Friday night started with a trip to the Drafting Room in Exton. I started with a Eurotrash Pilz from Southern Tier Brewing Company. As I've said many times before, I am spoiled by having Victory Prima Pils and Sly Fox Pikeland Pils always at the ready where I live so other pilsners have trouble stacking up. This was no exception. Although a pleasant enough Pilsner, it doesn't compare. I followed with an Imperial IPA from Green Flash Brewing Company. That's more like it. Very nice beer.
On Saturday, I took the kids to a couple of playgrounds and then ended up at Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny. I started there with a Fire Rock Pale Ale from Kona Brewing Company. This is a solid Pale Ale (if you like Pale Ales). I wouldn't go to Hawaii to get one though. Next up was a Union Jack IPA from Firestone Walker. Sure it was a safe choice but what a nice beer. I ended with a Torpedo Extra IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. As with most of their beers, it was solid but not extraordinary as the name might suggest. Of course, I currently have their Ruthless Rye IPA on tap in my basement and I have no complaints there.
Sunday was kind of cool. We visited a couple of playgrounds and went to Merrymead Farm in Worcester, Montgomery County. With a name like Merrymead you could hope for a nice mead but you would be wrong. I had to settle for a Diet Coke while the kids and my wife enjoyed their icecream. I did sample their icecream and it was pretty darn good. We also got to see the cows getting milked and we saw a bunch of other farm animals. Afterwards, we went for dinner at Capone's in Norristown (technically East Norriton). The kids loved the spaghetti and meatballs. My wife and I enjoyed the meatball sandwich and chicken parm sandwich (we each had half of both). Along with our food I did manage to have a Hop Notch IPA from Uinta Brewing Company. They are apparently out of Salt Lake City, UT. This was a very nice IPA. I would go to Salt Lake City for one. Then I had a Supa Hero Imperial IPA from Clown Shoes. This is a good Imperial IPA but there are a lot of really good Imperial IPA's out there so I wouldn't travel to Massachusetts for one.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Mostly IPA Saturday
Saturday was a good day. I revisited the Railroad Street Bar and Grille in Linfield. My last visit at about 7pm on a Saturday was a little hectic in that the place was swamped and I couldn't get a seat at the bar. This time it was about noon so things were a little less busy but still brisk even at that early hour. I started with a Sculpin from Ballast Point, moved on to a West Coast IPA from Green Flash and ended with a Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing. All were excellent. I could have stayed there all day and continued to drink one great beer after another without ever having the same one twice. Don't believe me? Check out their beer menu. It was still early on a Saturday afternoon so I thought it best that I leave before things get out of hand. On my way out, I remembered that I was pretty close to the Craft Ale House and thought it would be a shame to be so close and not visit. So I did. I only had one but it was a good one. Vertical Epic 11.11.11 from Stone Brewing. I thought this was a very good beer. It was big alcohol as you might expect and of all things, the chili pepper flavor really came through for me. Fantastic.
Later that night we went out for dinner as a family. We went to the Lucky Lab in Royersford. This is the former Sly Fox. I had a Racer 5 IPA from Bear Republic Brewing Company and Two Hearted IPA from Bell's Brewery. Awesome.
So, in summary, I had a Saturday filled with IPA's that I've already had many times over and I am not complaining. They were all excellent. And I managed to squeak in a Vertical Epic which was just icing on the cake.
Later that night we went out for dinner as a family. We went to the Lucky Lab in Royersford. This is the former Sly Fox. I had a Racer 5 IPA from Bear Republic Brewing Company and Two Hearted IPA from Bell's Brewery. Awesome.
So, in summary, I had a Saturday filled with IPA's that I've already had many times over and I am not complaining. They were all excellent. And I managed to squeak in a Vertical Epic which was just icing on the cake.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Quick Beer Out Tonight
After work tonight I went to TJ's in Paoli. I started with a Stillwater Mikkeler Two Gypsies Our Side. This is an excellent Saison. Then moved on to an Over Ale from Half Acre Beer Company. I thought this was a pretty good brown ale despite the fact that it is not my favorite style. This one was malty and yet not sweet. I ended with a Russian Imperial Stout from Brouwerij De Molen. OK, it was excellent and especially at $4 for a glass at the Keg Kicker special. Later in the evening I stopped in quickly at the Sly Fox in Phoenixville for a Pikeland Pils which was as good as always.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Getting Caught Up
Getting caught up on this past weekend and beyond.
Last Friday I went to Ron's Original Bar and Grille in Exton for a beer and as is usually the case, I had to stand because there were no seats at the bar. I ordered a RumpelPilsen from Full Pint Brewing Company. As I have said before, I think I am spoiled by the pils I am used to from Victory and Sly Fox so it is tough to top them. Same goes here. It was OK, not great. I moved on to the Drafting Room also in Exton where I could find a seat at the bar and enjoy a beer. First up was a Sam Adams IPA. It too was OK but not great. I moved on to a Tall Grass IPA which is always good. I ended with a G'Knight Imperial Red from Oskar Blues. I've had this before and liked it a lot but this night I was not loving it. I think I was just having a bad night...get it?
On Saturday I went to Teresa's Next Door in Wayne for an event but primarily I went because I've never had the Canadian Breakfast Stout from Founder's Brewing Company and TND had 2 of them on tap...the 2010 and the 2011. I couldn't wait to have my first and I am still waiting. TND was packed and even though I arrived at 3:00pm both Canadian Breakfast Stouts were already kicked. I had to "settle" for a Pliny the Elder which was awesome as usual. I followed that with a Scratch 55 from Troeg's Brewing Company. This is an excellent DIPA even when following Pliny. I left TND and headed for Craft Ale House which was a short 30 minutes away. I started with a Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale which is always excellent. I followed with a...ready for this name...Alchemist/Ninkasi/Stone More Brown Than Black IPA. This is a collaboration between the three brewers and I thought it was a very good effort indeed. On the way home, I drove past Railroad Street Bar and Grille in Linfield. I heard good things about this place and have been meaning to stop in. I should have picked some time other than 7:00pm on a Saturday. The place was packed. Most of the folks were in their 20's or 30's. No seats were available at the bar but I got the bartender's attention. I saw a flip flop tap handle so I knew they had Port Brewing on tap and any Port Brewing product is OK with me. I asked for "the Port Brewing". He said, "which one"? Wow! My kind of place. They had 3 on tap and although I don't recall which three I do recall I got the Wipeout IPA. Fantastic!
Tuesday night I went to the Victory Brewing Company to return/purchase another sixtel. This time I picked up a Prima Pils. While there I had a cask-conditioned Hop Wallop which is so much better than a regular Hop Wallop (which ain't bad).
Fast forward to today. I was on business in Lancaster County and decided to have lunch at the Bulls Head Public House in Lititz. I had a most awesome Rubin sandwich and a cask-conditioned Bullshead Mild which is made for them by St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company in Ephrata. So their website isn't up and running yet but the brewery is...and has been for about a year. I visited them a while back and they were great guys making what I consider to be excellent beers. This one today was no exception. I haven't been able to find St. Boniface beers outside of Lancaster County but I haven't given up hope yet.
Last Friday I went to Ron's Original Bar and Grille in Exton for a beer and as is usually the case, I had to stand because there were no seats at the bar. I ordered a RumpelPilsen from Full Pint Brewing Company. As I have said before, I think I am spoiled by the pils I am used to from Victory and Sly Fox so it is tough to top them. Same goes here. It was OK, not great. I moved on to the Drafting Room also in Exton where I could find a seat at the bar and enjoy a beer. First up was a Sam Adams IPA. It too was OK but not great. I moved on to a Tall Grass IPA which is always good. I ended with a G'Knight Imperial Red from Oskar Blues. I've had this before and liked it a lot but this night I was not loving it. I think I was just having a bad night...get it?
On Saturday I went to Teresa's Next Door in Wayne for an event but primarily I went because I've never had the Canadian Breakfast Stout from Founder's Brewing Company and TND had 2 of them on tap...the 2010 and the 2011. I couldn't wait to have my first and I am still waiting. TND was packed and even though I arrived at 3:00pm both Canadian Breakfast Stouts were already kicked. I had to "settle" for a Pliny the Elder which was awesome as usual. I followed that with a Scratch 55 from Troeg's Brewing Company. This is an excellent DIPA even when following Pliny. I left TND and headed for Craft Ale House which was a short 30 minutes away. I started with a Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale which is always excellent. I followed with a...ready for this name...Alchemist/Ninkasi/Stone More Brown Than Black IPA. This is a collaboration between the three brewers and I thought it was a very good effort indeed. On the way home, I drove past Railroad Street Bar and Grille in Linfield. I heard good things about this place and have been meaning to stop in. I should have picked some time other than 7:00pm on a Saturday. The place was packed. Most of the folks were in their 20's or 30's. No seats were available at the bar but I got the bartender's attention. I saw a flip flop tap handle so I knew they had Port Brewing on tap and any Port Brewing product is OK with me. I asked for "the Port Brewing". He said, "which one"? Wow! My kind of place. They had 3 on tap and although I don't recall which three I do recall I got the Wipeout IPA. Fantastic!
Tuesday night I went to the Victory Brewing Company to return/purchase another sixtel. This time I picked up a Prima Pils. While there I had a cask-conditioned Hop Wallop which is so much better than a regular Hop Wallop (which ain't bad).
Fast forward to today. I was on business in Lancaster County and decided to have lunch at the Bulls Head Public House in Lititz. I had a most awesome Rubin sandwich and a cask-conditioned Bullshead Mild which is made for them by St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company in Ephrata. So their website isn't up and running yet but the brewery is...and has been for about a year. I visited them a while back and they were great guys making what I consider to be excellent beers. This one today was no exception. I haven't been able to find St. Boniface beers outside of Lancaster County but I haven't given up hope yet.
Friday, February 3, 2012
I've Had Better
After work today I stopped in Ron's Original in Exton. OK, it was before 5:00 so maybe I left work a little early but regardless...the place was busy. No seats at the bar. Doesn't anyone work any more? I had a Full Pint Rumplepilsen. It was OK, but geographically halfway between Victory Brewing and Sly Fox you better bring something better than that. This is the land of great American pilsners. I left because a seat at the bar did not present itself and is my custom...I left.
I found myself at the Drafting Room in Exton. I easily found a seat at the bar. First up was an IPA from Sam Adams. It was OK...not great. Why are they so successful year after year producing mediocre beers? Up next was another IPA from Tall Grass. It too was just OK. I ended with a G'Night from Oskar Blues. I didn't enjoy this one tonight.
I am so looking forward to tomorrow. Maybe a revisit to Prism Brewing or maybe that thing at Teresa's in Wayne. We shall see.
I found myself at the Drafting Room in Exton. I easily found a seat at the bar. First up was an IPA from Sam Adams. It was OK...not great. Why are they so successful year after year producing mediocre beers? Up next was another IPA from Tall Grass. It too was just OK. I ended with a G'Night from Oskar Blues. I didn't enjoy this one tonight.
I am so looking forward to tomorrow. Maybe a revisit to Prism Brewing or maybe that thing at Teresa's in Wayne. We shall see.
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