fbpx

What does your basement look like? Is it furnished with a multi-tap keg system, granite countertops, shelves for glassware, a bar, a couch, and a big screen TV? Or is it more like mine: a chilly, dusty room that constantly has a weird smell and is essentially a repository for things I know I should throw away but somehow can’t? For the duo representing Fabled Brewing, the tricked-out basement description is what they have and is where their magic happens.

Calling Fabled Brewing a brewery isn’t exactly right. Not yet, anyway. Friends Giuseppe Tocco and Brandon Jones have lots of plans, but right now, they’re perfecting their craft, and it’s in Tocco’s basement taproom where their art comes to life.

Giuseppe Tocco (left) and Brandon Jones (right) share a laugh.

It’s easy to see the love these two have for the beer they produce. Jones has been brewing since he was 21, and roped Tocco in not long after. Their flagship beer, Earl Grea ESB came about after experimentation with brands, amounts, and brew days.

Yes, an ESB is their mainstay. I know — I was surprised, too. Every beer poured by the duo had me rethinking my opinion of that particular style of beer and within a few sips, I resolved to give ESBs another try. The 5% ABV Earl Grea, made with Harney & Sons tea, is incredible. It’s not too malty, has a clean finish, and would be perfectly at home in an English pub.

Tocco, while on a trip to Manchester in 2019, fell in love with cask ales and decided to try and recreate that kind of pouring style in his own house. He created a separate system with a faucet-attached flow control regulator to slow down the beer’s pour, and a separate regulator to control the amount of pressure being applied to the beer. The Earl Grea even has its own cask ale handle. The result of his efforts is a delicious beer served in the style in which it deserves to be enjoyed.

The tap list in Tocco’s basement reads like a throwback to the early days of craft breweries with an ESB, a Hefeweizen, a Belgian Dark, and a Kellerbock. These old school styles share shelf space with a New England IPA and a West Coast IPA, as well as a Cider. There’s something for everyone down there! Tocco and Jones work hard to make sure their beers satisfy by taking pride in their brewing. The accumulated knowledge of more than 15 years of doing what they love is evident in each beer.

The story of Fabled Beers is one of friendship and shared experiences. Having played rugby in college together, Tocco and Jones realized one of the aspects of the team they loved so much was social: traveling together, sharing stories and drinks, and just being in the presence of people they cared about, while having a good time. Whether it was stories of “the one that got away” or tales from hometowns around the world, Tocco and Jones knew that beer always made for good storytelling.

Each Fabled beer has its own tale to tell, as well, and its planned that each will be packaged with the story right on the bottle. For example, the Earl Grea tells the story of a pirate and their Mourning Son Hefeweizen includes a twist on the tale of Icarus. The aim is “A Story in Every Pint” and they hope that providing a tale for each beer will bring new stories by the drinker.

For the past few years, Tocco and Jones have been working with the unique challenge of no longer living near one another. In 2016 Jones moved to California, while Tocco remains based in Clinton Twp. Their distance doesn’t deter their vision, however, and they’ve found the distance to be even more helpful. Tocco, the dreamer, has a degree in art education and is felt to be the more creative half of the Fabled Beers team. Jones comes at the brewing process with a business degree, which provides him a more focused approach and helps keep things on track. Each one brings something different to the table, which complements the other and no matter what the beer keeps brewing.

While the Earl Grea ESB is considered their flagship beer, it shares that title with their Mourning Son Hefeweizen. Clocking in at 5.5%, it’s an absolute treat. I have personally never been a fan of the style, but once again, the Fabled guys changed my mind. It was bright, effervescent, easy-drinking, and yes, there were banana and clove notes, but it’s like no other Hefeweizen I’ve ever had.

Tocco recounts the creation of the Mourning Son as an attempt to make a Hefeweizen that would make anyone happy, whether they like the style or not. He drank them on a trip to Switzerland. Upon returning he and Jones decided to try their hands at making their own. Jones considers it one of the most complex beers they make, and it includes a nearly eight hour brew day following the traditional Schneider Weisse triple decoction schedule. Brutal though it may sound, Tocco and Jones say the long brew days are relaxing: it’s work, but in the end you’ve made delicious beer.

So what does the future hold for Fabled Beers? The basement taproom is lovingly maintained and an excellent space for now. What about a storefront somewhere, to serve the masses their incredible creations? That may come, but honestly, Tocco and Jones aren’t in a huge hurry. Living in two different states poses an obvious challenge, but when the time is right, I’m sure there will be Fabled Brewing in hands and refrigerators across the country. They’ll certainly be in mine.


Disclaimer: Thank you to Giuseppe Tocco and Brandon Jones for your time and samples in May of 2021.


0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Avatar placeholder

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Verified by ExactMetrics