New Holland Brewing Co. - Holland MI

While visiting the west side of Michigan, we decided to pop over to Holland and check out New Holland brewery. The brewery and restaurant open for lunch and dinner. They not only offer food and beer, but also makes spirits for people interested in cocktails. Their Knickerbocker Gin is quite popular at my local liquor store

The main section of the restaurant has a nice feel with exposed bricks and duct work and holding tanks. The other section of the restaurant holds no character and seems like an just a place to seat more bodies.
 
On to the beer... The selection is diverse. This is the benefit of brewing experience since 1997. The sampler includes any selection of 6 beers and each style has its own pricing $1-$2. Between 2 of us we were able to try all they had to offer that day. The first beers are the typical beer flavors and the second section was all of the seasonal and specialty brews. Overall the beers were enjoyable. The charloota rye was too smokey for our taste enjoy, but the oatmeal stout was smooth and my favorite. The sandwiches and salad were great. Also, the apple sauce that came with the kids meal was amazing! I wish they bottled that!

B.O.B's Brewery - Grand Rapdis, MI

The B.O.B is a big building full of bars and restaurants and clubs in Grand Rapids, with a brewery... it also happened to be across the street from our hotel, so we checked it out.

The brewing aspect seemed like an afterthought, and the beer mostly reflected it.  I had all four beers they were offering... Platinum Blonde, Full On IPA, Afterglow Amber, and the seasonal tap Hopsun.  All were unremarkable and a bit lacking in flavor.  My favorite (were I forced to choose one) was the Hopsun.  Light and summery, but in need of a kick of hops.

That said, the food was good, the walk was short, and Alex needed some downtime.

Cool building... nice restaurant... order an Oberon.

Brewery Vivant - Grand Rapids, MI

Our 2nd brewery stop on this Vacation was Brewery Vivant.  This brewery specializes Belgium Style Beers.  The brewery opened after lunch so we weren't able to stave our hunger after a busy morning at the Meijer Gardens.  Our goal on this visit was to taste the beer. 
We were welcomed by a sign with a message that we could get behind!  Especially on vacation! This sign and the fact that the brewery is in an old church were our first signs that this place would create a cool and quirky place for imbibing some brew!
The decor was a combination of traditional and bicycle.  Also of this note, is the awesome concrete, bowl-less sink in the bathroom!

The former sanctuary is used for the main customer space.  There are long tables that encourage family style seating, and some smaller tables along the walls that allow for people to be more exclusive with their seating.  The former altar is perfectly used as a bar.  The traditional architecture of the church accented by bicycles and biking photos.  The art is interesting from an artsy perspective and a design and engineering perspective.... the multiple materials was really interesting to the technical folks in our group. The staff at the brewery was very helpful.  The menu was had a focus on local foods.  We got a couple appetizers that were great.  The pomme frites were addictive and the angry nuts were SPICY! That's it for the extras, on to the BEER!  

2 Samplers = Trying all the Beers

Vivant offers samplers with a selection of any 4 beers.  We ordered 2 samplers to share and get a taste of all the beers (which didn't include space for the 2 cider options).  The samplers included: The Golden Road, Farm Hand, Zaison Super Saison, Triomphe Belgian IPA, Wood-Aged Triomphe, Solitude Abbey Ale, Mother's Milk, Mother's Milk Nitro. 
Overall we enjoyed the effect that the Belgium style brought to the beers.  The IPA was a bit too sharp for my taste, but the Wood-aging smoothed it out and I enjoyed it very much.  We all enjoyed the Nitro pour of the Mother's Milk.  After the sampler was finished, I decided to try the cider.  The Raspberry-Apple Cider was VERY drinkable and dangerous.  It was smooth, not too sweet, and went down easily.  It is a good option for a person who doesn't really love beer. 
Overall, Vivant is a great place to hang out and have good beer.  The atmosphere is welcoming and comfortable to locals and visitors!

Founders Brewing Co. - Grand Rapids, MI

We always take a vacation the week after Memorial Day.  This year it was a short trip (due to our pending Ireland trip) to Grand Rapids.  Our trips often revolve around visiting new beer joints, and this one was no different.  After hitting the Air Zoo in K-zoo we had a late lunch (and ultimately too much beer) at Founders.

It was a very cool space (former train terminal?) and full of bike people and hippies.  No beer menu, no frills... just a chalk board.  Luckily we were ordering one of everything (Sampler Please!), so it wasn't a problem.  Alex was happy to be out of the car, and we were happy to drink the delicious beer.  Twelve beers to be precise... some creeping up on 10% alcohol.  Bob and Michele tasted... Michele got a pint... then Robin and I dug in.  The only thing we didn't care for was the Cerise (tart cherry ale).  It was sweet and weird.  I really liked the Curmudgeon!

We also dug in to sandwiches... perhaps the best meal of our trip!  Delicious.

Then, suddenly, the beer was gone... and we were tired...

We got the bill and, as I signed the ticket, they put a new beer on the board... Devil Dancer!  I mentioned to the waiter that they snuck one in, and that we would require a sample.  He agreed, and said it would be on him.  When he brought it, he told us that he had intended to pour a sample but was overzealous.  We had about 10 ounces of a beer that is only sold in 8 ounce pours because of the 12% alcohol!  Robin and I may very well have been over served...

All around... it was an awesome place with awesome beer and food.  We almost went back the next day... but had to move on to new ventures...

Th3ee Wise Men Bewing Co. - Indianapolis, IN

In Indi for work, I planned to visit the popular Broad Ripple Brew Pub... too popular as it turned out.  After circling block after block searching for a praking space, I stumbled upon Th3ee Wise Men with ample parking.  I entered, and am glad I did.

A bit more restaurant-y than my original target, but good beer and good food.  They had four beers that are standard fare (Two Lucys Blackberry Wheat, Golden Zoe IPA, Centennial Martyr Double IPA, & Snow Bunny Blonde), a monthly special (Double Pagoda Pit Road Red), and two new brews that were off menu (2 Sisters Carolina Saison & St Slater's Irish Stout).  A sampler was only three beers... I'm a sucker for IPAs... but a bigger sucker for special runs.  I went with the latter three.

 

All were tasty as was the food.  My fave was probably the Saison... crisp and citrousy and refreshiong on a warm night.  Service came with a smile and a bucket of popcorn... Alex would have been impressed.

In addition to the sampler they offered the normal pints and growlers, but also a 101 oz. table top tap (two being deliverd - left)... pretty cool for a table full of peolple.

All in all, a cool place with good beer and a fun atmosophere... but I will get back for Broad Ripple...

Brew Co. - Newport Beach, CA

This week I found myself in Newport Beach, CA on a business trip.  This is an area of beautiful Beaches, beautiful houses, beautiful cars, and beautiful people. And of course a local brewery!

Passing the Porsche, Tesla, and Maserati dealers, around the corner from the Yacht Docks is the more relaxed location of the Brew Co.  The sign posted on the building indicated that it is "Husband Day Care"... give him money for food and beer and they'll watch him all day.  A bit corny, but a welcomed corny considering the surroundings.

The beer covered all the basics from Pale Ale to Stout to Special Cast Pours. They have a menu of Burgers, Sandwiches and Pizza.  This evening we went they also had a special Taco Buffet and Margaritas, which several people seemed to be enjoying.  The pricing was very reasonable, not only considering the area.

I order a sampler to try the regular pours: Newport Beach Blonde, Pelican Pale Ale, Disaster in the House IPA, Village Idiot IPA, Bulbon Brown Ale, Lil cowboy Stout Nitro.  My favorite was the Disaster IPA and I also thought the Stout was nice and smooth.  I wish I could have tried the Hefeweizen because people said that was a nice beer.  The pale ale had a very champagne like taste and feel, which made it too light for me to enjoy. The pours were a good size and the price was $9 for the sampler.  I thought it was quite reasonable.  They didn't share the alcohol % and I would have like to know that information.

This was a nice place to visit. There was beer to enjoy, the environment was welcoming and relaxed.  They have been there for a while so there was a nice local crowd. There was free parking onsite which isn't the norm for other places in the area (required valet $$ is normal).  It was nice to be in a place where there was good beer, a nice environment and not loads of pretense.

Dispatches From the Front: Presidente

Editor's Note: While this blog is in theory about sampling samplers at local breweries, it is actually more about travel, and the beer we find therein.  There are places that instead of many local brewers, have one beer that embodies the region and culture so fully you need nothing more.  It is a part of the place.  "Dispatches From the Front" posts will be set aside for just such occasions. 

There is nothing better than a cold beer, except a cold beer on a hot day.  There is nothing better than a cold beer on a hot day, except a cold beer, in the morning, on a hot beach.  This is such a day, and in The Dominican Republic, Presidente is such a beer.

We are on the island for a wedding (vacation).  And like so many other places, there is a beer that is THE beer.  If you go to a bar or a restaurant or a roadside stand and ask for a cold beer, Presidente is what you get.  And there are reasons.  Sure, it's made locally and cheap and available.  But more than that, like beers on every warm island, it is made for a hot day.  Somewhere between a fine Pilsner and a cheap American Lager, it holds the cold and cools the body.  It is perfectly suited to be run across a sunburned brow, cracked open, and swilled poolside.

Bubbly, refreshing.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner.  Si, por favor.  But, be warned... these beers should not be ordered in the states.  Want a Presidente?  Go to DR.  Want a Red Stripe?  Go to Jamaica.

Michele is sleeping... I think I'll have a beer...

Wolverine State Brewing Co. - Ann Arbor, MI

Hey y'all, we're starting a new blog.  A beer blog.  But, not a blog about beer, necessarily... more like a blog about drinking beer, and trying beer, and using beer as an excuse to check out cool new places.  A beer experience blog...

We have gone out of our way on our last few vacations to try local craft beer wherever we go... this blog will be our chronicle.  We'll not describe each beer in intricate, specific, nerdy detail.  We'll get a sampler, drink it, snap some pics.  Join us. 

And to start, we went .9 miles down the road to...

Our home venue.  The Wolverine.  We were mug club members the week they opened the doors.  Alexandra is as comfortable here as she is at home.  She asks to go there.  There is room to run around and cool stuff to look at.  There are maps on the walls and table, and she loves maps.  This is the face she makes if you suggest going there...

No food.  No waitress.  No frills.  Just amazing beer (all lagers) and a fun comfortable environment.  They do special runs and small batches.  They experiment.  Today there were nine beers on the board...

 And so we tried them.  From left to right: Wolverine Premium Lager, Wolverine Dark, Hopstadt Altbier, Gulo Noir, Gulo Gulo, Faustian Stout, District 16 (Wolverine Amber), Insolent Mink, & Gulo Revilo.

 Smooth, drinkable, refreshing.  And big pours.  Robin and I shared this sampler and it's a good thing we did.  Given some time I could drink it all, but it's a bunch of beer... including some with as much as 8.3% alcohol. 

We sat and talked and laughed.  Bob and Alex played foosball.  Michele poked me in the ribs and drank Hopstadt.  It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.