Nice Mix of Beers

On Thursday after work I stopped in at TJ's Restaurant and Drinkery in Paoli for a couple beers.  I started with a Hop Meadow IPA from Thomas Hooker Ales and Lagers.  I think this is the first beer I ever had from this brewer.  It was pretty good.  Next up was a Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA from Flying Dog Brewery.  It was from a firkin.  It was OK.  As I have said before, I'm not a big fan of this style but this one was pretty good.  After that I was thirsty for a "real" IPA so I got a DuganA from Avery Brewing Company.  Now that is a real IPA.  Imperial IPA to be precise.  My next stop was the Sly Fox in Phoenixville while waiting for my pizza to cook.  I had a Pikeland Pils.  Good ole Pikeland Pils.  It never disappoints. 

On Christmas Eve I went to Exton Beverage to pick up a sixtel of Dock St. Hop Garden.  This is a double IPA.  It is pretty good, not great.  On the way home I slipped into the Drafting Room in Exton.  I had a Shackamaximum from Philadelphia Brewing Company.  Actually I had a small taste of it first and didn't think I cared for it that much.  But, in the name of science I ordered a pint of it anyway.  I'm glad I did.  This is one of those beers where I didn't care for the first sip but once I got to the bottom of a pint I really enjoyed it.  Shackamaximum is an Imperial Stout that I will look for again.

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.