Back to the Burg!

Heading back west, and this time to talk with some chaps about business. So we met, we talked, and before you knew it was dinner time. And even though there is a great seafood restaurant in Homestead, the chaps wanted beef and so we went to Lone Star. Dinner was good (I loved my prime rib and had plenty left over for lunch the next day), but the beer selection was limited (we bought all the bottles of Sam Adams Noble Pils that they had). So after dinner we headed over to the Rock Bottom brewery. Rock Bottom is a chain, but each location brews their own beers, and tonight I thoroughly enjoyed their Fire Chief Ale on draft and on cask (cask was better). Rock Bottom donated a portion of the proceeds to the local Fireman’s fund, obviously a worthy cause.

So after another day of meetings, we were ready to go back out again. This time it was to South Side, and for some fine German food at the Hofbrauhaus. Matt and I got there early, so we stopped by for a beer at Claddaugh’s which was across the street. It was cool out, but the fire they had outside was so inviting and they had Belhaven Twisted Thistle on tap. We ate at the Hofbrauhaus, and I washed down the Oktoberfest Schweinshake with their Marzen. The Schweinshake was served with craklin, which is essentially pork rinds, and it was WAY to greasy. My parents love it, so I thought I’d give it a try. I’m sorry I did. We then decided to head over to Fat Heads, where I encourage my friends to try the Stone Arrogant Bastard and the Flying Dog Raging Bitch beers. Hiogh alcohol, high hops: what a combination. For myself, I went with a nice bitter on cask from Victory brewing.

We wrapped up the next day and headed over to Bocktown Beer and Grill. Great drafts, and a great selection of bottled beers to go. I was able to try Bell’s Oarsman and Thirsty Dog Cerebus. The Oarsman was a fine example of a Berlinner Weisse, light and sour, a great beer for the hot days of summer. I had to explain to the barmaid that it was normally served with a syrup but I had to agree that it was fine on its own. The Cerebus was a Belgian triple that weighed in at 10% ABV, and although it wasn’t the best representation of the style, it sure did go down nice.

Well we made it home, but I had a beer casualty on the trip. I had picked up a can of 21st Amendment’s Monk’s Blood, a Belgian Strong Dark ale in a can, and it was punctured on the trip and leaked all over Jenn’s new suitcase (and yes, I certainly did pay for that). The good news was that there was about 3 ozs left in the can, which I promptly finished following getting all my clothes in the washer. Now that is making lemonade out of lemons, or not crying over spilled beer. - 5450

"An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools." - Ernest Hemingway