Category Archives: The Traveler (Global Beer Culture)

My thoughts and ideas about places I’ve been and the beer experience I’ve had at those places …

#18: The Gingerman, Austin, Texas (110)

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This past week I was in Texas and had the opportunity to drive through Austin.  I checked out the list of 125 Places to Drink Beer (see earlier post) and realized The Gingerman was on the list at number 110.

Of course, I keep looking at this list as a ranking … I know, I shouldn’t … but then I think — this place should not be number 110 … it should be higher!  Then, I just laugh … because, it doesn’t really matter.  This place is awesome!

Their beer selection had both my favorite Weizen Bock (Aventinus from Schneider-weisse) and an excellent range of Texas brews.

I tried a brew from the 512 brewery in Austin … surprise, their IPA!  This beer was quite pleasant — definitely a West Coast variety IPA (in my opinion).  Well balanced, but the hops really come through … I thoroughly enjoyed it and would drink another if possible …

Oh, they also have a beer garden … but it was a little too warm this day — maybe another trip!

This is place #18 off the list for me … only 7 more to go this year!

Enjoy,

Beer Mentor

Middle Ages Brewery Festival!

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With a stroke of luck I stumbled upon the Middle Ages Brewery’s 15th Anniversary Festival.  Yes!  I was already going to Ottawa to see some friends and they (Middle Ages) just happened to be having their 15th Anniversary festival on the day I was driving back to Virginia … well who wouldn’t stop and have a couple?

Here’s a shot of the brewery — the park was right across the street — festival was free.  Just buy your beer tokens, stand in a short line, and enjoy!

They had a pretty good crowd going and the party had just started…

So, yeah, I had a couple … starting with the cask ale (an IPA).  These guys are making some pretty good beers!

The catered food was excellent, the beer was excellent (had to stop with 2 darn it), the crowd was great, the people were friendly — I could get to like Syracuse (except for the cold weather of course!)

You ask, how could it get any better?  Some good friends of mine (Enter the Haggis) were playing at this festival as well … score!

So, I hung out for a couple of hours … and then drove back to DC! Ha!  What a great time this was.  Highly recommend their festival if you are in the area … and definitely try their beer!  I brought back about 6 different ones to sample (in a relaxed mode).  I’ll be blogging about them later.

Beer Mentor

#17: Clark’s Ale House, Syracuse NY (97)

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A couple of weekends ago I was heading up to Ottawa to visit some wonderful friends and I realized that there were two places on the “All About Beer” Top 125 places list in Syracuse, NY (on my way).  Well, I obviously had to stop!  I chose my namesake location on the way up–Clark’s Ale House–and planned on stopping at the Blue Tusk on the way back.  Unfortunately the Blue Tusk was closed on Sundays (they were cleaning the tap lines when I was there–yes! I love the place and haven’t even been there yet!).

Well, Clark’s Ale House was open and wow!  What a neat place … They had a wonderful selection of beers PLUS a hand-pulled casker … sweet.  I ‘think’ it was a hand-pulled Middle Ages brew (the local brewery!).

You could tell they really loved their beer and beer selection and they took care of offering it to you at the right temperature … this place is worthy of being on this list!

Oh, did I say their Roast Beef sandwiches are phenomenal?  Well, they are!  Worth a stop … even if it’s out of your way.

Enjoy,

Beer Mentor

Stumblingpiper’s Top 50 Places to Drink Beer

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Ok, these are in the order I can remember them.  The key for this list is: 1) I can remember where the place was and can get back there, 2) it’s a place that you can get to to drink beer, 3) it will be a place that, no matter if you’ve been once or dozens of times, you will want to go back when the opportunity presents itself.  I will adjust this list as I remember places …

  1. My House … currently in Springfield, VA
  2. Great American Beer Festival, Denver, CO
  3. Aventinus Festival … Schneider Weisse Brewery, Kelheim, Germany
  4. Hahnen Fest … Queidersbach, Germany
  5. Savor Fest … Washington, DC
  6. Delerium Cafe … Brussels, Belgium
  7. Fruhlings Fest … Bad Cannstadt, Germany
  8. Cellar Bar … Breuberg Schloss, Germany (during B.A.G Summer School)
  9. An Spailpin Fanach … across from the Beamish Brewery, Cork, Ireland
  10. Beer Tent. Glengarry Highland games … Maxville, Ontario
  11. Beer Tent. Fruita Fat Tire Festival … Fruita, CO
  12. Firkin Rendevous (Bristol Brewery) … Colorado Springs, CO
  13. Cafe Trappisten … Westmalle, Belgium
  14. The Auberge de Poteaupre … near Chimay, Belgium
  15. Abbaye de Notre-Dame d’Orval … Orval, Belgium
  16. In de Vrede … Westvleteren, Belgium
  17. Jack Quinn Irish Pub … Colorado Springs, CO
  18. Campus Pub … Simon Fraser University … Vancouver, British Columbia
  19. Spinnacker’s Brew Pub … Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
  20. Rock Bottom Brewery … Bellevue, Washington
  21. Naturfreunde Haus … Volklingen, Germany
  22. Irseer Klosterbrauerei … Irsee, Germany
  23. Bier Garten on top of the Staffelberg … Bad Staffelstein, Germany
  24. Bier Garten behind Vierzehnheiligen Church … Vierzehnheiligen, Germany
  25. Raglan Road Irish Pub, Downtown Disney … Orlando, Florida
  26. Jack of the Wood Irish Pub … Asheville, NC
  27. Purple Fiddle .. Thomas, WV
  28. Westville Pub … Asheville, NC
  29. McGillin’s Old Ale House … Philadelphia, PA
  30. The Golden Bee … Colorado Springs, CO
  31. Durty Nelly’s … San Antonio, TX
  32. The Perch Bar … Orient Beach, St Martin
  33. Sloppy Joe’s Bar … Key West, FL
  34. Bull & Whistle Bar … Key West, FL
  35. The Hotel Bar … Georgetown, Ascension Island
  36. Bräustüberl Weihenstephan … Friesing, Germany
  37. Hofbrauhaus … Munich, Germany
  38. RiRa’s Irish Pub … Arlington, VA
  39. Clark’s Alehouse … Syracuse, NY
  40. Old Triangle Irish Alehouse … Halifax, Nova Scotia
  41. St Georgen Braustuberl … Buttenheim, Germany
  42. Peel Pub … Montreal, Quebec
  43. The Noble Savage … Shreveport, LA
  44. Trinity Brewery … Colorado Springs, CO
  45. Galaxy Hut … Arlington, VA
  46. Coconuts on the Beach … Cocoa Beach, FL
  47. Meg O’Malleys … Melbourne, FL
  48. Biergarten in front of Burg Nanstein … Landstuhl, Germany
  49. Dogfish Head Ale House … Fairfax, VA
  50. O’Brien’s Pub … San Diego, CA

All About Beer Top 125 Places to Drink Beer

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On May 1st, 2008, All About Beer published their list of the Top 125 Places to Drink Beer.  They recently updated this list by publishing the 150 Great Bars list.  Most people would consider both of these lists controversial because … well … because that’s what lists do — start controversies … especially on a topic as subjective as the best places to drink beer.  I’ve taken two different approaches to this list.  First, I’m building my own list of the “Top 50 Places I’ve Drank Beer.”  I will be posting that list soon.  Secondly, I’m working down the original All About Beer List because, that too, is what I do.  If I see a list, I see that list as a challenge!  I will caveat my work on this list by stating that I think it is valid to substitute a venue when it’s about a location/event (e.g., drinking on the Green Monster at Fenway.  I will substitute Camden Yards).  So, without further ado, here is my status on this list so far!

Goal: To have 25/125 by the end of this year.  Current Status 17/125 places.

1 (1). Great American Beer Fest.  I admit–this is the best place to drink beer in the world.

2 (2). Grand Place.  Not really number two on my list–but nice!

5 (3). Oktoberfest.  Been there, done that.

7 (4). Abbaye de Notre-Dame d’Orval.  My favorite beer of all time.  The location is awesome!

11 (5). Hofbrauhaus.  Excellent — but not my favorite Beer Haus in Germany.

16 (6). Seats behind Homeplate at Camden Yards.  Wow!  The only way I like to watch baseball.  (Oh, I also was at the Brewers Stadium when Bonds was chasing the record.  And I have to say the Ballpark at Arlington is also wonderful…)  Funny, I don’t really like baseball.  But they have a nice selection of Craft Beer in the Orioles stadium.

19 (7). The Beer Tent at the Glengarry Highland Games … Maxville, Ontario.  North American Bagpipe Championships.  Horses, schmorses.  Not really a horse race fan … so I picked another style competition! Even better if you’re celebrating a 2nd place with your band.

26 (8). French Quarter … I’m cheating on this one–I was there during St Paddy’s Day … not Mardi Gras–but still a wild party … as New Orleans usually is (but, to be honest, this really isn’t a beer drinking city …)

31 (9). Private Suite at the Redskins Stadium watching the Dallas Cowboys beat the ‘skins.

44 (10). Tailgating.  I know an SEC game tailgate party is something else, but if you never tailgated at an IFL Game (Frankfurt Galaxy) in Europe you missed out!

57 (11). Andechs Monastery.  Definitely a tourist destination, but worth the trip!

66 (12).  Delerium Cafe.  This place should be a lot higher on the list!

80 (13). Le Bier Circus.  It was a serious Circus!

82 (14). Irseer klosterbrauerei.  If you have the option, I’d pick this one over Andechs.

97 (15). Clark’s Ale House.  They aren’t kidding!  Their Roast Beef sandwiches are amazing!

103 (16).  Kelly’s Caribbean Bar.  Yeah, I can’t really remember this one! 🙂

121 (17). Old Ebbitt Grill.  Yep–this one is very nice … right across from the Treasury Building in DC.

I’ve got 8 left to go this year … planning on them being: 12 (18). Brickskeller (easy), 14. (19)  The Market Porter (maybe, hard), 15. (20) Cat’s Eye Pub (easy), 25. (21) World Beer Festival (medium), 30. (22) The Olde Mitre Tavern (hard), 45. (23) Selin’s Grove Brewing (medium),  71. (24) Brewer’s Art (easy), 76. (25) City Tavern (medium), 91. (26) Dogfish Head Ale House (medium), 114. (27) The Dubliner (easy).

We’ll see how these go!  It’s all in the effort, isn’t it?

Beer Mentor

The Bruery: Christmas in July!

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My wife and I are relaxing this weekend just enjoying ourselves — bike riding, hiking, sampling wines, beers, and fireworks … tonight, we’ve just been hanging around enjoying the beautiful weather.  We were sitting on our patio this evening — she drinking a gluten-free beer: Redbridge … and me drinking a beer from The Bruery: 2 Turtle Doves.

I’ll have more to say about the gluten-free beers in another post.

Oh, yeah, nothing like some nice popcorn to go with your beer! LOL!

As I said, my beer for tonight is The Bruery‘s 2 Turtle Doves.  They claim this is their Christmas beer — it’s pretty spicey!  It’s also loaded with alcohol: 12% ABV.  Since it is a Belgian strong-ale, I got out one of my Rochefort glasses to use when drinking it.  Is it good? Yes, actually, very good.  Because of the Alcohol content, you definitely have to sip this beer — but it’s wonderful … the spices (chocolate and pecans) really do help this brown ale.

Yep … a sippin’ beer but enjoying every drop!

Beer Mentor

Ruddles County: Good English Brew

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My friend Russ and his father-in-law joined me during my brew session a couple of weeks ago.  To celebrate (and because Russ’ wife and in-laws are from England) they brought me a couple of bottles of this Ruddles County.  Not only is Russ’ family from England, they are specifically from  Bury St Edmunds, where Greene King brews all of its beers.

So, while brewing, he had some great stories to tell!  This beer is a premium ale–quite refreshing and definitely in style.  I could drink a few more pints of this beer that’s for sure!  I recommend all of the Greene King beers … except, I haven’t had the IPA … yet!

Beer Mentor

Well, looky there! Smithwicks!

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I was over at Sine Irish Pub again today and realized I hadn’t had the Smithwicks since I started this list.  Smithwicks is the Oldest Ale in Ireland (since 1710) … a nice red color.  I guess they have it on draft there at Sine’s.

It came out in its nice pint glass — I took a long pull on it and declared, yes, I like this beer.  I’m not sure what more I can say–flavor was good, aroma was what I expected … it went well with my BLT.   I’ll drink it again!

Beer Mentor

Southern Tier: Hoppe!

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I cracked open a 22 oz’er tonight.  I was out riding my Gary Fisher 2008 hi-fi Pro … it was beautiful weather, the trails were nice, and I rode like I meant it tonight!  I love a great ride!

To celebrate, I decided to crack open one of my favorite brewery’s beers: the Hoppe.

As I’ve said before, these Southern Tier guys are really making fantastic beers — and this one is no exception.  They call it an Extra Pale Ale … but you can’t fool me — this is definitely an East Coast IPA … the nose is straight up malts; I can barely get a hint of hops.  However, the taste is a very nice balance … you get the malt initially and then the hops come through in the finish.  It is subtle, but superb.  I really like this beer.

Beer Mentor

Sushi tonight. How about a Sapporo?

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I picked my beautiful wife up at the Airport and we stopped in Osaka for some sushi.  What kind of beer do they have at a sushi bar?  You guessed it … Japanese.  If you remember from an earlier post, I’ve already sampled the Kirin.  So I went with the Sapporo tonight.

Sapporo is a very dry lager that actually goes well with Sushi.  It matches up well with the light style of sushi — and if you get the “Dragon Roll” or “Volcano Roll” like I usually do, the light, crisp flavor helps to tame down the spiciness of they sushi!

When in Japan … they always say.  Or someone does…

Beer Mentor