SOUTH END BREWERY

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsCHARLOTTE NC, SOUTH END BREWERYJohn Fortunato

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

Just outside Charlotte’s metropolis in South End section, SOUTH END BREWERY & SMOKEHOUSE was stationed in an enormous tan building with maroon trim – but closed by 2008. Other chain locations are in Raleigh, Charleston, and Jacksonville.

On July ’06 visitation, the scent of hickory hit my family as soon as we sauntered into the large interior space. Large screen TV’s lined right side non-smoking area while left side bar area led to outside deck and glass-encased brew tanks were centrally located. Expansive menu included smoked meats alongside seafood (grouper/ yellow fin tuna/ crab cakes) and plentiful bar selection featured cognacs, single malt Scotches, bourbons, vodkas, and martinis.

Steam pipe-laden wood trays served maize-soured horsehide-leathered hay-musty raw-grained dry body South End Blonde Light, buttery clay-hopped citric-deficient wheat-dried South End Blonde Ale, brittle lemon-candied sweet-salty conflux Ironman Wheat, sour orange-peach-fig-swayed Olmstead Red and gently hop-prickled grapefruit-lemon-floral embittered Motorman’s Pale Ale.

Better and darker were chocolate malt-dominant Chinook-Fuggle-hopped cocoa-buttered sedation Banktown Brown, dry walnut-hazelnut-dabbed cherry chocolate-y India Brown Ale and sweet hazelnut-chocolate-espresso confection O’Ryan’s Oatmeal Stout.

ROY PITZ BREWING COMPANY (LIQUID ART)

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsCHAMBERSBURG PA, LIQUID ART, ROY PITZ BREWINGJohn Fortunato

Liquid Art Barrel House
CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

Right above the Maryland border just east of West Virginia lies this sleepy rural getaway. Visited December ’08, ROY PITZ BREWING COMPANY / LIQUID ARTS (2008-2023) began serving growlers and kegs to its countrified vicinity only six months hence. Using locally grown produce to craft his beers, brewmaster Ryan Richards joined partner Jesse Rotz as we quaffed an IPA, an Amber Ale hybrid, a crossover concoction and a German-styled moderation.

Since 2008, the team at Liquid Art Brewing Company has been crafting quality beers and experiences – originally as Roy Pitz. “Liquid Art is an expression of artistry that goes into brewing classic and fringe styles of local beer.”

Mellow-hopped grapefruit, orange peel, and lemon zest ripostes the sweetly soured banana-clove-coriander subsidiary of White Horse Hefeweizen.

Lighter smoked beer version, Ludwig’s Revenge Rauchbier, wedged black-peppered salami and beechwood-hickory singe into stove-burnt coffee oiliness, barley-roasted nuttiness and ashen chocolate shavings.

Truly Honest Amber Ale could be mistaken for a robust IPA with its woody Cascade-hopped grapefruit peel bittering, lemon pith souring and peach-apple tang concealing crystal caramel malts.

Daddy Fat Sacks Imperial IPA wed a spicy caramel-malted peach-pear-apple posy and sour raisin respite to piney grapefruit rind bittering, but lacked woody expectancy.

www.roypitz.com

ROCKYARD BREWING & AMERICAN GRILL

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsCASTLE ROCK CO, ROCKYARD BREWINGJohn Fortunato

CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO

Perched between Denver and Colorado Springs, Castle Rock sports freestanding tan stucco grain silo-marked ROCKYARD BREWING & AMERICAN GRILL, visited August ’07. High ceilinged oval bar (with three TV’s), brown wood furnishings and glass-encased brew tanks supported small private left room and back patio.

Brewer Jim Stinson previously worked at Pueblo’s Shamrock, a former Irish pub initially used as horsestable with upstairs whorehouse, 30 miles south of Colorado Springs. Copious appetizers, seafood, steak, and big-portioned burgers saddled menu.

Pre-lunch libations included floral-spiced, corn-sugared, raspberry-tart, white peach-soured, watermelon-nectarine-sweet, pumpernickel-backed Rock Berry Razz Ale, lemony candi-sugared banana-cloved Bavarian-styled Wildcat White Ale and fizz-spiced grain-husked maize-dried Double Eagle Ale.

Those discernible openers were bettered by woody-hopped stone-fruited tea-spiced Scotch-tinged pecan-slighted Redhawk Ale, resonant hop-spiced alcohol-burnt wood-lacquered grapefruit-currant-embittered Hopyard IPA and creamy black chocolate-fronted, espresso-vanilla-backed, cherry-pureed Lightning Strike Stout.

Best bet: amazing dessert-like digestif, Warning Sign Eisbock, with its initial cherry jubilee resolve, banana-chipped vanilla sweetness, bruised orange souring and Cognac-sherry whir.

Stay away from pungently lemon-soured, musky corn-oiled, vegetable-rotted, solvent-like, Miller Lite-compromised Lynx Light Lager (my wife’s fave, strangely).

www.rockyard.com

CAMBRIDGE BREWING

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsCAMBRIDGE BREWING, CAMBRIDGE MAJohn Fortunato

The Brew Lounge: Cambridge Brewing Company in Cambridge, MA [Part 1]
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

During April ’05 Boston trip, initially visited CAMBRIDGE BREWING at Kendall Square (a retail/ entertainment center taking up a few centralized city blocks). One of the first brewery-restaurants in the United States, this popular establishment opened in 1989 (and closed 2024). Alongside contending watering holes Flattop Johnny’s, Jasmine & Kendall Lounge, and Tommy Doyle’s Irish Pub, its blue-green entrance leads to brick-walled, high ceiling bar with brew tanks to the rear. Outdoor dining was available and large menu boasted seafood, brick oven pizza, and mildly upscale entrees.

Wheat-husked, maize-dried, yellow-fruited lightweight Regatta Golden Ale, mildly embittered sourdough-floured Tall Tale Pale Ale and remarkably diverse Cambridge Amber (with coffee-roasted brown chocolate reticence nudging pale-caramel malting) will please softer palates.

Dry-malted, Saaz-hopped, red-fruited spring seasonal Vienna Gold also had a muted tone.

Biscuit-y, barley-toasted, honeyed tea-like smoothie Bitchin Bitter English Ale, mild rye-marbled, red licorice-dabbed Saison Du CBC and bitterly wood-burnt, coffee-roasted, molasses-dipped Charles River Porter will satiate heartier thirsts.

Best Bets: alcohol-burnt, Ommegang-like, orange-blossomed, fig-sugared, coriander-spiced, floral-daubed Tripel Threat Belgian Strong Ale and incredible cocoa-chocolate-y, raisin-pureed, prune-dried, maple-sugared, Cognac-like digestif Blunderbuss Barleywine.

www.cambridgebrewing.com

JOHN HARVARD’S – CAMBRIDGE

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsCAMBRIDGE MA, JOHN HARVARD'S BREWHOUSE - CAMBRIDGEJohn Fortunato

John Harvard's Brewhouse – Cambridge, Massachusetts | Fifty States of Brew
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

Along the Charles River across from Boston, historic puritanical colony, Cambridge, could be difficult to navigate with its narrow one-way cobblestone streets, landmark cultural museums, and world-class collegiate institutions. Busy downstairs restaurant JOHN HARVARD’S BREWHOUSE, with its wooden décor, Old Americana portraits, and reasonably priced entrees, has been a provincial staple of this frontier settlement for over a decade as of April ’05 visit. But closed down in 2019 after 30 years in biz.

Boasting beer recipes handed down from literary wit William Shakespeare, brewer Geoff De Bisschop kept servicing brew tanks behind the bar.

German-styled sourdough-breaded lemon-fizzed blonde ale Colonial Kolsch; friskily Cascade-hopped red-yellow-fruited John Harvard’s Pale Ale; subtly Saaz-hopped red-fruited sweet-grained Old Willie’s IPA; soapy crystal-malted yellow-fruited Bard’s Best Bitter; feathery coffee-espresso-lilted Newtowne Nut Brown; and roasted coffee-themed hazelnut-tamed Irish-styled Black Watch Stout were served.

www.johnharvards.com

MAC’S VILLAGE BREWHAUS

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsMAC'S VILLAGE BREWHAUS, ORCHARD PARK NYJohn Fortunato

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK

In charmingly rustic Orchard Park, three miles from Buffalo Bills football stadium, MAC’S VILLAGE BREWHAUS (formerly Eddie’s Brewpub) was closed during our early afternoon July ‘05 stop. Located in smallish exterior-bricked bowling alley, Orchard Park Lanes, its brew tanks were seen from front windows (below red-green-blue awning). Its blue collar bowling vibe and reasonable pub food would probably please the general public.

www.macsbrewhaus.com

BUFFALO BREWPUB

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsBUFFALO BREWPUB, BUFFALO NYJohn Fortunato

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

East of Buffalo in the mall area of Williamsville lies colonial-styled BUFFALO BREWPUB, visited July ‘05. Embellished by a bronze bison atop the entrance, this gray stone-based brewery had a right side elongated oak bar, far left glass-enclosed brew tanks, fireplace and a dining area with widescreen television and discarded peanut shells strewn across the floor. Diverse entrees included burgers, sandwiches, etc.

New York State’s oldest brewpub, Buffalo Brewing started in 1970, when Iroquois and Simon Pure Brewing Co.’s shut down. By Halloween in 1986, house beers were being served.

Limited mediocre beer menu had red-fruited tea-honeyed Amber Ale, lemony peach-soured orange-dried Buffalo Bitters, wheat-cracked hop-spritzed Buffalo Lager and estery grape-soured cherry-tart raisin-dried fig-soured porter-styled Nickel City Dark Ale.

www.buffalobrewpub.com

PEARL STREET GRILL & BREWERY

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsBUFFALO NY, PEARL STREET GRILL & BREWERYJohn Fortunato

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

After site seeing at Niagara Falls (and visiting tiny Niagara Falls Brewing Company), shuffled off to Buffalo, finding friendly Flying Bison Brewing, whose owners gave me samples via half-gallon jugs (reviewed in Beer Index) for the ride home, July ’05. Also, three disparate brewpubs lined the area surrounding this northerly New York metropolis. I began journey with family in the heart of the city.

In Buffalo’s downtown area within walking distance of Buffalo Bisons minor league stadium and Sabres hockey arena is mighty fine PEARL STREET GRILL & BREWERY (since 1999).

Located inside an old red brick building with yellow columns, maroon trim, and outdoor patio, its prohibition era ambiance is truly impressive. Formerly a dress factory during Buffalo’s crime-addled heyday, its spacious interior offered grandiose bar with oversized oak-stained mantle, separate rear dining area near brew tanks, banquet rooms, and low-ceilinged basement bar (with billiards, video games, and jukebox).

Second floor added a wraparound patio while third and fourth floor decks provided further accommodations.

Astoundingly diversified beer selection included tangy coriander-clove-banana-sweetened efficiency Waterfront Wheat, estery grape-dabbed raisin-fig-soured Black Rock Bock, malleable dry-husked orange-sweetened mango-pineapple-passion-fruited alt bier Trainwreck Amber Ale,and dry coffee-roasted chocolate-seeded cherry-oaken Irish-styled Canal STreet Stout.

Similar in taste were musty cereal-grained wheat-fruited Fuggle-hopped Lake Effect IPA and silky-hopped stone-fruited wheat-straw American Beauty Pale Ale.

The diverse selection turns over quickly so these are only a mere sampling of their many craft beers.

pearlstreetgrill.com

CB & POTTS

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsBROOMFIELD CO, CB & POTTSJohn Fortunato

BROOMFIELD, COLORADO

Betwixt Denver and Boulder, Broomfield services professional businessmen with large-scale hotels, sprawling malls, and multiple eateries. CB & POTTS, one of four state chains, consumed huge freestanding red-gray-bricked high-ceilinged sports bar sojourned August ’07 (but closed for biz, 2020). Copious liquor-lavished left-hand bar, glass-encased brew tanks, and open kitchen served large lounge area, opposing family friendly dining space, and corner billiard room.

Continental cuisine went well with red-fruited orange-burnt tea-like Buttface Amber, lemon-bruised vegetal-soured Colorado Blonde, mandarin orange-tart banana-bruised lemon-soured coriander-clove-spiced solvent-finishing Big Horn Hefeweizen and perfume-hopped wood-tinged grapefruit-embittered apple-apricot-orange-sweetened Big Red IPA.

Spice-hopped citron-trickled 71 Pale Ale got bland while softly coffee-espresso-dried walnut-dabbed Cask Porter and resigned coffee-influenced black cherry-clipped Total Disorder Porter were a tad washed out.

www.cbpotts.com

WOLF ROCK BREWING

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsKEYSTONE CO, WOLF ROCK BREWINGJohn Fortunato

River Run Village Arapahoe Lodge 1 bedroom 2 bathroom Deluxe Unit - River Run
KEYSTONE, COLORADO

Six miles from Breckenridge, Keystone’s River Run Village featured mall shops, luxurious condominiums, and skiing trails during August ’07 dinner trek. Intimately upscale dark-lit WOLF ROCK BREWING (permanently closed 2008) had small outdoor deck, large dining facility, and midsize U-shaped mahogany bar (cornered by televisions and next to open kitchen). Wines, martinis, vodkas, bourbons, and cognacs appeased affluent patronage.

Superb elk, steak, and lamb dishes went well with brewer Cory Forster’s corn-sugared wheat-honeyed lemon-backed white-breaded Paymaster Pilsner, lemon-wedged orange-oiled honey-grained Wolf Rock Wheat and hazelnut-butternut-ensconced red-yellow-fruited Leroy Brown.

So-so seasonals were black peppered chipotle-faded grain-toasted silken-hopped Montezuma Marzen and soapy banana-sweet bland-spiced Dercum’s Dunkel Weiss.

Best bet: piercingly sharp pine-topped dry-hopped grapefruit-pineapple-green apple-propped International IPA.

www.wolfrockbrewing.com

BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsBRECKENRIDGE BREWERY, BRECKENRIDGE COJohn Fortunato

BRECKENRIDGE / KEYSTONE, COLORADO

These two Rocky Mountain ski towns, Breckenridge and Keystone, sojourned August ’07, boast bountiful libations from two highly respected brewpubs. Veritable municipal staple, BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY, has been operating since 1992 and Keystone’s prominent WOLF ROCK BREWING opened its doors a decade or so later.

Log cabin-styled loft-fronted side-decked BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY fortifies bustling Route 9-bound ski community. Central 14-seat bar fronted silver brew tanks servicing sided dining areas and left side billiards room. I had appetizers, salad, and sandwich while proficient 23-year-old brewer Drake Schmid poured many brews not bottled by Breckenridge’s Denver-based brewery.

There was grassy hay-dried oats-honeyed cereal-grained lemon-dried Pilsen 100% German Malt, grainier-than-fruity citric-spiced molasses-teased Summer Bright, citric-glazed floral-dried vegetal-finishing Trademark Pale Ale, tea-like orange-cherry-zested fig-date-vested Avalanche Ale and astringent Cascade-hopped Breck Lite Golden Ale (with its husked maize and cracked corn parch).

Those were fine warm-ups for assertive floral-hopped orange-peeled grapefruit-embittered cherry-peach-apricot-perfumed 471 IPA and creamy black chocolate-y coffee-roasted walnut-cola-daubed chipotle-spiced espresso-finishing Oatmeal Stout.

www.breckbrew.com

B.J.’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE

July 8, 2009United States BrewpubsB.J.'S BREWPUB - BOULDER, BOULDER COJohn Fortunato

BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse
BOULDER, COLORADO

B.J.’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE may be the country’s best chain brewpub, commencing operation as a deepdish pizza parlor in Santa Ana, California, during the nineties. Boulder’s green-exteriored version at Pearl Street Mall had small outdoor patio, front dining space, back area bar (with several beer banners and rear kettle tanks), exposed ducts, and loft dining, August ‘07. Upper tier had more kettles plus wood barrels for casking.

Drank sourly citric lemongrass-parched Kolsch-styled BJ’s Brewhouse Blonde, tangy apple-pear-grapefruit-spiced wood-dried Cascade-hopped IPA-like Piranha Pale Ale, biscuit-y caramel-malted Irish-styled Jeremiah Red Ale and rancid lemon-soured veggie-rotted cocoa-powdered honey-dripped Drop Light Pilsner with wife and long-time pal, Phil Calitre.

Better were sweet ‘n sour candied cantaloupe-blueberry-peach-ripened cherry-cranberry-tart Berries & Cream and lactic milk chocolate-y malt-sugared black cherry-pureed Tatonka Imperial Stout.

Dry cocoa-soured tar-tobacco-backed PM Porter retained easy crossover appeal.

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