event over the past three years. It celebrates everything we’ve done in the year.”
Five stouts will be released, along with a very special three-year, bourbon tasting collection.
“That tasting collection is unique in that we’ve got a barrel that’s aged on oak for three years, a barrel that’s aged on oak for two years and a barrel that’s aged on oak for one year,” Rouse said. There are only about 125 of them left for sale, so opportunities to purchase are very limited.”
There will also be several guest taps, featuring beers from other breweries in the industry and plenty of food.
“Eight of our best restaurant partners are bringing food for the big day and they are all using Dark Charge to create that food,” Rouse said.
Guests can choose between a variety of items, including Dark Charge creme brûlée, Dark Charge tacos and other selections.
“I’m really fired up about that,” Rouse said. “The food’s going to be amazing and obviously the beer itself is just truly special. Last year people camped out for it.”
The weather forecast calls for some rain, but warmer temperatures and crews were busy getting tents set up outside Friday and getting everything ready to go.
Rouse said as the event has grown in popularity, visitors have started to make Dark Charge Day a destination stop. Hotel Covington told Rouse that they have booked about 20 rooms to visitors coming in just for the event.
Workers were busy setting up tents Friday for today’s Dark Charge Day.
“Year one, we just did a bottle release right here in the Tap Room, and threw a little music in,” rouse said. “Then 2016 was the first year that we had the event outside in the parking lot on Washington. Last year was the first year that we shut down the street.”
Attendance last year was about 6,000 and this year Rouse expects more than 10,000 people to come through the site.
For more information about the Braxton Brewing Company, including how it became the official beer for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Churchill Downs, click here.
With the announcement that the MainStrasse Village Association has filed bankruptcy, Rouse said it’s more important than ever to remind people that downtown Covington is still an area on the rise.
“We’ve been massive supporters of all the MainStrasse events, so we’re sad to see those go, but we’re working really closely with everyone involved to figure out what can be done to keep them alive,” Rouse said. “I don’t know what’s going to become of that yet, but I’m hoping something big does. I think that what it really comes down to is that our events are really special because it’s all about experiences and how you drive the right experiences to build Braxton as a brand.”
In addition to the food and lots of beer, there will be live music all day.
“It’s everything that’s great about craft beer Rouse said. “I’m really excited to share the beer with everybody.”
For more information about the stouts being released and dark Charge Day, click here, or go to the event Facebook page.
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com
