I stopped in at Prospect Point Brewing in Frederick, Maryland with my wife and my son and his wife. We enjoyed a few hours of relaxing and talking and enjoying great beers. Their Homebrew English Mild is one of the best beers of this style I have ever tasted. I also enjoyed their Chocolate Thunder Stout. My son and his wife enjoyed several of their other beers. All of their offerings are great. My wife doesn’t drink beer so we brought in a coffee mug with wine for her – shh! – don’t tell the brewer. We also brought in some food from Friscos Restaurant. Friscos’ sandwiches, salads and exploded potatoes are all delicious. The beers paired wonderfully with the food. We have been eagerly anticipating the opening of Prospect Point Brewing because it is literally a mile down the street from my son’s house. I know it will be a family favorite. Their beer and their relaxing setting will bring us back again and again. We were also blessed to have met the brewers at the Maryland Craft Beer Festival where my sons and I have volunteered for the past several years. So, I’ve got three takeaways for you. Go to the Maryland Craft Beer Festival and try new beers and get out and support Maryland breweries, enjoy great food at Friscos, and by all means head to Prospect Point Brewing and have a beer!!
Stout
Prince Edward Island Brewing Company, Charlottetown, Canada
I stopped in at Prince Edward Island Brewing Company in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. I really enjoyed this place. It’s open; cool vibe; industrial; artsy; lots of space; games to play; helpful bar staff. I narrowed today’s beer to the Snowbird Juicy IPA. I really liked this beer. My son-in-law is a big fan of hazy, juicy IPA’s. This is so good I’m bringing him a can home from Canada. I think he’ll love it. I really enjoyed it. It has a delicious citrus flavor along with enough hop bitterness to be an IPA but not overpowering.
I tasted the blueberry ale, which had enough blueberry flavor to give it that taste but not too much. And, finally, I tasted the stout which was delicious. Full disclosure, I had enjoyed the Beach Chair Lager at Rick’s Fish and Chips in St Peters before I got to PEI Brewing or I might have had another beer or a flight. I really liked the Beach Chair Lager and it went well with fish and chips. Rick’s fish and chips were the best we had on the island! And, my wife enjoyed the beer too. Win Win Win.
I also bought a can of Sir John A’s Honey Wheat Ale for my dear friend John B. I think he’ll get the connection. I didn’t try it but if it’s as good as their other beers it’s phenomenal.
Beyond the Pale Brewing, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
I stopped in at Beyond the Pale Brewing in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Not only did I try a couple of beers, I also enjoyed the Jerk Chicken Taco which was delicious. The Pink Fuzz Grapefruit Zest Wheat is a delicious beer. I love grapefruit and this did not disappoint without being too grapefruity. I also enjoyed The Rye Guy Rye IPA which was a nice pairing with the taco. I ended with The Darkness Oatmeal Stout. All great beers.
Dead Lizard Brewing Company, Orlando, FL
I stopped in at Dead Lizard Brewing Company in Orlando, Florida to try their beers. In order to get a broad tasting experience I went with a flight and the bartender helped me decide what to try. I was looking for more cinnamon raisin flavor in the Cinnamon Raisin Anole Bourbon Nut Brown. I was also looking for more lime in Key Lime Chameleon Cream-Sic-Ale. However, both of these are really tasty and I’d say somewhat unique. Nicely done. Trippy Pippy’s Red Dread Ale is a solid red ale. Komodo Koko Dragon Stout is perhaps my favorite of the four I tasted. Smooth and rich with chocolatey notes.
Beara Irish Brewing Company, Portsmouth, NH
I stopped in at Beara Irish Brewing Company in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and very much enjoyed the O’Sullivan Stout. It was rich, creamy, smooth and flavorful. Hints of coffee and chocolate added to the enjoyment.
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!
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.
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.
Beach Haus Brewery, Belmar, NJ
I stopped in at Beach Haus Brewery in Belmar, New Jersey. For being a beach brewery they have a real breadth of beer styles including “darker, heavier” styles I would most commonly associate with winter and cold weather. And, these styles are available year round. Parade Day Irish Coffee Stout is a delicious coffee stout. I was very impressed with the easy-drinking Grapefruit Radler. The Strawberry Radler was tasty but felt more like a wine cooler. The beer I enjoyed the most, and perhaps their best beer, was the High Side Blonde Ale. It was fresh, complex, easy drinking and delicious. I liked it so much that I bought a six-pack to bring home to enjoy later.
Irving Cliff Brewery, Honesdale, PA
I stopped in at Irving Cliff Brewery in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, while on vacation in the Poconos. The Crazy Train Double IPA was one of the best I’ve ever tasted. For a new, small brewery this is quite an accomplishment. The Horatio Allen Stout was rich and flavorful without being heavy. Also quite an accomplishment. I’d recommend this brewery to anyone visiting the Poconos.
I Stop For Hops 