Tumbler...This Ain't No Bigfoot

On Sunday we went out to practice biking and roller blading.  On the way the kids fell asleep and as it happens we were near Union Jack's Congo Hotel in Bally.  I stopped in for a quick beer so the kids could get a little extra sleep.  There wasn't anything really interesting on so I asked for a Tumbler from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.  This is an American brown Ale.  It is like all Sierra Nevada products in my opinion...that is, they are well made but unremarkable (the lone exception being the great Bigfoot).  So the Tumbler is a nice brown ale and you could enjoy a couple of them in a row but you will not go out of your way to get one.

Green Flash or Free Glass?

Today was a trip to the playground but on the way all three kids fell asleep.  Not wanting to waste a golden opportunity I pulled into Union Jack's Congo Hotel in Bally.  I ordered a West Coast IPA from Green Flash Brewing Company.  Yeah, this is a really good IPA.  I think the last time I had one of these it was at the Congo Hotel that time as well.  I almost ordered a Bock fromYuengling Brewery.  They were having a "keep the glass" special.  I decided to go with the Green Flash and forego the free glass.  Maybe some other time.

I Get Around for an Amateur

Saturday afternoon the weather was so miserable (high winds, heavy rain) that I thought it would be great to go out and have a nice beer or two.  I went to the Craft Ale House in Limerick where I found many folks with the same mindset...lousy weather, go out for a good beer.  I ordered a Curieux from Allagash Brewing Company.  This was described on the menu as a tripel with notes of coconut and vanilla.  No kidding.  Both flavors were well represented.  It was a very nice tripel albeit American.  When I got out to the car the kids were still asleep so my wife suggested I go to Union Jack's Congo Hotel for another beer.  As usual I followed my wife's recommendation.  I got to the Congo Hotel and like the CAH it was busy.  I managed to get a seat at the bar and tasted a Legbiter Irish Ale from Strangford Lough Brewing Company which I believe are out of Northern Ireland.  I suppose it was on because of St. Patty's day.  It was a nice enough beer but not what I was in the mood for.  Now Troeg's Nugget Nectar was just right.  Does anyone know why Troeg's doesn't have this as a year-round offering?  It is such a nice beer.  I would have loved to stay longer but suspected the kids would be waking up any minute and in fact they were awakening just as I got to the car.

On Sunday my wife was out of town visiting her parents with my oldest daughter.  That left me with my 1 year-old and my 4 year-old daughters.  Since my wife was out of town my mother volunteered to sit in the car with the sleeping kids while I went into Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny.  I only stayed in long enough to enjoy a Hopsecutioner from Terripan Beer Company.  I like this American IPA and I really like this brewery out of Athens, GA.  My mom did a great job filling in for my wife while she was away.  Thanks mom.

So summing up my weekend I visited the Flying Pig Saloon in Malvern, the Sly Fox in Phoenixville, Craft Ale House in Limerick, Union Jack's Congo Hotel in Barto and Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny in the middle of nowhere.  All in all it was a good beer weekend.

Christmas Tree Hunting

We spent a beautiful Sunday afternoon driving to upstate Pennsylvania in search of the perfect Christmas tree.  By early evening we were driving home and not far from Union Jack's Olde Congo Hotel in Barto.  I went in for a quick one.  I ordered a Dock Street Rye IPA.  This is a really good beer with a nice mouth feel and plenty of hops but just an all around great taste.  I am becoming a big fan of this brewer.  In fact, I don't remember having a Dock Street that I didn't care for.  I have had this beer before and I am sure I will have it again.

Who Waits Until 4:00 to Open on a Saturday???

We are out and about on this gorgeous Saturday afternoon and we decide to stop at Ott's Greenhouse in Schwenksville, PA. My 3-year-old falls asleep in the car so I continue to drive up the road to have a beer at Ortino's Northside in Zieglersville, PA. For probably the hundredth time I stopped here and it is closed. It is always closed. How can you be closed at 3:00 on a Saturday afternoon? And while I'm complaining, how can you put a round-about in the middle of PA-73? This is America for crying out loud. Even New Jersey figured out that these things are ridiculous. Regardless, I drive a little further and find myself at Union Jack's Congo Hotel. My wife drops me off and continues to drive around with the kids. I ordered a Green Flash West Coast IPA. I have had these before and it is a very nice beer. I then sneak in a Lagunitas Lucky 13 before my ride comes back for me. It is a nice, but dark IPA kind of beer.

Eventually we make our way to Ott's Greenhouse and enjoy a walk among the plants, flowers, pumpkins, hardy mums etc.

Now that it is past 4:00 I decide to go back to Ortino's Northside and give them another shot. They are actually open if you can believe it. I have a Troeg's Nugget Nectar from the hand pump. It is OK, not great. It may have had a slight infection. Next up I order a Port Brewing Company Panzer Pils. This is a fine pilsner and a very deceitful one as well. You would never guess this little gem had an ABV of somewhere around 9%. In between beers we manage to order dinner. I got the eggplant parmesan sandwhich and my wife gets some kind of salad with shrimp. My daughters split an order of hot wings. Everyone seems pretty satisfied.