Good Draught and a Bad 12 Pack?

I made a rare appearance at the Tap & Table in Emaus.  I first tried a My Antonia which apparently was brewed by Birra Del Borgo (Italy) and Dogfish Head (DE).  This is an Imperial Pilsner.  As is usually the case with Dogfish Head products I didn't care for this beer.  I followed this with a beer from another brewer that I normally don't care for.  At least I keep trying.  And this time it payed off.  The brewer is Brooklyn Brewery and the beer was an Imperial IPA called Detonation.  Hurray, I finally got a Brooklyn beer I can enjoy.  I ended with a Russian Imperial Stout from Rogue Brewery.  Yeah, this is a really good Stout.

I also had a chance to visit the Craft Ale House in Limerick.  I had a Dogtown Pale Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company.  This beer is always excellent. 

Speaking of excellent...one beer that is not excellent is Opa Opa IPA.  At least not the 12 pack that I brought home from Massachusetts.  It is undrinkable.  I suspect that the problem is with the 12 pack I got and not the brewer but I don't know.  I will have to find this on tap on my next visit and hopefully redeem this product.

Friday Night With The Family...Sort Of

With my oldest daughter out of the house for the past week visiting her grandmother I thought we might do something different this Friday night.  I took my two daughters and my wife to Pizzeria Uno's in Exton.  Actually I met them there after I made a detour to the Drafting Room in Exton for a quick one.  I got a Gemini imperial IPA from Southern Tier Brewing Company.  This was quite a nice beer but in a blind taste test I would have never suspected it was and Imperial IPA.  As it turns out I had time for another quick beer so I ordered a Double Trouble Imperial IPA from Founder's Brewing Company.  I usually like this beer but tonight it seemed kind of harsh.  It may be because of the low-hopped beers I have been enjoying lately and that I have on tap at home.  I left in time to meet my wife and kids on the parking lot of Uno's.  We went in and had a nice dinner.  I had a Dead Guy Ale from Rogue Ales Brewery.  It was OK and I'll leave it at that.  My wife suggested I stop at Ron's Original Bar and Grille on the way home.  She was OK taking the kids home and settling in.  As usual I followed her advice.  As usual, Ron's parking lot was packed but as luck would have it I found a spot right out front.  I went in and there is where why my luck ended.  I did manage to get a beer but I was standing.  The beer I had was an IPA from Left Hand Brewing Company.  So far I haven't been impressed with this brewer and tonight is no exception.  Not a bad beer...just nothing exceptional either. 

Quick One at TJ's

In between Christmas parties today I found myself with about 10 minutes of free time.  As it happens we were not far from TJ's Restaurant and Drinkery in Paoli.  Time enough for one beer.  The kids were asleep in the car and my wife was OK with it so in I went.  I ordered a Rogue I2PA (I squared PA, or Imperial India Pale Ale, get it?).  This is a fine tasting IIPA without being overly bitter.  I'm ready for another but time does not allow today.