A BREWERY BREAK IN GONE WRONG
DC Brau is the new kid on the block of the DC area brewing world and they’re not shy about making their presence known. They are the first production brewing facility in the District in over 60 years. The founders, Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock are two ex DJs and DC natives who have a passion for creating something DC can call it’s own.
This was meant to be posted a few months ago as that was the last time I ate at the Mining Company. I remember it very clearly as it was the day my daughter was born and I went with my brother to have a bite to eat. We both were wanting something with a little grease that wasn’t in a chain restaurant but something local and good. I remembered eating at the Dubuque Mining Company a year earlier and how I was pleased with it. 
This place has everything I’m looking for in a pub/bar. A nice comfy feel that doesn’t have 50 feet ceilings, 90 tvs, loud music, and $5 shitty beers. It was cozy, a little dark, and had the type of food I was looking for, although the beer selection could have been a bit better; they did have Boulevard Wheat and Sam Adams seasonal on tap, so it’s not too terrible. When I sat down I was pleasantly surprised to see a brat burger on the menu. I’m a huge advocate of the brat burger, don’t get me wrong, I love brats, but the burger form is much easier to eat and less messy. Anyway, got one of those piled with warm sauerkraut and yellow mustard with a side of fries and life was good. They have an extensive burger list and the food hits the spot.
Here’s the link to check out the menu: http://www.dubuqueminingcompany.com/menu.cfm
Have you been there before? Let me know what I need to get next time!
I consider myself a huge fan of stout beers. Seeing a few being brewed in Iowa really puts a smile on face. With that being said I was pretty excited to try Hub City’s Oatmeal Stout out of Stanley, Iowa. Upon pouring this beer it looked like a good stout, smelled like a good stout, and tasted like a………………………..metallic, chalky, stout. Not impressed at all with it. I’ve had a few times since then, along with a few more brews from Hub City, and come away shaking my head. I really want to enjoy them, but it just doesn’t happen.
Style: Stout
ABV: 5.8%
Purchased at: Hy-Vee
REVIEW
Pour: Dark black pour with a nice tan head.
Aroma: Coffee and chocolate aromas.
Taste: Metallic, chalky, not what I was looking for.
Overall: D
Eastern Iowa Residents: Available pretty much anywhere in Eastern Iowa, but pick another stout to go with.
Making beer around the world with a Gypsy Brewer…
You could describe Brian Stillwater of Stillwater Artisanal Ales as a Vagabond, Gypsy Brewer, Lone Ranger, whatever you’d like. But one thing is sure, he’s garnering a cult following because of his unconventional brewing method and his completely uncompromised brews.
He parallels his brewing method from that of his music days as a globetrotting DJ. The breweries he uses around the world are his studios and he is a visiting artist. Wherever his beer is made takes on a little flavor of the location it’s brewed in and he uses whatever ingredients he feels are appropriate to achieve his goal. He does not set any limits on the beer he crafts which is undoubtedly the reason it is so so good.
Damn you Anheuser Busch, damn you for buying out Goose Island and now making hard for me to want to buy any Goose Island products because you are now running the show. As much as Goose Island’s products are very drinkable, I will continue to fight the good fight and refuse to buy any product from AB-InBev………………………however………………. this bottle of Sofie sure is tasting pretty damn good right now. So many complex flavors are in this wonderful brew making a very enjoyable beer overall. I was introduced to this brew by my brother, Meat, at the 4th annual BeerBaron Family Beer Tasting, and I thought it should have been a definite top 2 beer…… Okay, Sofie is one beer I will continue to buy from Goose Island BUT THAT’S IT!!!
Style: Saison
ABV: 6.5%
Purchased at: John’s Grocery; Iowa City, IA
REVIEW
Pour: Cloudy gold with a nice thick white head.
Aroma: Yeast aroma with some citrus and banana.
Taste: Sweet and sour with citrus fruit, a little peppery and some banana.
Overall: B+
Eastern Iowa Residents: Available pretty much anywhere with a decent beer selection, usually in a bomber or 4 packs.
Would I Buy Again: Hesitantly, (up yours AB), yes.
O New Glarus, how I wish you would distribute to Iowa. Fortunately we don’t have to drive to far to get your wonderful brew. It would be nice to be able to drive to the local grocery store to grab a sixer though, but I could say that for many beers. Dan Carey continues to excel with New Glarus brewing, winning awards on a consistent basis as he continues to pump out fantastic brews. One of my favorites is their Fat Squirrel. Fat Squirrel is a nut brown ale using hazelnuts. All of the malt used in this brew come from Wisconsin. This state keeps pouring out wonderful beers and New Glarus might be the king of the hill for craft beer in Wisconsin.
Style: Seasonal/Nut Brown
ABV: 5.5%
Purchased at: Piggly Wiggly; Platteville, WI
REVIEW
Pour: Deep amber pour with a thick tan head.
Aroma: Smell is somewhat nutty, with maybe some brown sugar.
Taste: Nutty and sweet brown sugar rounded out nicely by the malts and hops.
Overall: B
Eastern Iowa Residents: Take a little road trip to Wisconsin and stop at the first gas station and I guarantee they will have it.
Would I Buy Again: This and all of New Glarus products.
Millstream Brewing in Amana, IA is coming back to Iowa carrying gold. Their Backroad Oatmeal stout is the gold medal winner in the Oatmeal stout category! An awesome accomplishment! Other notable winners were New Glarus winning with their Raspberry Tart and Black Top black IPA. For a full list check out this link: http://beernews.org/2011/10/gabf-2011-winners-announced/
The first thing you notice when pouring a Sam Adams Octoberfest is the color; a deep amber pour that goes perfect with the season. This may be the beer that is synonymous with Octoberfest beers for the new craft beer drinker and rightfully so as Sam Adams once again impresses with this fall seasonal. They may be big business for craft beer, but there is no denying that Sam Adams brings their best with 95% of their offerings. I was disappointed with their Blackberry Wit and maybe their Cranberry Lambic just isn’t for me, but for the most part they give top quality options to craft beer drinkers in every market.
Style: Octoberfest/Marzen
ABV: 5.3%
Purchased at: Found just about everywhere.
This beer is usually on tap at most bars/restaurants and is always a relief when I see that lined up save the day alongside your mass-produced domestics. A nice malty beer that gets rounded out nicely by the hop bitterness. Maybe Sam’s best seasonal brew? Or is Noble Pils on top?
REVIEW
Pour: Amber colored pour with a nice white head.
Aroma: Kind of a nutty smell/almost nut brown ale like with sweetness of the malt and a little hop presence.
Taste: You get all sweet malts first but then rounded out nicely by the hops.
Overall: B
Eastern Iowa Residents: Everywhere! If they don’t have Sam Adams products then walk right out of the store. Would I Buy Again: This is no doubter and an always eager fall purchase.
News courtesy of www.beernews.org
Ken Burns’ Prohibition will air the first week of October on PBS.
Prohibition is a three-part, five-and-a-half-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that tells the story of the rise, rule, and fall of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the entire era it encompassed.
If it’s being done by Ken Burns it’s going to be very good!
