Beer Bar – Neighborhood
There remains yet another stop in our San Diegan journey which has not been touched upon - Neighborhood. With so many bars to choose from downtown, it's almost too hard to decide which to patronize. This choice was easy - the sharp presentation pulled us in off the street, while the food and beer kept our attention rapt.
Beer Bar – The Hopping Pig
Penned in alongside other establishments of the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego, The Hopping Pig is as fine a destination as any for the famished and parched among us. Brian and I stumbled in by chance during our first venture downtown that week. Despite the early hour, we were met with friendly and able service (and some damn fine beer).
Beer Bar – Eddie’s Roadhouse
While visiting Mistucky Creek a few months back, we were tipped off about Eddie's Road House. Now I had heard about this place from a few people - rotating taps, cask, and an excellent food selection were all I needed to hear to take the trip. Eddie's is a small family run bar located in downtown Warwick, NY. The area is traditionally known for apple picking and wineries, and now the craft beer movement is establishing a foothold in that heritage. Some of America's best breweries have found their way to this little town, with every bar having some sort of craft offering.
Beer Bar – Cloverleaf Tavern
Established in 1933, Cloverleaf Tavern has been in the good beer business for quite some time. It originated as a "men's only" nine stool bar that slowly grew and evolved into one of the area's true craft beer retreats, offering great food, a friendly atmosphere, and a well balanced beer list aimed toplease even the pickiest drinker.
Wine & Beverage Depot “Beer-of-the-Month Club”
There is a new beer club forming over at Wine & Beverage Depot in Totowa NJ which is a first for craft beer drinkers in Northern NJ. There is not one other store in the area offering anything similar. For a measly membership fee of $25 per/month, you will get you the best of the best craft beers / one-offs that come into the Garden State.
My life is a beer fest…
Hola IDGB.com I don't post much but when I do, they're decent, haha
Heres my weekend in San Diego at Stone's 15 year anniversary, enjoy...
Westward bound for a San Diego weekend, a quick in & out...
You may be asking WHY IS MY LIFE LIKE A BEER FEST?!?!?!
I tweeted & facebooked the other day saying my life is a beer fest, I do feel that way only because:
It's not just because I drink alot of good beer, its because beer fests USUALLY have everything I enjoy, family, good friends, good vibe, sun, fun, music, good food, enjoying the fruit of the labor of another person or crew, the enjoyment and satisfaction of it all...
So in that matter I feel my life is a beer fest, yeah it has some bad beers, some broken glasses, some bitters and sours but overall it's hoppy goodness that is good til that last drop!!!!!!
Style’s – Black IPA’s
This brew has many names for its style - I prefer to call it a Black IPA. Others may call it a Cascadian Black Ale, but I guess the formal term is American Black Ale. I didn't really get into to Black IPA's until early this winter and let me tell you, I think I have found my favorite style of beer. There's just something about a hoppy glass of blackness that really gets me going. Maybe its the piney hops I get in the nose, or the roasty malt taste you get on the palate with every sip. It is just a great style and I commend Mr. Greg Noonan from Vermont for its invention and all the brewers that put forth an effort to brew one. Here are a few that I have had over these past couple of months.
21st Amendment Back In Black - Served in a can, this is by far in my top three favorites of this special style.
Otter Creek Alpine Black - Another one of my top three picks for this style. It's from VT so if you can't find it anywhere in the US, at least stop by Otter Creek when you're in VT and try to get a glass. It's also perfect for ice fishing.
Stone Sublimely Self Righteous, so stoked this beer is available year round now. Piney, malty and very drinkable.
Full Sail Bump In The Night - This one was decent - not bursting with flavors like 21st Amendments or Otter Creek but good nonetheless and very drinkable.
Avery New World Porter "A Pioneer Black IPA" - It is a porter they decided to dry hop it and it makes for a great tasting brew.
Lake Front BA - Nothing really stood out on this one for me. Maybe it was a little too roasty but it wasn't as hoppy as I hoped but it was a good beer.
Blue Point Toxic Sludge - I had a few pints of this at a restaurant that I will no longer mention at IDGB ever again but that aside, Toxic Sludge is amazing brew and number 1 for my list of Black IPA's. Citrus, piney and roasty notes work together to make a well balanced beer with good drinkabilty but most certainly not a session beer.
Black IPA's are getting popular and more breweries are taking a stab at making this dark, hoppy brew. With that said I hope to revisit this style with a new cast of characters at a later point. This is my favorite style of beer and I hope it's made you curious enough to try a Black IPA next time you come across one. Cheers!
-Brian
Links
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