Urban South Brewery, New Orleans, LA

I stopped in at  Urban South Brewery in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Getting there gave me a good opportunity for a long walk after a day long workshop in New Orleans.  After sizing up the beers on tap I  decided to go with the Holy Roller IPA.  Hey, I’m a holy roller, why not?  And it’s been a while since I’ve had an entire IPA.  I’ve been branching out into other styles.  I found Holy Roller to be quite good.  Hoppy but not overboard.  Not heavy or resiny.  Very nice to drink and enjoy.  I wish I liked crawfish.  There was a company selling coked crawfish and many locals were enjoying them.  Quite a large group – lots of energy.

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Redhook Brewery, Portsmouth, NH

I stopped in at Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and enjoyed two of their beers.  Clearly, Long Hammer  IPA is a classic.  If you’re looking for a go to IPA, this is solid.  Now that I’ve enjoyed it again I’ll be sure to bring this home when I’m in the mood for an IPA.  I’ve been enjoying ESB’s more frequently, especially now that the weather has turned cooler.  This richer, smoother, maltier, heavier beer is DELICIOUS.  I definitely recommend this beer.  I’ll be bringing this home for cool winter evenings by the fire.

 

 

Smuttynose Brewing Company, Hampton, NH

I enjoyed dinner and a beer at the Smuttynose Brewing Company Hayseed Restaurant in Hampton, New Hampshire.  Their pork schnitzel was delicious and it paired perfectly with Finestkind IPA.

I then proceeded to the brewery tasting room and tried Ginger Beer (not enough ginger for me and the peppers either needed to be stronger or not included), Shoals Pale Ale (a very drinkable and tasty pale), Old Brown Dog (smooth, malty, almost-sweet brown ale), and S’mistletoe (very fruity, not sweet but not sour, light not heavy).  What a range of beers.  Something for everyone.

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Tailgate Beer, Nashville, TN

I stopped in at Tailgate Beer in Nashville, Tennessee and enjoyed a flight of beers.  Their Watermelon Wheat was tasty but I was hoping for more watermelon flavor.  Their Fall Wit was an enjoyable beer – mild in flavor.  Grapefruit IPA was also good but again I wanted more grapefruit flavor.  The Peanut Butter Milk Stout was smooth and delicious.  Just the right amount of peanut butter.  This was the last beer I tasted and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I also enjoyed the large hosue salad from their kitchen.  Their pizzas looked tasty but that would have been too heavy for me at that time.  The brewery is a great place and well worth a visit!

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Parkway Brewing Company, Salem, VA

I stopped in at Parkway Brewing Company in Salem, Virginia for a beer.  I wound up trying a flight.  The brewery has a great feel.  It includes a wide open space with various seating options.  Also when I was there a food truck and live music were featured.  In terms of beer I really enjoyed the Majestic Mullet Krispy Kolsch.  This is a fresh, drinkable beer.  Delightful.  I also enjoyed three IPA’s – Get Bent, Factory Girl and Grapefruit.  I enjoyed the hoppiness of these.  Good flavors.  Slightly resiny for my taste.  The Seeing Colors Spiced Ale is a delicious fall seasonal.  I really loved the spices.  Baltic Porter is also a very tasty, darker beer.  I tried a quick sample of the Gose on tap which was sour, salty and refreshing.  I recommend stopping in and trying these beers!

Troegs Independent Brewing, Harrisburg, PA

I stopped in at Troegs Independent Brewing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania attending a work related event.  I was really impressed!  And I had the wonderful opportunity to sample a number of beers in one evening which was a delight.  And, the food they prepared and served for the event was also great.  I especially liked the chicken salad rolls and the java chip cupcakes!.  But, back to the beer.  Troegs HopBack Amber Ale is a great balance between hops and malt.  Drinking this you get some of both and it is really easy to drink.  Troegenator Double Bock is a rich brown caramelly beer that feels perfect for fall weather.  And, JavaHead Stout is a tasty coffee and chocolate tasting stout.  Their Perpetual IPA is a delight to drink.  Not too hoppy yet flavorful enough for most IPA lovers.  Although not as well-versed in Belgian beers, their Jovial is a delicious dubbel, pardon the comparison, but with some of Troegenator and some of JavaHead flavors swirling together.  Although Pilsners are often too “light” for me, their Sunshine Pilsner was tasty and a beer I’d drink again for sure.  The current seasonal, Hop Knife was the only beer I enjoyed a full serving of and it was well worth the full glass.  Not only that, I won a six-pack at the event I was attending and am looking forward to enjoying it with family this weekend.  I also had the opportunity to enjoy to “scratch” beers.  The Mango India Pale Ale was delicious and reminiscent of a Mango IPA I enjoyed in Hawaii earlier this month.  And, if a Harrisburg brewery can make me feel like I’m in Hawaii, that’s awesome.  Finally, I enjoyed the American Style Sour Cherry.  I like sour beers and I really like sour cherry.  This beer reminded me of a similar one at Jolly Pumpkin in Michigan last summer.  I was really tempted to bring a growler of this home with me but with a six-pack of Hop Knife and a fridge full of beer at home I passed on the opportunity.  So, if you’re ever in Harrisburg, PA or even near the area do yourself a favor and stop at Troegs.

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Denizens Brewing Company, Silver Spring, MD

I stopped in at Denizens Brewing Company in Silver Spring, Maryland with my daughter to enjoy some beer and dinner.  I have been seeking a brewery local to my home that I could call “my brewery”.  I’ve found it!  Denizens has the best beers of all the nearby breweries.  In fact, I’d put Denizens beers head to head with most of the 500 breweries I’ve visited.  I’ll give some tasting notes on beers we sampled last night.  I loved the Born Bohemian Pilsner and I’m not even a big pilsner fan.  The beer tasted great, was light enough to drink easily, but flavorful and had a delicious finish.  Their Bocho Gose was true to the salty taste of a gose but not too salty.  It was also hoppy with a hint of lime and very refreshing.  Southside Rye IPA is also delicious.  Personally I didn’t get a lot of rye taste in the beer.  Tasted like a very drinkable, fresh IPA to me.  Not too hoppy but hoppy enough.  My daughter was keen on the Summer Jam Mix DIPA.  I thought it was good but this was not as outstanding as the previous beers – in my opinion.  Lowest Lord ESB was so  malty and delicious that I bought a four-pack to bring home.  Can’t wait to have it again.  Need I say more?  We tried the Third Party Tripel.  I need to appreciate Belgian beers more.  Big Red Norm Red Ale was malty and hoppy – a good balance – and delicious. When I noticed that the Chapless Horseman Russian Imperial Stout was aged on bourbon barrels – I love anything with bourbon – I was excited.  This beer did not overly impress me.  It felt weak.  HOWEVER.  There was an experimental ‘A Petit For $400’ petit sour aged on bourbon barrels that was so good that we had to have another pour of this deliciousness.  All of these beers helped wash down their pretzel and beer cheese appetizer and a burger/salad for me and a chicken sandwich/fries for my daughter.  All the food was also delicious.  I can’t wait to crack those ESB’s at home and to head back to Denizens with friends and family.

Kona Brewing, Kona, Hawaii

I stopped in at Kona Brewing in Kona, Hawaii.  Their flagship beers, Longboard Lager, Big Wave Golden Ale, Castaway IPA, and Fire Rock Pale Ale are no strangers and always delicious.  I found that the Magic Sands Saison was a delicious mango beer and the Hanalei POG IPA was a very drinkable, flavorful IPA.  But, sadly, you’ve got to fly to Kona to enjoy these.  I’m glad I did.  Also, the pizza was wonderful as well.  Kona Brewing is an awesome stop – well worth the trip!!!

Brookeville Beer Farm, Brookeville, MD

I stopped in at the newest brewery in the Maryland area where I live, Brookeville Beer Farm in Brookeville, Maryland.  I ordered a flight and enjoyed their beers.  The Philsner Pilsner was tasty and very drinkable with good flavor.  Road Dust is a solid brown ale.  Their IPA and Double IPA were both very good.  I really enjoyed the Ridiculous Stout, it was smooth, rich, flavorful with coffee, chocolate maltiness.  I hope to stop here frequently.  The bar area is beautiful with a large outdoor seating area as well.