Author Archives: beerblog

Salzburg, Austria

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How much more fun could I have.  The Augustiner Braustubl (Brewery and Beer Garden).  there are two ways to eat and drink.  You certainly can get service, however, the “schank” (self-service) is so much more fun.  You pay the cashier and get a reciept. Then you go and pick your mug or mugs as the case may be.  You bring them over to the sink and wash them yourself.  Then you go to the guy and he fills up your beers.  No frills but just great ice cold lager.  Sit down in the 1000 seat beirgarten and enjoy.  For eats, once again self service, just go upstairs and grab a brat, pretzel or Schneitzel.  Or why not all three!!!!

I thought it was going to be a pure tourist trap, but the tourists were actually in the minority.  When it starts to fill up, you can also invite strangers to share your table, which we did..  They spoke hardly any English and our German was pretty bad, but we all agreed that good beer and food is the universal language.  PROST!

Spritzenhaus Brooklyn 2015

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A great spot to send the day. Two bars, a fireplace, beer garden table seating, garage door type windows opening up for the spring and summer and….BRATS!

We had the rabbit and veal, duck and venison.  All were  moist and really tasty. Couldn’t choose the toppings, so the bartender got all of them for us, at no extra charge.  Had both the pretzel and belgium fries…VERY good. Great mustards.

Had the Veltins Pils, almost identical to a Radeburger Pils…nothing better on a hot day with a hot Brat.  A typical German Lager with a nice taste and perfect to cut the spice of the Brat.

This is a rather large beer hall but still quaint enough to want to spend the day.  It was just our forth stop of the pub crawl so we had to move on.  Nice and quiet on a mid Friday afternoon.  When we walked by later around 10pm it was jamming.

NYC Pub Crawl-2015, Third stop BROOKLYN!

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BROUWERIJ LANE GREENPOINT.  What can I say. This little beer bar/beer shop has everything you want in a neighborhood joint.  I guess to call it a joint is even too much.  It’s a little room with  a couple of tables, a GREAT draft selection of sessions for the long pub crawl and a fridge filled with a fine selection.  You know when they have an empty can of Heddy Topper on a shelf as decoration, it’s all going to be good.

They had the Jever  Pils on draft and the Jever truck was delivering the bottles.  It’s always one of my favorite German beers, light, crisp but with that skunky flavor…and I say that in a good way.  I texted my friend from Sweeden and he told me to hijack the truck.  Take a good close look at the selection…well worth it.  If I lived in Greenpoint, I’d have to be here at least weekly.  Ben the man pouring the beer and working the register and doing everything else was eager to have us sample many of the other beers and it was just perfect.

They sell no real food so you can BYOF.  They do have locally brined pickles and some chips.  GO TO THIS PLACE!  I insist!

Sedona 2015

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I never knew anything about Sedona except that my friend Tony moved there about 25 years ago.  So, I decided to pay him a visit and we went on a nice little beer crawl.

The first beer of the day is the Oak Creek Amber and the other bottle was the Grand Canyon American Pils .  Both okay, average beers.  Nothing much to write home about.  Probably a “C+”. But I guess okay for a really hot day.

Quite honestly I forget the draft, but it was a tasty IPA.

This time and time and time again, it’s not the beer but the company and seeing my friend was worth the 2 hour drive.

SuperBowl 2015 Arizona

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Who says there’s no where to drink beer  in Phoenix/Scottsdale area.  Went out to watch my NE Patriots win the Superbowl, but also had to check out some fine beer bars.  The first two pics are from HOPDODDY Burger.  Fantastic Bison Burger and a beautiful ice cold Four Peaks IPA.  This is a must go to place when you are in the area.

The next three pics are of OHSO.  This is a pure beer bar.  The hipster bartenders are very knowledgable and will direct you to whatever is your style. They also give tastings from the kegs.  Had the Hoppy IPA and it was as advertised.  Great hop and finish.

The next two pictures are from our favorite place the Brat Haus.  GREAT Brats with several types of fixins.  All of the beers are light German Lagers on draft. (They have a bunch of other stuff in the bottle).  It really felt like we were in Germany eating the Brats and drinking the lagers.  They also have a great outdoor section with ping pong and some fire pits.  Hipster bartender was very knowledgable, more so about the Brats, but it doesn’t really matter when ordering German Lagers.

So now its the end of the night and we didn’t want to grab the Uber just yet. So, we found this rather large place in Old Scottsdale, Two Brothers Brewing Co.   Had the Wobble IPA and it was a great finish to the night. Citrusy, grassy and a nice malty finish.  A little loud in there, but that’s half the fun.

Finally, my friend Larry and I at the stadium.  Nuff said.

Great trip, can’t wait to return.

Some Farmhouse Brew

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Perfect with Charcuterie.  Both of these beers poured a hazy yellow. The Tank had huge flavors of citrus, while the DOgfish had more spices like sage and thyme, maybe.  Both very nice summer drinking beers, even if they are 8.5% and 6.8%. Good thing wifey  drove home.

CISCO Brewery-Nantucket, MA

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My first time to Nantucket last summer and it rained for two days.  Well, at least we got to go check out the Cisco Brewery.  A great gem, I wish we could have been there for the live music and BBQ.  They serve all of their beers on draft and I sampled five. (I wasn’t driving).  I never liked the Grey Lady, The Whale’s Tale fresh out of the Keg was clearly an 89-90.  The Sankaty Light is too light, but refreshing as was the Summer of Lager.  I forget the last one.  Can’t wait till next summer…if my friends invite me back.

Caribbean Lobster every day

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From grilled, to Barbecued, to pasta, to stir fry, when I am in the Caribbean, I eat the Lobster every day.  Sure, I love Maine lobster, being from Boston and all, but I just love to try the different ways the Caribbean lobster is made.  On Parrot Cay, there were two restaurants, one run by an Italian chef and the other a a Pan Asian type. Both equally as good and to sit outside and eat a lobster, well, there’s not much better.

Drink Local-Turks Head Lager

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Wherever I am in the world, I try to drink local.  On Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos Islands, we drank the local brew, Turks Head Lager.  The aroma is quite nice, a little hoppy. But, the flavor is just…eh.  Yes, I have no other word for it.  However, sitting on the beach with a cooler of ice cold lager, 84 degrees with family and friends, well, it doesn’t get much better.