Lost in the Trees Honored in Their Hometown With Custom Beer

When orchestral folksy musical collective Lost in the Trees play Durham, N.C.'s Motorco Music Hall on Friday, Dec.3, their fans can toast these hometown heroes with a pint of bespoke beer made in the band's honor. Durham's Fullsteam Brewery recently released some special kegs named after the band: Lost in the Trees Farmhouse Ale. The group's singer and songwriter, Ari Picker, helped choose the flavors and offered creative input into making this one-of-a-kind ale, which is made from local harvested North Carolina figs.

"Our original idea was to have a mixed drink named after us," Picker tells Spinner. "But another local band beat us to it. They're called the Love Language." The Love Language cocktail is one thing, but a uniquely brewed ale is something special. Picker became interested in beers when he worked in a restaurant and got to know strong Belgium style ales. "They're my favorite," he says, "but they can give me quite headache."

Lost in the Trees also plan on making their hometown show extra special. They're working up some special outfits. "Not costumes exactly, but we want some running themes, some color or texture, to give us uniformity," says Picker. They may even try out some new songs. "We had an informal chat with our label about recording our new album," says Picker. "We may do that in the spring, ready for a fall release."

Lost in the Trees Farmhouse Ale is the first in Fullsteam Brewery's new Forestry series. "Our band name also fit well with that theme," Picker says, laughing. "Fullsteam's concept is to make beer with local ingredients, like sweet potatoes and, for this one, figs. We got together and decided it should be an ale-style beer. I'm not super-knowledgeable. I brew beer at home, but I'm very much an amateur. It's a non-musical activity to do to keep me sane."

What -- drinking beer or making it? "Both," says Picker.

Listen to Lost in the Trees' 'Walk Around the Lake'