Three Floyds Brewing Co. (Munster, IN) - 2/7/13

Quick Glance Stats:

Access/Parking: Munster is a good 30-45 minute drive from Chicago. Relatively close to the interstate (10 minutes away from, but a straight shot). In a business park with a devoted parking lot, but can and will fill up quickly – street parking otherwise.

Space: Nearly front office like of a large warehouse building.  Small over all space – two rooms (one restaurant, one bar area).

Beer: Beer Advocate rating as of 6/18/13 = 96

  Where to start with Three Floyd’s?  First and foremost, they make some of the most sought after beer in the United States and indeed the world.  They have (5) beers in the top 100 on Beer Advocate (All 53 or better).  They have an extremely limited distribution network (Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and sometimes northern Ohio).  So, add FANTASTIC beer with the fact it’s very hard to get, and you’ll create a must visit situation.  Munster is in the VERY northwest corner of Indiana, so close you might as well consider it a suburb of Chicago, but it’s still a bit of a drive.  If you only read this paragraph, the thing you should remember is to absolutely go to Three Floyds if you can.  I’ve been here before, but this particular visit provided me much more writing material.

  You’ll find that Three Floyds (TF) is located in the back of a small business park.  Not quite what I’d hope for a tasting room/brew pub, but with beer names like Zombie Dust, Dark Lord, Zes Zes Zes (666), Blot Out The Sun, Perminent Funeral...they make up for a dull surrounding easily.  In the parking lot they have a great sculpture in a small garden of the trademark “Three Floyds” head and body and that adds a little to the outside.  Once inside, you’ll likely be underwhelmed at first by sight as it’s mainly just a regular room with white walls, a lot of other brewery’s beer signs, some interesting art depicting TF beer labels, and pretty standard tables and chairs.  However, unless you’re deaf, you’ll be overwhelmed by the music.  Metal is king at TF.  I opened the door and was practically hit in the face with sound waves of thrash metal and guttural vocals.  I like metal a lot actually, so I’m just had a huge smile on my face as I made my way to the bar, but for those with kids in tow, you may want to bring ear plugs for the youngin’s (okay, it might not be that bad, but it’s loud and likely vulgar).

  Grabbing a seat at the bar, depending on the time of day, may be a bit challenging as it is a pretty small bar (only 13 seats…such a lucky number) but there are high tops available as well.  The bar is elbow shaped, and surround with a wide assortment of some Star Wars collectables, pictures, instruments, and in general obscure toys and stuff.  Behind the bar, is a treat as well.  It’s almost like a game in counting just how many tattoos your bartender will have.  During my visit I had made this observation even telling friends that a requirement to work at TF’s was to have at least 15 tats; but the second trip was far more entertaining.  My bartender this day had arms completely covered in ink.  I don’t mean a lot of designs…I mean painted in black.  There were however 4 small spade shaped areas of blank skin on the backs of each arm, but otherwise they were completely covered.  These sleeves put other sleeves to shame.  Also, his chin was completely black (think of it as a goatee) and on his neck a spattering of tattooed  lines, nearly as if a spider’s web was drawn, but I couldn’t tell enough of the detail to be sure.  I’m sure that he had plenty more, but this was all I could see.  I know this has nothing to do with the actual place, or the beer, but it is indicative of the employees.  Everyone is either punked out, or seemingly in a metal band.  All the better for me because it adds sooooo much character to the place, and as said, strikes a sharp contrast to the business park they are found in.

  I didn’t get to sample a lot of their food, but I did have some of the strangest nachos.  Think “pigs ears” snack consistency, but a chip with an odd dollop of a pureed “salsa” (for lack of a better word).  Their menu is just as eclectic as their people, so don’t go in thinking you’ll get a standard burger.  Not being of any culinary background, nor do I really even enjoy cooking, the menu is fun and different so paring the food up with the fantastic beer just adds to the fun.

  Their beer lineup is phenomenal and also includes taps and bottles from many other great breweries all over the country.  You won’t find any bad beer here (unless you’re taste buds get in the way).  There are 13 TF beers available (that lucky number again), with 5 guest taps.  I personally recommend the Zombie Dust Pale Ale the most, but Alpha King IPA is close behind.  More than those two though, I would recommend one of their many one offs that you won’t be able to find in a bottle.  Nearly every style can be had, and unique blends abound here (I don’t mean blending pours, but rather styles).  TF is often known for their “Dark Load Day” which is a HIGHLY sought after ticketed event for the release of their imperial stout called Dark Lord.  I’ve only had this beer once, and that was just a sip in North Carolina, so I doubt it will be available at the brewery unless you visit that day only.  Regardless, many of the TF standards can be found in the merch store which is located just next to the bar area in its own room.  There you can pick up tees, hats, sweat shirts, bombers, 6 packs, cases, and I believe growlers and kegs as well.

  Overall, if you haven’t gathered, YOU MUST come here.  It’s one of my favorite breweries in the country, and while out of the way, it is well worth the visit.  Pick up a 6 pack of Zombie Dust, because as the current #4 beer in the world (according to Beer Advocate), the $10 6 pack price is fantastic. Honestly, picked up anything to take home, because it's very likely to be great!

Rohrbach Brewing Co. (Rochester, NY) - 1/22/13

Quick Glance Stats:

Access/Parking: Outskirts of Rochester, NY.  Near a major highway, but a good ways from downtown and airport.  Devoted parking lot.

Space: Wood cabin/lodge like.  Large bar area, but primarily a restaurant.  Plenty of seating.

Beer: Beer Advocate rating as of 6/18/13 = 90

  I had a lunch meeting here while being taken around town by a rep group.  Oddly enough, it was just down the street from the client’s office, so the selection had nothing to do with my tastes in beer.  Overall, this place was about as close to a normal restaurant that just happened to make beer as you can image.  While they promote their beer, you wouldn’t really know it was a brewery beside its name.  I had their IPA, as everyone else was drinking a beer with lunch as well.  To clarify, I RARELY, if ever, have a beer for lunch when I know I have further meetings in the day, but such is the custom of my industry.  The IPA was mediocre at best, and tasted thick with far too much malt for that style.  They had a range of styles which is always good to see (but nearly expected these days), though beyond their Scottish Ale nothing at the time jumped out for me to try anything else.  That being said, their Scotch Ale is pretty much their best reviewed beer.

  Overall, if you live in Rochester, make a stop for dinner and a beer.  If you’re travelling to or through Rochester, I wouldn't waste your time.  I hate to sound mean about it, but I mean, there just isn’t a need to go out of your way to come here.  I’m sure it’s a great watering hole and local brewery for the residents, but it’s certainly nothing to write home about.

Triumph Brewing Co. (Princeton, NJ) - 1/16/13

Quick Glance Stats:

Access/Parking: Downtown Princeton, NJ.  Relatively easy to get to from major highways/parking readily found.

Space: Open aired, plenty of seating, multiple bars, restaurant seating.  Very pretty place.

Beer: Beer Advocate rating of 6/18/13 = 88

  The Triumph Brewing Co. located in downtown Princeton, NJ is another brewery that I merely visited to meet with a cousin, so I don’t have much to offer on this chain brewery.  It has been a growing habit of my friends to know that when I visit them on a work trip, that the best place to take me is a local brewery.  Not to say I wouldn’t have visited this location on my own, but, it’s likely I wouldn’t have gone out of my way for it.  I don’t often clamor for chain breweries, because to be quite honest – often times they produce very mediocre beers, although there are a handful of high quality chain locations.  What I liked about this place is that while it was a chain, you can tell the people living there appreciate its existence, and to be honest that’s all that matters.

  First and foremost, the location is key; right across the street from Princeton University, and on the main drag through town, thus making this quite a popular place.  Parking, as far as I’m aware, is mainly available on the street, but judging by the amount of people inside the large space, there must be a parking lot/deck nearby.  Walking in off the street leads you down a long slopped hallway which then opens up into a vast, multi-leveled space.  Inside is quite spacious, although we sat at the first bar you come to which is perched above the remainder of the restaurant.  The lighting is actually very pleasant and the large fermentation tanks, seen through large glass windows behind the bar downstairs, reflect much of that light nicely.

  Service was genuine and prompt.  I didn’t get a chance to look at the food menu as we were having dinner elsewhere, but it is certainly available.  The beers were better than expected, so that was a relief, but I can’t say that I would buy a growler of any I sampled.  If in the area again I would certainly stop in to see what they had recently been brewing.  Unlike many chains they do have a test batch series which leads me to believe they have control of their own brewing process making it less of a chain, but more of a franchise.  If you’re in the area, I would recommend to anyone to stop in check out this nicely designed brewery and hopefully you’ll grab a great beer in the process.

Troegs Brewing Co. (Hershey, PA) - 1/10/13

Quick Glance Stats:

Access/Parking: A short drive from Harrisburg, PA in the outskirts of Hershey, PA.  Easily found right off of a highway in it's own very large building.  Plenty of parking available.

Space: Very, very large interior space.  Open layout, high ceilings, modern styling yet with a warehouse feel.

Beer: Beer Advocate rating as of 6/18/13 = 95

Up to this point, I've primarily written about breweries that I had never been to before, but now comes a personal favorite (and hell, I've only been here once before).  Troegs Brewing Co, located in Hershey, PA about 30 minutes from Harrisburg, PA, is now housed in a new 90,000 sq. ft. complex which opened in November 2011.  Just down the road from Hershey Park, I'm sure this is a destination for the adults after the kids have had their fun at the park.  Easy to find, fun to first behold based on it's size (well, and I get giddy some times), and with plenty of parking.

The large building, primarily comprised of concrete and steel is certainly hard to miss.  There is a large outdoor patio area with plenty of seating that I'm sure is taken advantage of in the summer.  When first walking in you come into the high ceilinged main foray, which has a staircase to the offices upstairs, and it is also the entrance to the HUGE merchandise store.  I recommend going first to the bar in the main room, getting a beer (Nugget Nectar if available), and then returning to walk around the store...otherwise you'll get thirsty.  Honestly though, it's likely the largest brewery store I've been in.  But, if you didn't enter the main room to buy a beer first, we'll walk through those doors now...

"It's huge" will be your first thought.  I mean, really huge.  Warehouse high ceilings with exposed framing, duct work, piping, and sheet metal above you.  Massive cinder block and sheet rock walls painted in greys and sea greens (color to be determined by a normal person).  A concrete floor that looks like it took weeks to pour.  Four large brew kettles, accessed by a catwalk style platform, sit above and behind a long 22 seat bar with two sets of a dozen taps below (although most are just repeated as they commonly only have between 8 and 12 beers available).  Another smaller brewing station with barrel style fermenter is in the back right corner.  Large Troegs inspired artwork hangs on a couple of the walls.  Everything is extremely well lit, bright even.  A ridiculously large ceiling fan spins over head.  I mean, this place is impressively big.  There are 4 long high top tables, seating 38, running in parallel with the bar.  There is plenty of room for a band...but the acoustics would make things really echo, so I doubt they host bands indoors (perhaps on the patio instead).  There are 6 speakers hanging from the ceiling, but due to crowd noise, and brewing noise, the music can be rather hard to hear.

On the other side of the long high top tables immediately to your left is a restaurant section under a lower ceiling but with plenty of modern character to match the simplistic design of the warehouse main space.  There are roughly 60 seats in this area, primarily booth style, and each table is lit with great little drop down lights from the ceiling.  The food is all "window style"; small plates, sandwiches, apps, and salads available.  Only beer is poured at the bar; wine and liquor aren't available.

There is a great self guided tour in the back right corner of the main room. Possibly my favorite tour around. It's merely a divided hallway along some of the equipment, and ended at the bottling line.  Microbiology, Open Fermentation, Closed Fermentation, Filtration, Kegging, Bottling, and Aging, are all categories with panes of glass at each "station" explaining the process. VERY neat and extremely well done. In here you'll find the best artwork in the whole place (all Troegs related). Also, there is nice room at the end with neat barrel tables, which I found out where they host special tours, tastings, and also can be rented out for events.

Overall, you MUST visit Troegs.  Great beer, and a great space will make for a great time.  I can say however that as the initial after work and dinner crowd disperse, the size and scope of the building is almost too large for the 15-30 people possibly left over.  It is certainly a very different brewery space than that of any other I've visited, but that in and of itself makes it special to me.  I recommend a visit here whole heartedly.

(Pictures to come soon)

Lancaster Brewing Co. - 1/9/13

Quick Glance Stats:

Access/Parking: Near downtown Lancaster in a historic corner building.  Small parking lot, primarily street parking.

Space: Warm, comfortable, rustic atmosphere.  A lot of brick, wooden supports and flooring.  Nice sized bar area with restaurant side attached.

Beer: Beer Advocate rating as of 6/18/13 = 88

  A drive through Amish country is the perfect way to get to Lancaster Brewing Co. in Lancaster, PA.  You can easily access Lancaster by interstates, then by highways, but the feeling will be lost.  If you're forced to do so, plan extra time, drive through downtown Lancaster, and southeast back out of town for about 15 minutes.  You'll thank me for the experience, because it will only add to Lancaster's facility.

  Pulling up, parking is limited, and although there is a small lot you're likely to park on the street nearby.  The large 2 story brick building is full of history and everything inside is connected to the area's farming tradition (hence the push to drive in the country a bit).  While I'm personally not sure of the building's history (nor does their website mention it), the "relics" inside tell tales likely a grain mill and storehouse.  Old wooden floors with a patchwork of faded metal plates as patches, give each step charm .  Exposed wood beams are overhead in the rafters, large windows with old wooden shutters, and wood frame work and columns add nothing but old country character and help disperse the brick that is the primary material.  The lighting is pretty bright, but with so much dark building material, it's needed.  I classify the lights as "dock" style; large circular metal top with a metal caged light bulb.  I see this often in breweries, but I'll take a picture to clarify.  The warmth in all of the building's features make it a very comfortable atmosphere.

  While Lancaster is a restaurant, I think it's primary focus is the rectangular shaped bar area found the moment you walk in the front door.  Once inside and to the left is an elbow shaped, 10 seat bar, in front of a pretty non descript bar back.  There are however mug club mugs and growlers from other breweries hanging all over from the ceiling.  The are a few high top tables, but I think the neatest part are the regular low tops.  Each table is slightly different from the next, but each top is covered with a layer of copper.  Old smudge marks, stains, and scratches distinguish each table.  I love bar tops that are of this construction, so having each table this way just makes me smile.  There are 11 beers on tap, with wine and liquor available as well.  6 TVs, a dart board, and two arcade games provide some entertainment.

  To the right of the front door, but still in the bar area, is a small merchandise case and stand, and this also serves as the hostess stand.  A few feet from that, in the middle of the room and serving as a divider between bar and restaurant, is a massive antique elevator...that still works.  To the right of that is an antique scale - which looks to be over 100 years old.  It's placed in location in an almost revered, one that makes you respect it.  And finally, behind the scale and visible from every part of the bar or restaurant, is the main brewing area.  The coolest aspect to this, is that it's a "sunken" brewery so therefore you really only see the tops of the tanks.  You're able to peer down into the brewing floor without restriction, not even glass, and it helps bring it all home.  To me it is the perfect blend of bar and brewery based on this unique connection with the huge tanks that make it all possible.  The pictures will certainly help clarify what I mean by this as I guess I don't want to get too detailed on this matter, but it is really, really cool.

  As for the remained of the place, the restaurant retains all of the charm that the bar and rest of the building has, and in fact nearly looks like an extension of the bar.  There doesn't seem to be a place for a band to play, which I think is the one missing piece.  The fact that the bar was packed with locals says a lot as it's place in the community, and I guess I just think a small corner for local bands would be a great addition.  The bathrooms are oddly enough very neat as they have very unique large tubular curved brick ceilings.  The only thing I can think of is that this is once where they had stacked bails of hays, since the curvature is roughly the same.  In the restrooms there are also old photos of the building many, many years ago.  In fact, one particularly old looking photo shows a man standing next to the very same scale that is currently in house.

  Overall, I think this is a must visit.  One thing you may have noticed is that I've barely mentioned their beer.  It's decent, but only one stands out and that is their Milk Stout.  Beyond that, they have pretty non-descript beers.  Even still, I think this place is well worth a visit, even if it is a bit out of the way (1:20 from Philly, 45 from Harrisburg, and even 20-30 minutes from the Penn Turnpike).  This was an extremely comfortable place to visit, and I know that I would certainly head to the LBC often if I lived in the area.

(Pictures to come soon)

Iron Hill (Media, PA) - 1/8/13

Quick Glance Stats:

Access/Parking: Downtown Media, PA.  On the main street (State St.) with little parking around.

Space: Primarily a restaurant style place.  Very large with plenty of seating in the bar and the restaurant side.

Beer: Beer Advocate rating as of 6/18/13 = 90

Now, some of these posts won't be very long, nor detailed, based on my general interest in a place.  The chain of Iron Hill Breweries falls in line with that notion.  I have a good friend who lives in Media, PA (about 30 minutes from downtown Philly), and when ever I'm in the area I usually try and grab a few drinks with them.  Media is a very nice little town with a great Main St. (which is actually called State St.) and the Iron Hill brew pub is a prominent feature in the middle of quite a few restaurants, bars, and shops downtown.  The down side to the prime location is that parking is a pain.  There is a Trader Joes next door, but the parking lot specifically states it's for that store only.  Parking is a pain, and there it likely a walk involved, but a spot can be found after a few loops around the blocks.  Iron Hill acts primarily as a restaurant, so take it as such.  They have decent beers (roughly 10 on tap), plenty of seating, a large bar room, and a nice patio on the side.

A nice place, but not a brewery one should seek out as a specific trip.

Victory Brewing Company - 1/7/13

Quick Glance Stats:

Access/Parking: Near downtown Downingtown, PA.  Slightly hard to locate main entrance in the block sized warehouse building.

Space: 3 large main dinning rooms, one large bar area.  Primarily drywall in light tones, but also lots of wood accents.  Very neat cooper kettle pieces in the bar area.

Beer: Beer Advocate rating as of 6/18/13 = 94

Victory Brewing Co. is located in Downingtown, PA; which is under an hour from downtown Philly.  First off, I would recommend trying to find Victory in the day light (I however didn't).  The building is easy enough to locate, but the signage saying what side of the city block sized building the entrance is on is rather hard to find.  A turn around to relocate it is likely.  Parking is relatively plentiful, just not right next to the door so if it's raining drop off the passengers and bring an umbrella cause it's a walk.  As said, the building a huge industrial style space, and in fact was originally a Pepperidge Farm factory.

Once inside, you can tell this place is a favorite of the area (and that wasn't just because it was taco night!).  There are three very large areas to eat, and one very long bar area with plenty of standing tables as well.  The ceilings are very high, slanted, and with exposed duct work, bracing, and piping.  Muted tones for paint on both the walls and ceiling, I'll say in the tan realm, even though every one who knows me now completely doubts that.  The walls are sparsely adorned with a few pieces of breweriana, and some old WWI and WWII signs...promoting Victory, of course!

The long bar has roughly 21 seats, a dark wood back splash, and mirrors behind.  However, the coolest aspect to the bar area are the huge cooper kettle cut outs.  Basically, they have either purchased old kettles, or fabricated new ones, cut the tops off, and the cut the tops in half to create overhangs for the bar.  They even have structural supports coming down as the sides that help make the rest of the bar.  One of the coolest bar features I've seen to date.  Next to the bar there is a large circular table using an entire top cut of a kettle for a canopy that I think is equally as cool.  There are a flags hanging from the rafters, and a few tvs hung up in the bar area as well.  As for the offerings, there were 17 beers on tap, but no wine or liquor available.

Of the three main dining rooms, one is nearly connected to the bar area but would likely serve as a private event room.  The room has a large projection tv, PLENTY of seating, and can be closed off by large double doors.  The night I was there, the Alabama vs Notre Dame BCS Championship game was being played and that room was full of patrons.  Side Story: I was pulling for Alabama that night and kept thinking I was in the right place to watch the game: Victory.  Clearly they won - big time.  Later that night I had bought a t-shirt with the Victory logo.  Once home I kept it visible and thought about it often (I didn't even move it from my man room chair where I unpacked it)...but didn't wear it...until my Ravens won the Super Bowl.  Yep...superstitious to the core.

Anyway, the other "eating" rooms are very clean cut and restaurant-esque with more seats than I wanted to stand still and count (while looking creepy to the patrons I'm sure).  Newer wood floors, and the lighting all throughout the facility is low, but very adequate.  One room however is a long, slightly darker hallway with booths only on the sides.  Continuing further down this hallway, under more cut out copper kettles, leads to the merchandise store.  There you have a slew of options for merch and also both standard beers and hard to find one offs from the brewery.

Overall, I would absolutely come back to Victory...time and time again.  It may be a bit out of the way in Downington, but it's worth it.  The atmosphere is casual, fun, and unique (well, for the kettles).  I recommend the Storm King Stout, Hop Devil, Hop Wallop, and Old Horizontal (or it's incarnations if the original isn't available).  Make the trip here and you won't be disappointed at all!

(Photos to come shortly)