Kevin Kurland, owner and manager of Smoky Quartz Distillery in Seabrook, freshens up his spread of rum, vodka, and moonshine during the winter farmers market at Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford on Saturday.
Farmers market shoppers get a taste of locally crafted beverages
photos by Alyssa Grenning
Guests at the winter farmers market in Rollinsford on Saturday had a chance to wet their whistles with a variety of locally crafted beverages, including beer, cider, mead, and spirits.
Seacoast Eat Local hosted a Drink Local Tasting event during the Beer & Bread-themed market at the Wentworth Greenhouses on March 14. The event highlighted regional beverage crafters, many of which incorporate local ingredients into their products.
Among those offering samples were Throwback Brewery of North Hampton, 7th Settlement Brewery of Dover, Smoky Quartz Distillery of Seabrook, Sea Hagg Distillery of North Hampton, North Country Hard Cider of Rochester, and Sap House Meadery of Center Ossipee.
After picking up a growler of beer or bottle of booze, guests tried an assortment of breads baked fresh for the market. They also got tips from area bakers and picked up locally grown bread-making ingredients.
Proceeds from the Drink Local Tasting will be used to support Seacoast Eat Local’s winter farmers market program. There are two Seacoast Eat Local winter markets remaining, both at Exeter High School, on March 28 and April 11. Market hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sap House Meadery bottles are dipped in beeswax from the same bees that make the honey used in their award-winning line of meads. Mead, or honey-wine, is created through the fermentation of honey and water, and is possibly the oldest alcoholic beverage known to humankind. Sap House, located in Center Ossipee, produces 12 locally sourced meads. Above, a spread of mead bottles at the farmers market in Rollinsford.
Josh Henry (right), co-owner of 7th Settlement Brewery in Dover, serves up some beer samples to guests during the Drink Local Tasting on Saturday.
Ronald Vars, a distiller at Sea Hagg Distillery in North Hampton, explains the process of making small batches of spirits using a traditional copper alembic pot still. Sea Hagg’s spirits are aged in custom barrels and bottled by hand.