Saturday, February 9, 2019

Pittsburgh Bar Hop

Pittsburgh Bar Hop
Isabella, PA
Brew's Belly
Darby's Pub
Jack's Bar
Dee's Cafe
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (and surrounding areas)
Date: May 15-16, 2018
Tag Team Partners: Tim, Alyssa, Pluto, Admiral, Kris, Gary

(Blogger's Note: It's been a while since I've posted.  Between a long few weeks at my day job, and lots of things going on the past month, I've been pretty busy working lots of hours for multiple days in a row and traveling around the country.  The next few posts will be subsequent, but were from 1-3 months ago.  I apologize for the delay, but sleep and bills need to happen/get paid.)



While hanging out in the Pittsburgh area, we had a lot of different beers while doing a bunch of different things.  The 15th, we went on this totally amazing hike, and also cooked some breakfast.  The 16th, we decided to meet up with some people to go bar hop downtown.  




Starting off at the house in Isabella, we started the day with both Tim and Alyssa teaching me how to cook hashbrowns with some Seagrams Cherry Cola Hard Soda.  After getting an original hashbrown made, I decided to make a dessert version which wasn't too bad, but a bit on the sweet side.

Next, we loaded up the backpack with some Keystone Premiums and the leftover Rivertowne from the night before, and set out on a hike in the hills of Western Pennsylvania.  It was a beautiful day, and probably the only challenging issue was the fact that the water level was pretty high, so some of the trails were marked off a good amount.


Pretty deep cracks in the land.


The distance from land to water was about 6 feet, the picture doesn't grant it due justice.


 The hike itself was pretty amazing, with some pretty stunning visuals of the water levels.  You could really see the different layers down by the water.



Taking a look straight on down the river.


After climbing one of the bigger paths on the hills, I turned around to take a picture down.


Further beyond that, we climbed to an even higher part, and continued to look back over the scenery.


Here is a shot of Tim in the distance as we began to descend back down the hills, and head home for the day.


A great look back at just how far we had come, and the road that would lead us home.


Once we got back, we went to cook some dinner.  We added a whole bunch of random ingredients and made a pretty good meal from it.

The Next Day...



After waking up and eating some leftover hashbrowns, we headed out to meet up with Pluto, and headed on to Brew's Belly.  This was a smaller bar, with an assortment of light beers and food.  I went with ICLight.  I have had Iron City before, but never the light version.  As expected, it was an exceptionally light beer, but it was all decked out in the Penguin's championship design, so that made it better.

Next we headed to Darby's Pub.  Once here, we started getting into more of the craft brews, as we shot some pool, and rocked out to some pretty awesome rock music.  I rocked some Voodoo Ranger IPA.  Totally had a blast, and plus it's a nice relaxing place to throw a few down while shooting some pool.



Later on that night, we headed downtown, to Jack's Bar where we drank some Yuengling Premium Lager and took some fun photos with the statues and posters around.  Pretty cool place, and the funniest part is the stall with no door.  Don't drink too much Yuengling :D .  Good times!

Following that, we met up with Admiral, Kris, and Gary at Dee's Cafe, where we shot pool, drank some more beer, and had a good ol' time hanging out downtown.  We even tried to shoot some commercials for Pizza!  This was an awesome place to meet up with friends, and have fun.  Definitely recommended.



Overall, great bar hop with amazing people, awesome night!

For more information on the following places, click the respective links below:
Isabella, PA
Brew's Belly
Darby's Pub
Jack's Bar
Dee's Cafe

On my Tap for the Day/Nightwas:


Style: Lager
Untapped Rating: 2.5/5
Description: "Light beer"
Comments: Nothing that stands out too dramatically.  This is a good light beer that if you want to drink several of them over a few hours, it does the job.

- Hard Soda - Cherry Cola
Style: Malt Liquor
Brewery: Seagram's Escapes
Untapped Rating: 2.25/5
Description: "N/A"
Comments: Alcoholic flavored Cherry Cola.  It's not really beer, but since it falls into the same sort of catagory as beer, it falls into the element.

- I.C. Light
Style: Lager
Brewery: Pittsburgh Brewing Company
Untapped Rating: 2.5/5
Description: Light beer, refreshing
Comments: I've had Iron City beer before.  It's the Pittsburgh version of worldwide light beers in the spirit of Old Milwaulkie, Rainier, and any other variety of local flavor light beer.  It's a night one to kick back while enjoying the company of friends in that area.

- Voodoo Ranger IPA
Style: IPA
Brewery: New Belgium
Untapped Rating: 3/5
Description: "N/A"
Comments: Nice, strong, refreshing IPA.  At 7%, it will help you relax from you day, but it also brings some pretty decent hops, and a great bitterness mixed in to give it that refreshing IPA taste.  Highly Recommended.

- Samuel Adams Porch Rocker
Style: Shady/Radler
Brewery: Boston Beer Company
Untapped Rating: 3.5/5
Description: "Like Alcoholic Sprite."
Comments: This beer came off tasting more like a soda beer.  It wasn't the sweet carbonated taste like a Hard Soda, but it had elements of it in terms of sweetness, and different flavor.  Not too bad.

- Yuengling Traditional Lager
Style: Lager
Brewery: Yuengling
Untapped Rating: 4/5
Descripton: "Tastes like Home.  Light, and refreshing."
Comments: Certainly one of the best lagers I have ever drank, if not the best.  I may have some bias on this being from the PA area, but Yuengling has never let me down.  Perfect beer to go with pizza, or any other sort of food.  Even better to enjoy it in the confines of Pennsylvania.  For those that avoid this for political reasons, I am sorry to say, you are missing out on an incredible beer.  More for me.  Highly Recommended.

- Blue Collar Blonde
Style: Blonde Ale
Brewery: Rusty Rail
Untapped Rating: 4/5
Description: "Awesome flavorful blonde, hint of fruit."
Comments: Pretty decent blonde ale, and one of the best I've had in a while.  Most blondes I've had in recent memory are either far too light, or push too far into the element to create a nice, smooth, drinkable ale.  This one worked well.

Rivertowne Brewing - Double Shot (Plus a bonus 3rd)

Brewery Double-Shot
Location: Monroeville, PA
Date: May 14, 2018
Tag Team Partners: Tim Reihner

(Blogger's Note: It's been a while since I've posted.  Between a long few weeks at my day job, and lots of things going on the past month, I've been pretty busy working lots of hours for multiple days in a row and traveling around the country.  The next few posts will be subsequent, but were from the last several months.  I apologize for the delay, but sleep and bills need to happen/get paid.)




While back East, and in the Pittsburgh area, I had to make a stop at one of my favorite breweries, Rivertowne.  I feel a connection to the place as their former brewmaster grew up next door to my father.  Over the years, they have produced some pretty amazing beer, and I had to see what was new.


Rest in Peace


I was sadly disappointed to hear that they no longer had "Babbling Blonde" Ale.  That was quite possibly the greatest Blonde Ale...let alone beer, I had ever tasted to date, and no blonde to date has matched it since.  Since I do have it reviewed from an earlier trip, I will include it in this review.


The bartender suggested the "Suburban Housewife" cucumber beer, which was pretty good and had a unique taste to it.  The 2nd selection was "Maxwell's Scottish Ale."  I have had this award-winning beer several times in the past and it has never let me down.  I had to get some again this time around.

As of this posting, Rivertowne Brewing is now a subsidiary of Helltown Brewing.  Rivertowne Pour House is no longer open.  They underwent a bankruptcy filing last year.  The main company still produces beer, but the original business has changed.  That being said, however, I look back fondly on the great beer they have provided me over the course of the last few years, from the Babbling Blonde to Maxwell's Scottish Ale, Sassamanash, and many others as well as look forward to what is yet to come.

Afterward, took this back to Tim's place, and enjoyed both while relaxing.  Good times as always!

Overall, the first few trips to Rivertowne were pretty great.  It was an excellent place to grab some seafood, and enjoy some amazing craft beer.  It must have been amazing to be a Pittsburgh Sports Fan and watch all sorts of classic games over the past 10 years (let alone the entire history of the company), right in the convenience of the neighborhood.  This particular trip was just a short stop in, but it was nice to feel back in one of the best places.

Click on the link for more information about Rivertowne Brewing


On my Tap for the Night was:

Style: IPA - Cucumber Kolsch
Brewery: Rivertowne
Untapped Rating: 2.5/5
Description: "Decent cucumber beer, mildly sweet."
Comments: Not too bad for my first ever cucumber beer.  It was a very refreshing Kolsch and had a nice calming sweetness to it.

Style: IPA - Scottish Ale
Brewery: Rivertowne
Untapped Rating: 4.75/5
Description: "The best Scottish Ale ever!."
Comments: This Scottish Ale is worth the time and travel put in.  Winner of the Silver Medal at the World Beer Cup in 2014, this is nice and malty with tones of caramel and a nice dark taste.  Highly Recommended!

And now...the Bonus

- Babbling Blonde
Style: Blonde Ale
Brewery: Rivertowne
Untapped Rating: 5/5
Description: "Drink this Blonde!"
Comments: To date, this is the only beer I have ever given a perfect 5/5.  This was the most refreshing, distinct, tasteful, satisfying blonde ale I have ever consumed.  I cannot say enough great things about it, and I have recommended it to people from one side of this country to the other.  I hope someday they do a rerelease so that I can once again enjoy its amazing quality.  I don't even recommend, I tell you to drink this.

Sunday, February 3, 2019

Moving Day...With Beer

Moving Day...With Beer
Location: Pennsylvania
Date: May 12-13, 2018
Tag Team Partners: Tim, Alyssa, Holly, Wes

(Blogger's Note: It's been a while since I've posted.  Between a long few weeks at my day job, and lots of things going on the past month, I've been pretty busy working lots of hours for multiple days in a row and traveling around the country.  The next few posts will be subsequent but were from the last several months.  I apologize for the delay, but sleep and bills need to happen/get paid.)


After a stop at the local brewery with Dad, it was on to Waynesboro to help my best friend and his family pack up the rest of his childhood home, and move it on out to the Pittsburgh area.  It also culminated in one final celebration of all the years of memories held there.

Image may contain: Tim Reihner and Bryan Michael, people smiling, beard and hat

The next day after the party, we continued to pack up the house, and head on out to the Pittsburgh area, where we unloaded everything, and proceeded to find some beer and wings.  This is where we found the...Honkers...this will make me laugh every time I say it.  It's just an awesome name.  Say it.  Honkers.  Are we talking about birds?  Boobs?  Car Horn?  That round thing you squeak when you go around a turn on your bicycle?  No, we're talking about beer.  Also, found the Green Blaze.  

Good times.  Good People.  Good Beer.  Good Memory made.


On my Tap for the Night was:

Style: IPA - Witbier
Untapped Rating: 3.5/5
Description: "Very smooth, very fine, enjoyable"
Comments: Pretty good witbier, nice and sweet.  I had enjoyed Hoegaarden before, so this was a nice chance to drink it again.

- Honkers Ale
Style: IPA - English Bitter
Brewery: Goose Island
Untapped Rating: 3.25/5
Description: "Good, refreshing, like a dark lager."
Comments: Ok, so first things first, picked up this beer simply for the name.  "Honkers" sounds hilarious in any context, and also the fact that it is produced by Goose Island made it all the better.  Not bad, tasted a bit more like a lager at times, and certainly had a dark flavored element to it.

Style: IPA - IPA
Untapped Rating: 3/5
Description: "Piney IPA."
Comments: Went with a Vermont beer on this choice.  Not bad, but reminded me of drinking a forest.  Very piney taste to mix in with the hops, and was refreshing.  Something to drink on a hike through the woods, or in a place where you want to be reminded of such.

Mad Science Brewing - Double Shot

Brewery Review
Location: Adamstown, MD
Date: May 12, 2018
Tag Team Partners: David Herr

(Blogger's Note: It's been a while since I've posted.  Between a long few weeks at my day job, and lots of things going on the past month, I've been pretty busy working lots of hours for multiple days in a row and traveling around the country.  The next few posts will be subsequent, but were from the last several months.  I apologize for the delay, but sleep and bills need to happen/get paid.)


Image result for mad science brewing

I flew back East to spend a few days with my best friend and his family as they moved out of their childhood home.  I also had the opportunity to see my own family and hang out for a bit.

Upon getting in, and getting some sleep to get rid of some Jet-Lag, I was waiting on the car I was going to use while back East, and so my Dad and I decided to head down the street to a local brewery to try one of the beers in both original and Nitro forms.

The place itself is pretty cool.  It's smaller, and more of an intimate setting set on a farm.  The guy who served us really knows his beer and was great to talk to as we discussed many beers from around the world.

There wasn't a whole lot on Tap, so it appears that they brew a specialty batch for each new release, and that serves as the main beer to drink each time you visit.


Kinda funny story, I happened to run into a couple from Seattle while here, so it was interesting seeing this connection mere months after running into a couple from Adamstown in a Seattle-area Brewery.  Small World




Overall, this was a really neat place.  It's a nice small getaway to grab a pint and enjoy the company of people who love to talk about beer, and just relax from the stresses of life.  It is located in Adamstown on the outskirts of Frederick, and give you the luxury of the country as opposed to more urban settings.  I'll be back, and in the meantime, I definitely recommend checking it out!


Click on the link for more information about Mad Science Brewing


On my Tap for the Night was:

Style: IPA - Imperial Double Black
Brewery: Mad Science
Untapped Rating: 3.5/5
Description: "Nice, smooth, hoppy."
Comments: This was a good IPA.  It was super refreshing, went down smooth, and was hoppy enough to hit the spot.  

Style: Nitro IPA
Brewery: Mad Science
Untapped Rating: 3.5/5
Description: "Very refreshing dark beer, hides the hops."
Comments: Awesome nitro beer.  The original was good, but this took it to a whole new level.  The darker taste masked some of the hoppiness of the original, and provided a level of depth you wouldn't expect.  Good stuff!

Middleton Brewery One-Shot Wonder

Middleton One-Shot Wonder
Location: Everett, WA
Date: May 10, 2018
Tag Team Partners: None

(Blogger's Note: It's been a while since I've posted.  Between a long few weeks at my day job, and lots of things going on the past month, I've been pretty busy working lots of hours for multiple days in a row and traveling around the country.  The next few posts will be subsequent but were from the last several months.  I apologize for the delay, but sleep and bills need to happen/get paid.)




This visit occurred as I was running around town with my fiancee.  She wanted to go check out one of the stores in the area, so I decided I would head on over for a pint.  


Click the link to read the original Middleton Review.

Click on the link for more information about Middleton


On my Tap for the Night was:

Style: Pale Ale
Brewery: Middleton
Untapped Rating: 3/5
Description: "Nice pale ale, looks for a fruit loops flavor.  Refreshing, and pale."
Comments: Nice little pale ale to enjoy for a quick stop by the local brewery.  Sweet enough to enjoy the flavors, but bitter enough to give it a kick.  Recommended.