Bad Tom Brewery (Cincinnati, Ohio) - 4 MAY 2014

Sometimes it's the combination of many factors that make a brewery experience so special.  This was the case for me during a recent visit to Bad Tom Brewing in Cincinnati, OH.  My visit coincided with the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon held annually on the first Sunday in May.  My wife and I had joined her cousin, other relatives, and her friends and neighbors to cheer on the marathon runners at mile 17.   I know this sounds absurd, but it was actually quite tiring to watch several thousand runners/walkers as they toiled up a short, but very steep, hill.  After more than 3 hours of that, we were ready for some recuperation. We knew that we were just a short distance from Bad Tom Brewery and decided to pay it a visit.

Your first glimpse of Bad Tom Brewery may not be the most welcoming, but once inside the door, we were greeted by the incredible aroma of boiling mash and a friendly brewer.  It is interesting that in my many visits to breweries, I don't think that I have ever encountered the smell of brewing beer.  Wow!  It was awesome.  We arrived at a sort of an odd time.  The brewery had been open earlier as the marathon course (mile 19) was literally just outside the front door.  Bad Tom was open for "Kegs and Eggs" that morning featuring Bad Tom Eggs - eggs fed on the spent grains from the brewery.  That crowd had dissipated as the marathon runners had long since passed by this point (except for one lone walker that we saw courageously continuing as we pulled into the parking lot), and the official 1:00 Sunday opening had not yet arrived.

From the front door of Bad Tom Brewery:  The eventual Flying Pig Marathon winner and his pacer.

However, that was great for us.  We had the place to ourselves and were able to engage the head brewer and his assistant.  Probably my favorite part of visiting a brewery is the chance to talk to the brewer; to get a feel for what he is trying to do and what the place is all about.  We got to hear about Bad Tom (the uncle of one of the owners who was truly bad and was both baptized and hung on the same day), learn about how their emphasis was on drinkable beers not just creating the next overpowering IPA, discover the all-natural ingredients that they use (clementines in Brother Clement and cinnamon sticks and chocolate nibs in the Stout), and watch as they worked to create a red beer for distribution at UC football games this fall.

The bar area at Bad Tom Brewery with the brewing equipment behind the partial glass doors.

Picnic bench seating at Bad Tom Brewery.

My wife and I got the sampler, consisting of 6 beers for $10.  This included, Old Abe, Bad Tom, IPA, Brother Clement Belgian, Helles Lager, and Stout.  The brewer said his favorite was Old Tom, a Brown Ale, and I would have to agree.  We liked it enough that we followed the sampler with a pint of Old Tom.  However, special recognition should go to Brother Clement.  I am not usually a fan of Belgian whites, always expecting the hateful coriander that you find in a Blue Moon, but this one was different.  The clementine oranges used in this beer provide a subtle orange flavor that results in a fresh taste that would be perfect on a summer day.  I wish there were more like this.  Old Abe is a high alcohol, 10%, beer that goes down quite smoothly.  I could easily see this one getting me in trouble as you certainly don't notice the alcohol content.

Sampler at Bad Tom Brewery.

I could easily have spent the whole afternoon at Bad Tom Brewery, but were were in need of something to eat, though we were quite appreciative that they made a fresh batch of popcorn just for us - kudos for that.

Literally just a block away from Bad Tom Brewery we found Terry's Turf Club.  We'd never heard of it, but what a great discovery.  This is the kind of place that guide books for places like Chicago and New York tell you to go and here it was, new to us, in an unexpected location.  The place is hard to describe, but the pictures above certainly convey the feel of the place, however, it is the classy guy in the zoot suit taking the names at the door that gives you the first indication that this is one awesome place.  

Terry's Turf Club fish sandwich.

What a perfect day:  time with relatives and meeting new people, watching strangers take on the most incredible challenge of completing a marathon, experiencing a brewery in the best way - by talking with the brewer, and discovering a hidden gem.

Starkbier Festival, Listermann Brewing Company (Cincinnati, Ohio) - 28 MAR 2014

In general, this blog will focus on visits to breweries and brewpubs, but exceptions will be made.  The Starkbier Festival was sponsored by the Listermann Brewing Company and was held about 50 yds from the their front door.  Unlike the Mad Tree Winter Bonanza, in this case the brewery was basically off-limits to the festival goers as you weren't really supposed to carry your beer back and forth from the brewery to the festival area (naturally this didn't stop us from taking a peak).  Hopefully I'll be back soon to get the "true" brewery experience.

The idea for a Starkbier Festival goes back to the 1700s when the German monks made strong beers for their nutritional values to help them get through fasting during Lent. All of the beers present were 7.5% or higher. Continuing with this tradition, most of the beers present at the Cincinnati StarkBier Festival will be 7.5% or higher and all will be made right here in Cincinnati.  Being of German heritage, participating in Lenten fasting and abstinence, and a lover of big beers, this was too much of a good thing.

Beer List from StarkBier Fest 2014

Old fashion overhead projector listing the beers on tap
at any given time.

It's hard for me to believe, but they were selling these high alcohol beers in 16oz cups (22oz if you bought the commemorative mug).  Because of that I was only able to sample a few of the many that sounded great.  Those included:  Word, a Scotch Ale, from Ei8ht Ball Brewing, Old Abe, an Amercian Strong Ale, from Bad Tom Brewing, and Planetary IPA from Listermann Brewing Company.  All were very good and I am looking forward to separate visits to each of these breweries for a more in depth analysis.

Many volunteers, few lines for beer.

The festival was really well organized.  There were plenty of friendly volunteers (willing to let you try the beers before buying), traditional German music (while we were there), and free samples of seafood gumbo from Brew River Gastropub (you simply MUST go to this place.  The people at the festival were beyond friendly.  This was in the middle of March Madness and my wife and I were a little intimidated of wearing our University of Dayton sweatshirts at a festival just across the street from Xavier University, but lots of people came up to wish us luck as our Flyers played in the Elite Eight. We spent more time talking to strangers than the people we came with, which surely proves that this was one great event.

View from inside the tent.  Notice the beer list on the tent roof.

Lots of food trucks!

Dayton Beer Bus Tour (Dayton, Ohio) - 8 MAR 2014

On Saturday, 8 MAR 2014, 40 intrepid souls set off on the adventure of a lifetime:  87 miles traveled, 12 hours in duration, 8 Dayton area breweries, and one bad ass bus driver named Ray.  The tour was set to leave from Boston's Bistro at 10:00am. 

However, as one might imagine, a 12 hour bus tour doesn't follow a rigorous schedule.  We had plenty of time for donuts and coffee, detailed instructions (don't spill beer on the bus), and plotting our strategy for the days events before we actually set off closer to 11:00.

Boston's Bistro:  The start of it all

Boarding the Beer Bus.

All bright eyed and bushy tailed.

The Dayton Beer Bus Tour was scheduled to visit 8 of the 9 Dayton area breweries that have sprung up during the last two years including Star City Brewing Company, Lock 27 Brewing Company, Eudora Brewing Company, Dayton Beer Company, Toxic Brew Company, Fifth Street Brewpub, Yellow Springs Brewery, and Hairless Hair Brewery.

The beer on the bus went pour, pour, pour

To keep us occupied during the nearly 2 hours spent driving from location to location, a unique draft system was set up in the middle of the bus and Cat was voted Beer Wench for our tour.  Two taps provided Fat Tire - the only beer that I didn't enjoy the whole day - and a very nice Rye IPA from Stone Quarry, a local homebrewer.

First Stop:  Star City Brewing Company

Star City is located in the historic Peerless Mill in Miamisburgh, OH.

The gang's all here

Sampler tray

A certified beer judge - at least that's what his name tag proclaimed - voted Star City Brewing Company the best complete collection of beers.  My personal favorite here was the Milk Stout with the Winter Warmer a close second.  Alas, you won't be able to try that one as the keg blew a few days later and next year they plan to revise the recipe.

Second Stop:  Lock 27 Brewing Company

The first of three Dayton area brewpubs located in strip malls

A comfortable atmosphere for the brewery and gastropub

Samplers laid out on the large high top table by the front window.

It wasn't clear to me if this is the extent of their brewery

Lock 27 Brewing Company doubles as a gastropub and we were ready for some food when we arrived. Everything we ordered was very good and served surprisingly fast given that 40 hungry souls arrived all at the same time.  I really enjoyed the large high top table that looked out the front window.  It was the perfect spot for folks on the Beer Bus Tour to gather and chat.  They serve several of their own beers as well as an assortment of other craft beers on tap and a large selection of bottles.  The selection this today was perfect for a Hop Head with three different IPAs, including a memorable pepper IPA that had just the right amount of heat.

Third Stop:  Eudora Brewing Company

The second of three Dayton area brewpubs located in strip malls

Eudora brewing equipment

Eudora brew-on-premise equipment

Eudora Brewing Company is unique among the Dayton area breweries for two reasons.  First, it includes a Brew-on-Premise (BOP) operation and second, it donates a percentage of it's sales to Charity Water whose mission is help those in need of clean water throughout the world.  Each month they update their Facebook page with how much has been donated.  It's a pretty cool thing.  The BOP operation is just getting started and we had the luxury of trying out an Imperial IPA that they are still tweaking the recipe.  Very good.  In addition, there was a Chocolate Milk Porter that received rave reviews.  N.B.  All of the Stouts and Porters on the Beer Bus Tour were excellent.

Fourth Stop:  Dayton Beer Company

Not in a strip mall, but darn close to it

Got pretty crowded with 40 of us from the bus tour - guess that's why they are expanding

The Dayton Beer Company can rightly claim fame to being the first in long line of Dayton area breweries opening their doors just a little less than two years ago.  I know that because I was one of first in the door when they opened.  At this point, the Beer Bus Tour realized that they needed to pick up the pace - "Bip-Bop" - if they were going to finish what they started.

Fifth Stop:  Toxic Brew Company

Located downtown Dayton in the Oregon District

Some of the brewing equipment

A repurposed building with exposed brickwork and beams

In addition to having the best name, Toxic Brew Company also had the most memorable beer of the day for me.  I can't stop thinking about the Orange Cream IPA.  I've been dreaming of that one and can't wait to try it again.  In addition, they have a large assortment of high gravity beers and I can pretty much guarantee you that they will have a number of things different than you've ever had before.

Sixth Stop:  Fifth Street Brewpub 

Neighbors pooled their resources to start this co-op in Historic St. Anne's Hill

They are not brewing yet, but the equipment is in place

Fire pit in what will become the beer garden this summer

Fifth Street Brewpub is unique in Dayton, and pretty much unique anywhere, since it is only the second co-op brewpub in the country.  Two years ago they began to solicit members to help fund the renovation of this abandoned neighborhood building.  (Disclaimer, I am one of the member-owners).  After a slow start, they quickly gained momentum and transformed this dilapidated structure into one of the most welcoming bars you will find anywhere.  I know that I am biased, but I really love this place.  It has a great feel to it that you will recognize immediately upon walking in the door.  They aren't brewing their own beer yet, but they have a great variety of craft beers on tap including ones from local Dayton breweries.  The brewing equipment is in place and they should be brewing their own soon.  Another cool thing - which I didn't know before - is that member-owners will be able to use the brewing equipment to brew their own recipes and if they make the cut some will be served in the brewpub.  Their business model includes having 6 of their own beers and 6 guest beers on tap.  In addition, they serve some of the best pub food around - even with a kitchen that isn't yet fully operational.

Our fearless leader:  Dave Boston of Boston's Bistro
Thanks Dave!

I am somewhat embarrassed to admit this, but we bailed after this stop.  It was after 6:00, more than 8 hours into the excursion and this was a good spot for us to meet up with our designated drivers for dinner and then to go our separate ways.  So unfortunately, I can't lay claim to being one of the Dayton Beer Bus Tour survivors, but I can claim to having a great time and looking forward to finishing the final two stops -  Yellow Springs Brewery and Hairless Hair Brewery - as well as Dayton's most recent brewery Warped Wing Brewing Company.

What a great thing for Dayton to have such a great selection of local breweries.  Throughout the day, I had many great, memorable local beers.  Not a single one that I wouldn't order again.

Seventh Stop:  Graeter's

Graeter's:  Nothing better after a day of drinking

Pensacola Bay Brewery (Pensacola, Florida) - 3 MAR 2014





Eight samples for $9.50.

Finding this place was a real treat. Located in the historic district of downtown Pensacola, this is certainly a great place to stop for a beer and friendly conversation. The three year old brewery sits just a block or so away from the Pensacola Bay among historic houses and museums. It isn't fancy on the inside or outside, but they had about 15 of their own beers on tap. I started off with an 8 glass sampler for $9.50. I had the Kolsch, wheat, Amber, ESB.  brown, porter, IPA, and stout (follow clockwise from the top).
All of these beers were crisp and clean - totally enjoyable - though I wouldn't consider any of them exceptional. 




 

Lots of Pensacola Bay Brewery beers on tap.

The bad news was that I had forgotten my computer. The good news was that I joined right in with the conversation at the bar - which varied from 80's bands to academy award movies past and present. I didn't miss the computer one bit and enjoyed the camraderie of the folks who were there, obviously all regulars. Two bits of useful information: 1) when the Cincinnati Reds class Double A Blue Wahoos are in town, you can catch a trolley two blocks away that will take you to the ballpark, and 2) on Mondays, the Atlas Oyster House around the corner has $3/dozen oysters - though they had just run out when I got there, but they did have a couple of beers available on draft for $2.




 

Pensacola Bay Brewery brewing equipment.  Visible from the tap room. 

The tasting room has a nice set up. The brewery is visible through windows that separate the brewery from the tasting room. They have a nice bar with mulitple taps, all Pensacola Bay Brewery Beers except for a few commercial ciders. Interestingly, the beers are served with a mixture of CO2 and N2. I haven't seen this around in many places, it is usually one or the other.
This is definitely a place that caters to beer fans.  The bartender was knowledgeable about the beers and after my sampler, I asked to try several additonal beers.  Instead of a tiny pour, I was given a full sample of the following:  the Berliner Weiss, the special bitter, and the imperial stout.  I've only seen craft beer versions of Berliner Weiss twice.  This one wasn't as good as the Dogfish version, but it was made with real rasberries and would certainly be a great summer session beer.  It was interesting to compare the special bitter vs. the extra special bitter and who can complain about an imperial stout. 

Props Craft Brewery (Fort Walton Beach, Florida) - 2 MAR 2014




Props Craft Brewery brewing equipment. 

Props Craft Brewery is just minutes away from Eglin AFB - the Props theme seems quite appropriate.  There is a ceiling fan in the brewpub shaped like the prop from a large aircraft.  On this visit, there seemed to be a number of current or ex military sitting around the bar - the folks around me were talking tattoos.  They offer a 10% discount to military, police, and firefighters (which they were nice enough to extend to me. 

Sampler of 4 - 5.5oz beers for $8.00.

They had seven beers on tap. I tried a sample of 4 of their beers - Rye of the Tiger, Flying Coffin IPA, Four Kings Brown Ale, and Props Oil Porter. All were fine, but the Rye of the Tiger and the Four Kings were a little too sweet for my taste. The IPA was good enough that I ordered a couple more. 

I first discovered this place last August when I was here on vacation with my wife and daughter.  My wife - with brewery Eagle Eyes - spotted this place.  Since that visit they've expanded the place, adding extra fermenters - which I was told were not yet operational and were to supply off-site accounts.  Unfortunately, this addition has covered up their mural, but here is what it says:  "In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is Freedom, in water there is bacteria" - Ben Franklin.



Fried Flounder with cole slaw, fries, and Props IPA.

In addition to the beer, I had a damn good fish sandwich (eventually see blog on my search for World's Greatest Fish Sandwich).

Props Craft Brewery is pretty friendly place. Everyone seems to know each other, be part of their beer club, and conversation flows easily among the folks sitting around the bar. 

Rhinegeist Brewery (Cincinnati, Ohio) - 1 February 2014

Rhinegeist Brewery  tap room

Rhinegeist Brewery brewing equipment

Rhinegeist Brewery is located in the Over the Rhine section of Cincinnati, Ohio.  The name means "ghost of the Rhine".  The tap room and brewery are located on the third floor of what was once the old Moerlein bottling plant (built in 1895).  This unique space provides plenty of options.  To the right is the tap room portion of the space, a small bar with a number of long tables where you can mingle with friends or meet new ones.




Just off the tap room is the brewery.  Rhinegeist is  a production brewery and their beers can be found on tap all around Cincinnati and occasionally in Dayton. They have recently begun to can some of their  beers. When we were there yesterday, we saw some cans at the brewery and their Facebook site shows them on sale.  We haven't seen them yet in Dayton.

I've really enjoyed the beers that I have had from Rhinegeist, especially Truth, their flagship IPA.  Gramps, their Barleywine, is also very enjoybable.  Most recently I had Panther, their American Porter.  It was much better than the highly hyped Deschutes Butte Porter that just made its way into Ohio.

The space is large enough to host corn hole and ping pong

The view to the right is open space that dominates Rhinegeist Brewery.  It's large enough for a couple of corn hole games and 4 ping pong tables (2 shown here and more in the back right hand corner), more seating, and special event space (they were seating up for a Lunar New Year party when we were there last night.  (NB - there was a $10 cover charge for the event).   I have also heard that they have started in indoor whiffle ball league. There is definitely no shortage of fun at this place.

Mad Tree Brewing Company (Cincinnati, Ohio) - 1 February 2014

Overflow crowd at Mad Tree Winter Bonanza

After weeks of below freezing weather, we took advantage of an unseasonably warm first day of February to visit  Mad Tree Brewing Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mad Tree pulled out all of the stops for their Winter Bonanza to celebrate their First Anniversary.  In addition to their tap room, they had a heated tent, and, because the weather was so nice, the parking lot was also full of people.  Mad Tree had all of their regular beers on tap as well as a number of their own and other brewery special brews.  In an interesting twist, new ones were tapped each hour keeping the interest level high.

Mad Tree tap room

The Mad Tree tap room is always a welcoming space with the wrap-around bar, high top tables, and the view of the brewing equipment (see below).  It can get quite crowded, as it was this day, but it still feels comfortable.  Every time I have been there, I am always surprised at the mix of people who are at Mad Tree.  This day, as all the times before, there were the young (babies in arms, children playing with toys), singles and couples of all ages.    Everyone is welcome here.

Mad Tree brewing equipment

Cans ready for filling 

In addition to the tap room, Mad Tree is a production brewing and one of the first in the area to can their beers, which they do exclusively. Distribution has just begun to expand beyond the Cincinnati area and we are grateful to have it here in Dayton now.




Mad Tree has an excellent selection of beers.  Hopheads  will definitely rejoice in PsycHOPathy their flagship IPA.  Just recently I had their Imperial IPA Galaxy High and on this trip I tried Y?PA, a session IPA.  It had great hop aroma, but wasn't dominated by high Alcohol by Volume (ABV).

Mad Tree is one of my favorite breweries to visit.  They have great quality beers in a welcoming environment.