Alabama

Cahaba Brewing Company, Birmingham, AL

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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

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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

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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.