Union Barrel Works Stevens, PA

It was Saturday night. The weather was beautiful here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. A perfect night for a spontaneous beer trip. My wife and I jumped in the car and sped off to check out Union Barrel Works. (don't worry the kids were with the grandparents) Bryan has written about Tom Rupp (owner/brewer) and the coming of Union Barrel Works, Dennis helped us out with a photo during construction and Lew Bryson has had it on his radar for sometime. I finally got the chance to visit. While driving the forty miles or so talking with my wife I was hoping this new brew pub would be worth the trip. We hit the turnpike exited at mile marker two eighty six and dropped into Stevens, PA. The commute was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be.

The building sits on the corner and fits right in with everything on the block. From the outside you can see the tanks and the beautifully carved wood sign out front. As you walk in you enter into a very large space that is much deeper than it is wide. Don't miss the Schaefer sign on your left. Further inspection reveals a clean and open space with barrels and barrel shaped items all around. My wife insisted on sitting at one of the barrels in the front section near the bar. Union Barrel Works is split into two sections. The front by the bar and the dining room in the back.

One of the bartenders came from behind the bar to serve us. We decided to start with the seven beer sampler. Guess how much it was? $4.50! You get two ounces of each one of their beers for the price of a pint. Not a bad way for one to test the waters so to speak. We each ordered a bowl of French Onion Soup. As we waited I whipped out the camera again and snapped some pictures. I noticed the tin ceiling, trim woodwork and columns. I spoke with Tom for a few minutes and he mentioned that he didn't let the architect touch anything on the ceilings that didn't absolutely need work. This obviously adds character and to the charm of the place and differentiates it from larger chain type brew pubs.

Soon the beer arrived. As you can see in the picture the samples were poured into these 2 oz. glasses and presented in a beer barrel shaped carrier. It didn't take long to get through them all. My three favorites are the Weizen, Dopplebock and Stout. I was very interested in the Kölsch and I even ordered a pint of it for good measure. Still it didn't stand out like some of the others. I'll be interested to see how things progress. All in all the beer was solid with plenty of attention to the lager styles. Here's the line up. I'll add some tasting notes later: Lager, Pale Ale, Wobbly Bob Dopplebock, Round Boy Stout, Hefe Weizen, Mai-bock and Kölsch.

How did it feel inside? One word, open. Oh, did I mention that it is smoke free?! That's right ladies and gents smoke free. In fact as we were sampling the beer a group of four came in and sat down. One of the men was carrying on about the fact that there wasn't a smoking area. I was smiling to myself as the other three said, get used to it because that's the way things are headed. Then they proceeded to talk about how much they appreciated the non-smoking atmosphere. Ahhh...doesn't it make you feel good?

Well, we were winding down and getting ready to head over to Stoudt's. Hey, I don't get out in this neck of the woods very often ;-) We decided to order one last item from the menu, beer sorbet. Well I had to try it of course. I'm not sure what I expected though. I have never seen or tasted anything like it before. The bartender offered three flavors including kölsch, raspberry kölsch (new) and maibock. I really wanted to try the kölsch, but I wasn't sure if Lisa would like it so we took the bartender's recommendation and ordered the raspberry kölsch to share. How did it taste? You'll have to taste it for yourself :-p. I know I'll be trying it again the next time I visit.

As I finished my beer we walked around a bit. Checked out the very clean brewing room through the glass. Moved down the hall to the dining area. On the right were some vintage pictures of this location from many many years ago. On the left you'll see a wall full of wooden drawers presumably from an occupant from an earlier era. Next to that there's a case where they have a few promotional items. I decided to have a pint glass added to the check and inquired about the hat with a built in bottle opener. Shucks, they were out of them. Maybe next time.

By now you know we enjoyed our stay. I appreciated the atmosphere, the good quality brews and the story. I'd like to know a bit more about this place. I'll bet these walls have a few more stories to tell. Evidently it used to be an old general store. Next time I'll have to have a run at the dinner menu as well. Oh, I almost forgot according to Tom there is a grand opening in the works too :-)

Union Barrel Works (map)
6 N. Reamstown Road
Stevens, Pennsylvania, 17578-9562

Tap List at The Drafting Room in Exton, PA - 6/24/07

The Drafting Room in Exton, PA has a decent web presence and quite a huge reputation preceding them. Their beer turns over quite quickly. So, in the spirit of service, whenever we get to The Drafting Room, we'll post the current tap list.

What's on line as of 6/24/07? Funny you should ask.

Lancaster Rare Rooster
Rogue Daddy's Little Helper (John's Locker Stock)
Stone Old Guardian
Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA
Allagash Grand Cru
Sly Fox Royal Weisse
Sly Fox Chinook IPA
Troegs Mad Elf
Troegs/The Drafting Room's 13th Anniversary
Troegs/The Drafting Room's 12th Anniversary ...and last, but certainly not least, cask conditioned...
Troegs/The Drafting Room's 11th Anniversary (if I drink the rest of this before you get there to sample it, you'll only have yourself to blame!!

Consider yourself warned! This is one not to be missed)

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Brewing Beer: Belgian Style Ales - So Far

Seems like they turned out pretty good. First of all they are just barely a session beer at 5%. I tried them both cold and room temperature. These are much better closer to room temperature. Can't wait until they finish and clear. The orange peel is evident and adds just a bit of zest or hint of citrus. It seems like the Belgian candy sugar dried out the one batch a bit more, but, I won't be able to tell until they're finished. The wheat malt keeps it light, but, flavorful. Didn't really have enough to go into much more detail. If they turn out well, I'll take one of them to Ommegang. Something lighter to have around the RV if we're thirsty ;-) Did I every tell you, "I love brewing!". Saved the yeast slurry from both batches and I'll try to brew again tomorrow.

Brewing Beer: Belgian Style Ales into the Secondary

Its been about seven days since I brewed the two Belgian Style Ales. What has happened in the last week since I put them in the primary?

• One overflowed a bit. This is becoming a habit :-/
• The temperature in my basement was a bit too warm at 70-75 degrees for a day or so.
• I've been eagerly awaiting a chance to taste them.
• The yeast starter really did the trick. I split a large starter between two batches and they both took off overnight with no problems.

The question is, should I brew another batch of something with the yeast on the bottom of the primary? I do have some extra kegs, Bryan's carboy, Jeremy's carboy, a can of liquid American Rice extract (freebie), and some amber liquid extract. Hmmm...I'll have to think about that. I'll at least rack those two into the secondary. Cheers!

The Drafting Room & Troegs...perfect together!

(L-R) Patrick Mullin (TDR); Chris Brugger (Tröegs Brewing Architect); Nick Johnson (Tröegs Sales) The Drafting Room turns 13 this year and Tröegs turns 10. Let's see...what to do with these numbers? Add them together and you get 23...Michael Jordan's number (except for that time he went off to fulfill his baseball folly). That's some pretty great company. Okay, one more numbers game. The Drafting Room currently has their newest anniversary incarnation on tap, the 13th Anniversary beer brewed to be a strong (imperial? double?) pilsner. Add that to the 11th anniversary (cask conditioned), the 12th anniversary (co2), Dreamweaver Wheat (4.8% ABV; 15 IBU) and Mad Elf (11% ABV; 15 IBU) makes 5 Tröegs beers currently on tap at The Drafting Room in Exton, PA. Enough of the numbers? So, how is this new anniversary brew you ask? Well, when you bring it to your nose, you're immediately greeted by a blast of hops. If you miss them, don't worry you'll find them again soon when you take your first sip. Is this maybe an IPA? (I heard the comparison to Victory's Hop Devil being thrown around last night.) It's just shy of an amber color with a nice soft white head. The hops and sweetness compete for your palate's attention. It isn't until the finish that I started to detect the lingering pilsner malt and lager yeast flavors. So, perhaps it is a lager afterall! In any case, it's a good drinking beer that may deserve a growler or two more of "research" during summertime TBL Firepit Sessions. (Pause. Did I gloss over too quickly just how good the 11th anniversary cask-conditioned IPA held up over the past couple of years? Better get yourself some of this first!) After discussions last night with Patrick and the fine folks from Tröegs, it seems that my reporting of 35 kegs per TDR location was a bit of stretch. Rather, you'll have to get there and try some before the 20-ish kegs in each location disappear later this summer. Happy anniversary to TDR and Tröegs! I'll leave you here with a fun bit that I lifted off the 'Who We Are' page at Tröegs website. I can just hear Simon & Garfunkel in the background singing "do-da-do-do, feelin' Tröegy" TRÖEGS (tr?gs) *v-tröeged, -tröeg'in the act of tröeg'in, ie "I tröeged it" or {slang} "that boy is tröeg'in" -adj. An aura of complete enjoyment and contentment, ie "My you look Tröegy this morning" -n. a new tradition of Pennsylvania specialty ales {from the brewers of Tröegs}, ie "I'll have a Tröegs!"

Quick Review of Twain's in Decatur, GA

I should have posted this a few months back when I visited Twain's Billiards & Tap in Decatur, GA. It's just a couple of blocks away from my most favorite places in the Atlanta region, Brick Store Pub. They've only begun brewing their own beer in the past year, though they've been around for over 10 years.

I didn't stay much more then a half an hour, and only sampled a few of their brews so this will just be a 'quick review.' The first thing I was struck by when walking into Twain's was the industrial feel of high ceilings, metal, and wood. The second was the sports paraphernalia, especially hockey. I later learned that the owner is from the Philadelphia area and is a Philadelphia Flyers fan. In fact, the Atlanta Thrashers were playing a game that night and Twain's had a quite a crowd there to see it.

The brewpub generally had more of a working class feel to it on that particular night than Brick Store Pub. The BSP in my visits seems to have a slightly "trendier" crowd as well as a beer geek crowd. Twain's reminded me more of being in the upper level of the stadium during an Eagles or Flyers game in Philly. Not that it's a bad thing, just different.

Moving on to the beer. A quick sampling of most of their beers on tap that evening showed me the Jumping Frog IPA, the Hannibal Red Ale, and the Stranger Brown Ale were the best built beers. The stout and the ESB didn't quite live up to their style or deliver the flavor, while the Pale Ale and the regular IPA were a bit weak and a disappointment based on my preferences.

Keep in mind, this was all gleaned from roughly a 30 minute visit. During my next trip to Atlanta, I'd like to start my night at Twain's (then wind up at BSP) with some beer, dinner, and time on the pool tables (I didn't mention them, did I?) to give myself a fuller experience. Maybe I'll get some time with my Philadelphia brethren too. It seems like these guys are on the right track and compliment the Decatur landscape with something a bit different. If you've had a chance to stop in Twain's, let us know your opinion.

New Brew From Flying Dog

Over the past few months, we've made friends with the fine folks at Flying Dog. They've kept us up-to-date with news events and sent us some preview beers to sample before they've hit the market. And, how do we reciprocate? Not a word. Well, that ends now. (not that they really need press from li'l ol' us)

First they sent to us their barrel-aged Gonzo Porter. Then, the Helles Bock. Now, the Woody Creek White has shown up on our doorstep. We've heaped praise on their "regular" Gonzo in the past and the whiskey character in this Wild Dog release adds a little more fun to this already excellent brew.

The Helles Bock is a spring seasonal with a medium body weight that brings forth a dry and bready character with just a slight bitterness in the finish. A nice drinker for sure, it's still a solid beer at 6.2% that leaves you feeling it after just a few.

The Woody Creek White brought forth words like lemon zest tartness...refreshing...lemonade aroma...delicious...worthy of a 6-pack, or even a case here in PA! This was the newest summer seasonal release, named after a contest winner searched out from entries solicited from customers.

What else is Flying Dog up to? They've started up the Open Source Beer Project. Quite interesting, for sure, go check it out and let us know if you decide to participate.

And, they've got a somewhat new blog that they keep up-to-date fairly frequently.

Beer Tasting: Morland's Old Speckled Hen

The Beer: Morland's Old Speckled Hen
Style: English Pale Ale
Reviews: Beer Advocate Rate Beer
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Packaging & Date Stamping: 12 oz. clear glass bottle; no evident date stamp on bottle

From where & how stored: Obtained via holiday beer exchange in Dec. '06 (does this really qualify has a holiday/seasonal beer?!); stored at 42F since then

Pricing: $x.xx

Availability: Year-round

ABV, IBU, and Other Available Stats: 5.2% ABV
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Bryan's Notes
The Look:
- solid amber color
- decent white head holds up nicely for a while, leaves a thin layer

The Aroma & The Taste:
- very consistent between the taste and smell senses
- English ale for sure
- bit of caramel
- refreshing sweetness
- just the right body weight for a warm summer day

The Verdict: Technically, on the upper edge of ABV for a session beer, but this, served cold, can definitely be a decent session beer on a warm summer day.

Rob Tod and Allagash Beer Night at The Drafting Room in Exton, PA : 6/19/07

This was very nice time spent at The Drafting Room in Exton, PA last night. A good solid crowd, without being suffocating, added a definite buzz to the room. Didn't hear from anyone who was disappointed in the Allagash brews that were on for the event. Rob spent the prior night at Brigid's in Philly and out at The Drafting Room in Spring House, PA. He was his usual fun and engaging self, as you'd expect. Here's a quick rundown of what was available. Draft

• Curieux (hello wood! okay, that didn't sound right, but you all know what I mean)
• sixtel, won't be around much longer (no growlers)
• Grand Cru
• 1/2 barrel, will be around a bit longer (and will serve growlers)
• Tripel
• sixtel, won't be around much longer (no growlers)

Bottle

• Hugh Malone (tasty, esp. as it "opened up"...nice drinker)
• Interlude (Brett was present, no doubt!....a fab. one to explore)
• Musette (all kinds of fruit, smoke, and wood flavors...awesome!)

Countdown to Ommegang BCTC: Picture of the Week - Four

With roughly four weeks to go until Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2007 we thought you could use some reminders of how much fun it was last year. Every Wednesday leading up to the event we'll post one of our favorite pictures from BCTC 2006. The week four picture is...

Garrett Oliver & Bryan

For those of you who noticed I skipped week five. Well, I was counting Wednesdays not weeks. Bonus week :-)

Tap List at TJ's Everyday in Paoli, PA - 6/19/07

Strange name, perhaps. Strange tap list? Only if you live on the moon.

Within a 2 mile distance, it gives a very nice alternative to the Flying Pig when it's too crowded, smoky, or loud. Some even say that the smoke is more tolerable at TJ's than at other smoking bars. These guys have not only been paying attention to their beer lately, but maybe more importantly their beer and food offerings/pairings. Check 'em out and you'll see what we mean.

On an attempted regular basis, we'll post the tap list here to the TJ's Everyday in Paoli, PA. We have no affiliation with the establishment other than living within 3 miles of it and appreciating the usual quality tap and bottle list. If you like this idea, please drop us a note and let us know. While you're at it, check out the tap lists at these other fine suburban Philly watering holes.

On Draft as of 6/19/07
Heavy Seas/Clipper City Small Craft Warning Über Pils
Weyerbacher Muse Farmhouse Ale
Southampton Double White
Grimbergen Dubbel
Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
Sly Fox Slacker Bock
Dupont/Moinette Foret/Organic Pale Ale
Troegs Pale Ale (cask)
Samuel Adams Summer Ale

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Big Week at The Drafting Room in Exton, PA....starts tonight

Just a reminder......Allagash tonight, 13th Anniversary party on Thursday. Doesn't a White, or Hugh Malone, or an Interlude, or...or...or...sound good right about now?

Poll Results: Do you listen to beer related podcasts?

A while back we started polling our readers with this question.

"Do you listen to beer related podcasts?"

It seems that many of our readers do listen to podcasts (at least every now and then). 63% answered YES and 37% answered NO. We were a bit surprised to see such a high percentage of people answering YES. Thank you to all who participated. Cheers!

Monk's Beer Dinner 6/12/07 : Stoudt's Brewery

Click Here For All Beer Event Reviews

What better way to celebrate Monk's 10th anniversary than with a dinner celebrating Stoudt's, one of the region's stalwart and pioneering breweries (and some of the nicest people) which is celebrating its own landmark 20th anniversary.

Rush hour heading into Philly is normally no treat. That's part of the reason that we normally take a train. But, this time, friend and loyal TBL reader, Dennis, joined Adam and I for the dinner. He lives only a couple of miles from Stoudt's and often finds himself filling growlers, buying bottles for himself (and his TBL buddies), and picking up Eddie's bread for his dinners at home. That added to his desire to check out Monk's, for whom we rave about their dinners. Plus, he and I were spending the night in Philly and going to the Phillies afternoon game the following day. So, we drove....

In the end, it didn't register much of a net effect. But, by the time we checked-in at the hotel, we walked through the doors at Monk's at 6:55pm. You gotta understand, I only live 30 miles away and it took a record 1 3/4 hours to get there. Thing is, everyone was affected by the ferocious thunderstorms that swept through the area. All major, and secondary, roads were clogged. The Stoudt's crew (that would be Carol & Ed, daughters, a brewer (Joe), and a sales guy (Sean)) got stuck on the turnpike and didn't show up until close to 7:30pm. By the time Adam got to the train and meandered his way into the city, he only got there a few minutes earlier. No matter, it was game time and everyone was finally on the field.

With introductions out of the way, Carol took the microphone and smoothly transitioned from hectic travel to relaxing beer dinner co-host. From the picture here, you might think she was getting the night started with the National Anthem. But, seriously, throughout the evening, she did just what I appreciate most about Monk's dinners. That is, the interjection of stories and anecdotes from the brewer along with each course of the meal.

Not that there's hardly ever a dud in the food menu and pairings during a beer dinner at Monk's, but I sometimes find the first and the last courses the most intriguing. Their first course typically wakes up the senses with a flavorful, but not overpowering, pairing of food and beer. This time was no different. The wasabi cream underneath the tuna and the sauerkraut helped to bring out some of the spice in the Pilsner. The Stoudt's Pils has always been a real fine example of a smooth German Pilsner with its subtle fruit and spice components. Just another example of why food and beer pairing makes so much sense.

And, the last course, well the last course is dessert and you know what that means! To my recollection, I have never complained about the dessert. Usually decadent and usually perfectly paired, it's almost always the grand finale in the fireworks display that is a Monk's beer dinner. Though, this dinner's final course was just a slight derivation on their last beer dinner's dessert, it was far from worth quibbling about. Plus, with the smooth cask-conditioned Fat Dog Stout (one of my long time faves from Stoudt's), well I need not say more.

In between, we enjoyed the maibock which redeemed itself from a slightly off bottle version of it that I had a few months back. Served along with the chicken terrine stuffed with (was it?) cherries, it showed off its solid body along with solid malt flavors, but still a very drinkable beer.

The Weizen was served with a melon soup that finished with a nice pepper kick that complemented the spice from the Weizen quite nicely.

The tripel is also one of my long time favorites from Stoudt's and was served with monkfish. At first, I thought it could be an odd pairing, but it was pulled off just fine, probably helped by the fennel and vidalia onion.

The new kid on Stoudt's block (no, not Union Barrel Works) is the Smooth Hoperator. I have no clue how long it will take to get the Sade song out of my mind. But, while it rattles around up there, I can continue to dwell on what style this beer actually is. Ed and I had a little back-and-forth on this topic after dinner. I'm not certain we came to an exact agreement, but I do agree with him that it is "Americanized." But, let's forget all that for now. It's a downright hop-forward beer and went well with the veal dish. But, geez, the veal was just so tender and flavorful (and I'm a big mushroom guy, so this course you might guess was near the top of the night for me) that I couldn't decide which I wanted more of, the Hoperator or the food on the plate. Ah, to wrestle with such decisions.

After dinner, I was happy that Adam had the chance to sample the Boon (cask 52) lambic, whose second keg was still on line. That and Cantillon Lou Pepe were new styles to Dennis. We had fun watching as his perspective on what exactly beer is turned upside down. He'd come over to the craft beer world years ago, but now has a new frontier after tasting these lambics.

How did Dennis fare over the night? Well, if words from him like "incredible", "great time", "overwhelming", "well worth it", "now I know why you guys rave so much", etc. are any indication...He lives a good hike from Center City Philly, so he won't be a regular wingman for these dinners, but I'll bet he'll be back again sometime not too long from now! Then, we took him to Nodding Head and Tria....stories for another day.

Sorry, if anyone was looking for a negative note on the night, you'll have to look elsewhere. Good luck!


1st Course
Stoudt's Pilsner
- Amuse Buche (grilled asparagus/sauerkraut/asian tuna)

2nd Course
Stoudt's Weizen
- Chilled Melon Soup

3rd Course
Stoudt's Blonde Double Maibock
- Chicken Terrine

4th Course
Stoudt's aged Belgian-style Tripel
- Monkfish, braised with tomatoes, fennel, & vidalia onions

5th Course
Stoudt's Smooth Hoperator
- Veal Cheek Carbonnade with fresh morel mushrooms & fiddlehead ferns

6th Course
Stoudt's Fat Dog Stout (cask)
- Chocolate Coffee Mousse

Click Here For All Beer Event Reviews

Bon Vivant Market, Smithfield Virginia

It all started a couple weekends ago when I was in Suffolk, VA. My brother-in-law, John, and I were talking about where to get some locally brewed beer. We were specifically looking for some Legend Brown Ale. Well that didn't take very long. In just a few minutes we were at a local Farm Fresh looking at their fairly impressive lineup of beer. Yes, that's right all you people from the Keystone State. I found Legend Brown Ale in a supermarket! In addition to the Legend Brown we picked up some Pete's Wicked Ale (hadn't had it in years), Magic Hat Hocus Pocus and some #9.

The next day I felt like the weekend was really humming along, from a beer perspective that is. I was pretty satisfied with the Legend Brown Ale, even though the bottles I bought for Bryan and Dennis were mysteriously missing. Ooops, I guess one more run to the grocery store for some beer was in order.

Even with all this success I was eager to find more local beer to bring back to PA. John was telling me about a friend of his that was into beer as well. He called him up and found out about this place in Smithfield, VA that had some really good stuff. I had a few minutes to jump on the web and decided to look it up. I found their website and at the Smithfield location they list all kinds of beer that just isn't mainstream, including a great selection of locals. Well that's all it took. We decided to make the 40 minute trek up to Smithfield and check out Bon Vivant Market.

So imagine traveling over some country roads for over 30 minutes past the peanut fields and easing into the outskirts of town looking for an address. Not to mention using directions from an online mapping site. It didn't appear to be where it was supposed to be so we drove a little futher down the road and circled around again. "Wait, no that can't be it." Yes, in fact that was it. As you can see from the picture Bon Vivant Market is a very small place. In this case good things come in small packages.

As I walked to the entrance of this informal little shop I was getting increasingly curious about what I would find. There were tons of baskets strewn among the wild flowers just outside the open front door. As I stepped inside and my eyes adjusted, there it was, the beer room. It wasn't big, but, boy was it chock full of all kinds of goodies! Check here for a pretty good list of what is available. The room is so small that I was immediately overwhelmed while trying to search for specific brands. John and Lisa helped me focus and eventually had to tear me away, but, not before filling a box with some hard to find (in Pennsylvania) beer. I even picked up some interesting glassware.

Mike Adams really knows what to put on the shelves. Too bad I didn't get to meet him. Evidently he isn't there on Mondays. Maybe next time. If you're in the area (Norfolk, Newport News or Hampton) and you're looking for good beer this is a great place to stop!

Bon Vivant Market

1504 S Church Street

Smithfield VA 23430

Bon Vivant at Governor's Pointe

1901 Governors Pointe Drive

Suffolk VA 23436

Brewing Beer: Father's Day, a day to brew.

What a weekend! Decided this would be a good weekend to brew a session beer or two.

• Picked up some supplies and gadgets at The Beer and Wine Emporium on Friday.
• Saturday put up the yeast starter.
• Sunday cleaned up one of the new (to me) corney kegs and some carboys
• Helped Bryan a little while he was working on the hops arbor area
• Kegged the Strong German Ale in the new keg
• Brewed an extract batch of Belgian Session beer with wheat and barley malt, belgian candi sugar and some orange peel

Tonight I'll be brewing again. This time it will be the same recipe without the candi sugar and the orange peel. A nice little side by side comparison.

24 Hours in Philadelphia

It was a full day, but it was a very good day indeed, almost down to an exact 24 hours. ~ Monk's Dinner (Stoudt's 20th anniversary dinner; more to come soon) ~ Nodding Head ~ Tria Cafe ~ Check out Monk's new location for their Belgian Cafe ~ 4 blocks east to check out future location of Tàbhairne ~ 4.5 mile run ~ Phillies afternoon game and good beers (a win locked up by Aaron Rowand's grand slam against his former team, Chicago White Sox) ~ dinner and beers at For Pete's Sake (why would we want to sit in rush hour traffic?!)...more to come soon on this establishment as well...promise

Tap List at The Drafting Room in Exton, PA - 6/16/07

The Drafting Room in Exton, PA has a decent web presence and quite a huge reputation proceeding them. Their beer turns over quite quickly. So, in the spirit of service (and regardless of certain misinformed opinions on one beer "fan" website), whenever we get to The Drafting Room, we'll post the current tap list.

What's on line as of 6/16/07? Funny you should ask.

Lancaster Rare Rooster
Clipper City/Heavy Seas Red Sky At Night Saison
Cantillon Lou Pepe
Rogue Daddy's Little Helper (John's Locker Stock)
Stone Old Guardian
Weihenstephan Hefeweissbier
Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA
Sierra Nevada Pale Bock
Allagash White
Stone IPA

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Buy Me A Beer Tonight

I'll be running in the Media 5-miler tonight in...wait for it...Media, PA and will be hanging around for the post-race activities. That'd be a perfect time to meet up with you and a chance for you to buy me a celebratory beer. Ya know, just in case you've got nothing better to do. If you're at the Grimbergen tasting at Beer Yard in Wayne, I'll give you a pass...cuz that's where I'd be too. But, with Berliner Weisse on tap at Iron Hill......

Tàbhairne in Philadelphia, PA: Construction Update 6/13/07

I don't have much info on the future home of Tàbhairne, a new Irish Pub at 17th and Green in Philadelphia, PA. It's in the former space of Cuvee Notredame, and prior to that...Mezzanotte. From the looks of things, it'll be at least through the summer before the joint is ready to pour some brews. While it may not turn out to be on the beer geek circuit, if anyone has further info feel free to drop us a comment.

(Monk's) Belgian Cafe in Philadelphia, PA: Construction Update 6/13/07

I think it's safe to say that with the complete gutting, digging out of the basement, and new construction, it will still be a while before we see the new Belgian Cafe (of Monk's descendancy) opening at 21st and Green streets in Philadelphia.

Countdown to Ommegang BCTC: Picture of the Week - Six

With roughly six weeks to go until Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2007 we thought you could use some reminders of how much fun it was last year. Every Wednesday leading up to the event we'll post one of our favorite pictures from BCTC 2006. The week six picture is...

Can you guess what I'm doing up there?

Beer Tasting: Stewart's Hoppy Trails

The Beer: Stewart's Hoppy Trails
Style: Imperial Red
Reviews: Beer Advocate Rate Beer
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Packaging & Date Stamping: 64 oz. clear glass growler; purchased 6/9, consumed 6/10

From where & how stored: Fresh from brewpub and stored at 42F

Pricing: $11.00 per growler

Availability: Most likely one-time only in honor of departing brewer John F.

ABV, IBU, and Other Available Stats: 6.2% ABV
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Bryan's Notes
The Look:
- nice white foam that hangs around for a bit, but fades soon
- (most of their beers are served at the pub without much significant head)

The Aroma:
- very, very pleasing fresh chinook and cascade hop aroma

The Taste:
- very hop forward, but oh so very well balanced too

The Verdict: This is just such an fun-drinking, hop friendly beer. Adam, I'm so sorry that this didn't last until Wednesday after you return home. This may require a drive...if you drive, I'll buy you one. Anyone else within spittin' distance of northern Delaware (now, that sounds silly doesn't it?!) should check this out at the brewpub while it lasts. (word is they have one batch...around 5 barrels)

Sly Fox and Iron Hill at Blind Tiger Ale House in New York, NY

I occasionally report things of interest happening up north in NYC at the renewed Blind Tiger Ale House. Does anyone really care? Well, perhaps not. But, this one especially caught my eye, given its local Philly slant. Good to see one of New York's finest serving up some Pennsylvania's finest. ================================================== This Wednesday June 13th @ 4:00PM-ish (some beers might be late) we will be raising our glasses to Sly Fox and Iron Hill (just in case, it's 281 Bleecker St.) This is a list to remember... From Iron Hill: Saison, Belgian Pale Ale, Biere de Garde, Flemish Red, Bourbon Russian Imperial Stout, Ironbound Ale (APA), and Cannibal. From Sly Fox: Royal Weisse, O'Reilly's Stout, Route 113 IPA, Pikel and Pils, Dunkel Bock, Ichor Quad, Instigator Doppelbock, Abbey Double, Panacea Barleywine and Odyssey Double IPA. Okay, there could be some other brews of interest showing up on Wednesday but I am not one to brag... Think cask beer... Also, He'brew will be showing off their best and hoppiest on Wednesday June 20th @ 4:00PM at the blind feline... (list TBA). Will work on new material... Alan ==================================================

Dog Days of Summer? nah, not in Philadelphia

The dog days of summer will have to wait 'til next year, because this year in the Philadelphia region, we have several great beer things on the horizon to keep us cool. The summer got started right at the beginning of June here with the opening of Teresa's Next Door Bar in Wayne, PA. Next up will be the releasing of Perkuno's Hammer (formerly of Heavyweight Brewing in NJ) from Victory. Then, not long after that, provided all goes as planned, the newest incarnation of Dock Street should be unveiled in West Philly. Still undetermined, but possibly capping off the summer could be the new offspring of Monk's Cafe, part deux, in the Fairmount/Art Museum section and the new Beneluxx (of Eulogy descendency) just a couple blocks away from its parent. In the middle of all these new (and returning) openings, Stoudt's is celebrating its 20th year in the biz. Troegs and Appalachian are celebrating their 10th. And, Iron Hill continues their growth onward through the suburbs. What are you looking forward to this summer? CHEERS!

Beer Tasting: Stoudt's Smooth Hoperator

The Beer: Stoudt's Smooth Hoperator
Style: A well-hopped Beer (because if you ask different people, you get different style opinions....so, we're sticking with "well-hopped beer")
Reviews: Beer Advocate Rate Beer
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Packaging & Date Stamping: 12 oz. brown bottle; "Best by 9/1/07"

From where & how stored: Purchased from brewpub and stored at 42F since then

Pricing: $8.00 per six-pack (thanks Dennis, for the pickup)

Availability: Possibly year-round, TBA

ABV, IBU, and Other Available Stats: 7.2% ABV; 50 IBU
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Bryan's Notes
The Look:
- Decent, off-white head that fades slowly
- Dark brownish-ale with hints of orange and red

The Aroma:
- Very fresh, hoppy nose

The Taste:
- Medium body and carbonation carries the hops easily from front to back
- The hops, while not crazy over-the-top, sure do obscure other malt and yeast flavors
- There is a touch of honey sweetness that I could pick up, but that's about it for other non-hop flavors

The Verdict: Ed Stoudt describes this as an American Doppelbock, though I sure had a hard time finding the goat in this very hop-forward beer. Still, this is a nice drinking beer that I could certainly have a few of....oh, in fact I did!

While you're at it, check out their recently redesigned website. Much improved!
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Adam's Notes
The Look:
- dark amber with no bugs ;-)

The Aroma:
- wonderfully hoppy fresh aroma...ah...crack one of these puppies open for a hop nose to die for

The Taste:
- round malty hoppy tangy bitter fun smellin' beer
- not too sweet, bitterness overides that

The Verdict: You might almost mistake this for a West Coast IPA. Maybe the yeast is what separates it?

Beer Tasting: Appalachian Brewing Co. Grinnin' Grizzly

The Beer: Appalachian Brewing Co. Grinnin' Grizzly Holiday Spiced Ale
Style: Spiced Amber Ale
Reviews: Beer Advocate Rate Beer
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Packaging & Date Stamping: 12 oz. brown bottle; no date stamp

From where & how stored: Obtained via holiday beer exchange and stored at 50F since then

Pricing: $x.xx

Availability: Winter Seasonal

ABV, IBU, and Other Available Stats: 5.7% ABV; 14.0 P
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Bryan's Notes
The Look:
- Solid reddish-brown color
- 2 finger, tightly packed tiny bubble head
- Hangs around for a while then fades slowly to a ring; no lacing
- Smooth looking pour

The Aroma:
- pleasing cinnamon
- hops not noticeable

The Taste:
- Orange more so in the taste than the aroma
- Faint kick of alcohol
- Medium-bodied
- hops not noticeable

The Verdict: Holiday spices are the theme throughout. Good, but not great.

Upcoming Events at The Drafting Room in Exton, PA

Ordinarily, we might get an event announcement from someone and we'll simply throw it up in our calendar section here at The Brew Lounge. But, when Patrick gives us notice of two upcoming events at The Drafting Room of the following caliber (and we need something to talk about this afternoon), well he gets a special notice here all of his own.

Looks great, Patrick. Glad to see you snagged Mr. Tod for a couple hours of his time while he's on his Delaware Valley circuit. And, can't wait to see how this year's anniversary installment has turned out. Wow, you'll see us twice in 48 hours...what does that say about us?


Happy Hour with Rob Tod of Allagash (6/19; 6pm-8pm; pay as you go)

13th Anniversary Ale Release Party (6/21; 6pm-???; pay as you go)

Beer Tasting: Bison Reunion Imperial Brown Ale

Read our updated notes here on Virginia MacLean and Reunion Beer

The Beer: Bison Reunion Imperial Brown
Style: American Brown Ale
Reviews: Beer Advocate Rate Beer
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Packaging & Date Stamping: 22 oz. brown bottle; no evident date stamp on bottle

From where & how stored: Shipped via FedEx from Liquid Solutions and stored at 42F since then (1st bottle); stored at 55F (2nd bottle)

Pricing: $4.95 per bottle

Availability: Limited one-time fundraising brew, though, reportedly to be brewed again in 2008 for national distribution (style to be determined)

ABV, IBU, and Other Available Stats:
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Bryan's Notes
The Look:
- solid brown appearance
- one-finger head, disappears quickly but can be easily swirled back up (first bottle)
- holy carbonation! (2nd bottle, pictured)....this bottle was stored at closer to 55F and on its side. Would that tend to make it a gusher?

The Aroma:
- medicinal
- cola sweetness
- sambuca
- distracting, not what I expected

The Taste:
- better than the aroma, yet still not what I was expecting for an "imperial Pete's Wicked"
- solid malt flavors; hints of the dry bready, malty flavors I look for in a brown
- medium body

The Verdict: For a good cause, I'll drink several of these. Though, would be interested to find on tap in California and compare. I'm anxious to try another of the bottles that I bought sometime down the road to see if there's any difference. I like brown ales, have a soft spot for Pete's Wicked, and really want to like this. Though, the aroma is very distracting and is hopefully an anomaly. Fortunately, we have another bottle to try down the road.
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Adam's Notes
The Look:
- dark oak brown
- persistent head

The Aroma:
- anise
- spicy nose

The Taste:
- big brown ale
- bitter finish
- nutty in the middle

The Verdict: This is interesting, but, as most brown ales it just doesn't make much sense to me. Not sure if that is me or the beer. The jury is out. Need more samples to be sure.

The Story of Virginia MacLean & Reunion Beer

While we have not known Virginia personally, this was a story that we've followed partly because it's a touching, human-interest story and partly because it hearkens back to our early days of craft beer drinking with Pete's Wicked Ale. An e-mail has notified us that her life story has reached the next level. As we wish her friends and family well through this time, we will pop open our last bottle of the Reunion '07 beer tonight in her honor. ------------------------- Virginia MacLean June 4, 2007 Our dear friend and partner in REUNION, Virginia MacLean died at her home early this morning. She was surrounded by family and at peace with her life and impending death. She is survived by her mother, 9 brothers and sisters, many nieces and nephews, and her beautiful 2-1/2 year old daughter, Paige. Virginia was an extraordinary person. She faced her fight against Multiple Myeloma with strength, dignity, grace, and optimism. She was not only the inspiration for the REUNION project, but an active participant in every facet. Even as she realized the odds of her own survival were diminishing, she pushed harder and harder to make REUNION a success. She believed wholeheartedly in the work of Dr. Berenson and understood the value of bringing hope to others. We are deeply saddened by her passing but know how fortunate we were to call Virginia our friend. We salute her spirit and will honor her wishes to continue this mission. We will be back with REUNION '08 to celebrate Virginia's life and hopefully aid IMBCR in finding a cure for this disease. Thanks to the many of you that have supported our efforts by purchasing REUNION and for your generous donations. Together we can make a difference. In loving memory, Alan & Pete

Quick Review: Teresa's Next Door Bar in Wayne, PA

Click Here For All Brew Pub & Beer Bar Reviews

Congratulations, Wayne. You finally have possession of the long-awaited Next Door Bar of Teresa's. Tuesday's soft opening event proved that the parts are all in place for their anticipated public opening on June 11th. While they don't overtly say that they are a Belgian bar, some elements of the food and beer certainly do give you the right Belgian feeling. In the spirit of brevity, for which I'm so well known, here's a quick rundown. ~ No TVs. check ~ No smoke. check ~ 24 taps, 1 hand pump. check ~ More beer celebrities than you could shake a rake at. check, check, check, check, check, check (ha, did I get you with that last one?) ~ Matt Guyer (and keeping it in the family with bartender and sister, Carolyn) working the crowd. check ~ Mussels, a dozen Belgian tap handles, Waterzooi. check ~ Stylish decor and, yes, restrooms too. check After the 6/15 Grimbergen tasting at Beer Yard could be a fun time to stop in and see how they're doing on their first Friday night of business. I'll be in Media doing a 5 mile run, then likely stopping in at Iron Hill and/or Quotations...but you could go to Teresa's, now couldn't you?! Check back over the next few weeks, when we should have a full review. (And yes, my friends that is a picture of the restroom. Hey, it was a talking point during the night, so razz away, I can take it.) P.S. now that I've wasted your time here, go read a better report over here. I knew all of his fastidious note-taking would render a better review than mine.

Click Here For All Brew Pub & Beer Bar Reviews

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Countdown to Ommegang BCTC: Picture of the Week - Seven

With roughly seven weeks to go until Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2007 we thought you could use some reminders of how much fun it was last year. Every Wednesday leading up to the event we'll post one of our favorite pictures from BCTC 2006. The week seven picture is...

What's this all about?!

Consumer Reports Rates Light Beers » Hop Talk

Hey I think I found a new way to buy beer. Just use Consumer Reports!? Consumer Reports Rates Light Beers » Hop Talk (yes there is sarcasm here) Next thing you know they'll be rating bottled water. I can hear it now. "X Brand tastes more watery. Y Brand has more traces of arsenic. Z Brand has marketing that makes people feel more important."

Growing Hops: What's this?

Thanks to Bryan for some awesome closeup shots :-)

Teresa's Next Door Opening Soon in Wayne, PA

This long and winding road to an opening in Wayne appears to be finally drawing to a conclusion. Teresa's Next Door is being reported over at the Beer Yard as very close to opening. If the bureaucracy is behind them and only waiting on a computer system, that could be a very good sign indeed! This will surely make for a convenient dinner stop after visits to the Beer Yard only a 1/3 mile away. And, with our friend, Mr. Guyer, consulting on the beer, that too is another very good sign.

Tap List at Flying Pig Saloon in Malvern, PA - 6/2/07

On an attempted regular basis, we'll post the tap list here to the Flying Pig Saloon in Malvern, PA. We have no affiliation with the establishment other than living within 2 miles of it and appreciating the usual quality tap and bottle list. If you like this idea, please drop us a note and let us know.

On Draft as of 6/2/07
Bell's Oberon Wheat
Stone Ruination IPA
Anderson Valley Pale Ale
Stoudts Smooth Hoperator
Magic Hat #9
Felinfoel Double Dragon (cask-conditioned)
Otter Creek Summer Ale
Caracole Nostradamus Belgian Quad
Allagash White
Grimbergen Belgian Dubbel

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Growing Hops: Recovering and New Growth

These are from about a week ago. Bryan has some really awesome closeups too. I'll post them soon. Looks like the left side is recovering from my daughters accidental pruning. Also, see the new growth in the bottom picture? :-)

My favorite beers of the past 3 months

Here is a listing of what has tantalized my taste buds over the past few months. Brooklyn Local 1 Dogfish Head Red & White Du de Ciel Peche Mortel Rogue Brewer Rogue 10000 Iron Hill Cassis Allagash Curieux Westvleteren 12 Alaskan Smoked Porter East End Fat Gary Nut Brown Ale Boon Unblended Lambic

The Session #4 - Local Beers; General Lafayette

Read all the posts for this installment of The Session

1. The Session #4 - Local Beers, Philly Style : Why we did this.
2. The Session #4 - Local Beers, Background Information on General Lafayette in Lafayette Hill, PA
3. The Session #4 - Local Beers; General Lafayette : Our Visit (You are here.)

I've been to General Lafayette a couple times. I hadn't heard of it until Bryan pointed it out to me a couple years back. It really isn't that far away, but, it is toward Philly and well that's probably the biggest reason I didn't really know about it. I tend to shy away from the city.

Some brew pubs have good beer and some have good food. A few have both. That is the case with General Lafayette. I'm not just talking lagers, red ales, and stouts. I'm talking Chocolate Thunder porter, The Phantom Barleywine, and Emperor's New Clothes Belgian Tripel. There are plenty of selections for the adventurous. Oh, you want a session beer? They have that too. Try the Churchill Mild at 4.2%. It packs some flavor baby. I'm not a foodie, so I won't get too much into the food except to say that it is not standard fare. Definitely a step above the average pub fare.

My favorite beer of the night was the Churchill Mild on cask. It had a light roasty sweetness to it. What can I say? I'm intrigued by a good session beer these days. Ok...Ok...the bottle of Emperor's New Clothes was second on the list. We also tried this tripel on tap. The bottled version was more delicate and a slightly tart. Last but not least was the Grim Reaper on cask. Reminded me of the Chocolate Thunder porter and really stood up well served slightly warmer with less carbonation.

So there you have it. Good beer, good food, ambiance, history, a place to stay, good beer and, er, good beer ;-) This isn't the kinda place everybody has access too. I'm thankful that we do.

Hopefully, you readers out there don't mind me, Bryan, jumping in here. I don't have much more to add to what Adam's already said so well about The General. It certainly was a great place to a pay a visit to on our Drink Local day of The Session. Thanks to GFC for hosting it this month.

Funny how I mentioned 15 miles as the crow flies the other day. Because after we hopped in our car smack in the middle of rush hour on a summer Friday, it only took us about, oh, 50 minutes or so to get there!

After arriving, we bumped into both Chris Leonard and Russ Czajka who were more than happy to share with us the latest tappings and happenings at the pub. The dark pub and our little table in the corner provided just the perfect ambiance that you should expect when you go there. Exposed beams, nooks and crannies, and small rooms all contribute to the atmosphere. And, oh yes like Adam said, the variety of beers to cover the spectrum from session to high gravity, from fruit to hops, cask conditioned to CO2, and mead thrown in for good measure.

The food didn't disappoint. We started with Risotto Fritters and an olive tempanade. Then, we each had a sandwich and fries as a main course. To finish our meal we dug into bread pudding and creme brulee as a nice accompaniment to the '05 Tripel from their basement.

Often times we agree, but this time it looks like my order of favorite beers of the night is almost the opposite of Adam's. The Emperor's Tripel has to be at the top for me. Whether on CO2 or bottled and aged, the smooth and warming (but not so alcoholic) brew with the fruit that just jumps out as it warms was a knockout winner.

This was followed by the Ambassador IPA which delivered a nice hop blast in the flavor without much forewarning in the aroma. Yes, it might have been a touch "hot", but I must have been in the mood for that. Then, keeping with the hops theme I enjoyed the Pacific Pale and its nice fresh hop flavors. The Grim Reaper, depending how I think about it was anyone from 2nd to 4th. The nice roasty and bitter flavors layered nicely within this smooth cask conditioned beer. A bigger beer, but certainly not imperial, whatever that means! But, perhaps, I just wasn't in the mood for a bigger stout on this evening.

Lastly, if I was drinking one beer as a session beer for the evening, it would certainly be the Churchill's. It's only last here on my list because of the other more complex beers of the evening. But this mild was a nice beer that I enjoyed last weekend at Ortino's sessionfest and actually reminds me a bit of the Yards ESA or Pale Ale, with some nice fruit (apricot?) flavors in the finish.

Here's a rundown of what was on tap on June 1st along with The General's descriptions. Check the picture below for a listing of their vintage cellar-aged beers...also not to be missed.

Germantown Blonde, 4.8% ABV, 16 IBU
A light, easy drinking German Blonde Ale, straw yellow in color. Similar in style to a Kolsh, this popular favorite has more malt flavor and less hop bite. Imported German malt as well as a special Alt yeast strain from Dusseldorf contribute to its incredible smoothness!

Raspberry Mead-Ale, 9.6% ABV, 9 IBU
Brewed to emulate the Honey Meads of the ancient Celts. 80 pounds of whole raspberries are used in each batch of this newly reformulated brew. Triple fermentation adds to the complexity and subtleties of this tasty, but unusual beverage.

Sunset Red Ale, 5.9% ABV, 22 IBU
As our brewmaster dreams of the sun going down over the Pacific, this medium bodied, malty
Red Ale was his first brew at the General. Caramel and toffee flavors blend with imported English hops in this extra smooth ale. Consistently one of our top sellers, the brewer spends a lot
less time dreaming of sunsets and more time trying to keep this beer flowing!

Pacific Pale Ale, 5.7% ABV, 37 IBU
A Western, American-style pale ale. Drier, hoppier, turbocharged version of this house favorite.
Hops from the Pacific Northwest provide the distinctive citrus flavor. A malty finish balances this incredible, quaffable ale. Trying to catch the Sunset Red, this has become one of our fastest selling beers (slow down people, I can't keep up!).

Churchill’s Mild, 4.2% ABV, 15 IBU
The magical disappearing beer! A sip of this enchanting ale leaves you with, well, nothing. While similar to the mild ales of England, this brew does have more malt flavor and alcohol content than its British cousins. The nutty sweetness, light body, and delicate texture evaporate before your tongue and your pint is gone before you know it.

The Ambassador IPA, 7.8% ABV, 99 IBU
Spreading hoppy good-will throughout beer-geek-dom, we’ve used a blend of American and English hops to bitter and flavor this classy brew. Nutty, robust imported Maris Otter malt contributes to a well mannered yet assertive beer of impeccable taste. Try our diplomatic offering to those in need of a serious hop fix. Cheers!

The Grim Reaper, 8.9% ABV, 65 IBU
This strong, full-bodied Imperial Stout has come for you. Chocolate and roasty flavors blend with high alcohol and floral hop notes in this monster. Complex and elusive, each taste brings forth new flavor experiences. Served in a 14-oz glass only, we must limit you to three!

The Emperor’s New Clothes, 9.1% ABV, 35 IBU
Spicy flavors produced by the Belgian yeast such as clove, white pepper, and coriander characterize this Belgian–style Trippel. Golden in color, high alcohol and a dry finish round out this sophisticated ale. Served in a tulip shaped glass, we must limit you to three!

RED VELVET
Try this sublime blend of our Sunset Red Ale and Chocolate Thunder Porter.

Cask Conditioned Ale
Try beer the way the Brits drink it! Served at cellar temperature (approximately 55 degrees), the beer is unfiltered and undergoes natural carbonation and conditioning in the cask. Due to the brewer's diligent struggle for beer nirvana, we now have a brand new, DOUBLE beer engine. This should allow us to serve two distinct cask conditioned ales at all times - brewer's body willing. Ask your server which styles of beer we are currently serving.

Beer Dates in History: June Anniversaries

20 years Stoudt's 15 years Federal Jack's / Kennebunkport Brewing

The Session #4 - Local Beers, Background Information on General Lafayette in Lafayette Hill, PA

Read all the posts for this installment of The Session

1. The Session #4 - Local Beers, Philly Style : Why we did this.
2. The Session #4 - Local Beers, Background Info on The General Lafayette (You are here.)
3. The Session #4 - Local Beers; General Lafayette : Our Visit

To further prepare for our visit to General Lafayette in Lafayette Hill, PA tonight, we have some background information for you on the establishment from brewer Russ Czajka. If you dive further into the history on its website, you'll see that the history of the Inn is quite fascinating. =========================================================== The General has been a brewpub for 10 years and the inn is 275 years old. We will be having a 10th anniversary celebration 9/1/07 and releasing our 275 Barleywine. The 275 will be our first bottled beer for sale and we will only bottle 275 bottles. At over 13% ABV it will be a keeper. We probably make 35 to 40 different styles of beer and usually have 10 to 12 on tap, which includes 2 on hand pump and one black beer. We have 4 standards on tap all the time, Germantown Blonde, Raspberry Mead, Sunset Red, & Pacific Pale. The Chocolate Thunder Porter has also become a standard, but it is currently not on tap because we have an Imperial Stout on tap. We brew our specialty beers by the season and are currently ending our Belgian brews and starting to brew summer beers. There is still one Belgian to be released which is the Lafayette's Biere De Framboises. The Framboises is currently still conditioning in the fermenter with 380 pounds of raspberries in a 7 barrel batch. As you know, the food is as good as our beer. We have recently renovated our patio area and it is a great place to sit under the stars and the hop vines with a beer in hand. We also have a 5 room guest house behind the inn, and don't forget about the ghosts. ===========================================================