Akasha Brewing Company, Louisville, KY

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Akasha Brewing Company I stopped in at Akasha Brewing Company in Louisville, Kentucky with some industry friends to taste a flight of beers.  Akasha Brewing has an industrial/warehouse feel to it.  Although we got there rather late in the evening there were still at least a dozen people still at the brewery in various small groupings.  Clearly Akasha has somewhat of a local following.  Several of the beers on the list I would have loved to have tried but were out at the time.  The Gose was well worth having.  Its salty and sour flavor was distinctive – not for everyone – but a great example of this style.  The DoubleCrush IPA was solid. Piper Smoked Porter was rich and smooth.  The Knaves and Staves Bourdeax Barrel Aged Saison was sweet and smooth – delicious!  And, I loved the taster tulip glasses so much that I bought one to take home – perfect size for a bourbon in the evening.

Goodwood Brewing Company, Louisville, KY

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I stopped in at Goodwood Brewing Company in Louisville, Kentucky. Several industry friends and I stopped in after dinner to try their beers.  With the current construction in Louisville, getting there was a bit tricky, and we may have used a slightly illegal maneuver to park down the block.  The area the brewery is located in felt a bit sketchy, but that’s not always uncommon for breweries.  Fortunately we got there safely.  When we arrived it was close to last call so we quickly put in our flight orders.  There was only one other small group in the tap room at the time.  The atmosphere was rustic – very enjoyable.  Having tried several of their beers, here are some thoughts.  The Cinnamon Stout was new for me.  It tasted like a mix of Red Hots and stout at the same time.  Tasty for what it was.  I think my favorite brew was the Bourbon Barrel Ale – an ale smoothed out with the flavor of bourbon – sweet and tasty.  The Pale Ale was crisp and hoppy.  The Bourbon Barrel Stout was smooth and flavorful.  I hope I have another time to stop in here before this trip ends.

7 Locks Brewing, Rockville, MD

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I stopped in at 7 Locks Brewing in Rockville, Maryland.  My daughter recently moved in to a condo within a couple of blocks from this great brewery.  We stopped in so we could try their beers and so I could buy a couple of growlers for my daughter.  We had a great time.  The beers were tasty.  My wife even liked the Honey Ale and she doesn’t like beer.  My daughter and her boyfriend liked the IPA.  I really liked the Farmhouse Ale.  I also really liked the Coffee Stout.  The other brews were tasty as well, but these were our favorites.  We bought growlers of IPA and Farmhouse Ale.  The growler beers wend well with some Chinese takeout we brought back to her new place for dinner.  7 Locks Brewing has a great vibe – warehouse feel – and my wife, who isn’t as in to  breweries really liked it.  With our daughter now living close by we are looking forward to stopping in often.  A few other details.  The bartender that served us was really nice and really patient.  The brewery also had a feed truck outside – we didn’t try any of the food but it looked good.

Waredaca Brewing Company, Laytonsville, MD

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I stopped in at Waredaca Brewing Company in Laytonsville, Maryland for a beer and had a wonderful time!  Waredaca is only twenty minutes from home and now I’m wishing I had stopped in sooner – although this could become a dangerous habit.  What a great place.  The farm setting is really beautiful and I’m sure this spring, summer and fall it will b a delightful place to visit.  The tap room is really neat; a bar, a number of tables and chairs, and a casual seating area.  It’s not cramped – has plenty of room for folks to hang out.  And, yesterday with the gorgeous weather, dozens of folks were hanging out on picnic tables outside.  I was not anticipating the roughly 50 cars in the parking lot when I got there.  And, I was concerned it may be crowded, but despite the numbers it felt easy to get a great seat at the bar.  And the enjoyment didn’t stop there.  The guys at the bar were so kind and friendly.  I had my brother with me who isn’t a beer drinker and he absolutely loved the homemade Lemongrass Ginger Soda.  For me, I had to try the Beecher IPA which was really nice.  Not too hoppy but hoppy enough.  And not too heavy.  Very drinkable.  Then I tried the Reveille Coffee Stout – WOW – delicious.  Smooth.  Coffee.  Delicious.  It was so good I wanted to bring some home.  I know my wife wouldn’t appreciate another growler.  So I asked for one of the custom 32 oz cans.  So Cool.  They filled the can right from the tap then used the machine to cap it.  See photo below.  Despite visiting hundreds of breweries, this is the first of those machines I’ve ever seen.  I’m looking forward to sharing that can with friends at home.  Waredaca has a number of other beers you can check out plus a small snack menu that looks worth checking out as well.  I hope to stop in again soon.  Maybe you should too!  Hope to see you there.

Busted Sandal Brewing Company, San Antonio, TX

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I stopped in at Busted Sandal Brewing Company in San Antonio, Texas.  The thing is, they weren’t open to the public tonight.  But, that didn’t stop the owner, Mike, from responding to my e-mail and meeting me at the brewery and giving me an entire tour and explanation of their story along with several tastings.  Wow!  What an experience.  Mike is an awesome guy, and if you’re in the San Antonio area you really do need to try these beers.  So here’s some idea of what they have on tap.  The 210 Ale is a deliious and very drinkable blonde ale.  This would go great in the hot weather.  It is smooth and very easy to drink.  The Slippery Rock IPA has got to be one of the most drinkable IPA’s I’ve ever enjoyed.  It has the flavor of an IPA but is not heavy at all and is very easy to drink.  Currently they are experimenting with a Grapefruit 210 Ale which is their flagship blonde ale with grapefruit added.  Personally, I love the grapefruit flavor.  I could drink this all day.  The El Robusto Porter is awesome.  It is rich, chocolatey, and delicious.  This would be a great dessert beer.  So, there you have it.  Get yourself over to Busted Sandal and try one!

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Atlas Brew Works, Washington, DC

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I stopped in at Atlas Brew Works in Washington, DC after a grueling certification test this morning.  The flight offered a taste of all six beers on tap.  Each was very good.  I especially enjoyed the Ponzi IPA.  However, my favorite was the Rowdy Rye Pale Ale.  The spice of the rye adds a great complexity to this beer.  Sloppy Mama’s Barbeque was on location and I enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich which was also outstanding.  The visit, the beer and the barbeque helped take my weary mind off the exam.  Great spot to visit.

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Lowertown Brewery, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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I stopped in at Lowertown Brewery for dinner and a beer.  I enjoyed a bowl of delicious fresh chili and paired it with the seasonal Pumpkin Ale.  I’ve enjoyed a number of pumpkin ales and I really liked this one.  It’s not too strong on the pumpkin and it has a nice slightly sweet taste along with some hints of spices.  Well done and well worth the stop for me.

Clocktower Brew Pub, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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I stopped in at Clocktower Brew Pub in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for a snack and a beer.  The pretzel appetizer was tasty.  I enjoyed the Wisharts ESB and tasted the Clocktower Red.  The ESB is a solid example of the ESB style.  Smooth and very drinkable.  The Red was complex.  A variety of hops and other seasonings make this a very enjoyable beer.  I’m hoping to stop back at Clocktower for another Red before I leave town.  I also need to grab a few coasters for my collection.

Adelbert’s Brewery, Austin, TX

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I stopped in at Adelbert’s Brewery in Belgiium – OOPS – Austin, Texas, last night.  While I was sampling their beers I sure felt like I was in Belgium.  Belgian styles are their passion and it shows in every beer.  I especially enjoyed the Tripel B.  It was malty and sweet just as a Belgian Tripel should be.  And it was strong!.  When I mentioned that I was planning to write a blog post, the manager insisted I try every beer on tap.  Honestly, each was delicious. Even the tea they brew to cleanse the palate was tasty.  I wish it were easier to bring beer on a plane, I’d bring some back for my friends at home.  I also wish I had more time to sit back and relax at the outdoor seating area and enjoy the beer but I was on a quick trip in and out of Austin.  I highly recommend this brewery – everyone should stop here.  I hope to the next time I’m in town – and hopefully for a longer stop!

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