Been a While

Well it's been a while since I posted so I'll start off with a negative.  I am struggling to get through a sixtel of Evolution Exile ESB.  Truth be known, that's my fault.  You see, I've had this beer before and it is a good one.  Then I brought a sixtel home and it sucks.  If you know me, you know I keep my lines clean so that ain't the problem.  I just got a bad sixtel and I should have returned it.  So there...it is my fault.  But more importantly, who made the original mistake?  Did the brewer screw something up or did the distributor store it improperly?  It's really against my nature to return things...especially beer.  But I am going to promise myself to return a sixtel if this happens again.  It's enough to drive me to drink.

What a Week

It was a pretty good week as far as beer was concerned.  I was in San Antonio, TX from Sunday through Friday.  While there I visited 3 brewpubs.  The first was Freetail Brewing Company.  I had a flight and then a couple additional beers so as to try every beer available that night.  Generally speaking the beers were well made.  The most memorable was a sour, which was fantastic.  I also visited Blue Star Brewing Company.  I had a Belgian Country Ale (Saison) which was pretty good.  I followed with a Cask-conditioned Stout which was also pretty good.  This is a very casual place.  If you are looking for a sophisticated meal this ain't your place.  If you are looking for a couple of good beers and decent pub food this is for you.  I also visited BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse.  This is apparently a chain as I saw 3 BJ's in San Antonio.  It is a high end brewpub as far as brewpubs go.  The food was pretty good.  The beer was also well-made.  I started with a Harvest Hefeweizen.  This is a very good beer.  I also had a seasonal beer that I don't recall the name of.  It too was well-made.  A lighter beer with citrus notes.  I hope to get back to this, or another BJ's and sample some more.

Shortly after landing in Philadelphia, I stopped in Pinocchio's Restaurant in Media.  I had a Kopstootche from Stillwater Artisanal Ales.  This is an excellent Saison.  I followed with a Dubhe Imperial Black Ale from Uinta Brewing Company.  This is perhaps the best version of this style that I've ever had.  Fantastic.  The pizza steak was pretty good too.  On the way home I couldn't resist the pull of TJ's in Paoli.  It was good to be back home.  I had a Carnevale Saison from The Lost Abbey.  This is a very good Saison as well.  A little spicy for my taste but still very good indeed.

On Saturday I went to Prism Brewing Company in North Wales.  I enjoyed everything there which included Bitto Honey IPA (where are the hops), Felony IPA (oh, there they are) and Insana Stout (chocolate).  I just really like this place.  I used to go to Victory Brewing when they first opened in the 90's and this place reminds me of those good ol' days.  To get to Prism you have to navigate your way around a building that you might never guess housed a brewery.  Sound familiar?  You go inside and nothing is fancy but the beer is excellent.  Sound familiar?  On the way home I made a stop in Appalachian Brewing Company in Collegeville.  I had time for a Celtic Knot Irish Red Ale.  It was OK.  Then I had a guest beer.  Red's Rye PA from Founders.  Now that is how you do Red Ales.

Fresh Texas Beer

Last Friday I had lunch at the Flying Pig in Malvern.  Along with my usual cheesesteak I had Flower Power from Ithaca Beer Company.  Both were excellent.  That night after work I stopped in at TJ's in Paoli for a couple.  First up was a Crooked Tree IPA from Dark Horse Brewing Company.  This is a solid IPA.  I followed that with a Union Jack IPA from Firestone Walker.  Of course, this was awesome as usual.

I started to think I was having the same old beers in the same old places when all of a sudden I find myself in San Antonio, TX on business.  I found this brewpub called Freetail Brewing Company.  It was about 20 minutes from the airport but worth the trip.  I had a flight of 7 beers and all were good (some were very good).  Then I had a glass of their sour beer with a name I can't remember.  I do remember it is their red ale, Danny Mijo,  aged in barrels and soured.  This was a fantastic sour beer.  I swear I was getting some heat from this one (like some pepper beers I've had), but they said it must have been my imagination.  Regardless, it was a joy to have one of these.