Funky Picnic goes big with Greg's Big Honey Lager

Image: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

Funky Picnic Brewery & Café represents the latest entity to access the rolodex of recipes created by local homebrewer Greg Etzel, with the Fort Worth brewpub set to tap its contribution to the series of beers honoring his memory later this week.

Greg's Big Honey Lager, an imperial honey lager boasting an ABV of 11%, will debut at Funky Picnic this Thursday, June 25. Like previous memorial beers, proceeds from sales will benefit charities chosen by the Etzel family, including ACH Child & Family Services, Direct Relief (Covid-19 Relief), Team Conner Childhood Cancer Foundation and Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation.

"We decided to pick the honey lager because it allowed us to brew a unique and big beer, much like Greg himself," says Collin Zreet, co-founder of Funky Picnic.

According to Zreet, those at the brewpub had never tried the beer, so they relied on the recommendation of friend, fellow homebrewer and organizer of the tribute series, Nigel Curtis. And, it seems everyone is pleased with the choice, considering Funky Picnic plans to enter Greg's Big Honey Lager in the National Honey Board's 2020 Honey Beer Competition.

As for how Funky Picnic approached its interpretation of the recipe, the commercial description for Greg's Big Honey Lager says it all:

"A tribute to Greg. His recipe, his idea, we just tried to do it justice. An 11% lager with generous amounts of honey and citrus aroma, and a clean, sharp finish.

"Drink it for Greg."