I first became aware of Escape Velocity Brewing the summer of 2020 as I was doing my brewery project. It was the first science-fiction theme brewery I’d come across, and the nerd in me was impressed. Star Trek and Star Wars memorabilia, as well as really cool specialized artwork made this brewery beautiful. Their beer was very good, and they seem to have a very good grasp on the simpler styles. I learned they had opened in January and offered to go beer during the early part of the pandemic. It was still going on when I was there, and even though the bar area was closed, the brewery was warm and inviting.
I would return the following January when I was showing my friend Kevin Stroup what I considered to be the best of Lafayette’s beer scene. I was on a cream ale kick, and theirs was top notch. We also got to talk to Jason Behenna who was brewing that afternoon. There was much enthusiasm in his voice as he told us about the Russian Imperial Stout he was working on. I would eventually get a bottle, but knowing he had great projects up his sleeve excited me!
My life would get busy, but I returned the following year to a brewery that was now offering a full scale vegan menu. The Escape Hatch Jalapeño Melt would become my favorite sandwich, and I was lucky to get it a few times. It paired up well with the Max Peck Porter. The brewery was doing fun things, and boldly going where few breweries would go!
In early this spring, I heard that Jason and company were considering closing the brewery, so I wrote about them, and tried to muster up interest in the Vegan community to help keep them open. I made a trip up and spent Easter afternoon and enjoyed food and beverage, and took two growlers of their beer home with me. It was a good crowd that Sunday, and I hoped things would last.
But sadly, they were set to close in June, and last weekend, I made my last trip up to enjoy the beer on the day where they would stay open until they ran out of beer. I didn’t have a lot of time, but I enjoyed the Escape Hatch for the last time, and I had a few beers as well. I got a growler of the Magnificent Desolation Irish Stout to go and wished Jason all the best. He’s not sure exactly what he’s going to do, but I hope he enjoys some much-needed R&R.
There are other science fiction themed breweries, but there will never be another Escape Velocity. This writer fell in love with everything about the brewery, and it will be sadly missed. Maybe you got a chance to try their beer and if you did, I’m happy for you. There is now a void in the Lafayette beer scene, but I’m glad I got to enjoy their beer when it was available!
So Much Beer So Little Time 