Lakes, beer, dogs. What better way to spend Memorial Day weekend? Over the holiday weekend, I went to Northern Michigan and on my way up there I stopped in Milan, Michigan at Original Gravity Brewing Co. I had quick beer there while enjoying a delicious turkey chipotle sandwich. I tried their witbier while I was there and was greeted by the very friendly staff. The small little brewery has a great staff and was the perfect lunch time stop on my way up north. The bartender and I talked about kayaking and was attentive throughout my time. The witbier was called Wheeler Witbier and was very refreshing on the warm summer day. If I wasn’t on a long drive I definitely would have tried more. An excellent stop in the Michigan beer scene that is overall one of the best states for beer. 
Tag: travel
Beantown, Sam Adams, Merica
When traveling to a new city, it is hard to know what to expect. You create an image in your head of what the city looks like, what the food tastes like, how the place feels. However, when you get there that image can be completely wrong. This is not one of those times.
This weekend I visited Boston, Massachusetts, home to the Sox, Harvard and Tom Brady. While I may dislike (hate) Tom Brady, Harvard would probably (definitely) reject me, and the Sox have caused me some (lots) of heartache over the years, I have to say Boston is an amazing city. It is clean, vibrant and, besides the awful traffic, a city with lots to offer.
Of course in a new city I need to check out the breweries. We visited two, Harpoon Brewery and Boston Brewery also known as Samuel Adams. Both gave great tours. Harpoons tour included a 30 minute tasting with as many as you wanted. For five bucks that cannot be beat. Plus, in their beer hall you have to try their pretzels. That is a game changer and my girlfriend, Olivia, agrees with me. Best pretzel we have had. Samuel Adams’ tour was extremely informative with a mini beer tasting class and three different beers all for free with a small donation to a few charities being encouraged. Well worth it for the beer and tour. Then after we headed to Doyle’s nearby where they give you a free glass of Sam Adams’ specific glass designed for the perfect drink to take with a beer purchase.
In addition, to the breweries Boston is filled with great food, (the Mac and Cheese at Stephanie’s on Newbury is one of the best I’ve tried), historic landmarks and beautiful parks (Good Will Hunting). Additionally, the old taverns such as Bell in Hand and Warren Tavern take you back to the 1700s when men like Paul Revere frequented these places. Talk about drinking a beer for freedom. A city like this right on the water is a beautiful place, I just wish it had been a little warmer.
I think one of the most interesting things about the city is Uber Pool. Now I know other places have this, but it is not here in Cleveland yet and the concept is very interesting. Uber in itself is an app about trusting a stranger to give you a ride. In an age where we are more and more connected electronically but less and less connected personally, Uber Pool allows you to not only get a ride from a stranger but share a ride with one. Some of these rides are silent, but others such as the girl going in town for a grad school interview or the local with suggestions on things to do can create a connection sometimes lost among strangers. When we part we go on our way to never see each other again but for a few minutes you can trust a stranger. Boston was great for that. It is a city that lived up to those expectations I had created in my head. When I first arrived, I tweeted that the city was in my top five I have visited after just a few hours and a follower of mine responded back that it would soon be in my top three. They were right.
The Beach, The Beer, Kennedy, and The Don
So, it’s been a little more than a week since I returned from Palm Beach and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I pretty much knew nothing about the area when I booked the trip 9 months ago. Turns out Donald Trump vacations there and was there at the same time as we were (I didn’t see him). Also, turns out Florida has quite a few breweries. I tried out many different beers such as the Funky Buddha Floridian but I also visited two Breweries, Twisted Trunk Brewing and Civil Society Brewing. Both of these Breweries had some good stuff to offer. Each had a beer that is high on my list.
Twisted Trunk is more of traditional upper class bar with outdoor seating available located in the Palm Beach Gardens area. Their IPGA is a fantastic IPA that I really enjoyed.
Civil Society on the other hand, located in Jupiter, offers that industrial brew pub feel that is becoming popular. A couple of locals recommended the DDH Fresh and I’m glad I listened. This Double Dry Hopped Beer did not disappoint. Both of these breweries are great spots in the South Florida scene.
We did not just drink beer and sit on the beach though. We did a little sight seeing and took a short boat ride out to Peanut Island. This man made island is home to the former JFK cold war bunker. This was designed to house JFK from fallout and anywhere a president vacationed during the cold war had to have a bunker available. Pretty cool to think of the mind set back then to warrant these being built.
Between some beer, a history lesson and all you can eat tacos on Clamatis Street, Palm Beach and the surrounding area has quite a bit to offer.
Charleston: Filled with Southern Charm
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
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.
Average Browery 