218. Two Brothers – Heavy Handed IPA Draft
As I mentioned in my previous post, we’re out with a coworker who is in town for the week. We went out to Medici in Normal to grab a couple of beers and catch up. I was looking for something to add to this list and my coworker said she was looking for something “hardy.” So, I recommended New Holland’s Charkoota Rye Smoked Dopplebock, which I had there just last week. All agreed that it was like a BBQ rack...
217. Flying Dog – Raging Bitch Belgian IPA Draft
A coworker who works remotely – Bettywriter – was in town for the week, so several of us decided to go out to happy hour and catch up. We stopped at Medici in Uptown Normal, a place I’ve mentioned before that has some pretty good beers on tap. I arrived before anyone else, I didn’t have to be shy when I announced proudly to the bartender that I’d like a Raging Bitch. It was a hazy orange-golden color...
103. Double Mountain – Dapper Dan Nitro Brown Ale Draft
After another great day of brewing at Full Sail Brewing, it was time for dinner. Since I hadn’t explored Hood River much outside of Full Sail, a few people had recommended I walk down to Double Mountain for dinner. I was told they had some of the best pizza in town, and some pretty good beers. I was looking for something with some flavor, but also nice, light, and smooth. The menu says, “Dapper Dan is a true session...
81. Sierra Nevada – Harvest Wet Hop Ale Draft
The nice thing about the beer special where we were having our homebrew club steering meeting is that they were 10oz specials, so I didn’t feel too bad about ordering a third beer. After the lager and cream ale, I wanted something hoppy, so I went for the Sierra Nevada Harvest West Hop Ale. It had a very nice, thick, creamy, tan head on it. It was an almost brick-red color, but very clear. The aroma was surprisingly subtle...
79. Two Brothers Brewing – Dog Days Dortmunder Lager Draft
We had our homebrew club steering meeting at Fat Jacks, here in Bloomington. They usually have some decent beers on tap, and tonight they had a decent special on little 10oz beers. It was a hot day out, so I thought I’d go for a lager. I hadn’t had the Two Brothers Dog Days before, so I thought I’d try it. It was a cloudy, straw-yellow color, and there was absolutely no head on it. In fact, it didn’t seem...
74. New Holland – Mad Hatter IPA Draft
We were out and about and decided to treat the kids and ourselves by hitting a local pizza joint named Lucca Grill. We had the A la Baldini pizza, which was awesome as always, but we were also able to enjoy a couple of the good beers they had on tap. I had the Mad Hatter IPA on draft, and my wife had the Schlafly Raspberry Hefeweisen (review on that one coming shortly, as my wife made us go buy a 6-pack after enjoying the one on...
51. Brouwerij Huyghe – Delirium Tremens Draft
I had a steering meeting tonight for our homebrew club – the ABNormal Brewers – at Medici in Normal. We hold our meetings there because they usually have a decent list of beers on tap. Tonight they had a few beers I thought would be interesting, and I settled on the Delirium Tremens, since I haven’t seen it on tap very often. It was served in a goblet (wine glass), and was very clear. It had a bright yellow color,...
38. Birra Peroni Industriale – Peroni Nastro Azzurro Draft
As I mentioned in my last post, we stopped for lunch at Millers Ale House in Tampa, FL. Also, as I mentioned, for a place called an “Ale House,” their beer selection was pretty domestic, generic, and ironically, filled with lagers. Although, a lager, I saw that the Peroni was on draft, so I thought I’d give it a try. It had a nice, pinky finger sized head with tiny bubbles which stuck around for quite a while due...
37. Shipyard Brewing – Shipyard Export Ale Draft
Still in the Tampa area today, for lunch we tried to find a brewpub. After the GPS successfully helped us find two brewpubs which were now closed, we finally succeeded in finding the Miller’s Tampa Ale House. I was disappointed however, that a place with “Ale House” in the name didn’t have a great beer selection. Before the meal, I ordered a Shipyard Export Ale draft, which arrived a pale yellow color with a...
35. Yuengling Brewery – Yuengling Traditional Lager Draft
It was the last night of our three weeks of intensive travel for work, and we found a nice seafood and steak place, the RiverHouse Reef & Grill, along the waterfront in Palmetto, Florida. It was a nice place to sit, relax in the sea breeze, enjoy the sunset and evening, and reflect back on the last three weeks. The beer menu wasn’t huge, but since we can’t really get Yuengling in Illinois, and because it was on draft,...
31. Lexington Brewing – Kentucky Ale Draft
Today we had a couple hours, due to flight delay, in the Louisville, Kentucky airport. We stopped at the Woodford Reserve Bar and Grill in the airport for lunch. I was torn, because Woodford Reserve is one of my favorite Bourbons, but I also wanted to try Lexington Brewing’s Kentucky Ale… So, I had both. Earlier that morning, I got up to walk over to the Louisville Slugger factory and Museum. On the way over, I noticed a...
21. The Ram Restaurant & Brewery Rosemont, IL – Big Red IPA Draft
It had been a long day of traveling and I hadn’t eaten much, so I was ready for a big meal at The Ram Restaurant & Brewery in Rosemont, IL. I ordered “The Beast,” not realizing that it was a 1 pound hamburger. It was huge! After having their Butthead Amber Ale before my dinner arrive, I was ready to try their Big Red IPA. The menu said, “An American style IPA, our Big Red combines the distinctive and...
