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.

Never Say Never (when it comes to Wipeout)

After work last night I was ready for a beer and the Flying Pig in Malvern seemed as good a place as any to get one.  It's always a crap shoot going in there (no on-line beer menu that I'm aware of).  As luck would have it they had Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing Company and so did I.  In my book this one is right up there with the best IPA's available.  Due to the fact that I wasn't that interested in anything else on the menu plus the fact that this is such an excellent beer I broke one of my beer drinking rules.  Never drink the same beer twice in one sitting.  Never say never.  I had a second Wipeout IPA.

A Weird Mix of Beer Styles

On Saturday I stopped in Union Jack's Inn on the Manatawny for a beer or two.  First up was a Confluence Ale from Allagash Brewing Company.  This is a Wild American Ale.  The wild yeast gives an expected funky smell and taste that is not at all unpleasant.  It is slightly perfumey tasting but I got past that.  The best part is the dry finish.  This is a nice beer.  I followed this with a Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing Company.  Awesome as usual.

Today I went to the Flying Pig in Malvern.  I started with a cask-conditioned Amber Ale from Bell's Brewery.  It was a pretty good beer.  I'm not sure I would have liked it as well if it was not cask-conditioned.  Then I had an Oktoberfest from Blue Point Brewing Company.  Same thing...it was a pretty good beer.  Neither of these beers will knock you socks off but I guess they were true to their style, which is not necessarily my style.

Some Good and Some Not So Good Beers

Over the course of the last week or so I've haven't had much opportunity to write about the beers I have had.  Traveling on business has consumed a good bit of my time.  I did visit the Sly Fox in Phoenixville and had a new (to me) beer.  It is called Citra Pale Ale.  I am not a big fan of this one.  Back on the road again I went back to the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson, MA.  I started with a cask-conditioned Sky High Rye from Arcadia.  It was a very nice beer indeed.  I followed that with a Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing.  Of course this was excellent.  This may be my favorite beer of the year.  The following night I went back to the Horseshoe and had a Wachusett Country Ale.  This was not very good at all.  In fact, since I knew I was only going to have one more this night I decided to have a Wipeout IPA just to play it safe. 

Back home in Pennsylvania I visited the Craft Ale House in Limerick.  First up was an IPA from Mission Brewery.  This is a pretty good IPA.  I had never heard of Mission.  Apparently they are out of San Diego, CA.  I'll look for more from them.  I followed this with a Lima Black IPA from Weyerbacher Brewing Company.  This was risky because I am not a big fan of this brewer or of this style.  I am here to say, this is an excellent beer.  That's why I keep going back and trying brewers and/or styles that I think I may not like.  Hats off to the folks at Weyerbacher for making this excellent beer.

Best Beer Bar in Massachusetts

So I'm traveling on business to Massachusetts and I don't have high expectations on finding any great craft beers.  I do my usual internet search and find a couple of places that seem interesting but I expect to be disappointed as usual.  I have my heart set on a brewpub in Gardner, MA when a co-worker suggests a good beer bar in Hudson, MA.  It is called The Horshshoe Pub & Restaurant.  I get there at 7:00 on a Wednesday night and the parking lot is full.  Things are looking pretty good.  I walk inside and see 80 taps.  Things just got even better.  At first I go to the bar and then I realize that I would be much better at a table where I can peruse the menu at my leisure.  And so I perused.  I decided to get samples instead of pints.  Samples, it turns out are 3 oz beers at $2.55 each.  I start with 4 IPA's.  They are (1) Big Eye IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Company, (2) Racer 5 from Bear Republic Brewery, (3) Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing Company and (4) Wachusett Larry from Wachusett Brewing Company.  OK, the first 3 I've had before and I knew they were excellent but I enjoyed every one none the less.  The fourth one was taking a chance.  Let me tell you, this Wachusett Larry was a really good IPA.  Actually I think it was a double IPA.  It was right up there with the other three.  I was shocked...er...pleasantly surprised.

I had the seafood sampler for dinner which was a great choice.  Then I ordered four more beers.  They were (5) Black Fly Stout from Gritty McDuff's in Maine, a very nice Irish stout, (6) Extra Special Oak from Element Brewing Company in Massachusetts, good but not great, (7) Coffee Haus Porter from Berkshire Brewing Company in Massachusetts, excellent...taste like fresh coffee beans, and (8) Black Shack Porter from Wachusett Brewing Company in MA, pretty good, not great.

The real hero in this story is the Horshshoe Pub & Restaurant for having these 8 beers among their 80 on tap plus 2 cask conditioned beers.  I love this place.  And I didn't even have one of the many Belgian's they had on tap.  I might move to Massachusetts.

Sunday With No Work Monday

Sunday was a fun day.  I went to the Union Jack's Congo Hotel and had a couple of beers.  First up was a Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing Company.  Great as always.  Then I had a Pursuit of Pale Ale from Victory Brewing Company.  It was just OK for me.  Nothing spectacular.  Before leaving the gal behind the bar gave me an unsolicited taste of John John Dead Guy from Rogue Ales.  Smart gal behind the bar.  I had to stay and have a full glass.  It was a wonderful and complex beer.  The oak taste from the barrels was clearly evident.  I also got tastes of sweet vanilla.  It was time to go but later on I was able to visit the Pickering Creek Inn in Phoenixville.  I must go in there at weird times because it was empty just like the last time I was in there.  I'm not complaining.  As far as I'm concerned that's a good thing for me.  I just want to sit and enjoy a beer and not be bothered by anyone.  I had a Southampton Keller Pils from Southampton Brewery and Publick House.  Under normal circumstances I would probably have said this was a really nice pils but I have been drinking quite a bit of Keller Pils at the Sly Fox and maybe I am biased towards the local brewery but I think Sly Fox has the better product.  I would definitely still order a Southampton again if it was on the menu though.

Wipeout on the Way Home from the Mall

After work tonight I went to the mall to buy some clothes in anticipation of casual dress days at work for the duration of the summer.  God, I hate shopping and especially shopping at the mall.  By the time I was done I was so thirsty I had to stop at the Drafting Room in Exton for a drink.  I chose a Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing Company.  As I have said many times, this is one great IPA.

Playground Wipeout

I was such a beautiful day today and the kids were asking to go to a playground so that is what we did.  However, on the way one of the kids fell asleep.  As luck would have it we were close to Ortino's Northside in Zieglersville.  Me and my 5 year-old went inside for a drink.  I had a Wipeout IPA from Port Brewing Company.  I love this IPA as well as this brewer.  We only stayed for one as we were late for our visit to the playground.  Good thing too.  Out in the car my other daughters were awake and eager to get moving.