Category: Alcohol

Charleston: Filled with Southern Charm

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol, Brewery, Restaurants, Trips, vacations1 Comment

Now that I’ve had 24 hours to regroup after that trip down South, I thought i would sit down and put the fingers to the keyboard. Charleston, SC is honestly a top 3 city I have ever been to. I spent just a few days there but accomplished so much yet still only saw a small piece of the city. And the people, wow! Talk about southern hospitality. Seriously this city has beautiful beaches, history around every corner and yeah some pretty good beer.

During my time there, I tried beer from four different local breweries and visited two. I enjoyed multiple beers from Palmetto Brewing Co. and Westbrook Brewing Company. Both produced quality beers. Trying local beers is one thing but I usually have to visit at least 1 brewery in a city. I think you get a better feel for the beer there and they usually have some you cannot get anywhere else. My girlfriend and I managed to get to two, Revelry Brewing Co. and Southend Brewery & Smokehouse. Honestly, while Southend had delicious food, the beer was just average. Revelry on the other hand was fantastic. Now, I have to admit I am not familiar with the New England style IPA but theirs called “Never Sunny” wins best SC beer in my book. Highly recommend it.

Beer wasn’t the only thing there though. We ate like gluttonous pigs at Hominy Grill, The Park Cafe, Closed For Business and others.  We saw the well-known sites like Rainbow Row, The Battery, and Angel Oak. And we enjoyed top end beaches like Isle of the Palms and Folly Beach where my back “Felt the  Bern” more than a 21-year-old Gender Studies major at a Sanders rally. Note to self, reapply sunscreen often.

Seriously, this was an amazing city. I will be back. I have to drag my girlfriend to all the historic sites next time. Charleston like its people, has more to give.

 

 

Beer in a Christmas Town

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol, Brewery, Trips, vacations1 Comment

This past Saturday I stopped at brewery in Frankenmuth. Frankenmuth is a tourist town in Michigan known for Christmas and German food. I have been to Frankenmuth a few times but this was my first time stopping at Frankenmuth Brewery.

Ok, I have to admit the reason for stopping was my girlfriend’s obsession with her dachshund and the fact that the mascot for Frankenmuth Brewery is a dachshund. She had to visit and  I was not going to object to the chance to try another brewery.

I was pleasantly surprised with the beer here. I tried 8 different beers and have to say there was not a single one I didn’t enjoy.  My favorite  was the Belgian Quad called Oh My Quad! It is a fantastic beer that I would place in  my top 5 I have ever had. I was also impressed with the variety. They brew quite a few beers for a small craft brewer and I don’t think I even tried half of them. Just another reason for me to visit again.

Frankenmuth is a cool little town that is well worth the visit, especially around Christmas time. And while you’re there stop in to Frankenmuth Brewery. I recommend it.

Mile of Death…And Beer

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol, FitnessLeave a comment

I know I should have written this sooner. But better late than never right?

Last week, I ran in the  Cleveland National Beer Mile. Honestly, I didn’t think this would be very challenging. I drink beer pretty well and I can run at a decent pace. I workout on a regular basis. I should easily be able to combine the two. That was my thought going in.

My god was I wrong. The beer mile is test of physical endurance, lung capacity and chugging. I gulped down the first beer quickly. 10-12 seconds I would estimate. Solid start. I took off on a sprint and reached the second beer at a good time. I was doing well. Beer number 2 took a little longer but still under a minute. Then I ran. Or jogged. Actually it was shuffle. The second beer hits you. There was no more sprinting. I reached beer 3 and was quickly loosing pace. I gasped for breath as I tried to swallow the bubbly liquid. This one took me well into 2 minutes to finish and I still had half a mile to go.  I trudged along to beer 4 and finished it in a more reasonable time frame before jogging the last quarter mile to the finish. All in all the race took me 13 minutes and 25 seconds. Respectable but no where near the top finishers of the day. The world record holder was there and casually did it in 5 and half minutes with out even breaking a sweat. That is an amazing physical accomplishment. Props to that guy. I fully expect this event to gain popularity because white people love combining physical activity and beer then having a celebration after. It makes us feel like we accomplished something and deserve those beers. It is how we justify the calories.

Now to train for 2017. Do I start with the running part or the beer? I’ll figure that out with this beer.

A Knights Beer

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol, Brewery, RestaurantsLeave a comment

I can’t say I was familiar with Mead before this trip to The BottleHouse Brewery in Lakewood but if it was good enough for the knights of the round table then it’s good enough for me.  This brewery opened up this second location in Lakewood relatively recently after having its main  location on the east side of Cleveland and I have been looking for an opportunity to try  it out. The place is truly a trip back to the middle ages with the aged wood and iron throughout.

The man attraction is the mead that does not go light on the punch. Drinking this on a regular basis would make any man fit to wield a sword. For those that want something more traditional, they have plenty of house beers and ciders on tap. Quite a large selection for a small craft brewery actually. Definitely an unique experience that I will have to try again. bhb

Pour My Own Beer? Yes Please.

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol, RestaurantsLeave a comment

Another new place in Cleveland opened up recently and I had to try it out when I heard about their Inebriation Stations.

Wild Eagle Saloon is a country themed bar in Downtown Cleveland. What sets them a part from other bars are the Inebriation Stations located throughout the bar where you can pour your own beer by swiping a prepaid card. You pay by the ounce and this allows you to try multiple beers quickly or fill up a big glass if you prefer. It’s easy to see how the stations got their name.

While pouring your own beer is a cool and unique concept, I have to say the reason I will go back is for the food. Talk about a fat kids heaven. Bacon fried bacon, fried mac cheese balls and a gigantic burger challenge with it all topped on two burgers. I can feel my arteries clogging with delicious greasiness. Cleveland is constantly adding new places it seems and this one if definitely different from  the others. Go check it out. Your taste buds will thank you, your arteries will hate you but you’ll love it. wild eagle.jpg

When Sibling Rivalry Meets Beer: Sibling Revelry Brewing

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol, BreweryLeave a comment

Sometime you fight with your siblings, sometimes you help them sneak in after a late night and sometimes you open up a brewery with them and call it Sibling Revelry Brewing. I first heard about this over a year ago when it was just an idea. A few weeks ago, it became a reality and I have been wanting to try it out as I drive pass it every day on my way to work. Sibling Revelry is a small craft brewery located in Westlake, Ohio about 25 minutes from Downtown Cleveland. The brewery has a great modern industrial  feel and the beers were pretty good too. I was pretty into the Irish American. Probably the best part of the tap room was that they let you bring dogs in. My girlfriend’s little dachshund sat on her lap the whole time and everyone seemed to enjoy his presence. Always a nice touch when a place allows pets to join in. The location of the place is kind of hidden away on a street filled with commercial businesses, but if you’re looking for a good beer out in the west side Cleveland suburbs, it is a great place to check out. Bring your siblings, maybe you’ll be inspired to open up your own brewery. ozziebeersibrev

Brooklyn Brewery

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol, Brewery, TripsLeave a comment
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Few things taste as good as a freshly poured beer. While many have tried Brooklyn Brewery beer before, the story behind the beer is not necessarily as widely known. That is part of what appeals to craft beer drinkers. Millennials and your average bro appreciate a story behind their beer. They want to feel like drinking this particular beer is important. While in NYC this weekend, I stop[ed in to the Brooklyn Brewery for a beer, or three. The free tour along with it was an added bonus. While the tour was short, and involved more standing around than anything, it showcased the story behind the beer. How a couple of friends brewing beer in their house said fuck it to their traditional jobs and embarked on a dream every guy has thought about at least once. They opened a brewery. The industrial urban setting in Brooklyn gave the Brewery an edge to it so you don’t feel like you are caught up in another tourist trap like most of NYC and the beers on tap contained a wide range of beers for all types of drinkers. It’s a cool spot that had just the right amount of crowd where you weren’t overwhelmed. A definite must see in NYC for a thirst quenching brew.

Yoga and Beer-Interesting Concept

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol, Brewery, Fitness, RestaurantsLeave a comment

When someone imagines yoga, I can say with confidence I do not come to mind. In fact, if you are picturing it now I apologize. However, I do “practice” yoga from time to time. Last week, I went out with some coworkers and my girlfriend to Hofbrauhaus in Cleveland for some yoga and beer.

A local company by the name of Balance and Brews puts on these events at local breweries, restaurants and other beer related establishments. You go, do some yoga for an hour and then drink a couple beers. Kind of an excuse to drink and not feel bad about the calories. And trust me the workout will make you earn that beer. I am in semi decent shape (ok that’s a lie) and that session had me dripping sweat like an old man in a sauna. If you’re looking for a good workout with yoga, it’s something to check out. Overall, it’s an interesting concept and drinking a big German beer, or any beer for that matter, is always something I am up for.

Go for the Beer, Stay for the Tots

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol, Brewery, RestaurantsLeave a comment

When people think Cleveland Beer, they think Great Lake Brewery. For good reason of course, it is the top beer in Cleveland. We have all seen someone go ape shit over the Christmas Ale release each year. However, trust me the tater tots at the Great Lakes Pup Restaurant are the not so hidden gem of the place. If you have never been, I recommend going and making sure you get a side of their giant tots. Garlic Parmesan is my favorite flavor but they change from day to day and you won’t be disappointed with any of the flavors.  Great Lakes Brewing company is a place you go for the beer but definitely stay for the tots.
Come on, who doesn’t like tots?

Old Number 5

On By Chris ElliottIn Alcohol1 Comment

About a year ago, I took a trip down to Nashville. It was my first Nashville trip and like any Red Blooded American Male I wanted to try some Tennessee Whiskey. Walking through Nashville my wish was randomly granted. We came across Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery by accident. This little distillery started by two brothers to revive their historic family distillery and their Old Number 5 Whiskey was a great little spot. We took a tour and then ended with a whiskey tasting that included three delicious whiskeys. It was great accident that we came across it and even better that we were the only ones on the tour as it gave us a exclusive feel to the place. The family history of the place is fantastic as their family had lost the whiskey story till the two brothers came across the old records and brought back a distillery that predates even the famous Jack Daniels, hence the Old Number 5 moniker. People are always trying to travel outside of the country to experience amazing things and tell a great story but I think weekend trips to America’s great cities have some of the most unique sites and great stories around. If you’re ever in Nashville, check out Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery. www.greenbrierdistillery.com

TN Whiskey