Fall Local Living 2023

6—Fall Local Living 2023 Common John brings craft brew family together with annual Family Reunion Beer Fest M anchester’s local favorite Common John Brewing Company returns the 2023 Family Reunion Beer Fest on Saturday, Sept. 16 with over 40 brewer- ies, food trucks, craft vendors and live music. “Every year we do an anniversary party,” said Tap Room Manager and As- sistant Brewer Shelby Gallagher. “We do special releases, do music all week long. We are founded around music that’s one of our big things, beer music good times and (of course) family.” Employees at Common John are like family, but to a greater extent, the craft brew scene is a large extended family. Craft breweries share a common bond that goes beyond hops and yeast – it’s a common culture of working together. “We try to keep it as local as we can. Independent craft breweries that are in- dependently owned and operated -- you won’t see any (national brands),” Galla- gher said. She said that these companies support one another. “It’s all a family. We support each other. That’s one reason we like to have the guest taps,” she said. Brewers support one another. Common John offers guest taps to help others get their name out there and offer guests a greater variety of drinks. “We want to have something for every- body,” Gallagher said. There’s almost an endless amount of nu- ance that can be pulled from the brewing process. Gallagher said that differences in grain can predict the color of the beer, different yeasts yield different flavor Common John Brewing Company President and Head Brewer LeBron Haggard cleans a grist hydrator after a recent day of brewing. —Staff photos by John Coffelt See Quilt, Page 6A