Guest Whisperer Number Four: Beer In The Bay Area

Our fourth guest entry comes from one of the few people I know who truly live and breathe beer.  Michael Thompson has as much a passion for craft brewed beer as he does knowledge about it, which is saying a lot as he is one of the most well-versed beer drinkers I've ever known.  He was kind enough to share beer schnapps from the Caribbean with me--one of the most exciting and unexpected drinking moments I've had. 

For as great and grand as Michael's love of beer is, though, it might just be surpassed by his adoration for the Bay Area.  A San Francisco resident for over a decade, he's come to experience the local beer scene (not to mention visiting many of the NoCal breweries within driving distance!) in a way that only a die-hard craft beer fan can.  Learning the ins and outs of the area, he's developed a mental catalogue of the best suds in San Fran and the places where you can drink them.  In his piece below, he shares his top five breweries in the city, the best places to grab grub, and some insider tips that will help you to maximize your tasting and touring experience in the great city of San Francisco.

The Ultimate San Francisco Bay Area Beer Adventure

By Michael Thompson

With all due respect to Asheville, North Carolina and Portland, Oregon, the Number 1 city for beer in the United States is undoubtedly San Francisco, California. The craft beer movement was born here in The City back in 1971, when Fritz Maytag began bottling the iconic Anchor Steam Beer in the brewery’s original location in North Beach. Today, San Francisco is home to over a dozen breweries within her 49 square miles, with nearly a hundred other breweries, brewpubs and craft beer outlets within the boundaries of the greater Bay Area. While many of these microbreweries are incomparable, whether it be because of the quality or the diversity of their offerings, the following were chosen as the Top 5 in the Bay , not only for their fantastic beer and amazing food, but for creating the most truly memorable visitor experiences overall. I truly hope that you, fair reader, will come to San Francisco and experience the local craft beer scene for yourself on the Ultimate Bay Area Beer Adventure.

5.) Southern Pacific Brewing Company, 620 Treat Avenue (at 19^th Street), San Francisco. (415) 341-0152, www.southernpacificbrewing.com. Since opening their doors this past New Year’s Eve, Southern Pacific Brewing Company has quickly established itself as the place to “see and be seen” in the Mission District. And considering the almost daily influx of young, highly educated dot.com workers with seemingly endless disposable incomes into the neighborhood during the most recent tech boom, that accomplishment is no small feat. Southern Pacific Brewing occupies a stylish, 10,000 square foot former warehouse space right in the heart of the District, within walking distance of both the 16^th and 24^th Street BART stations along Mission Street. The indoor restaurant and bar area is bright and airy, and features plenty of space for sharing some suds with a group of your best drinking buddies. However, the real draw of Southern Pacific is one of the largest outdoor patios in The City, perfect for enjoying a pint or two on a beautiful San Francisco afternoon, as The Mission’s sunny microclimate produces the highest percentage of warm, fog-free days of any SF neighborhood. Head brewer Andy French’s Extra Pale Ale is the perfect beer to enjoy should you be lucky enough to score one of the highly-coveted patio seats on a sunny day, as this traditional California-style blonde ale is crisp and refreshing, with just the right amount of hop balance. Southern Pacific also produces both an excellent, biting Extra India Pale Ale, brewed with Columbus, Centennial, and Cascade hops and clocking in at  65 IBUs and 6.8% ABV, as well as a delicious Porter that presents pronounced chocolate and coffee notes, yet is muted enough that it remains highly drinkable even during warm (well, for San Francisco) weather. In addition to the 6 house beers and a rotating Seasonal selection, the bar features a rotating selection of guest handles from throughout Northern California, allowing you to sample brews from other regional heavyweights such as Speakeasy Brewing, Lagunitas, and Anderson Valley Brewing Company, to name but a few.  Southern Pacific also features a full menu, should the urge to nosh arise while enjoying the house-made beers. Highly recommended are the Crispy Brussels Sprouts with bacon, grilled onion jam and balsamic vinegar, which serve as the perfect accompaniment for either the Porter or the seasonal Black Lager. Southern Pacific Brewing Company is certainly a most welcome addition to the San Francisco beer scene, and the perfect place to start your beer tour of the Bay Area. Just get there early, before all the patio seats are gone!

Insider Tip: A quick, 5 minute walk from Southern Pacific Brewing Co. is another new Mission hotspot, Southpaw BBQ (2170 Mission Street, SF, (415) 934-9300, www.southpawbbq.com). Like Southern Pacific, Southpaw BBQ has been mobbed from the day they opened their doors earlier this year. In addition to a house-brewed Irish-style Dry Stout, Southpaw features over 15 guest handles, including North Coast Brewing’s Brother Thelonious, the author’s favorite beer in the world. They also feature a fantastic appetizer menu, including an amazing pulled goat smoked in the restaurant’s wood smoker and served with fry bread and a mango chutney, as well as the house specialty Natchez - potato chips topped with pulled pork, pimento béchamel and hot sauce. Like Southern Pacific, Southpaw BBQ is a can’t-miss spot in the Mission District.

4.) Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, 390 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay. (650) 728-BREW, www.hmbbrewingco.com. Located about 25 miles south of San Francisco on the beautiful Pacific Coast is Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, in the seaside resort town of Half Moon Bay. Here, you’ll find one of the Bay Area’s most cherished spots for enjoying a house-brewed craft beer under the golden California sun. Your reward for the short drive down Highway 1, with its truly breathtaking vistas over the Pacific Ocean , is a chair on the brewpub’s large, bayfront patio, featuring plenty of outside table seating as well as several communal firepits where you can enjoy a delicious pint with several of your newest friends as the calm coastal breezes wash over you. Hands down, Half Moon Bay Brewing’s most popular beer is their Maverick’s Amber Ale, which won a Bronze Medal at the 2012 World Beer Cup. This lovely Amber Ale maintains a mild sweetness with just enough hop character to preserve its drinkability, while clocking in at a relatively low 4.8% ABV so that you can safely make the return trip back to The City. Hefeweizen fans will cheer brewmaster Kirk Hillyard’s Sandy Beach Blonde Hefeweizen, a citrusy, wonderfully malty rendition of a classic unfiltered wheat ale with strong aromas of tropical banana on the nose and a clean finish. Also highly recommended is the Bootlegger’s Brown Ale, brewed on the heavier side of the traditional English style, with a creamy mouth-feel and toasted nutty flavor on the palate. Half Moon Bay Brewing also features a sampler of 4 oz. pours of all their house brews, which is the perfect way to try the full complement of their delicious beers. The restaurant features an excellent full menu, naturally which is heavy on seafood. Highly recommended for pairing with their brews are the Yucatan Quesadilla with Crab or the Smoked Salmon Tacos. For a more substantial meal, the Medallions a La Oscar are a fantastic choice, tender filet mignon medallions topped with fresh, local Dungeness crab and Hollandaise sauce. For a truly memorable day on your San Francisco beer adventure, rent yourself a convertible, follow the signs for the iconic Pacific Coast Highway south, and head down the beautiful Pacific Coast to Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for a great meal and some fantastic beer!

Insider Tip: For the truly driving averse, another great seaside option is Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant (1000 Great Highway, SF, (415) 386-8439, www.beachchalet.com). Located on the far western edge of San Francisco across the street from Ocean Beach, the brewery is easily accessible by the N-Judah streetcar line as well as the 38-Geary and 5-Fulton buses. Beach Chalet offers fantastic views of the Pacific Ocean paired with several solid house-brewed craft beers. Try their Riptide Red, a proper Red Ale crafted in the classic Irish style with a malty, caramel sweetness. For those foggy Outer Sunset days, recommended is their Fleishhacker Stout. A full menu is on offer, and the accompanying Park Chalet’s outdoor patio is a treat on those rare occasions where the sun peeks out from behind the clouds in this part of town.

3. Marin Brewing Company, 1809 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur. (415) 461-4677, www.marinbrewing.com. Located on the opposite side of the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco in Marin County, Marin Brewing Company is a Bay Area institution. Opened in 1989, Marin Brewing has served as one of the premier destinations for beer lovers all over California and beyond for more than 20 years. Situated a quick walk from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, Marin Brewing Company is easily accessible from downtown San Francisco via the Golden Gate Ferry. Indeed, the Ferry ride over from The City offers some of the most epic views of the San Francisco skyline including the TransAmerica Pyramid and Coit Tower, the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges,  Alcatraz Island, and the Marin headlands. As you soak in the scenery during the hour-long ferry ride, be sure to enjoy a locally-brewed Lagunitas IPA while sitting on the top deck with the salty waters of the Bay splashing playfully against your windbreaker. After docking, head over to the Larkspur Landing where an ice cold pint of Marin’s Mt. Tam Pale Ale awaits you at the pub. This approachable, reddish-golden hued ale is smooth on the palate with a mild hop bite and lingering finish. Also featured is Marin Brewing’s delectable San Quentin Breakout Stout, a big and bold Irish-style stout featuring a deep black color stemming from the generous use of roasted barley during brewing. Insanely rich and creamy, with loads of dark chocolate and espresso notes, Breakout Stout is best characterized as Guinness-on-Steroids. Head brewer Arne Johnson produces an impressive list of Seasonal and Specialty Beers, including their Blueberry Ale, Stinson Beach Peach Ale, and his highly sought-after Old Dipsea Barleywine, just to name a few. Both the Blueberry and Peach Ales are best enjoyed on Marin Brewing’s outdoor patio, where imbibers can enjoy their craft ales under the sunny, warm Marin County skies. Indoors, you’ll find a rollicking, sports bar-like atmosphere, as the pub is ground zero for the hordes of orange and black-clad Giants fans of Marin County to catch their favorite team’s games. Marin Brewing Company also features an extensive menu of beer bites, sandwiches, great burgers, and entrees, including some of the very best garlic fries you’ll find anywhere and their award winning chili made with pork beer sausage. And, while the last ferry departing Larkspur for The City leaves at a relatively early 5:30pm, you’ll be happy to know that Marin Brewing offers many of their craft beers in convenient 22oz. bottles for you to take back to your hotel. For some of the most spectacular views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate coupled with delicious craft beer and great food, a ferry ride over to Marin Brewing Company is a must on your San Francisco beer adventure!

Insider Tip: Each July, Marin Brewing Company and their sister brewery, Moylan’s (16 Rowland Way, Novato. (415) 898-HOPS, www.moylans.com) sponsor the annual BreastFest, a beer festival at San Francisco’s Fort Mason that serves as a Fundraiser for the Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic. Always a highlight of the SF summer beer festival season, over 60 microbreweries from Northern California and beyond offer unlimited pours of over 100 craft beers coupled with bites from dozens of local restaurants. This year’s festival took place on Saturday, July 14^th, and was the best one yet! For more info, visit http://thebreastfest.org/about.

2.) Russian River Brewing Company, 725 4^th Street, Santa Rosa. (707) 545-2337, www.russianriverbrewing.com. Of course, no visit to San Francisco would be complete with a day trip to Wine Country, located about an hour and fifteen minutes north of the City. And non-oenophiles need not fret, as the legendary Russian River Brewing Company lies amidst the rolling hills and beautiful vineyards of the Sonoma Wine Region in downtown Santa Rosa. Craft beer aficionados have no doubt sampled Russian River Brewing’s highly revered Pliny the Elder Double IPA, a super well-balanced India Pale Ale brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ and Simcoe hops that’s smooth as velvet and drinks way easier than its 8.0% ABV. Of course, you’ll find fresh Pliny on draught at the brewpub, along with the most epic beer sampler you’ll experience anywhere. Russian River Brewing offers an astounding sampler featuring all of their house-crafted beers, which can range upwards of 20 selections on a given afternoon. You’ll enjoy a bevy of styles, including Russian River’s Blind Pig IPA, a full-bodied but not overpowering India Pale Ale, Perdition, a Belgian-inspired Saison ale with mild spice characteristics and a lovely reddish-brown glow, and Consecration, a sour dark ale aged in Cabarnet Sauvignon barrels along with black currants. This barleywine-style ale packs a 10% ABV punch and hints at dark chocolate and ripe blackberry on the nose, followed by a lingering currant and cabarnet wine finish on the palate. As amazing as these beers are, brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo’s piece de resistance is his remarkable Supplication, a sour brown ale aged in Pinot Noir barrels along with Sour Black Cherries. This truly world-class lambic ale perfectly balances  puckering sour notes with a candy-like sweetness hinting at milk chocolate covered cherries (think Cella candies) on the tongue and the delicious flavor of an expensive pinot noir on the back end. Supplication is truly a beer to savor, and luckily is available in 22oz. pub bottles to take home from the brewery with you. Of course, you’ll work up quite an appetite sipping your way through the magnificent sampler, fortunately Russian River Brewing features a full Italian-inspired menu for your culinary enjoyment. Pair a pint of Russian River’s Redemption, a fruity blonde ale with hints of bananas and honey, with their ridiculously addictive Drew Bites, crispy bits of housemade pizza dough topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, wine country tomato sauce, pepperoni and spicy pepperoncinis. For a more substantial meal, go with their Meatball Sandwich paired with Russian River Porter, a full-bodied porter with strong espresso and dark chocolate notes and a gentle finish. Live music is on offer at the pub on Sundays, the perfect complement to that last pint before heading back over the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco. Surely you’ll concur, as you sip a glass of Supplication and puff on a fine cigar back in front of your hotel’s fireplace: there are few finer things in life than a day spent in Northern California’s Wine Country, especially than one spent at Russian River Brewing Company!

Insider Tip: A quick five minute walk from Russian River Brewing Co. is another solid brewpub, Third Street Aleworks (610 3^rd Street, Santa Rosa, (707) 523-3060, www.thirdstreealeworks.com). Recommended is the Puddle Jumper Pale Ale, a citrusy, mildly hoppy American Pale Ale that offers a perfect contrast to Russian River’s more generously hopped offerings. Third Street Aleworks features an exceptional full dinner menu, and serves some of the best burgers in Sonoma County. Try one with their awesome Roadhouse Chili and jalapenos alongside their Blarney Sisters Irish Dry Stout, a wonderfully roasty Irish stout with a light body yet full, chocolately flavor profile.

1.) 21^st Amendment, 563 2^nd Street, SF. (415) 369-0900, www.21st-amendment.com. Located in the bustling South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, just 3 blocks from AT&T Park, lies the best brewpub in the Bay Area, the world-renowned 21^st Amendment Brewery. This local institution is cherished by San Franciscans of all stripes for their outstanding beer, gourmet food, and laid-back, unpretentious atmosphere. The clientele at 21^st Amendment transcends San Francisco itself, for it is truly a place where everyone from tech workers in the nearby FiDi office buildings to the Mission District hipster crowd to families from Noe Valley and the Marina come together to enjoy a craft beer and great meal while catching a game on one of the many TVs scattered throughout the pub. Try and stop in while the Giants are on a road trip (during home games, the bar gets unbearably crowded and waits for tables can exceed 2 hours) and start with a pint of 21^st Amendment’s iconic Hell or High Watermelon Wheat, a classic white wheat ale brewed with loads of fresh watermelon for a mildly sweet, ultra refreshing taste and a crisp, clean finish. Cleanse your palate with 21^st A’s South Park Blonde, an exceptional, light golden ale similar to a fine European pilsner that’s eminently drinkable from the first sip to the last. Of course, no visit to 21^st Amendment is complete without sampling a Brew Free or Die! IPA, a 70 IBU traditional India Pale Ale brewed with 6 kinds of hops for an immediate hop bite that is quickly balanced by a soft, malty backbone. A personal favorite is the Back in Black IPA, an approachable American India Pale Ale that is brewed with rich, dark malts resulting in a deep black color and complex flavor profile with strong notes of cinnamon, clove and spice. The brewery features a rotating selection of special seasonal brews, culminating each February with Strong Beer Month, a month-long celebration of 5 super-high ABV beers including Lower de Boom Barleywine, a 10%+ ABV monster that’s fermented in bourbon oak barrels for omnipresent vanilla and bourbon whisky notes accompanied by a creamy mouthfeel and satisfying warming finish. Of course, man cannot live on beer alone, thankfully 21^st Amendment also features some of the best food in the City to pair with their outstanding beers. Must order starters include 21A’s sublime Wisconsin-style Cheese Curds, the ultimate beer snack, accompanied by your choice of marinara sauce or a chipotle aioli, or their fall-off-the-bone Baby Back Ribs, braised in their Back in Black IPA and served with a housemade cole slaw. 21^st Amendment also serves an amazing Roasted Jerk Chicken, a half bird brined until fork tender, and rubbed with their house jerk seasoning and served with their addictive steak fries. Pair either the ribs or chicken (or even better, both!) with their Oyster Point Oyster Stout, a velvety 4.9% stout brewed with local Hog Island Oyster shells for a creamy mouthfeel and smooth aftertaste. And once the super-friendly bartenders sadly announce last call, you can take solace in the fact that 21^st Amendment distributes 8 of their beers in cans to 14 states and counting coast to coast, so you can find your new favorite San Francisco craft beer no matter where you live. And, if your flight home from SFO International Airport happens to be on Virgin America, you can even enjoy a Brew Free Or Die! IPA on board! 21^st Amendment Brewery is truly a San Francisco landmark, and should undoubtedly the final stop on your Ultimate San Francisco Bay Area Beer Adventure. Hope to see you out here soon!

Insider Tip: 21^st Amendment hosts a quarterly Beer School, a delectable five course beer dinner paired with selections from both 21^st Amendment and other craft breweries from throughout the world. The dinners, which cost around $40 on average, offer an astounding value, pairing rare and exotic beers with delicious cuisine from 21^st Amendment’s Executive Chef Lorenzo. For more information on upcoming Beer Schools, follow 21^st Amendment on Twitter, @21stAmendment.

About the Author: Michael Thompson is a San Francisco resident and local beer lover. If you are planning a beer adventure to the Bay Area, feel free to e-mail him for suggestions on hotels, restaurants, and, most importantly, breweries and craft beer spots at mthompson313539@yahoo.com.

Stewart's Brewing Company Review

The final stop on my epic beer drinking adventure back in December of 2010 was Stewart's Brewing Company in Bear, Delaware.  Located on Route 1 less than ten minutes from the bridge into Delaware from the New Jersey Turnpike, Stewart's is in the perfect position either to begin your beer journey or to end it.  My first impression of the spot was that it was definitely a beer-forward location.  They displayed a list of their house brews prominently, which is always a good sign when looking for a great craft beer spot.

A family friendly brewpub, Stewart's seems to cater to a variety of crowds.  After I got settled in at the bar, I definitely got the sense that it was a popular local spot; I had the sense that I was the outsider but I never felt unwelcome.  A few of the patrons (along with the bartenders) were more than happy to give life to the static beer menu sitting before me.  Each offered his or her favorite and all seemed to be well-versed in craft beer terminology.  Instead of being told to order "the light colored one" or "the heavy one," I was directed towards the hoppier India Pale Ale and maltier, Delaware-renowned Highlander Stout.

One of the things that I loved immediately was the ability to get either a four or an eight beer sampler.  At five ounces per glass and ten dollars for the bigger sampler, you're talking about one hell of a deal.  Forty-ounces of high quality, craft beer for ten bucks.  If you're in New York City, you're lucky to get two twelve ounce bottles of Bud Light for that much!  Needless to say, I took advantage of the deal and ordered an eight beer sampler.  My wife and I enjoyed the beer so much that we decided to audible out of the quick visit and make it an extended one by ordering an additional small sampler to split and some awesome pub grub.  The food was reasonably priced as well and was delicious.  Great food and great beer for an unbeatable price?  Perfect!

Aside from the quality of the beer and the great value that it represented, what I loved most was the diversity in the offering.  Most brewpubs will have the ubiquitous red/amber ale and hefeweizen along with a porter and/or stout.  Stewart's had those and more, offering a variegated selection that included a Baltic Porter, a Scottish Ale, and even a Belgian Pale Ale.  I love and appreciate such experimentation on a brewer's part and hail whoever was at the helm of the mash tun at the time.

GRADING

Overall, I really enjoyed my visit to Stewart's.  The beer and food were very good, the variety of both were even better, and the prices just couldn't be beat.  Since I wasn't absolutely floored by any of the beers though (and beer is the key here), I'm forced to give it an A- based as much on the combination of things listed above as on the quality of the brews.  None of them were disappointing but at the same time, I wasn't thinking about any of them weeks later.  Still, the whole point of going to a brewpub is to enjoy solid beer and solid food and Stewart's offers both.  Great, great place--highly recommended.

BEERS SAMPLED

Stumblin' Monk Abbey Trippel (Belgian Pale Ale, B+)
Dark Helmet: The Imperial Schwarzbier (Baltic Porter, A-)
Loch Ness Monster (Scottish Ale, A-)
American Stout (American Stout, B+)
Rocky Mountain Pale Ale (American Pale Ale, B+)
Governor's Golden Ale (American Blonde Ale, B)
Irish Red Ale (Irish Red Ale, B)
Highlander Stout (English Stout, A-)
India Pale Ale (English India Pale Ale, B)
Whacky Wheat Ale (American Pale Wheat Ale, B)

For more information on Stewart's Brewing Company, please visit their official website here.

Cheers!

Matt

The 16 Mile Brewing Company Review

The awesome sign that welcomes you to the 16 Mile Brewing Co.

In December of 2010, I embarked upon my first true beer adventure.  Prior to that point, I had visited breweries as a matter of course (they were either on the way to or from other destinations that I had set up for a given road trip).  On that cold, fateful winter day, however, my wife and I took a drive down to Delaware with the sole purpose of visiting a bunch of breweries and brewpubs; it was travel for beer's sake.

Our first stop was in Georgetown, Delaware--a small, then-new brewery called 16 Mile Brewing Company.  I knew nothing about it other than its location and that they opened at 10:30 on Saturday (which made it a convenient place to begin my adventure).  Even with the GPS guiding me, I almost drove right past it; if not for the awesome sign (pictured above), I would've missed it entirely.  To be perfectly honest, I mistook it for an abandoned barn.

Pulling into the gravel driveway, I had second thoughts about heading inside.  Aside from the building's appearance, there was a lone, beat-up truck parked outside.  As I parked the car, I saw an old man with a dog standing in the doorway speaking with a younger fellow.  I thought that I had gone to the wrong place but then my wife reminded me of the sign that we had passed on the way in--the gorgeous, brand new sign.  I debated for a moment, weighing the appearance of the sign against everything else that I was seeing.  Ultimately, I figured that it couldn't hurt to head inside at least for a quick peek; I was glad I did.

As soon as I entered the building, I was blown away by the sophisticated (and immaculate) brewing set up that greeted me.  The conversation between the two men paused and the younger one asked me if I needed help.  I told him that I was looking for the 16 Mile Brewing Company.  The older man tipped his cap and exited with his dog while the other man informed me that I was in the right place.  Warm and affable, he led me over to the sampling station that he had set up in the corner behind the merchandise counter.  I found out that he was not simply an employee at the brewery but was one of the owners. 

Chad Campbell's passion for and knowledge about beer was surpassed only by his enthusiasm for sharing both with his customers.  I asked him to hold on a moment while I went out and got my wife and son from the car.  When they came in, he offered to let us place our things (including the diaper bag we carried) in his office and invited us to use the restrooms if we needed to change the baby's diaper.  Courteous with infectious charisma, Chad offered to take us on a tour of the facility.  It was during this portion of our time that I was truly impressed with and blown away by Chad's obvious love of beer.  He gave us his personal story about how he and his friend Brett came to decide to set up a brewery as well as a brief history of how they essentially built everything from the ground up.  Most impressive, though, was his reverence for and knowledge of local history. 

What sets 16 Mile Brewing apart from most other breweries is the importance that its founders place on the location.  Both Chad and Brett hail from the area and both believed that it could benefit from and sustain the perpetuation of a microbrewery.  Taking pride in the importance of Georgetown in terms of American history, the pair have chosen to name all of their beers in reference to one local aspect or another; in fact, the name "16 Mile" refers to the local area being "16 miles from anywhere" in Sussex County.  Their flagship Amber Sun and Old Court ales, for example, make note of the renowned sunsets near the Breakwater Lighthouse in Lewes Beach, Delaware and Sussex County's original courthouse that first came into service in 1791.

During my visit to the brewery, I was able to try both the aforementioned Amber Sun and Old Court, as well as two other stellar brews: Blues' Golden Ale and the Harvest Ale.  Each seemed to be better than the last and so I posed the question of distribution to Chad.  He informed me, much to my dismay, that he and Brett intended to keep the distribution local.  For one, their bottling capabilities were fairly limited (at the time) and for another they wanted to focus more on developing the local economy rather than risk stretching themselves too thin.  I thought that they were crazy to limit themselves in such a way because of how tremendous the beer was but I also respected the reasons that were proffered for so doing.  Thankfully, during recent trips to State Line Liquors in Elkton, Maryland, I began to see more 16 Mile beers appearing and, according to the brewery's website, 16 Mile is now being distributed to Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Central Pennsylvania.

Before I left, I made sure to pick up a mixed twelve pack of their beers.  I loved the sleek design of the bottles and was surprised to find that they were made of aluminum.  When I asked Chad about the reason behind having bottles that weren't made of glass, he told me that they protected the beer better and were more efficient overall.  (Since that time they have switched to a traditional twelve ounce, brown glass format of six packs.)

Hands down, 16 Mile is one of my all-time favorite breweries.  If you're able to make the trip out to Delaware, it is an absolute must-visit spot for any craft beer fan.  From the welcoming personalities of their staff to the importance of local history in nearly every aspect of their operations, the 16 Mile Brewing Company is an awesome and unique brewery.

GRADING

The 16 Mile Brewing company offers a free comprehensive tour experience, samples of their delicious beers, and the opportunity to learn about local history from genuinely enthusiastic craft beer fans and employees.  The combination of the beer, the location, and the people render 16 Mile a cut above the rest and so I am proud to give them my highest grade--an A+.  Simply put, you cannot miss out on visiting them in Delaware if you're an east coast craft beer enthusiast.

BEERS SAMPLED

Blues' Golden Ale
Old Court Ale
Amber Sun Ale
Harvest Ale

*Note: all four beers received a grade of A

For more information about the 16 Mile Brewing Company, please visit their official website here.

Cheers!

Matt

Kelpie: The Seaweed Beer

Ever since I met my wife Heather I have loved encountering anything related to the lovely purple perennial.  In fact, one of my most beloved possessions is a keychain that has heather buds encased within it; I've carried it around as a good luck charm of sorts since picking it up in Moncton, New Brunswick.  A few years ago I heard about a brew called "heather" ale; it instantly became my holy grail of beer. At the time, I was not as big of a collector as I am now and so my resources were quite limited.  I managed to track down a shop in Chevy Chase, Maryland that sold the Williams Brothers Brewing's exotic offering and was even considering driving down from New York just to pick it up.  In the end, I opted to make a mental note of its availability down near D.C. and to try to pick it up on a future trip.

As luck would have it, I was introduced to State Line Liquors last year and on my very first trip I was able to pick up my most sought after brew--one that made my Top 100 Beers of 2011 List at number 25.  It was also my first experience with Williams Brothers Brewing.  I loved their attention to detail in the packaging and their appreciation for Scottish brewing history and heritage as evidenced by the information they included on the label.  During a recent trip to my favorite beer spot, I just happened to see something that caught my eye: something called "Seaweed Ale."  I stopped in my tracks and picked up the bottle, recognizing immediately the Williams Brothers Brewing logo.  Given my excellent experience with their Heather Ale, I didn't hesitate in adding it to my cart.

Last week, I decided finally to pop open the bottle.  I hadn't read the description on the back and was thus expecting a lighter colored ale to come cascading into my tulip glass.  I was thusly surprised by both the dark, decadent liquid and the intoxicating aroma that wafted up as I poured.  I was anticipating a briny, salty scent and was pleasantly surprised when I was met instead with a pleasant coastal sea smell.  After taking the photograph that began this entry, I dove into the beer.  My initial impression was that it was simultaneously unique and inviting.  I think subconsciously I was expecting something like BrewDog's Islay incarnation of its Paradox line of stouts--an in-your-face punch of seawater, iodine, and peat smoke.  Instead, I was met with something that defied association.  The closest beer I could even think of that even remotely approached the flavor combination was the Porterhouse's tremendous Oyster Stout.  Both the Kelpie and the Oyster Stout have a certain undeniable source in the sea (the former being the seaweed, the latter the oysters) but also a deceptively creamy constitution.  The Oyster Stout, though, tasted unquestionably like a stout with roasted malts and a smooth, dark body overall.  The Kelpie, in contrast, had a lighter feel to it with a pronounced chocolate presence in both the nose, the taste, and the aftertaste.  After taking a second sip, I turned the bottle around and read the blurb on the back, which served to explain better just what it was I was picking up on:



"Prior to the 1850s many Scottish coastal alehouses brewed their own ales using local malted barley grown on fields fertilised with seaweed. We have recreated the unique flavour of this traditional ale with the inclusion of fresh seaweed, Bladder Rack, which is taken fresh from the water on the Argyll coast and 'mashed in' with the malted and roasted barley. Kelpie is a rich, chocolate ale with an aroma of fresh seabreeze and a distinctive malty texture."

I sipped at the beer graciously, nursing it over the course of a half an hour or so, wanting to savor what was clearly one of the most interesting and delicious beers of the year (which is saying a lot given all of the rare and exotic beers I've had so far in 2012!).  In fact, out of the 1,422 different beers that I have tried to date, only two represent the Scottish Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale style and both of those are from Williams Brothers Brewing.

I didn't hesitate in giving the Heather Ale a grade of A last year and I won't hesitate in doing the same for the Kelpie this year.  A must try beer from one of my favorite breweries.  If you're looking to expand your palette or to delve into something off the beaten path, pick up a bottle of Kelpie.

Grade: A

Cheers!

Matt

The Perfect Fourth Of July

For many Americans, the Fourth of July represents a day of celebration filled with fireworks and outdoor fun.  Until this year, I tended to spend my Fourths indoors as my neighborhood proved to be a little crazy when it came to the fireworks celebrations.  Since I was a kid, I would go out for a bit in the morning and early afternoon before returning home to hole up in the air conditioning while watching the Twilight Zone marathon and munching on a variety of snacks.  This year, though, I had reason to mix it up a bit: I was celebrating the holiday in my very own home.

The best way to spend the Fourth!

Outside of getting married and becoming a parent, there are few occasions as momentous as purchasing a home.  For me, the natural question once we were all settled in was: what beer should I have to celebrate?  Since we closed in June and I didn't want to wait until the Fourth to toast our big purchase, I opened a bottle of §ucaba that I had picked up earlier in the year.  After the move was complete, I popped the cork on a very special bottle of Lost Abbey's Cuvee de Tomme...but still it didn't feel like the celebration was appropriate enough.

Then came the Fourth.

As is typical of July in the Northeast, the day was filled with sunshine and heat.  It was also filled with something else, however: anticipation.  I realized that, for the first time, I could live one of the American dreams by grilling and drinking beer in my own yard.  I fired up the beast and slapped down some burgers and hot dogs all the while contemplating just what I should drink to complete the scene.  I eyed a number of great beers but all of them seemed to be too much.  Some were too heavy, some too rare.  Then my eyes alit upon the perfect brew for the occasion: 21st Amendment's Live Free Or Die IPA.

In a moment of inspiration, I realized that this beer was tailor-made for my purposes that day.  For one, a sweet, deliciously hoppy IPA would certainly quench my summer thirst and would prove to be a great culinary accompaniment to the spicy cheeses I was using with my burgers.  For another, it embodied the spirit of the holiday.  After all, the Fourth of July commemorates both the birth and declaration of independence of the United States.  The imperative of "Brew Free Or Die!" seemed to be the perfect thematic exclamation, enhanced further by the awesome artwork on the can.

Lincoln

layin' down the law!

All in all, the food was great, the beer was even better, and the location and company I was keeping just couldn't be beat.  Hands down, it was the perfect Fourth of July!