Northampton Brewery, Northampton, MA

Our family's big Christmas gift this year was a 5-day, 4-night ski trip to Ski Butternut, in Great Barringon, Massachusetts for February vacation.  Naturally, when you think "ski trip" and "Western Mass" (or New England in general), you think "craft beer".  Well, at least I do.

During the first leg of the trip we decided to stop for lunch at the Northampton Brewery.  This establishment became the first brew pub I was conscious of when it opened while I was in college down the road at UMass, Amherst.  During the ensuing (cough) several years, the venue has added a huge roof deck, and redecorated.  It had an OK atmosphere back then, and they've made a big improvement.

Sandwiches and beer (just one - still plenty of driving to do) were just what was needed.  The brewery has a Cuban sandwich on their menu.  This somewhat rare offering is always a welcome one.  So my eldest and I went Cuban/Ruben, and shared.  Yummy!

Old Brown Dog Ale (left) and Blue Boots IPA

I had the Blue Boots IPA, and my better half had the Old Brown Dog Ale.  I think I liked mine better than she liked hers, but they are both quality brews.

We had debated a bit whether it was worth adding an hour to our trip West to go to the NBC (it's a half hour from the Mass Pike to Northampton, and a half hour back.)  In the end we were soooo glad we decided to invest some time in a sure bet for a nice meal and a really good beer at a friendly spot.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

We recently discovered this bad boy of an IPA -- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Torpedo Extra IPA.  It has a relatively high ABV (7.2) but doesn't clobber you over the head. There is a slight citrus taste (that "grapefruitiness" that I so love in American IPAs) but also pine notes as well. The finish is pleasingly bitter -- something unexpected in an IPA for me, but extremely welcome.  A definite keeper.

Visit to S.F., Part One - 21st Amendment Brewery

I recently paid a visit to my company's San Francisco office, which located in the city's SOMA (South of Market) neighborhood. Not far from the office, toward AT&T Park (home of the Giants), is the Twenty First Amendment. As happy as I was to be in San Francisco, I was even happier to find a friendly, relaxed brew pub so close by. I visited two of the three nights that I was there. If trips to the West coast ever become a habit (and that's not very likely), the 21A will undoubtedly become my home away from home.

The beer I had the most of there was the "Brew Free or Die" IPA. Sounds more like the name of a New Hampshire brew, than a bay area one, if you ask me. It is a perfectly serviceable beer with medium color, a light head, and lots of citrus aroma.

I wanted to try Humming Ale, the new Anchor Brewing beer they were featuring the second night of my stay. I had a sample, which was just OK for me. As it turned out, they had just tapped the keg, and were having trouble drawing from it. So I stuck with the IPA.

I also had the good fortune to run into an acquaintance from another division of my company, also located in S.F. He, his wife and another co-worker did have the Humming Ale, and they said it was pretty good. It was nice to run into friendly folks - not hard to do in laid-back, friendly California. Thanks to Kieran, Trisha and Justin for making me feel welcome.

The twenty-first amendment is a very homey place with a very welcoming atmosphere. I can't wait for my next visit.

Sunset Cantina part dos

Another year, another X show at the Paradise. What can I say. We enjoyed our first X show so much last year, when we found out they were coming around again. we just had to go.

So, another X show, another visit to the Sunset Cantina, on Comm. Ave., in the BU area (the strip of Boston that lies between the Fenway, Brookline and Allston). It's close to the Paradise, and is known for its beer and tequila selections.

I'm more inclined to beer than tequila, so the choice of drinks didn't take long. Our waitress informed us from the outset that, since it was a holiday week, they were out of a lot of beers. Now, I worked two different wholesale delivery jobs, so I can tell you from experience - holiday weeks are hell. You have one less day to hit the same number of stops, usually delivering more product, since holiday weeks are usually busy weeks. So I am not unsympathetic. However, Sunset Cantina, your reputation is built on your beer selection. It is extremely disheartening when a beer lover like myself is told that two or three of the IPAs he would like to try are right out. I was pretty bummed.

I tried to console myself with a Wachusett Green Monsta Pale Ale. (Our helpful waitress mispronounced it as "Monster".) The menu listed it under the IPAs - the closest category available. But no one would ever confuse this beer for an IPA. It's got a nice, clean flavor - somewhere between a lager and a pale ale, with a bit more body than a true lager.

Next, to quench my by now unbearable need for bitterness, I ordered the Sixpoint Bengali Tiger. This IPA, with a 6.5% B.V.A. had a nice, cloudy appearance, with medium red-brown color, and a medium head. The aroma was a bit keg-ish, for lack of a better word. (Perhaps a bar that makes it's living off of college students needs to make sure it's taps aren't *too* clean?) The taste was lightly fruity, and mild. The finish was strong with a bit more bitterness that you would have expected. Overall a pleasant, fairly mild IPA.

We had two appetizers - the Garlic Fried Calamari and the South of the Border Fiesta Nachos. Both appetizers were super-size, especially the nachos. The two of us were barely able to make a dent. We got the full order - the smaller order in hindsight would have been better for the two of us (with plenty to spare!). The low price for the nachos kind of sucked us in - they are a very good value if you're hungry! The only criticism is that there were so many chips with so much guacamole, lettuce and sour cream at the top, it was hard to get to the seasoned beef and cheese within.

The calamari was nice and hot, and well executed. The style was not my complete cup of tea. The rings were large and neat (I prefer thin and messy), but they were well seasoned, and the vinegar peppers were yummy.

It may not sound like the best drinking and dining experience, but I don't want to give the wrong idea. I would go there again - on a five-day work week (and maybe try some the the tequilas).

The show: X are an amazing live band. As one reviewer put it, it's four outstanding talents combining to make an even greater whole. Add 30-plus years of experience, and the confidence they must get from knowing that they are one of the truly original bands to come down the pike, and you get a five-star live experience.

The venue: The 'dise is a great place to see a show. We arrived early and got front-of-the stage spots in front of John Doe's mic. He is a joy to watch. I think he had even more fun at this year's show than he did last time. At least that's the impression he gave off. A fellow attendee posted video clips of this performance. (You can see our silhouettes down in front!)

The opening act: Steve Soto and the Twisted Hearts opened the show. X have gone two-for-two in my book in this category. Last year the Detroit Cobras provided attitude and grit in the opening slot. Steve Soto (ex of the Adolescents) and his band put on a great chest-pounding, high-energy garage sounding set. I will check them out in the future.

Heartland Brewery, NYC

Back in February I took a one-day business trip to mid-town Manhattan. I took the Amtrak Acela - a great way to travel. Amtrak's high-speed, business class service is quite, comfortable, and very scenic. It's actually a great advertisement for visiting the Connecticut coastline. It takes you right to Penn Station, in the heart of mid-town.

After work I had some spare time before my evening train back to Boston. So I walked from my meeting at 55th St. to 33rd via Fifth Avenue. This part of Fifth Ave. is an area that most folks who have visited the Big Apple as tourists are pretty familiar with. I walked by St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockafeller Center, the New York Public library - all familiar landmarks, making for a very pleasant twenty-block stroll.

As I reached 33rd St. I saw the "Heartland Brewery & Rotisserie" in the ground floor of the Empire State Building. Though I knew the place was undoubtedly a tourist trap, it was right on my way, and as I said, I had a few minutes.

I was unprepared for just how touristy the crowd actually was. I don't think one patron was from within 150 miles of the city. (The twenty-something couple next to me at the bar was reading the Lonely Planet guide!)

That being said, the beer list was impressive. I went with the Indy 500 Pale Ale. The were serving it via "Nitro Tap". According to Spokane7.com:

"Nitro - or nitrogen - taps get rid of a lot of the carbonation, leaving behind tiny bubbles and making for a silky-smooth beer with a rich mouthfeel and a milkshake-frothy head."

My helpful bartender explained it pretty much the same way. The ale had a light amber color, and was a little cloudy. It had a very subtle toasted aroma. Hoppiness was medium to light, compared with other IPAs - noticable, but not overstated. Similarly, the aftertaste was gentle, with less of the bitterness you would expect. I liked the nuances that the nitro-tap brought to the brew.

I would love to go back and try some more of their beers, tourists be damned.

P.S. Their printed beer list was much more helpful than their website, which is less than unhelpful.

LJ's Barbecue in Pawtucket, RI

Since my better half takes lots of notes for this blog but never posts I will take the initiative.

This is a story of culinary blessings in disguise. Last Saturday we had planned a well-deserved dinner at our old favorite, Memphis Roadhouse in South Attleboro. I say "our favorite" but I will freely admit it's been a long time since the last time we were there (we used to go there very frequently -- I'm embarrassed to admit that it was frequently enough for us to be on a first-name basis with the bartender). Anyway, we've been dining out less frequently of late, so this trip to Memphis was highly anticipated by all of us. Sadly, as we approached the restaurant we experienced the slow dawning of comprehension that it had closed (For Sale sign... darkened windows... chained-off parking lot). We pulled over for a quick revamping of dinner plans and decided to check out a place we recently saw on The Phantom Gourmet -- LJ's BBQ. It's a little over 6 miles away from Memphis Roadhouse but the way we drove there it felt more like 600 (we got very lost). After giving in and calling, we finally made it there, and thank goodness we did. LJ's. Is. AMAZING. Everything we had was flawless -- from the St. Louis ribs to the kids' grilled cheese to the Sweet Potato Pie. The husband had the Flying Dog IPA and then switched to what I was having (the always delectable Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA) for his second. The next day we were plotting what we would order on our next visit -- the fried calamari awaits!

John Harvard's in Framingham

I was the fortunate beneficiary of a nice lunch with colleagues in late August at John Harvard's Brewhouse in Framingham, MA. It may be part of a chain, but so be it - it's still a brew pub.

When the group was asked for appetizer choices, I voted for... wait for it... the Calamari (Sliced cherry peppers, scallions, shallot balsamic dressing and pomodoro sauce - as stated on the menu). Outstanding. Cherry peppers are one of the best accompaniments to squid, as has been established.

I have to say, I'm tardy in posting this. Suffice it to say that the food was excellent if I recall, I had the buffalo chicken sandwich for lunch, and I enjoyed it.) The beer was well up to snuff (I think I had a seasonal IPA that is not on their regular brew list). And the atmosphere and overall presentation were all I could ask for. (But trust me on the Calimari.)

Now is that a helpful review, or what? ;-)

Memorial Day 2008 - Prologue - X and Green Flash

Just prior to our big Memorial Day brew-tour (the previous Tuesday evening), we had tickets to see X at the Paradise, in Boston. (Ooops! That should say "legendary punk band X"). Prior to the show we stopped in to the Sunset Cantina, across Comm. Ave. from the 'dise. I had "Green Flash IPA", or so it was billed. It must be "West Coast IPA" from Green Flash Brewing Co. Whatever you call it, it was very nice.

Here I call your attention to my limited descriptive vocabulary. To describe different beers I will use such illustrative terms as "good", "hoppy", "nice", "very hoppy", "nicely bitter", "very good". I think you get the idea. I don't know the fancy lingo. I know that I like hoppy IPAs, and an occasional lager or summer ale. Beyond that, I don't have too much to say.

The Green Flash was had the kind of fruity (?) hop aroma and taste that many IPAs have. As my better half describes it, "that grapefruit taste". Anyway, it was excellent.

X, while not tasting at all grapefruity, was outstanding. One of the 4 or 5 best shows I've ever seen. The Paradise is a great, intimate venue, and we had a great spot up front. I'll leave further description of the show to my former floor mate (UMass, Amherst), Jonathan Perry. Great show, by a great (and yes, legendary) band. It was a great way to start what was sure to be a very busy, fun week.