PICADILLY’S PUBLIC HOUSE

United States Brewpubs,

Piccadilly's Public House | Winchester, VA | Entertainment
WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA

Note: Picadilly’s stopped brewing on site circa 2013.

Civil War-ravaged Winchester switched hands between the Confederacy and the Union several times in the 1860’s. In the rolling hills of this rustic Shenandoah Valley town lies the clay-hued brick warehouse grocery that now houses PICADILLY’S PUBLIC HOUSE, visited July ’09.

Brewing since 2007, this family friendly joint had a prominent central bar (with two TV’s and multiple silver pewter mugs), ample side dining, a back patio, and modest brew tanks. I had delicious salmon BLT with five mediocre house brews.

A sweet honey theme ran through creamy floral-spiced lemon-orange-grapefruit-glazed Hometown Hefeweizen, rich barley-roasted orange-fruited cherry-daubed Patsy’s Pilsner and hop-charred hazelnut-roasted 1752 Stout.

Indistinct pilsner-stout blend, Apple Valley Red Ale needed deeper sugared fig and stewed prune penetration. Fredericktown Brown suffered from lackluster red fruiting, barren nuttiness, and oxidized vegetal waft.

www.piccadillysbrewpub.net

CALLY’S RESTAURANT & BREWERY

United States Brewpubs,

HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA

Hidden away in Virginia’s vast westerly Shenandoah Valley, the rustic town of Harrisonburg is home to CALLY’S RESTAURANT & BREWERY (formerly Calhoun’s), visited July ’09 (now closed). In the small downtown district across the courthouse and in the same pristine yellow-bricked building as a fine wine store, Callie’s side entrance leads to a wood bar with glass-enclosed brew tanks.

Light-stained oak furnishings adorn the bar and surrounding dining space where exposed ducts highlight the high ceiling. A side patio and upstairs banquet add depth to the exquisite green awning-fronted brewpub. Upscale American cuisine filled a varied menu.

Mid-afternoon, I quaffed mild popcorn-like honey-grained floral-hopped grapefruit-currant-embittered German Pilsner, orange-yellow-fruited caramel-malted green-hopped Downtown Amber Ale and earthen coffee-burnt hazelnut-walnut-influenced Nut Brown Ale.

Mossy resin-hopped grain-toasted grapefruit-soured pineapple-sweetened Smokin’ Scottish Ale and IPA-like Switzer Pale Ale, with its wood-dried floral-hopped apple-apricot-tangerine tang and grapefruit rind/ orange peel bittering, proved to be better choices.

www.callysbrewing.com

FRONT STREET BREWING

United States Brewpubs,

WILMINGTON / WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA

Reopened 2006 in Wilmington’s historic downtown, FRONT STREET BREWING now saddles ex-Capitol City and Thoroughbreds Grill brewmaster, Kevin Kozak. Rustic tan-cemented two-storied Victorian saloon had tin-embossed white ceiling, wooden tile inlet, exposed pipes, stain-glass divided front dining, mezzanine balcony, and sky-lighted wood mural bar upon July ’08 visit.

Reasonably priced burgers, sandwiches and salads complemented stylistic beer variety. Though corn-dried wheat-strawed hay-leathered lemon-bruised herbal-tinged Lumina Helles Lager, soapy raspberry-fronted wheat-honeyed cranberry-melon-faded River City Raspberry Wheat,and spritzy banana-clove-centered butterscotch-vanilla-infiltrated orange-soured Hefeweizen were a bit washed out, soft-tongued dried-fruited fungi-blunted German Alt and a batch of stronger beers hit the spot.

Boozy pine-lacquered caramel-malted temptress Port City IPA retained dazzling citric zest. Peat-malted whiskey-snatched red-fruited chocolate-smoked fig-dried Dram Tree Scottish Ale truly ruled.

Incredible coffee-roasted molasses-thickened black chocolate-y Russian Imperial Stout retained cognac insistence, roasted nuttiness, and tobacco chew nuance to gooey anise finish.

Sour red-orange-fruited fig-date-teased hop-blanched Belgian Red and lemony apricot-fizzed maize-dried Kolsch suited summer solstice.

During July ’09 revisit, I found three more Front Street ales flowing from the front-windowed silver brew tanks on a rainy Tuesday afternoon. Interestingly, the mild hickory-smoked Milds Davis Stout retained the same penetrating hazelnut coffee theme and hop-roasted cocoa thrust as the even better oats-charred chicory-pinched American Brown Ale.

Grapefruit rind-embittered lemon pith-soured American Pale Ale maintained light caramel malting.

www.frontstreetbrewery.com

In a tiny sea green store tucked away off the causeway east of Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach’s Lighthouse Beer & Wine had a superb microbrew selection. Found Terrapin’s Side Project Roggenrauch, Rye Squared Imperial Pale Ale, and Golden Ale; Azalea Coast’s IPA and Fokker Ale; Pyramid Imperial Hefeweizen; Duck-Rabbit Amber; Highland Imperial Kashmir IPA; and French Broad Wee Heavy-er Scotch Ale.

www.lighthousebeerandwine.com

HUSKE HARDWARE HOUSE

United States Brewpubs,

FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

In the heart of town at the railroad station, Brit-styled brewpub, HUSKE HARDWARE HOUSE, occupies a historic Victorian building formerly used as a jewelry outlet and furniture store (visited July ’09 and closed ’24).

Four miles south of Mash House Brewery, this spacious restaurant-brewery had red brick-walled interior, aluminum-covered side deck, right side bar (with several dining booths), large loft area, and rear brew tanks.

I ate jambalaya while quaffing light-bodied fare such as cardboard-y raw-grained lemon-rotted pilsner-malted Kolsch-styled vegetal astringency Level-Headed German Blonde, glutinous cereal-grained wheat-cracked citrus-honeyed softie Farmhouse French Blonde Ale, muted caramel-malted fig-dried perfume-hopped slacker Rusty Nail Pale Ale,and diacetyl red-fruited hop-toasted bark-dried nut-bottomed warbler Kill A Man Irish Red Ale.

Better were banana-bruised apple-apricot-pear-bound lemongrass-ginger-coriander-speckled witbier-like Consecration Grand Cru and coffee-beaned espresso-embittered cappuccino-milked oat-flaked barley-roasted Sledgehammer Stout (with its serene black chocolate-y finish).

www.huskehardware.com

MASH HOUSE BREWERY & CHOPHOUSE

United States Brewpubs,

FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Tucked away on the eastern slope of the Piedmont Mountains, Fayetteville is a culturally diverse small town bolstered by Fort Bragg’s military base. Visited on the way to Sunset Beach, July ’09, there were two brewpubs situated within Fayetteville’s rural confines.

First and foremost, MASH HOUSE BREWERY & CHOPHOUSE had a burgundy and gold sign welcoming customers to its mall-sidled freestanding red brick building (with tan soffit, green roof, painted grain silo, and aluminum-roofed side patio). Exposed steel beams, cement columns, and canopied windows bedecked the wood-furnished interior, where the left side bar had cornered TV’s and the right dining area fronted an open kitchen.

I ate dinner with family in small glass-enclosed area betwixt bar and dinner space. Brewer Zach Hart, who began the local Blues & Brews Festival a few years back, crafted a wide variety of libations in the brass brew kettles behind the bar.

White-breaded sourdough-breaded pepper-spiced lemony grapefruit light-body Natural Blonde, bubble-gummy banana-clove-fronted coriander-teased white-peppered moderate-body Hefeweizen and red-orange-fruited hop-toasted malt-sweetened medium-body Ravishing Irish Red went well with Greek and 4-meat pizzas.

Afterwards, enjoyed candi-sugared banana-bruised clove-spiced citric-soured Kristalweizen, similarly styled banana-breaded pear-ripened Belgian Dubbel and coffee-burnt raisin-pureed Brown Porter.

Busier fare included woody Cascade-hopped black-peppered oats-charred peach-pear-apricot-fruited grapefruit-juniper-embittered Hoppy Hour IPA, creamy mocha-malted, fuzzy raspberry-pureed, orange blossom-honeyed Raspberry Porter and Jack Daniels whiskey-aged Jack’d Up Stout (a friskier version of black chocolate-y cappuccino-centered licorice-accented barley-roasted Stout).

www.themashhouse.com

MILLY’S TAVERN

United States Brewpubs,

MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Featuring a full spectrum of ‘hop-noxious’ brews in Manchester’s modern commercial-university district, cavernous lower level pub, MILLY’S TAVERN, resides in a bridge-shaded tall red brick building, visited New Year’s eve ‘05. Located along the riverside, the former Stark Mill Brewery (re-christened Milly’s Tavern in 2002) is a mere fifteen minute drive from Nashua’s friendly brewpub competitor, Martha’s Exchange. Exposed ducts, right and rear dining, and local nighttime entertainment mark this ample half-basement lair.

Brew tanks located behind centered Formica-topped bar served cornucopia of brews. Palest straw-hued hop-tingled lemon-tweaked lo-carb Euro pilsner-styled Fisher Cat Ale, wheat-husked hop-spiced spritzer Amoskeag Harvest Ale, vacuous lemony respite Mount U. Golden Cream Ale and thinly fruit-spiced Tasha’s Red Tail Ale will please lighter tastes.

Better were exquisitely-detailed, brown-sugared, pumpkin pie-like, cinnamon-allspice-glanced Pumpkin Ale, dry piney-hopped citric-embittered alcohol-sharp Manch-Vegas IPA, resinous coffee-dried caramel-burnt black chocolate-y General John Stark Porter, butterscotch-hazelnut-sweetened Brownnoser (Brown Ale) and robust oats-toasted, anise-lingered, black chocolate-reinforced Milly’s Oatmeal Stout.

Revisited Granite State’s centralized Merrimack Valley corridor during snowy January 2010 sojourn. At Milly’s my wife and I enjoyed flatbread pizza, soup, and salad while sitting at open L-shaped bar mid-afternoon trying brewer Ron Gamble’s latest elixirs.

Mugs hanging from ceiling pipe ballast set the stage for two-hour beer blitz starting with mild yellow-fruited green-hopped soft-spiced Fisher Cat Ale and molasses-sapped honey-spiced corn-syrupy lemon-dried Buzzin Bee Honey Wheat. Berliner Weisse-styled Bold Horizons placed mildly spiced lemon-soured apricot-peach tartness next to tangy tangerine-orange undertones.

Peanut, macadamia, and walnut saddled affable black coffee-spiced Castlefield Northern English Brown Ale as well as tart black cherry-fronted dry-malted coffee-burnt Ploughman’s Cherry Porter.

Hop-roasted chocolate-soured prune-dried blood-like Li’l Ivan Foreign Extra Stout was outscored by old standby, Milly’s Oatmeal Stout. Savored Man In The Moon, a dry-peppered Belgian-style Saison working lusty alcohol influence cheap rolex replica into vanilla-malted yellow fruiting and receding banana-clove sweetness, as a digestif.

www.millystavern.com

J.T. WHITNEY’S PUB & BREWERY

United States Brewpubs,

MADISON, WISCONSIN

On Madison outskirts, J.T. WHITNEY’S PUB & BREWERY, established in ’95, proved hit or miss, July ‘05, and closed down ’09. Located in a mall, the freestanding wood-shingled sports bar featured a centralized bar with tables and booths spread to the side with far left brew tanks near big screen TV. A decent beer bottle collection near left side fireplace was worth noting. Burgers, salads, and appetizers fill out the menu.

Incredible Mad Badger Barleywine, an absolutely delicious dessert beer, spread maraschino cherry and bruised orange across syrupy liqueur flow to sweet Cognac finish.

Sharp red-fruited Bass Ale alternative India Pale Ale and dry-bodied toffee-ensconced chestnut-almond-hinted Black Diamond Porter also scored points.

Serviceable fare included blah lemony butterscotch-candied Crystal Weizen and mildly herbal hopped stone-fruited light-bodied Goldenshine Ale.

Less intriguing were neutral blackened hop-embittered malt-serene Alt, ersatz honey-roasted Badger Red Ale, hazy fruit-embittered ESB and shallow coffee bean-soaped nut-barren Irish Stout.

ANGELIC BREWING

United States Brewpubs,

MADISON, WISCONSIN

Opened around ’95, maroon stucco ANGELIC BREWING featured outdoor deck (near parking lot), interior booths and tables, widescreen TV, and two sets of brew tanks to the right and rear, July ‘05. But alas, it closed down during economic woes of ’08.

Sandwiches, pizza, salads, and appetizers adorned light menu. Brewer Dean Coffey showed off a wide variety of beers, using the deep-fruited nature of evergreen Purgatory Ale, a persuasive perfume-hopped pineapple-mango-accented orange-peeled winner, to serenade malleable floral hop-embittered Arch Amber (a highly acidic alcohol-endorsed ale with unripe peach and marmalade illusions).

Pilsner-styled Avalon Blonde Golden Ale gained raw wheat backbone to enhance spry lemony grapefruit souring and currant bittering.

Scant nuttiness imbued soft-fruited raw-honeyed wheat-biscuit-y Shakedown Nut Brown and creamy coffee-dried maple-sapped chocolate-roasted Sinners Stout.

 

GREAT DANE – MADISON

United States Brewpubs,

MADISON, WISCONSIN

Sojourned again to Madison, July ’05, having fun at all three Madison-based pubs with Chi-town friend, Doug Van Dell. The original GREAT DANE, a rustic Victorian-style brewpub established in ’94, had been a hotel built in 1859. Its inceptive old tavern wood furnishings still haunt the bar (with a few names carved in).

While Great Dane’s brews were all over the map quality-wise, this heart of the city pub definitely has the best college party atmosphere. There’s a stonewalled dungeon-like basement leading to the spacious beer garden, a right side billiards room, secondary upstairs bar, and hearty burgers and sandwiches for dining pleasure.

My favorite brew was dazzling perfumed tutti-frutti American Pale Ale, followed by soft-hopped lemony mandarin orange-grapefruit-spiced Parkers Publican Pale Ale and delicate mocha-malted chestnut-glinted vanilla-accented Black Watch Scotch Ale.

Less thrilling were pink lemonade-glowed melon-slighted Watermelon Wheat, dry lemony raw-honeyed wheat-husked Honey Blonde, watery walnut/black coffee/burnt coal-tinged Emerald Isle Stout, inconsequential prickly-hopped corn-husked acridity Landmark Light, soapy popcorn-like German Pils,and indifferent aspirin-chalked Peck’s Pilsner.

www.greatdanepub.com

GREAT DANE – FITCHBURG

United States Brewpubs,

MADISON, WISCONSIN

Both Madison and neighboring Fitchburg boast GREAT DANE brewpubs, servicing the nations’ #1 party school, University of Wisconsin.

In June ’03, I quaffed dry mocha John Stoner’s Oatmeal Stout; cocoa-dried mocha-espresso Black Earth Porter; spruce-y citrus Sugar River ESB; berry-spiced Old Glory American Pale Ale; fruit-candied Potters Run IPA; and off-dry lemon-wedged grapefruit-tart Crop Circle Wheat at Fitchburg site.

www.greatdanepub.com

Best store selection goes to nearby Monona’s D & R Liquor, where Gray’s, Tyranena, and Summit brews were bought.

AGAINST THE GRAIN BREWERY & SMOKEHOUSE

United States Brewpubs, ,

Image result for against the grain smokehaus

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

Opened for business, October 2011, AGAINST THE GRAIN took over the space Browning’s Brewery used to occupy. Part of the Slugger Field complex along the Mississippi River, its brews have snarky names such as Citra Ass Down IPA, Scotland Charred, Quiet Rye-It, Dilator (oak-aged Doppelbock), Half-Hearted Pale Ale and London Balling (a bourbon-barreled barleywine). I’ve yet to visit this brewery. But below is the review of the now-defunct Brownings.

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Visited historic Churchill Downs, June ’04, prior to heading downtown for admirable BROWNING’S BREWERY, located at Louisville Slugger Field’s spacious mall. Browning’s Eileen Martin was one of only a few female head brewers in America (along with Bastone’s Kim Schneider). But Rey Miller took over dutues in ’08, bringing new recipes onboard.

Well-hopped brews seemed to stand out most prominently. Lively citric-honeyed Blonde; caramelized herbal tea-like Red Ale; spicy-bottomed rye-induced ESB; barley-toasted walnut-roasted perfume-spiced Nut Brown; and dark-spiced wheat-cracked moderation Vanilla Cream Ale benefited from crisp hop bittering.

Remarkable lactose-sweet, chocolate-coffee-stained, cereal grain-toasted Oatmeal Stout made fine dessert.

SOUTHAMPTON PUBLICK HOUSE

United States Brewpubs,

Southampton Publick House: Still In The Driver's Seat! - Hamptons.com
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

SOUTHAMPTON PUBLICK HOUSE, a large hedgerow-bordered homestead known as one of America’s greatest brewpub-microbreweries thanks to brewmaster Phil Markowski, attracts youthful locals and beer-geek tourists alike. Visited February ’07, its quaint décor, comfy atmosphere, and wood floors-tables perfectly compliment Southampton’s historic beach community an hour East of Patchogue. (now operated by owner Donald Sullivan, Southampton moved to nearby Jobs Lane around 2017).

Entering through patio deck, crowded left bar (with glass-encased brew tanks) had TV’s at all angles while the right side dining area had cozy fireplace and more brew tanks. Parched cereal-grained maize-dried wheat-husked grassy-hopped Montauk Light suited lighter thirsts while Saison-styled Cuvee Des Fleurs and Espresso Stout (both reviewed in Beer Index with all other Southampton brews) befit heartier cravings.

Lamentably, first-rate Abbot 12, Biere De Garde, and Saison Deluxe were out.

www.publick.com