Month: March 2014

Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, VA – AND – Devil’s Backbone Outpost Brewery & Tap Room, Lexington, VA

/ istopforhops / 1 Comment

2014-03-20 18.46.01

I’d been wanting to stop in at Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company in Roseland, Virginia for quite some time.  And, when I finally got the chance it did not disappoint!  Their Eight Point IPA was very good and their Ten Point IPA was even better!  Not only that, I had the opportunity to enjoy dinner which was delicious – pulled pork sandwich and fried pickles.  Much of the menu is locally sourced.  The brewery/restaurant is wonderfully crafted with local materials and looks great!  I’d recommend this brewery to everyone for the beer, the food and the atmosphere.  It’s worth stopping.

I stopped in at Devil’s Backbone Outpost Brewery & Tap Room in Lexington, Virginia.  I love enjoying beers at breweries that aren’t available anywhere else.  The Berliner Metro Weiss was so delicious that I went back out to my car and got the emergency growler from the trunk and immediately filled up!  What a delicious beer with a tart finish.  O’Fest was also yummy – malty and warming for the season.  The Smokehaus Rauchbier I just had to try but it’s not my thing.  I am not a fan of smoky.  Sorry.  The Wee Dram was as tasty a Scottish Ale as I’ve ever had.  Malty and caramelly and smooth.  I’m glad I finally made it to the Outpost to round out my Devil’s Backbone experience.

2016-10-03-18-07-26

Blue Mountain Brewery, Afton, VA

/ istopforhops / Leave a comment

2014-03-18 15.15.46     2014-05-13 20.55.13

I stopped in at the Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, Virginia for lunch and, you guessed it, a beer.  I ordered fish tacos which were excellent.  There were three tacos and they were large and they came with cole slaw.  Delicious.  I enjoyed the lunch with Rye Barchetta, a full-bodied rye IPA and Full Nelson, a very drinkable pale ale.  The atmosphere in the restaurant/brewery was really nice and I’d definitely stop there again if in the area.  Oh, and I liked the Full Nelson so much that I brought a six-pack home.  I’ve given away a few cans to close friends that are “wrestling” with some of life’s issues and I felt this would be a thoughtful gift.  They were both very grateful.  The last two cans are for me!  I also brought home a bottle of the Local Species Belgian but haven’t tried it yet.

Roanoke Railhouse Brewery, Roanoke, VA

/ istopforhops / 1 Comment

2014-03-18 18.35.37

I was fortunate enough to stop at the Roanoke Railhouse Brewery in Roanoke, Virginia.  When I arrived, the owner, Steve, stopped everything he was doing an spent the next hour pouring his beers for me, describing each in detail, and discussing the craft beer scene and the general business climate of Roanoke.  Steve is great to talk with and a great brewer.  The first beer I tried was the Track 1 Amber Lager which I found to be not too sweet but full-bodied.  The second beer I tried was the Broken Knuckle IPA which I found not too bitter and very drinkable.  And the last beer I tried was the Switch Monkey which is a Belgian pale ale, light and very easy to drink.  The brewery is in a converted warehouse space and has plenty of room to hang out and enjoy a few beers.

Piccadilly Public House, Winchester, VA

/ istopforhops / Leave a comment

I stopped at the Piccadilly Public House in Winchester, Virginia with a business partner for lunch.  I had the George Washington salad with grilled chicken which was a large and filling salad.  I also tried the house beer, summer moon.  This is a wheat beer which isn’t my preference, but if that’s the house beer then that’s what I’m having.  This beer had a high alcohol content and I could taste the alcohol in the beer.  I wasn’t able to finish it.  The beer was sweet with a bite to it.

Cahaba Brewing Company, Birmingham, AL

/ istopforhops / Leave a comment

2014-03-10 17.21.33

Every so often along my travels a brewery opens up during non-business hours just for me.  During this trip, the brewer at Cahaba Brewing Company in Birmingham, Alabama opened up just for me so I could taste their beer.  He also stopped his work for a while and spoke with me about the beers and the company and their plans.  What a great time.  Then I tried the beers.  The Oka Uba IPA was great to drink, not too hoppy and easy to enjoy.  I also tried the India Pale Lager.  That’s the first of it’s kind I’ve ever had.  It was full-bodied; heavier than ale.  Very good.  And finally I tried the Fraxinus Maximus Double IPA which was crisp, strong and rich.  A big shout out to Cahaba Brewing Company for letting me stop by during non-business hours.

Avondale Brewing Company, Birmingham, AL

/ istopforhops / Leave a comment

2014-03-10 16.43.29

I stopped in at the Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham, Alabama and tried a few of their beers.  The Long Branch Scottish Ale is one of their flagship beers and is a wonderful beer.  The Vanillapant Porter is another flagship and is a great vanilla tasting dark beer.  The No Joka Mocha Stout is a rich coffee stout with a strong coffee flavor.  The brewery is a really cool space with an industrial feel to it.

Good People Brewing Company, Birmingham, AL

/ istopforhops / Leave a comment

2014-03-10 15.01.51

I was with a Good Friend when I stopped in at Good People Brewing Company in Birmingham, Alabama.  In fact, my friend had just treated me to a gourmet lunch and had given me a grand tour of Birmingham.  I guess that’s what they mean by Good People.  We concluded our time together at the brewery and I enjoyed a flight, tasting a number of beers.  I started with the Bearded Lady American Wheat Ale which was the best wheat beer I’ve ever had.  I typically stay away from this style because wheat beers are not my preference.  But, this one had a hoppy flavor to it and I enjoyed it.  From there I moved on to the Pale Ale which was smooth with a slight hoppiness to it that I also enjoyed.  Next was the IPA which is a great go-t0 IPA; flavorful but not too hoppy.  I then tried the Brown Ale which was smooth but not too sweet or too malty.  And, finally I tried the Coffee Oatmeal Stout which had a rich coffee flavor.  In the past I had also had Snake Handler Double IPA, thanks to my friend, and this is also excellent – very hoppy.  In short, I enjoy all of these beers and would consider Birmingham as a possible relocation place in the future ;~)  The brewery is a really cool industrial/warehouse space.  Old extra-large electric wire spools are used for tables.  The bar is an huge circle.  And, our bartender was a really nice guy who was very informative.