It’s been a month actually since I went to Philly and I actually even made a second trip in that time. While my time on each trip was really limited, I got to say I really enjoy this city. I want to go back when I have the time to be a tourist and see the history aspects. Till then, you’ll have to settle for what I thought of a couple breweries.
The two I saw were Iron Hill and Yards. Both were solid beers, thought the Little Red Wagon at Iron Hill was my preferred one of the trip. Yard’s atmosphere was really nice and I could see that place being a great time during a weekend. Even for a weeknight it had a decent crowd. Bartender’s were engaging as well which is always appreciated when you’re a solo work traveler.
Now, the place I loved the most was actually a restaurant called Harp and Crown. The ambiance and the food were a great stop. My cousin and I caught up there for a few hours and I enjoyed all of it. Get the ribs. Till next time Philly.
I’ve been to Vermont several times now. Stowe, Vermont to be exact. It’s a small little town straight out of a Hallmark movie. Stowe is home to the Trapp Family lodge. The Sound of Music family for those trying to place that name.
The last time I was up there was 2018. A lot has changed for me since then and while some things have changed in Stowe, a lot is the same. The beer quality continues to be high. I visited several that I had been to last time including Von Trapp, Idletyme, Alchemist, Stowe Cider, and Lost Nation. The new place I visited this time was Ten Bends Beer. This little brewery was going through some licensing issues so I was only able to get tastings but I was still really pleased. Their Mexican lager, Scintilla, was the best beer there but I also really liked their IPAs.
Ten Bends
However, the best beer of the whole trip was Society & Solitude #6 which was on draft at a restaurant in Town called Doc Ponds. This beer was astounding. A really well done Double IPA. It was so drinkable for being a Double IPA. Top beer of the week award winner.
Beyond the beer, Stowe is such a great little town where everything shuts down by 8:30 every night. The weather this time of year is perfect. The hiking around there is really something and the food and beer are worth the trip. I’ll be back again of course.
After a week of schmoozing people for my day job in Charlotte, I decided to stay the weekend and see a bit more of the city. Between a baseball game, a museum (New South Museum) and eating I found some time for a few beers. Ok, more than a few. Over just a few days, I visited seven breweries. My body needs a rest now.
I started off my work trip with a visit to D9 Brewing in Uptown. What’s interesting to note about this place, is that they also looked to be big into coffee. That’s not my thing, but I think beer and coffee lovers have a lot in common in appreciating a unique craft.
On the weekend, I jammed the next 6 into just two days. We started Saturday off with brunch and beer at Suffolk Punch. This was my favorite stop. Between a juicy biscuit chicken sandwich and two sours that even non-beer fans would love, this place hit the spot. From there, after watching a college baseball game at UNC-Charlotte, we visited Armored Cow and then finished the night at Sycamore Brewing with some live music. Shoutout to the guy in a cowboy hat living his best life as the hype man. Oh yeah, before I forget, a very good Hazy IPA there called the Slurricane too.
For Sunday Funday, we visited three more breweries after brunch at The Stanley (get the doughnuts). First stop was Legion Brewing then onto Pilot Brewing and finally Trolley Barn Fermentory. Each of which had some solid beers to tide me over for a bit. Or at least till next weekend. See ya Queen City.
I should have wrote this a week ago. Thinking of it, I have not done much writing in general lately. I’ll try to change that.
I’ve been to Georgia before but my time there previously had been limited. A couple weekends ago, we made a long weekend trip to Savannah. Savannah is a trendy place to go. Millennials love to go for the insta post. Had to make the trip eventually.
We started off with a walking tour of the city. Lot of cool history to check out there. Among all the site seeing, I tried out three breweries and a distillery in Savannah. We saw Moon River Brewing, Service Brewing Company, and New Realm Brewing (which also is a distillery). Additionally, we went to Ghost Coast Distillery.
Ghost Coast Distillery
All were solid places, but the beer of the trip goes to Service Brewing. The Raspberry Jelly Donut Pastry Sour was like the first bite of an actual jelly donut. I love me a good sour.
Ghost Coast Distillery was also a really good spot. Further away then the main downtown part of Savannah, it was worth the walk. Additionally, we had great food and drinks throughout the city. The wings at Cotton & Rye were top 3 wings I have ever had. Before I forget, Savannah allows open containers. More cities should do this. Creates an amazing atmosphere. Cleveland, I am talking to you. No reason the Ohio City neighborhood shouldn’t be open container. I digress.
Savannah is a beautiful city. It’s also surprisingly small. You can conquer most it in a long weekend. Good food, good history and Southern Hospitality. Great combo.
Time to turn the pages on what most people would say is the worst year of their life. To celebrate the year ending, or maybe just to get away from the Cleveland cold, I went to Fort Lauderdale for New Years. While most of my time was spent on the beach, I did manage to get in a few brewery visits.
I have been all over the sunshine state, but this was my first trip to Fort Lauderdale. The three breweries we stopped into were Invasive Species, Hollywood Brewing, and Orchestrated Minds.
Invasive Species was our first stop. I tried out several beers via a flight and had a pint. The brewery tap room is a smaller bar with a decent sized patio out back filled with metal picnic tables. Here was where I had the best individual beer of the trip. The Slurps (a sour beer) was like drinking a beer smoothie. I could have this for breakfast with a side of eggs and bacon. Incredibly delicious.
Next up, on New Years Eve before dinner at Louie Bossi, which is an incredible Italian restaurant by the way, we got a drink at Hollywood Brewing at their Las Olas location. Las Olas is the main strip in the downtown area of For Lauderdale. Filled with higher end restaurants and shops. Hollywood was solid from a beer perspective. Nothing amazing but nothing bad. I wish they had some rotational beers on tap, but they did not. I tried the Brew Hefner Wheat and the Locals Only Light Lager for your reference.
The last brewery visit was Orchestrated Minds. The depth of beer quality here was impressive. I had three really good beers plus a sip of a 4th from the owner when I was checking out. That 4th was incredible and almost made me decide to have one more. It was another sour and I wish I had remembered the name. This place was my favorite of the three from an overall standpoint. Very good beer and the owner was their working in the small tap room making sure each customer was enjoying the beer. The personal touch was appreciated and I would go back in a heartbeat.
Orchestrated Minds Tap Room
Besides the beer, the food at many locations was amazing. Though we did honestly have some slow service at many points and some bizarre waiters. It seemed that every restaurant was short staffed. Pandemic related? Maybe. Regardless, the food was great. Some of my favorites were Shooters, Louie Bossi (mentioned above), Nanou (awesome French bakery), Tinta and Lona Cocina. Here is to more good beer and food in 2021. Now, time to burn this trip off in the gym.
Personally, I think this pronunciation of Wooster, Ohio is idiotic. It should be Woo!-Ster like a drunk girl shouting at a bar. However, the locals prefer the WUH so I’ll roll with it.
This past Saturday we took a day trip down to Wooster and walked around the town, had a burger and indulged in some beverages. Traveling during the Covid, is weird. A day trip is easy enough and Ohio has a lot to offer.
First off we visited Muddy’s where I had the cheesiest of cheese burgers. If you have a lactose sensitivity, stay away.
After Muddy’s, the main reason for this trip was to visit the JAFB taproom. Just Another Fucking Brewery, is a pretty spacious taproom and I was able to try several brews. My favorite of the ones I had was the Hefeweizen, though the Summer Forever (New England IPA) was very good as well. The Hefeweizen is a good solid rendition of this beer style with just enough banana taste. I really enjoyed this one. I was told after that I need to try the Apricot one, so next time I’ll give that one a taste.
After the brewery, we had two more stops to make. First off was Minglewood Distilling Company. I am by no means an expert on bourbon but I’m starting to get into it more. They had a variety of alcohols and I did a tasting. I wish the tours were open but again the virus got in the way. I picked up a bottle of the bourbon to take home. Then one last stop at Hartzlers Dairy Farm for some ice cream. Perfect dessert to end the day.
This marks the 5th time I’ve been to Nashville. Been for business and pleasure. This was a pleasure trip. Regardless of the reason, I always love this city. Mainly driven by the amazing music you hear in the city and the food I consume. One of those cities I love visiting, but would die of a massive coronary if I lived there.
Brunch at Gray’s on Main
While we were just in town for a few days, we jammed a lot in. Something that not a lot of people see when they visit is the town of Franklin. Venture a way from downtown and grab some food at all the different restaurants in this city that was a key place of the civil war. It’s a cool little town.
Well now to the beer. I’ve been to a lot of other breweries in Nashville. This was my first trip to Yee-Haw Brewing. I’ll be honest the beer was average but it’s a cool spot with tons of games and activities to get drunk to. Plus they have an Old Smokey Distillery location on site. I’ve checked out Old Smoke’s Gatlinburg location last year. They have tasting of the numerous varieties of whiskey they make. One of which you’re bound to enjoy. Beer and liquor, always a great combo. Till next time Nashville.
Detroit has received a bad rap for quite some time now. I must admit I was someone who talked down on it. However, like much of the rust belt, it is seeing a revival (thanks hipsters). On a quick trip back to where I grew up, I spent a day downtown and checked out a few different spots that are a part of Detroit’s recent resurgence. One such spot is located in the Corktown neighborhood, Batch Brewing Company.
Batch is a small brewery that focuses on nano brewing. Brewing smaller batches that pack a lot of quality but also allow for experimentation since the scale is smaller. Batch Brewing is a cool industrial type place with some pretty good beers. While I didn’t have anything to eat, it does seem to have a pretty solid menu with good offerings. Detroit is not the bleak dismal place it once was. The city is rebounding and places like Batch Brewing company are a part of that. If you’re in the city, I recommend checking this brewery out. Or maybe take a drive up north and spend a few days there. Detroit may surprise you.
Average Browery 