SAMUEL ADAMS LITTLE WHITE RYE

Beers A-Z
‘Beguiling’ golden-hazed hybridized witbier utilizes wintry herbaceous spices to enliven mild rye influence. Sweet orange-peeled coriander sugaring precedes peppery white sage rage. Gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and clove seasoning resonate above pumpkin pie sweetness. Dry lemon-candied grains of paradise tartness provides soft contrast.  

SMARTMOUTH BREWERY

United States Brewpubs,
Smartmouth Brewing Co. :: McPherson Design Group  Smartmouth Brewing Co. - Virginia Is For Lovers
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
A diverse group of parents with children and post-collegiate hop-heads gather on blankets spread across the cement porch fronting SMARTMOUTH BREWERY’s inconspicuous gray brick warehouse to enjoy the sunny Saturday afternoon swelter on my initial July ’13 one-hour stopover. Set in a light industrial Norfolk hub, this spirited microbrewery has gained quite a substantial local following since opening for biz, November ’12.
Inside, the pristine white interior features eight back-walled metal stools, six community tables, four tap stations (with two handles each), black acoustic ceiling tiles, a huge blackboard beer list andglass-encased copper-kettled brew tanks. A beautiful beer-centric collage painting hangs from the front wall. Presently, Smartmouth only sells kegs and growlers to the general public, but imminent expansion will increase capacity and bottling seems likely in the future.
Flagship Alter Ego Saison spreads buttery caramel malting across Belgian candi-sugared sweetness, white-peppered grapefruit-orange-lemon bittering and soft hop-spiced prickles.
Lighty caramel creamed Murphy’s Law Amber Ale pleased moderate thirsts with its nutty toffee dalliance, mild perfume-hopped stone fruiting, minor wood char and toasted white bread base.
Extremely dry Bandwagon Citra Pale Ale plied hardwood lacquer to resinous hop-embittered orange rind and grapefruit illusions, picking up spritzy lemon zest along the way.
 
Sharp wood-dried hops also affected Rule G IPA, an orange-dessicated grapefruit peel-embittered medium body sweetened by creamy crystal-sugared malts.
Harsher wood tones embedded Notch 9 Double IPA, where creamier crystal malts contrast dry-hopped pine needling and livelier grapefruit-orange briskness.
Flaked corn malting gave grassy-hopped Inappropriate Cream Ale an approachable easygoing nature underlined by a subtle perfumed whiskey niche.

O’CONNOR BREWING COMPANY

United States Brewpubs,
O'Connor Brewing Co. | Norfolk, VA | Beers | BeerAdvocate
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
Just two miles east of Smartmouth Brewing on the other side of the railroad tracks in a tan industrial building lies O’CONNOR BREWING COMPANY. A glass-inlaid brown tree insignia welcomes patrons to the raw cement-floored warehouse space where entrepreneurial brewer Kevin O’Connor opened this increasingly popular Norfolk microbrewery July ’13 (and closed July ’23).
Beforehand, the crafty zymurgist worked at Viriginia’s well regarded St. George Brewery. Gaining experience, he soon set up a basic garage operation and began brewing under his own name (receiving plaudits for O’Connor Red Nun Red Ale).
A few days after opening in its current space I got to visit and try a truly terrific tap-only Irish Stout while purchasing bottles of El Guapo Agave IPA, Great Dismal Black IPA and Norfolk Canyon Pale Ale (all listed in the Beer Index under O’Connor).
At the entrance, two guys are tossing back a few on the front deck. Inside, a few community tables sidle silver brew tanks and bottling equipment. A few bartenders serve the late afternoon crowd from the right side serving area. Extra glass-encased brew tanks hold beer being readied for bottling or kegging.
Today’s worthiest brew may’ve been O’Connor Dry Irish Stout, an illustrious sedation layering molasses-sapped coffee, vanilla, cocoa and walnut pleasantries beneath creamy dark/ brown chocolate sugaring.

REAVER BEACH BREWING COMPANY

United States Brewpubs,

Reaver Beach Brewing CompanyBeach Brewing Company - Virginia Is For Lovers

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

Occupying an inconspicuous warehouse with green and white awnings and a hop-driven surfboard logo, REAVER BEACH BREWING COMPANY has gained a tremendous reputation since opening for business in October ’11 – becoming Reaver Beach Brewing along the way and expanding to a second location in Norfolk.

During a muggy July ’13 Saturday afternoon visitation, the front of the place was filled to the gills with young families, post-collegiate brewhounds and several thirsty out-of-town beachcombers enjoying well-rounded beers and BBQ pit food. My wife and kids enjoy barbecue chicken and pork while I go inside the tiny 4-stool tasting room to procure four previously untried brews.

Grabbing a seat along the right side nautical-postered wall at one of the front chairs, I place my sampler tray on the elbow-high shelving and begin to watch a ballgame on the left wall TV while reading beer descriptions from the blackboard Tap List.

A labor of love for married co-owners Justin and Kristin MacDonald, Beach Brewing’s libations are presently kegged for retail and served at several local restaurants. However, room for expansion behind the taproom is in the cards. Though flagship beers Hammerhead IPA and Hoptopus Double IPA are both out upon my initial sojourn, four other distinct offerings make the rounds.

Approachable summer session opener Sandshark Summer Ale brought soft-watered orange, grapefruit, apple and apricot fruiting to a mild hop-spiced slipstream.

Equally buoyant, Riptide Altbier left Noble-hopped wood dryness along its caramelized fig-sugared plum and date pathway. Perhaps a step removed from the specified German-styled realm, the pliable moderation nonetherless suits many occasions.

Better still, tropical The Kracken Triple IPA allowed subtle orange-peeled grapefruit bittering and perky lemon-seeded tartness to infiltrate juicy mango, kiwi, pineapple and passion fruit illusions as well as buttery caramel-malted red apple, grape and cherry undertones, leaving a lingered alcohol burn in its wake.

For dessert, brandy barrel-aged dark ale, Devil’s Take Imperial Stout, worked hop-charred dark chocolate, roasted coffee and cocoa into rye-malted toasted oats, picking up brandy-wined sherry and port boozing. By the mocha finish, Jameson dark whiskey snips reach the surface.

Just a few miles from the hotel-bound Virginia Beach boardwalk, Beach Brewing will impress a goodly number of respectable sun-tanned beer travelers.

As a pleasant sidebar, military-themed microbrewery Veterans Brewing was getting ready to open within walking distance.

www.beachbrewingcompany.com

TALL TALES BREWING COMPANY

United States Brewpubs,

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PARSONSBURG, MARYLAND

On my springtime 2013 Ocean City/ Salisbury brewpub tour, rural-bound treasure, TALL TALES BREWING COMPANY, was just getting going and got overlooked. But on my trip back from the Carolinas in July, a convivial two-hour family stopover proved completely worthwhile.

Situated in the rustic DelMarVa region of the Chesepeake Bay inlet at bucolic Parsonsburg, the picturesque tan lodge Tall Tales occupies complements the eclectic rural community abutting tiny trailer park homes next to tree-lined farmhouse manors. Open October ’12, the Victorian-like gastropub features two impressive marble columns, virgin white window sills and eye-grabbing landscape on the outside.
As my family enters the fray, a prestigious floor-to-ceiling water feature fountain with brass-inlaid Tall Tales insignia welcomes us. To the right, pristine wood decor graces a Classical dining space (with 3 TV’s) that fronts an exquisite couch-laden mahogany-furnished sitting room. Better still, an expansive tile-floored back deck with ten black metal tables and four patio tables offers a splendid outdoor dining and drinking experience as well.
On this July ’13 Sunday afternoon, we drift into the left side five-stooled bar and settle at one of the six tables (closest to the side window with empty growlers representing locals Burley Oak, Evolution and 16 Mile on the sill above). The wooden bar’s earth-toned slate foundation suits the sylvan atmosphere perfectly. A full bar and outdoor brick oven grill will soon grace the back deck while expansion for massive bottling is expected.
As we get served by house manager, Natalie, the Yankees and Orioles square off to play baseball on the right side TV. Glass-encased silver tanks hold six previously untried libations while I dig into a delicious hummus appetizer and Cheese-Meat platter (with Danish bleu-cheesed gouda, Monterey Jack cheddar and salami). My wife and kids share two of the excellent brick-oven pizzas.
Generally contrasting nearby Evolution’s sharp hop head fare with more malt-forward selections, Tall Tales debuted in September ’12 with Red Headed Step Child Irish Red, a marzen-like medium body that took third place at Salisbury’s Good Beer Festival. Its crisp barley-roasted caramel malting underscored sugared coffee, dried cocoa, brown chocolate and raisin bread tones.
Light, refreshing, yellow-fruited Sun Beach Kolsch brought lemon-seeded yellow grapefruit and mandarin orange to soft-hopped crystal malting for a light-bodied pleasantry.
Sharp hop-forward Paul Bunyan Pale Ale gained citric-spiced prominence from tangy grapefruit and orange juicing. On the other hand, the more stylistically approachable Excalibar IPA relied on soft hop-spiced crystal malts to rein in the orange-peeled grapefruit rind bittering.
The bitterest libation, Bonnie & Clyde Double IPA, brought sharp pine-needled grapefruit peel briskness, hemp-oiled musk and smoked mocha malting to mild spruce-toned orange, peach, pear, pineapple and mango sweetness.
For dessert, subtle John Henry Dry Stout tethered softly creamed chocolate, coffee and espresso tones to wispy roasted hops, perfectly re-creating the mellow mocha Irish styling.
Tall Tales is a no-brainer for anyone looking for great food and beer while perusing the wide open terrain of coastal Maryland.
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On a steamy July ’20 Saturday afternoon, landed at Tall Tales once more after Outer Banx trip. My wife and I grabbed seats at the metal-chaired patio just beyond the covered deck (with wood-furnished secondary bar). The large outdoor area also featured a firepit and sandy-grounded back deck for cornhole.
First up, approachable moderation, 30 Days In The Holed Step Child Irish Red, a classic Vienna lager, let honey-roasted amber graining anchor spicy stone fruiting and crisp leafy hop astringency.
Aged on blackberry puree, enticing Berliner Weiss, Wildberry – Blackberry & Strawberry Sour, linked salted strawberry rhubarb and vinous white grape (plus ancillary peach, mandarin orange and rosé wine illusions) to tart blackberry piquancy for a sharply fruited summertime concoction.
Mouth-puckering lemon-dropped candied raspberry tartness rode above its sugared wheat base for Not Your Mother’s Cheesecake, a classic raspberry lemon cheesecake knockoff with subtle vinous wining.
Tart strawberry pureed Getting Caught In The Rain Strawberry Coconut Colada Gose brought limey sea salting to vanilla-creamed Graham Cracker sweetness.
Dewy peat moss saturated fudgy oats-sugared chocolate sweetness for Candy & Kitchen – Double Fudge Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, a trusty dessert treat.
Rich hazelnut-sweetened Hawaiian coffee deluged She’s A Nice Lei-dy, a heady Imperial Stout with black chocolate, cocoa nibs, fudged brownie and pale oats seduction.

8 WIRED iSTOUT

Beers A-Z,
Valiant ebony-hued Imperial Stout (with lofty 10% alcohol volume and sinewy viscous richness) seeps gummy black licorice and chewy anise goo deep into insistent coffee-roasted black chocolate malting to cookie dough center. Syrupy sugared molasses sweetness contrasts ashen tar bittering that affects subtle bourbon-port wining as well as minor cocoa nuttiness and soft espresso niche. Glancing dried-fruited black cherry, blackberry and fig snips add depth. Heavy mocha influence allows tertiary carob, chocolate cake, chocolate mousse and vanilla illusions to swirl beneath.
iStout Affogato - 8 Wired - Untappd

KISSMEYER HONEY PORTER

Beers A-Z
Contagious maroon-hued full body with pluming tan head offers heather-honeyed oats sugaring and molasses malting to creamy milk chocolate continuance. Fuzzy carbolic gassing pervades ancillary coffee-stained macaroon, biscotti, vanilla, dark cocoa and toffee undertones as well as peanut-shelled hazelnut, Brazil nut and walnut conflux.
Kissmeyer Honey Porter | Beer Street Journal

SOUTHERN TIER LIVE

Beers A-Z
Regal white-headed golden-hazed pale ale reinforces brisk grapefruit peel bittering with pungently assertive pine tarring to delicate white-breaded spine. Zesty lemon, tangerine, clementine, pineapple, papaya and mango tropicalia finds space below everlasting yellow grapefruit theme. Frisky carbolic pep heightens floral-spiced citric finish of excellent summertime fare.
Southern Tier Live | Cassidy's Brew Zoo

STONE/ EVIL TWIN/ STILLWATER THE PERFECT CRIME BLACK SMOKED SAISON

Beers A-Z
‘Mysteriously smoked saison’ collaboration brings a unique perspective to an increasingly popular style. Peat-smoked molasses malting and ashen charcoal bittering pick up murky dried fruiting. Vague fig-sugared purple grape, black cherry, plum, blackberry and banana illusions wander thru coffee-oiled cocoa powdering, dark floral aspect and pecan cluster to pumpernickel-toasted backend.
Evil Twin / Stillwater / Stone "The Perfect Crime" Black Smoked Saison | Stone Brewing
 The Perfect Crime” Collaboration Beer Challenges Saison Definition