Beermentor’s Neighborhood: Urban Chestnut Brewery!

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Stumblingpiper

On Wednesday I was supposed to begin my Mandolin Class at the Folk School in St Louis. Unfortunately the class didn’t make — I didn’t find out until I went for the class. Needless to say, I was not very happy! However, I was cheered up immediately when I realized Urban Chestnut was right there near the school–and only 2.5 miles from my place!

A short 10-minute drive lands me right in the middle of “an unconventional-minded yet tradition-oriented brewer of craft beer.” They like to call their unique brewing philosophy Beer Divergency—a ‘new world meets old world’ brewing approach wherein UCBC contributes to the ‘revolution’ of craft beer with artisanal creations of modern American beers, and pays ‘reverence’ to the heritage of beer with classically-crafted offerings of timeless European beer styles.” (from the Urban Chestnut Webpage).

I have to agree with them wholeheartedly — their efforts are really impressive. I had their sampler of four beers: 1) Hopfen, 2) Urban Blacktop, 3) STLIPA, and 4) (not Wolpertinger … they were out) Stammtisch.

As beer 24 on day 24, STLIPA is a double (or Imperial) IPA. Really nice beer, but as with most of their beers, don’t expect it to adhere to any style — they make their beers the way they want to and I’m all for that. I do like the mix of strange concoctions and classic beers — I will be frequenting this place a little more often!

Oh, here are a couple of more pictures of the brewery. They’ve got a very nice beer garden — inviting, large — you can definitely celebrate a big party at this place!

See you in my Neighborhood soon!

(Oh, and check out their little growlers … pretty neat)

Beer Mentor

Beer 23/Day 23: Houblon Chouffe!

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Stumblingpiper

Tuesday I was at my local wateringhole (it will be featured soon in Beermentor’s Neighborhood) — Tripel Brasserie. Actually, this is where I am just about every Tuesday. Haha. This week I sampled the Houblon Chouffe … a “double IPA” from La Chouffe (Belgian Brewery)..

The combination of hop aroma/flavor matched with an excellent yeast character makes this a wonderful beer! Highly recommend the Tulip glass — or even a chalice similar to the Orval glass. You really want that nose to be in front (haha). Let it warm slightly and the flavors will really burst from it.

Enjoy, Beer Mentor

365 Beers … A rollup (Beers 9 to 21)!

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Stumblingpiper

You are probably thinking, because of my silence, I didn’t make it a week. You would be wrong! I’m still going strong on the beer drinking … just not as strong on the blogging. haha. I’ve decided to put the rollup in here to catch up.

October 15th/Beer 9 — My Birthday Beer! Celebrating 50 years. Yes. What was it you say? Well I was in Portugal, so the pickings were slim. I went with the Sagres Preta … it was like a Stout … not bad actually. A beer made in Portugal. You will see this trend over the next couple of days …

October 16th/Beer 10 – Sagres Bohemia – A strong dark lager beer, this one is ok too. Always good to try something … once.

October 17th/Beer 11 – Surprise! Another Sagres. This time it is just the standard lager. Again … I guess I could drink these if I had to–I mean, it’s a lager. I’m over those.

October 18th/Beer 12 – Flensburger Weizen. Yes I had a German Beer in Portugal. We were out at this really cool bar/restaurant (Cruzes Credo Cafe) and they had it. I took it! It was good, as I expected.

October 19th/Beer 13 – Super Bock Stout. Another Portuguese beer … A Dark Lager. I slipped this one in under the wire … I think I had it around 2330 … whew. When your time is short, you take what you can get!

October 20th/Beer 14 – Goose Island 312. This was a nice American Wheat beer–don’t get me started about that style. Had it at O’Hare Airport on my way back home from Portugal. It’s nice to find a decent beer in the middle of your travels. I’d drink this one again!

October 21st/Beer 15 – Shiner Bock. I had to roll back to a standard beer at the house. Sometimes you’ve got to do that! I keep Shiner on hand (since I am from Texas). It’s a good fall back beer when you need a little something to whet your whistle.

October 22nd/Beer 16 – Southern Tier Cuvee (Series #3). I was celebrating my birthday at my favorite local watering hole (Tripel Brasserie). This was just one of the four I brought in to try … I usually love Southern Tier … this one was a little sweeter than I anticipated.

October 23rd/Beer 17 – Pabst Blue Ribbon. Yep. No picture of this one … I was at a local dive bar watching a really interesting “Zombie” Band called “Dead Dick Hammer.” Yeah. I had to drink a PBR. LOL.

October 24th/Beer 18 – Southern Tier IPA. Went to another standby at the House. I really like the Southern Tier beers and this one was no different. Really good IPA. Keep it up guys!

October 25th/Beer 19 – Urban Chestnut Dorfbier. This Urban Chestnut place is making some excellent beers–many in the German-style. Really like their stuff–the Dorf Bier is quite quaffable. Good choice for a Friday.

October 26th/Beer 20 – Stone Pale Ale. Yep. Another one I had in the fridge. Woo Hoo. I need a trip out to the Stone Brewery. Putting it on my calendar. Very nice Pale Ale.

October 27th/Beer 21 – Schlafly Pumpkin Ale. Finishing up this roll-up with a very nice seasonal Beer from Schlafly. They, too, make some good quality beers and this is no exception. I think it is ranked in the top 5 for Pumpkin Beers in the USA.

Well, that captures beers 9 – 21. I’m three weeks in to this adventure. I’ll try not to let it stack up again. I will also start doing a “mini-judging” on each of the beers to keep my practice up (and the information will be useful to you as well. haha).

Enjoy! Beer Mentor

Day 6/Beer 6: Schlafly Brown Ale (Can Session)

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Stumblingpiper

Whew! Almost missed this one! I was at a friend’s wedding yesterday and all they had was Champagne and Wine. What were they thinking?!?! haha. I left early to make it home soon enough to get my “daily-beer” on!

Fortunately, in my fridge, I have a nice selection. One of which is the Schlafly Brown Ale.

A very solid Brown — nice color, excellent aroma, and the flavor made this 12 oz can an easy drinker. A good night cap for the evening. Thanks Schlafly!

Beer Mentor

Beer 3/Day 3: Schlafly’s Tripel! Woo Hoo!

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Stumblingpiper

Stopped in at my local neighborhood Belgian Beer Bar … Tripel Brasserie. This is basically my watering hole. Let me know if you want to meet and have a brew there!

The beer selection is excellent, the staff is great, and the atmosphere is wonderful. Oh … the food is excellent too.

But on to the Beer! Today I had a nice Schlafly … This local (regional) brewery is making very good beer — as a matter of fact, their Pumpkin Beer is near the top of the list for best Pumpkin Beers in 2013! (Great to see Selin’s Grove and Southern Tier in the top 10 … those guys are awesome!)

Since I was at a Belgian-style restaurant I had the Tripel from Schlafly.

A nice touch at Tripel … as far as I know there are only a couple of places you can get the Tripel on tap and they have it. This is a very good beer … right in style, goes down smooth … love the crisp hoppy flavor in this one. The right spicy yeast too … very nice!

Recommend a trip to Tripel … you won’t be disappointed!

Beer Mentor

Summary Update #3: All About Beers Growler List

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Stumblingpiper

Not sure where my mind has been the last year … but it’s time for another update on my Growler list work. As a reminder, this list is my effort to complete the All About Beer Magazine’s “Growler List.” 125 best places in the world to have a beer.

From the summary — see my earlier post for explanation:

Total (actual) places visited: 50. I visited 11 places since my last post — my brothers and my best friend joined me in Europe for a 2 week swing (that post will come soon!). Those I’ve visited since my last post:

3) U Fleku (Prague, Czech Rep)

6) Augustiner Keller (Munich, Germany)

28) Zum Uerige (Dusseldorf, Germany)

37) Atelier am Dom (Cologne, Germany)

41) Blues Bar (Stone Town, Zanzibar)
[This place was closed so I substituted Mercury’s …
you can see the old Blues Bar from the Deck]

61) Krcma (Ceske Krumlov, Czech Rep)

68) Gösser Bierklinik (Vienna, Austria)

73) Schlenkerla Brewery Tavern (Bamberg, Germany)

77) Die Weisse (Salzburg, Austria)

78) Halve Maan Brewery (Bruges, Belgium)

90. Cantillon Brewery and Gueuze Museum (Brussels, Belgium)

Place substitutions: 5

Substituting for a place no longer open: 2

That gives me a total of 50 “visited.” Here’s the complete list of places I’ve visited …

1. Great American Beer Festival, Denver, CO (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
2. The Grand Place, Brussells, Belgium (2010) (2012)
3. U Fleku, Prague, Czech Republic (2012)
5. Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany (1998) (2012)
6. Augustiner Keller, Munich, Germany (2012)
7. Abbaye de Notre-Dame d’Orval, Orval, Belgium (2009) (2012)
11. Hofbrauhaus, Munich, Germany (1997, 1998, 2001, 2012)
12. The Brickskeller (now Bier Baron), Washington, DC (2005, 2011)
14. The Market Porter, Stoney Street, London, England (2010)
15. Cat’s Eye Pub, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD (2011)
16. Camden Yards (Baltimore) [Substitute] (2008, 2009)
19. Glengarry Highland Games Beer Tent (Maxville, Ontario) (2003, 2011) [Substitute]
22. German Bundesliga (Kaiserslautern) (1997) [Substitute]
25. World Beer Festival, Durham/Raleigh, NC (2011)
28. Zum Uerige, Dusseldorf, Germany (2012)
30. The Olde Mitre Tavern, Ely Court, Hatton Garden, London, England (2010)
31. Cowboys/Redskins, FedEx Field Sky Box (DC) (2009)
33. The Wynkoop Brewery, Denver, CO (2011)
37. Atelier am Dom, Cologne, Germany (2012)
39. The Flying Saucer, NC, SC, TN, AR and TX (2010, 2013)
41. Blues Bar, Stone Town, Zanzibar (closed) [sub: mercury’s] (2013)
44. Tailgating Frankfurt Galaxy NFL Europe Game (1996, 1997)
45. Selin’s Grove Brewing, Selinsgrove, PA (2010)
48. The Blue Tusk, Syracuse, NY (2010)
51. The White Horse Pub, Parsons Green, London, England (2010)
54. Falling Rock Tap House, Denver, CO (2011)
57. Andechs Monastery, Andechs, Germany (2010) (2012)
61. Krcma, Ceske Krumlov, Czech Republic (2012)
66. Delerium Café, Brussels, Belgium (2010) (2012)
68. Gösser Bierklinik, Vienna, Austria (2012)
71. Brewer’s Art, Baltimore, MD (2010)
73. Schlenkerla Brewery Tavern, Bamberg, Germany (2012)
77. Die Weisse, Salzburg, Austria (2012)
78. Halve Maan Brewery, Bruges, Belgium (2012)
80. Le Bier Circus, Brussels, Belgium (2010) (2012)
82. Irseer Klosterbrauerei, Irsee, Germany (2010) (2012)
90. Cantillon Brewery and Gueuze Museum, Belgium (2012)
91. Dogfish Head Ale House, Rehoboth Beach, DE (2010)
92. Belgo Centraal, London, England (2010)
97. Clark’s Ale House, Syracuse, NY (2010)
103. Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, Grill & Brewery, Key West, FL (2007)
104. Rose & Crown Pub, Epcot Center, Orlando, FL (2006)
106. Brick Store Pub, Decatur, GA (2011)
110. The Gingerman, Austin, TX (2010)
114. The Dubliner, Washington, DC (2010)
118. Top of the Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Chapel Hill, NC (2011)
121. Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington, DC (2010)
122. 5 Seasons Brewing, Atlanta, GA (2011)
123. Tim Schafer’s at Lake Norman, Sherrills Ford, NC
[CLOSED] Sub–In de Vrede (Belgium) (2010, 2012)
124. Stumbling Monk, Seattle. WA (2011)

More to come! Beer Mentor

#42: Gösser Bierklinik (68)

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Stumblingpiper

Third entry in the “Catch Up” series. Continuation of the report on our two-week European Beer Excursion we titled The Gypsy Beer Experience. This link will take you to a copy of the Itinerary:The Gypsy Beer Experience

This is #4 of 18 places on the All About Beer Magazine’s Growler List we visited. The first three were: 1) Oktoberfest (#5), 2) Hofbrau Haus (#11), and 3) Die Weisse.

This is #68 on All About Beers Growler list: Goesser Bierklinik. You can’t go wrong with a place that’s been doing the same thing since 1683. haha. This was actually our last stop of the day … we started in Munich, drove through Salzburg (visited Die Weisse), visited Melk Abbey (stunning), and then attended the Mozart Concert at the Music Hall in Vienna. It only made sense to us that we stop here for our nightcap(s).

Although their beer list is short (see menu below), they were served with gusto and a lot of fun. The food, beer, and atmosphere were all great.

Definitely a worthy entry on the Growler List. Stay tuned for more updates from The Gypsy Beer Experience.

Beer Mentor

South Africa: Newland’s Brewery

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Stumblingpiper

I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa in June of 2012. While there I made it a point of touring the oldest brewery in South Africa … Newland’s Brewery. Technically it was the Mariendahl Brewery in the early 1800’s, but all breweries eventually change, don’t they? Well … maybe not some German breweries. haha.

Yes … Newland’s is a part of the SAB family of breweries. Regardless, the brewery was awesome, the people were great, and the beer was good. I recommend a quick pass out that way if in Capetown. The tour is 5 Rand I think … and you get to sit in the pub at the end and have a few!

This place has quite the history — and it’s well worth the tour. I know most people think of wine in South Africa but there is definitely a tradition of beer brewing. I enjoyed the lagers (naturally … what country doesn’t server lagers on the African continent?) and the Stout. Like I said — you get to enjoy yourself at the end of the tour. Reminded me of all my US brewery tours. haha.

Enjoy! Beer Mentor

Kempinski Resort in Djibouti

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Stumblingpiper

So if you come visit Djibouti I would recommend staying in a couple of places. There’s a Sheraton here. There’s also this place: Kempinski Resort. This place is a five-star hotel/resort. You have to see it to believe it. It has as many as five bars to choose from … Check out the details here.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of hanging with some friends at the Kempinski. What was special about it? Well … besides the live music, great scenery, they had both Stella Artois and Leffe on tap. The only drawback on having Belgian beers available was that they didn’t have the right glasses for it. However, that’s ok — I enjoyed the glass they gave me for my Leffe … especially since I could only have two!

Ha ha. Again … the Kempinski is a nice plan to go if you are in the area! :o)

Beer Mentor

Part of the Old Dominion: Lost Rhino Brewery!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Stumblingpiper

In December I had the pleasure of visiting the Lost Rhino Brewery with my good friend Brian (and his lovely bride).

I think the place has had a face-lift since then … it was pretty nice then–I’d like to visit it again to see the changes! It is out a little ways in Loudon County (Virginia) … but worth the drive. The folks who own this place were originally brewers in the Old Dominion Brewery. When they saw their original brewery (and brewpub) closed in the area they decided to open another place … Lost Rhino.

We sampled all their beers (thanks for driving, Lynne!) We also showed up for the tour … the fellow who gave it (I can’t remember his name, darn it) did a great job.

Very knowledgeable … you were able to walk around and look into everything … it was the way a brewery tour should be! These folks are passionate about their beers… yes … we even got to sample the fresh stuff (see pic).

I only had one complaint with the trip … the ladies serving the beer weren’t very pleasant. Actually they were downright cold (a little rude). However, everything else was worth it. Make the trip, drink the beer. You’ll be glad you did. And tell the ladies hi for me.

Beer Mentor

Beer Mentor

A simple exploration of beer …

Category Archives: Master Beerman

Beermentor’s Neighborhood: Urban Chestnut Brewery!

Beer 23/Day 23: Houblon Chouffe!

365 Beers … A rollup (Beers 9 to 21)!

Day 6/Beer 6: Schlafly Brown Ale (Can Session)

Beer 3/Day 3: Schlafly’s Tripel! Woo Hoo!

Summary Update #3: All About Beers Growler List

#42: Gösser Bierklinik (68)

South Africa: Newland’s Brewery

Kempinski Resort in Djibouti

Part of the Old Dominion: Lost Rhino Brewery!