Brewstone Restaurant and Tap Room

Dave and I went to Brewstone Beer Company, which is where John Harvard's used to be located in Monroeville. (John Harvard's left without any notice at least a few years ago, it was a really good restaurant!)

It opened this weekend and they had a limited menu to get the cooks used to the dishes. The limited menu was actually good- I'm pretty picky and I had a few things to choose from.

I would have taken some pictures but all I had was my phone and it has been screwing up. When I do take pictures, it even screws up old pictures on the card. I need a new phone.

I ordered meatball sliders and Dave ordered chicken tacos. They were $10 each, which in my opinion is a bit pricey for lunch, but they were both very good. I've never had meatball sliders before. These had one big meatball, with mozzarella cheese, a big slice of pepperoni for a little kick, and some leaf/lettuce type thing on top. The bread was a little bigger than the meatball so I didn't eat all of the bread for any of the sliders, just until I was out of meatball. They were very good though.

Dave said that his chicken tacos were very good- they had some seasoning that was apparently pretty tasty. (I didn't try any of his meal although I gave him one of my sliders and he said that was really good, too.) Both of our meals came with french fries, which were thinner than most places and also good.

They have a good list of craft beers and I think they are all $4 for a draft beer (craft, not sure about the more plain beers because we didn't order any). They had a good number of local beer as well, which was really nice.

I went in the bathroom and wasn't crazy about it. Everything in the bathroom is black, including the toilets themselves. It made the place feel kind of weird and it was very dark. I actually thought I locked myself in the stall and was going to have to call for help. The door lock twisted really weirdly and it was hard to move. Eventually I got it though.

I can't wait until we can go back again and order from the full menu. I also tried looking for a picture online but didn't find one, so no pictures in this post. Sorry!

Harpoon Brewery

I don't have many pictures of Harpoon Brewery because I wasn't thinking about taking any. But I wanted to make a separate post because we really liked this brewery and would recommend it again. We were here on a Thursday and they only offer tours on weekends, so we didn't go on an actual tour. But during the week they offer tastings for an hour twice a day. We went to the first tasting, and they had about 20 beers on tap. A number of the beers were beer that you can't get anywhere else. Maybe Dave can comment here and help me remember what they were. The one I distinctly remember is the Ginger Wheat, which was made once and will not be made again. The Ginger Wheat was part of the Harpoon 100 Barrel Series, Session 42.

Should have asked Dave to display that tasting glass!

Also, with this tasting, they pretty much just kept giving you samples for the entire hour. They rang a bell when 5 minutes were left for "last call" and with the higher gravity beer (like Leviathan series beers) they didn't fill the glass the entire way but you could get more than one sample.

We ended up buying some Leviathan beers to take home. (Thanks, Beth and Heather, for driving them back to Pittsburgh since we were flying!)

Sam Adams Brewery

I finally downloaded some of the pictures from our phones.

When we went to Boston, Dave and I visited Sam Adams Brewery. They give a good tour of the facility (most of their beer is brewed in Ohio and PA though so it's pretty small there) and afterwards had beer tasting. They fill up pitchers, pass them out, and you finish up the pitchers. They gave us three samples: Boston Lager, Summer Ale (love Summer Ale), and one of their IPAs. I think it was Whitewater IPA...  We've sampled a lot of their beer already during a single flight batch night at Hough's. Some pretty good beer! My favorite that I've had so far is their Imperial White.

Utopias is a very good beer that tastes more like a liquor. It comes out in limited release and bottles cost over $150. It's not carbonated, definitely ageable, and the description I linked to is going to do a better job than I will.

They gave us hops, told us to crush them in our hands and then smell our hands. (But said do not eat these!)

In the tasting room. We bought the three beers (bottles) sitting on the bar. You can only get them in Boston, I think. And that's Summer Ale in my hand. We got to keep those taster glasses, too!

Magic Hat Brewery

I don't have pictures of Sam Adams and Harpoon, the other two breweries we visited in Boston. If I do find some (maybe on one of our cell phones) I'll post them later.

We went to three breweries on our trip: Sam Adams, Harpoon (Boston location) and Magic Hat. Circus Boy, a hefeweizen, is one of my favorite beers. Magic Hat gives you 4 samples of any of the beer they have on tap. Each sample is 2 oz. They had a few that were only available there. Too bad growlers don't travel on a plane well!

They didn't have tours the day we were there but still allowed a self guided tour where you could see the bottle line. That's the first time I've seen a bottle line running and it was mesmerizing to watch. I stared at it just watching for at least 5 minutes.

I also bought too many shirts. This is my favorite brewery visit so far- love the beers and just loved the gift shop as well (and the self guided tour we were able to do).

The tower at the entrance.  I bought a shirt with this on it.

Do I need to add to the sign here? (The machine that applies the stickers)

The machine that fills the bottles with beer

Dave, Aunt Diane, and Steve

I hope my aunt doesn't mind I posted this one. There are two others, each with one of us sticking our tongues out. Didn't get a serious picture together.  Haha!

Dave in front of the bottle filler

Steve realized we could walk up the tower

So Dave and I followed! And the whole tower rocked up there!

Troegs

This weekend we went to Hershey (just Saturday/Saturday night/drive home Sunday). Troeg's now offers tours so we made reservations for that. They said the tour included a tasting glass- we were hoping it was the little ones but they gave us a pint glass instead. We were really hoping for the little ones. It was still fun though and we got to try some good beer. Of course!

This is the taster glass we were hoping to get

Sam Adams Single Batch Flight Night

Pittsburgh had the first annual Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week this year. We tried to take advantage of this and went to some of the events throughout the week. We also found a new bar somewhat near our house that has craft beers. We're going to have to check it out every so often now that we know where it is.

One of the events we went to was the Sam Adams Single Batch Flight Night.  It was at Hough's and they had 18 beers on draft available for the night.  We were able to sample all 18 and they also provided some food- appetizer style that was pretty good.  The sample glasses were smaller but they filled them up, and I also ended up ordering a full glass of beer that was included towards the end of the night.

Talking to Bob Cannon.  Photo courtesy of Chad Julkowski

This is a list of the beers that were available:
Samuel Adams Imperial White
Samuel Adams Double Bock
Samuel Adams Belgian Session
Samuel Adams New World
Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen
Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA
Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat
Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock
Avery Orchard Crisp Cider
Samuel Adams Griffin's Bow
Samuel Adams Cinder Bock
Samuel Adams Dark Depths
Samuel Adams East-West Kolsch
Samuel Adams Black and Brew Coffee Stout
Samuel Adams Oak Aged Porter
Samuel Adams Boston Lager
Samuel Adams Summer Ale
Samuel Adams Tasman Red

The tap selection at Hough's.  The entire top row is Sam Adams.

Waiting for the tasting to start

These are the glasses the samples were poured in.  And they filled them all the way!

With Bob Cannon

With the glass of beer I ordered (Imperial White)

Delaware Breweries

Dave and I visited a few other breweries in Delaware that were closer to Rehoboth Beach.

The first one was 16 Mile Brewing, located in Georgetown, DE.  It was fairly close to Dogfish Head and someone in the Dogfish Head tour had just gone on a tour at 16 mile and recommended it.  I had been eyeing it up anyways.  We checked and they closed at 5, so we figured we'd try to make it before they closed.  We got there right at 4:30.  The employees were really nice and didn't mind us sampling even though we were the only ones there.

We sampled:

Amber Sun Ale

Old Court Ale

Blues Golden Ale

Inlet India Pale Ale

Responders Ale

Harvest Ale

DE Oyster Stout

The beers were pretty good and we got a case with 4 six packs of Amber Sun, Old Court, Blues Golden, and Inlet India Pale Ales.  Dave is going to be the one drinking the Old Court Ale- that coffee taste again!  We also filled a growler with Inlet India Pale Ale.

After that we headed to Delmar, DE to Evolution Brewing.  They are actually moving from their current location to a brewery/restaurant and we saw the "old" location just before the move.  Unfortunately they weren't selling bottles, but we did fill a growler.

For $5 you get a sample, which Dave and I split and these were the beers available:
Primal Pale Ale
Exile ESB
Lucky 7 Porter
Lot No 3 India Pale Ale
Rise Up Stout
Then we each got a beer- I got the Primal Pale Ale and I think Dave got the Rise Up Stout.

I can't remember which beer we got in the growler- either Primal Pale Ale or Lot No 3 India Pale Ale.  We also bought a pint glass because I liked the design a lot- both the logo and the hops behind it.

Dogfish Head Brewery

The Dogfish Head Brewery is actually located in Milton, DE- a short drive from Rehoboth Beach.  Dogfish Head actually started at the Brewpub but expanded into the building in Milton.

We made reservations for a tour (which was free but reservations were a must because it's so popular, at least partly because of the show on Discovery Channel, Brewmasters).  The actual brewery looks like it might be a fun place to work.  I'm sure it's decent hours, but while we were there, some employees were taking a break and playing bocce outside.

When you drive up, you see the big treehouse outside the brewery.  Too bad you can't actually climb up in it but it's locked and I'm guessing it would be a big liability problem.

The tree house outside the brewery

They gave 4 samples along with the tour and limited you to 4.  You can't buy any additional beer to sample/drink there, although they definitely sell bottles and cases, as well as clothing and other items.  (Dave and I spent WAY too much money there but we also figured that's why we went!)

The samples we had were:
Saison du BUFF (also tasted at the brewpub- the pickle beer)
Chateau Jiahu
Sah Tea
120 minute IPA

Our tour actually kicked the keg of 120 minute IPA so I'm glad we didn't go on a later one.  That's not even a seasonal brew and pretty tasty.

The tour itself was pretty good, here are some pictures from that.

On our way in

With the tour guide in the background, she was awesome!

Aren't the safety glasses so beautiful?

Dave, I think it will take more than that to push it over!

Employees playing bocce

Rehoboth Beach - Dogfish Head Brewpub

There was a Bed and Breakfast deal on Google Offers, so a few months ago we bought it and made reservations for last weekend in Rehoboth Beach.

We've always wanted to visit Dogfish Head, and of course getting away to the beach is good at any time. Rehoboth Beach is about a 7 hour drive from Pittsburgh, though, so it isn't worth just going Saturday/Sunday.  We took Friday off, drove up Friday, and stayed both Saturday and Sunday nights.

It wasn't very long but it was relaxing.  The Bed and Breakfast was two blocks from the beach, and in walking distance to the Dogfish Head Brewpub.

The first night we got there, we immediately headed to the Brewpub and proceeded to sample a bunch of beers.  The ones we tried were:
Punjabi Export*
Mahopma*
Big as Tripel*
Lil' Hoppy*
Saison du BUFF
Bricolage*
Noble Rot
Life & Limb 2009
Cask 75 Minute IPA
Red and White
*brewpub exclusive, can't sample anywhere else or buy in bottles

They also had 90 Minute IPA with extra hops (I don't know the terminology).  They run it through extra hops before serving it, and that's only available on Fridays so Dave took advantage and had 2 of those.

My favorite beer out of all of those was Noble Rot.  They weren't selling bottles in Delaware (didn't have any left) but luckily we already had a bottle at home, so I can't wait to drink that now.  It tasted like a combination of beer and wine.  I also like Lil' Hoppy and Big as Tripel.  The only one I didn't like at all was Punjabi Export because it had a distinct coffee taste.  I don't think I'll ever like the stouts that have even a hint of coffee.

Saison du BUFF is a collaboration with Stone and Victory.  I actually had it a few days before this trip in Pittsburgh.  It is flavored with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.  (I sang/hummed part of Scarborough Fair.)  To me it tastes like you are drinking a pickle.

Dogfish Head also makes their own liquors.  The server brought me a sample of the peanut butter infused vodka, which was just amazing.  It smelled like pure peanut butter (which I LOVE).  I didn't want to drink it because I kept smelling it.  When I did, though, wow- you knew it was liquor!  I ended up getting a martini with both peanut butter and chocolate infused vodkas, and it was amazing.

Oh and the food was also pretty good too! ;)

Hershey

This weekend we went to Hershey for a night with some really good friends.  The main purpose of the trip was to go to Troeg's Brewery.  Dave and I went there in November of last year and we really like the scratch beers, which are only available at the brewery.

We went up Saturday and headed straight to the brewery.  They had two scratch beers (info from their web site):
SCRATCH 57-2012 – WEIZENBOCK  RELEASE DATE: 2/7/12

Scratch #57 is brewed with two cocoa powder varieties and two kinds of berries to create a tart twist on a classic German style. Unfiltered and carbonated to a near-champagne finish, the beer is 7.9% ABV. 

Fermented in our open-top fermentation room, the yeast gives hints of pepper and clove designed to complement the fruit flavors.  The cocoa powders add bitterness and some mouthfeel; the boysenberries and raspberries provide a tart, dry finish and the vanilla yields a subtle, sweet finish to the beer.

TRIPLE MANGO IPA RELEASE DATE: 2/23/12 

Scratch #58 is collaboration between Tröegs brewers along with Troy Gadbury and Brad Moyer, winners of a homebrew contest sponsored by Al’s of Hampden. This Triple Mango IPA is bold, brazen and over-the-top.

Unfiltered and highly-carbonated (for killer hop burps), Scratch 58 measures in at 125 IBU’s and 10.8% ABV. With a spicy mango nose and an intense overripe grapefruit flavor, we recommend this beer as the grand finale to your day as it overwhelms even the most-hoppy beers.

BARLEY:Maris Otter, Crystal, Carafoam Maris Otter provides an earthy flavor with strong hints of biscuit and is the predominant barley taste in this beer.

HOPS BOIL: Columbus, Simcoe, Nugget, Cascade?HOPBACK: Simcoe, Columbus

DRY HOP: Columbus, Cascade Columbus dry-hopping creates a strong herbaceous flavor, while the entire hop blend screams grapefruit with pine and floral accents.

YEAST:House Ale Yeast 

JUJU:Wildflower Honey, Cane Sugar, Alphonso Mangoes Alphonso Mangoes create a luscious aroma and spicy complement to Columbus and Simcoe hops. Honey and cane sugar provide additional fermentable sugar for this high ABV brew.

I'm not crazy about chocolate in beers- it tends to taste a little like coffee to me.  So the Weizenbock was ok but not fabulous.  I did like the Triple Mango IPA but it wasn't available for growler fills.  And it was pretty high in alcoholic content.

They also had Nugget Nectar, which was one of the main reasons Dave wanted to go there.  Unfortunately, they were already sold out of bottles but we can also buy that in the Pittsburgh area (although I think it can be hard to get).

After Troeg's we headed to the outlets and did some shopping.  

After checking into our hotel we went to Bricker's, a pizza place.  I ate Old World Pizza, which I'd never heard of, and thought was really good!  They flip the sauce and cheese (so the cheese is on the crust and then sauce on top) and used provolone instead of mozzerella cheese.  We weren't ready to crash yet so we headed to the bar at What If after that.  I was pretty impressed with the bartender- he remembered all of our names and seemed to know what he was doing.  We joked we were going to switch around so he'd forget who was who, and when we paid the bill he said our names, pointing out of order, and got it right.  Guess we wouldn't have fooled him by changing seats!

Our biggest takeaway from the trip, though?  We brought a bunch of empty growlers and were planning on bringing back some good beer to Pittsburgh.  But none of us checked the hours for the tasting room and didn't realize it doesn't open on Sundays until we were sitting outside the brewery on Sunday.  Oops!  We were disappointed, but it's not really that long of a trip from Pittsburgh so we'll just have to go back.

Southern Tier Brewing

My parents and sister went to visit my other sister around Christmas time, and with our busy schedules (on both sides, where do you think I learned this busyness from???) we didn't get a chance to have our own Christmas until this past weekend.

We planned it in advance, and wouldn't you figure- we get one of our only snowstorms.  Looking out the window in the morning, the plow hadn't gotten to our road yet (which is pretty typical actual) and it was still snowing and projected to snow the entire day.  I actually considered postponing but it's already February and we still haven't even exchanged Christmas presents?  Who knows when we'd get together next.

Driving North on 79.  Yes, this is a 4 lane highway!

So the snow was coming down as we were driving- we were in the middle of the storm.  It actually wasn't a bad storm except that the road crews couldn't really keep up with it.  Total inches it wasn't too bad, we just happened to be driving in the middle of it.

And it got worse as we kept going...  I kept telling Dave that hopefully the roads would be better once we crossed into NY.  They tend to do a much better job of clearing the roads (one of the few advantages of the higher taxes).  But for whatever reason, the roads weren't really much better in NY than they were in PA.

After the somewhat stressful drive (Thanks, Dave, for driving it- I never would have gone and done that by myself.) we met my parents in Jamestown at a restaurant called Taco Hut.  It was Mexican and was pretty decent.  We exchanged presents there and I shared a chimichanga with my mom. That was perfect- not too much to eat at all.

Then we headed to Lakewood to Southern Tier Brewing.  Dave and I love this brewery.  We've been here several times, mostly on the way to either Buffalo or my parents' house.

Dave and my parents went on the tour (which is some good beer tasting and you can keep the glass- it's $8 a person).  I stayed with Allison in the bar area since you aren't even allowed to go back for the tour if you're under 21.  It was nice to catch up with her a little bit and we had some pub chips with homemade french onion dip.  Yummy!  They don't really have food there, just pulled pork sandwiches.

See any family resemblance?

I don't have any pictures of it but my mom also made my favorite cake (angel food with my grandma's frosting recipe) and we had that with beer.  It was an, er, interesting combination.  But I love both beer and cake so it's all good.