Weekend Wonders

Friday night I stopped in at the Flying Pig in Malvern after work. First up was an IPA from Southern Tier. This was a nice tasting beer but definitely not an extreme beer like I have come to expect. After that I enjoyed an Imperial Brown Ale from Lagunitas. They didn’t call it the Wilco Tango Foxtrot but I think that it what it was. Nice and tasty.


On Saturday I was on my way to Zern’s Farmer’s Market in Gilbertsville to get some tomato and pepper plants for my garden. I had my 1-year-old with me and as luck would have it she fell asleep just before we got there. I decided to take a detour out into the country to give her a chance to sleep. I found my way to Union Jack’s Inn on the Manatawny and parked the car. The baby was still asleep. Waiting…waiting…turn the radio up a little louder…eventually she woke up. We went in and I had a Spite Pepper Ale from Founder’s Brewing Company. This was a most unusual beer. It smelled of fresh Bell pepper’s and tasted like jalapeño’s. I have had pepper beers before but never one like this. Your mouth will actually feel the heat of these peppers. After one beer I felt like I just ate a bowl of hot chili. I mean that in a good way but I usually like to follow my chili with a beer so I ordered a Big Eye IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Company. That hit the spot. What a nice refreshing IPA.

On Sunday I ended up at Union Jack’s Congo Hotel in Bally. I only had time for one (wife and kids waiting in the car) so I made it a double. Double Trouble that is…from Founder’s. This is a fine example of a DIPA. Then it was off to the playground to burn off a little steam.

Flying Pig, Flying Dog, Flying Fish...Whatever

I stopped in at the Flying Pig Saloon in Malvern after work this evening.  First up was a Raging Bitch Belgian-style IPA from Flying Dog Brewery.  I have always maintained that this is a dumb style.  Belgian beers are great.  IPA's are great.  But that doesn't mean that if you combine the two styles you will end up with something great automatically.  I did however enjoy this beer.  For now I am going to credit that to the fact that it was my first beer on a Friday night and almost anything would taste good.  After that I had a Nugget Nectar from Troeg's Brewing Company.  This was a safe choice.  I knew I would love it.  I am a little disappointed in myself because there were other more adventurous beers I could have tried.  Maybe I should have tried that Exit 1 from Flying Fish Brewing Company, I don't know.  I left the Flying Pig and ordered a pizza on the way home.  I had a couple of minutes to spare so I stopped in at the Sly Fox in Phoenixville.  They had something new and unfamiliar on.  It was called McBanes Sly PA.  To be honest, it tasted like Rt. 113 IPA to me but what do I know.

Just Another Friday Night II

Another Friday night and I feel the need to have a really nice beer somewhere so I stop at the Flying Pig Saloon in Malvern.  As you may recall I often stop at the Flying Pig when all the other bars in the area are not displaying a great line-up on their on-line tap list.  Flying Pig does not have an on-line tap list and often benefits from this omission, you might say by default.  Well, they usually don't disappoint and tonight is no exception.  I first order a Hopmouth from Arcadia Brewing Company.  This is a nice DIPA.  Not great but not bad either.  I followed that with an Irish Red Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Company.  Well that was my first mistake.  Of course you shouldn't follow a DIPA with an Irish Red Ale.  I couldn't taste the Irish Red.  That is my fault.  But...although I love Great Lakes I think I would not give this beer high marks whether following a DIPA or not.  I have enough doubt though, that I will give it another try when I see it again in the future.

I take my leave and head towards home.  As luck would have it, when I placed my order for the pizza I was told it would be a 30 minute wait.  That leaves me enough time to have a quick one at the Sly Fox in Phoenixville.  I find a seat at the bar and order an Abbey Xtra.  This is a nice dry Belgian-style ale.  I would love to stay for another but my pizza is ready.

Cheers.

Friday Follies

Friday night after work and I decide to go to the Flying Pig Saloon in Malvern for a quick drink after work.  I ordered a Crooked Tree IPA From Dark Horse Brewing Company.  I had one of these back in September and didn't really care for it.  I thought it was time to give it another try and I'm glad I did.  This is a great tasting IPA.  The hops are not overdone and there was no unpleasant aftertaste as I remember from before.  Maybe I was just in a bad mood when I had it the first time, I don't know.  Since I was having such good luck I decided to try something else.  Up next was a West of Center Pale Ale from Dock Street Brewing Company.  This is probably the darkest pale ale you are ever going to find.  I liked it a lot.    It had quite a bit of malt flavor especially coming on the heels of that IPA I just drank but I definitely enjoyed this one.  Leave it to the Flying Pig to ensure that something(s) tasty is always going to be on tap.

Just Another Friday Night

So I thought it would be a good idea to go to the Flying Pig Saloon in Malvern tonight.  Actually, what happened is that the other great beer bars in the area that actually list their lineup on the internet were not showing that great a lineup.  Since the Flying Pig doesn't list their lineup on the internet (that I know of) I thought I would take my chances.  What a great choice.  My first was a cask-conditioned Dogtown Pale Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company.  I had this beer on draught before and it was really good.  So was the cask-conditioned version.  With Bell's Hopslam on the list I had no choice but to order one.  It was awesome as usual.  Next up was a Mojo Risin from Boulder Beer Company.  It was good but I didn't give it a fair shake as I tried it after that big Hopslam.  I will say this.  It poured awesome.  It was creamy and thick with a great mouthfeel.  It was time to leave and pick up a couple of pizzas for dinner.

As it turns out the pizza was going to take longer than expected.  That's why I get it from Rocco's.  As they are located next to the Sly Fox Brewing Company in Phoenixville I wasn't too concerned.  I went in for a quick Pikeland Pils and then next door to get the pizza.  Life is good.

Good Beer Means No Parking

TJ's looked like they had a pretty good lineup tonight so after work I made my way to Paoli.  Would I get Founder's Double Trouble...Terrapin Hopsecutioner...Ithaca Cascazilla...Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard...oh I couldn't wait to get there and decide.  But after a couple of trips around the parking lot I finally left in frustration.  Luckily the Flying Pig Saloon was right down the road in Malvern.  Unfortunately I had the same issue with parking.  Well it is after all Friday night.  I eventually found a spot to park and got inside the Flying Pig but had to stand while drinking my Dock Street Pale Ale.  It was a nice beer and luckily a spot opened at the bar so I could order a second beer.  This time it was an Imperial Stout from Thirsty Dog Brewing Company.  I was disappointed because it reminded me of the stouts I used to make as a homebrewer.  Although I always thought my stouts were pretty good for a homebrewer I expect more from a professional brewer.  Don't get me wrong.  This was not a bad beer...it brought back good memories.

Flying Blind at the Flying Pig

I thought it would be a good idea to stop in at the Flying Pig Saloon in Malvern for a beer after work tonight.  This is always somewhat of a crap shoot because unlike everyone else, the Flying Pig does not care to list their current draught offerings on a website or blog or anything that I know of other than the chalkboards that hang at the bar.  The upside is that they usually have something interesting on so it's no great risk going there.  Of course as is always my luck there were no seats at the bar.  I managed to get the attention of the bartender and ordered a Terrapin Hopsecutioner.  This is a really nice IPA.  I enjoyed it thoroughly despite having to stand the whole time.  I was about to take my last swallow resigned to the fact that I would have to leave because of my "one-beer-while-standing-rule".  Just then a couple of people got up and left.  Noone could have left during the 15 minutes I was standing and now several people get up and left.  Isn't that always the case.  Now I had a real dilemma.  Do I stick with the plan and head for home or do I grab a seat at the bar and enjoy another beer.  I opted to stay and have another.  This time I chose Old Jubilation Winter Ale from Avery Brewing.  This followed the Hopsecutioner well.  These two beers were at opposite ends of the spectrum.  The Old Jubilation Winter Ale was as malty as the Hopsecutioner was hoppy.  I enjoyed the contrast. 

Unremarkable

I left work a little early on Wednesday and made my way to The Flying Pig Saloon in Malvern.  I had a Double Aught Czech Pilsner from Bear Republic Brewing Company.  This beer was unremarkable.  There was nothing wrong with it.  It was not unpleasant.  It was simply unremarkable.  So I won't remark further.  I followed that with a Dugana Imperial IPA from Avery Brewing Company.  This is a pretty good Imperial IPA with a nice floral aroma and taste.  The considerable alcohol was well hidden.  On the way home I called for a pizza.  I had a couple of minutes to kill so it's a good thing the pizza joint is next to the Sly Fox in Phoenixville.  I went in and had a Sovereign pale ale.  Like the Double Aught earlier, this beer was also unremarkable.

I went home and tapped the sixtel of Celebration Ale from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.  I have to say that I am a little disappointed.  I have enjoyed this nice IPA in bottles on many occasions.  I think it tastes better from the bottle. 

Running Errands Saturday

Running errands yesterday I ended up in Malvern so this necessitated a visit to the Flying Pig.  They had a great line up but I already had most so I decided to start with a Terrapin Pale Ale.  This was ok, but nothing great.  Then I ordered a Dock Street Hop Garden double IPA.  This is a great beer.  I am starting to become a big fan of this brewer.  It occurred to me that I was not far from TJ's Restaurant and Drinkery in Paoli.  I ordered an Avery Dugana double IPA so I might compare it to Dock Streets.  I would like to root for the home team but I have to give this one to Avery.  It was smoother with a great hop profile.  Next up was Wolaver's Organic Oatmeal Stout.  This was a nice clean beer but nothing extraordinary.

One thing I noticed today...The Flying Pig was jam packed and I was lucky to find a seat at the bar.  TJ's on the other hand was not busy at all.  I really don't have an explanation for this.  These two bars are reasonably close to each other and have similar lineups.  Both have really good food.  And yet one is busy and the other is not?