An Exceptional Fourth Wedded Anniversary

over the weekend my husband and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary! 

on friday we drove to bloomington, indiana for a visit! 

just relaxing... a few treats, some shopping, a couple of breweries and an art museum. the kind of weekend where nothing needs to be planned out - but a lady can wear a dress if she likes!

{some of our favorites from the weekend}

FARM Bloomington - serious brunch on saturday morning. 

the walk thru Indiana University's campus was BEAUTIFUL!

SOMA Coffeehouse was a nice quiet stop for us to grab drinks after a long walk thru campus 

{and not over-the-top-sweet beverages either}

a wine tasting at Oliver Winery - they have the cutest little pond + picnic area. 

we had the best burgers + fries at Upland Brewing Co.

we sampled several great brews at Function Brewing

we hit up Hopscotch Coffee on our way out of town for cold brews to go. 

i was so thankful for the time to just hang out with my favorite guy - hand in hand strolling thru the bloomington entertainment and arts district {BEAD}.  i'm a lucky mrs. for sure. 

all the happiest anniversary wishes to you, dear j. you are tops on my list and i'm ready to start up our fifth wedded year! xo ;)

some of the links in this post take you to the shops + businesses that we enjoyed over our visit - just simply sharing the love. if you'd like to read about our past anniversaries click away for our first, second, and third. 

::Pint-Sized Opinions... a link filled post::

I've recently been cleaning up the blog a bit {see changes here}. Thinking about what I want to spend my time documenting when writing and sharing in this space. I may still share a few new "watering holes" when I come across something pretty note worthy... however I've decided to move this collection of posts out of its featured spot.

Something told me that I didn't want to lose this list of links... maybe some of you felt that way too :)


Ohio Breweries:

The Dayton Beer Company - Kettering, Ohio

Elevator Brewing & Draught Haus - Columbus, Ohio

Main Street Grille & Brewing Company - Garrettsville, Ohio

Yellow Springs Brewery - Yellow Springs, Ohio

Florida:

Sarasota Brewing Company


Indiana:

Mad Anthony Brewing Company 

Shoreline Brewery



Michigan:

Arcadia Brewing Company 

Bell's Inspired Brewing

Founders Brewing Company

HopCat Bar and Brewery

New Holland Brewing Company

Paw Paw Brewing



Cheers!

The Dayton Beer Company - in Kettering, Ohio

I will start this off with a small disclaimer. We have gone to the Dayton Beer Company several times now. Each time I left I felt like I wasn't quite getting the full picture. We've enjoyed ourselves there each time, always finding great beer with maybe one of the pints tasting just like my husband's homebrew. With this consistency issue coming up in at least one pint each visit I felt like I couldn't post until I had a better picture of this establishment. I may have to update this as we visit in the future. 

First impression: Surprising. One wouldn't expect a local brewery and tap room to be in a small shopping area next to a gas station and video store. Once you head inside it is has a relaxed feel and we've found it to be a great place to kick off the evening with friends.
Service: Great. Peter is friendly and he works hard. He will talk shop with the customers and recommend brews. We've not been disappointed by his recommended pours.
Prices & Other Notes: The tap room is for adults. With screens for sports watching and brews for drinking, there isn't really anything there to draw attention for all members of mixed age groups. It is perfect for hanging out with friends. 

Food: There is not really food on the Dayton Brewing Company menu. There are snacks (i.e. chips and pretzels and sometimes hot dogs). It is so laid back you can bring in some food if you are starving.

As for the beer:

Honey Cream - not super sweet but very tasty. This was probably my favorite beer that I've ever tasted at The DBC. 

Also if you can't head to The DBC Taproom try out their brews at these locations {click link here}. 

We plan to continue to visit The Dayton Beer Company. We've heard of equipment upgrades and praises about Peter always helping out other local brewers. We like to support that. Even if we might sit thru one brew that isn't exactly our favorite during our visit. My recommendation - ask bartender or the loudest group in the room their favorite beer of the night. You will be happy you did. 

Yellow Springs Brewery in Yellow Springs, Ohio

Let me tell you about one of my new favorite places in Ohio. Yellow Springs Brewery is the cat's meow in my opinion {and in Yellow Springs there are lots of cats to be giving out meows... so we'll go ahead and say this is a positive review}


First impression: Right off the bike path, long parking lot, awesome lettering and bright yellow pop of color on the outside of the building. What's not to love? This establishment is easy to get to and when you walk up you notice an inviting feel. I just love the metal and wood in the taproom.

Service: Wonderful. The staff is friendly and attentive. They sling beers as fast as needed. Plus, Lisa is just so kind. 



Prices & Other Notes: Yellow Springs Brewery now offers Growlers and Howlers and the service of filling those Growlers and Howlers with their yummy products. 


After the brewery first opened they had such an overwhelming response that they couldn't keep enough kegs tapped. So they took about two weeks to brew and brew then opened their doors again ready to serve. It sounds like they are now moving forward with a higher production rate. I'd advise checking their facebook page or website if you are traveling from afar to stop in. They often post what is on tap and you'll know what their current hours are. 

Food: There are light snacks for purchase and some of the local restaurants {currently Bentino's Pizza & Sunrise Cafe} will deliver right to the taproom. We've also found it is just as easy to stop over at Bentino's or Ha Ha's Pizza to pick up an order and walk over to the brewery. {Bring your own plates and napkins if you plan to really chow down}  

As for the beer: Yum. Order anything. You won't be disappointed.


My favorite is the Captain Stardust Saison. Oh my, it is such a thirst quencher. Not too citrus-y and not too dry. I love it. 


If you aren't able to stop in order up a Yellow Springs Brewery beer at one of these fine locations. 

Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, MI

During our Michigan Brewcation we stayed in Grand Rapids for a long afternoon. The city was great fun and while we were there we stopped at two breweries. First HopCat (click here for HopCat's website) and then we walked over to Founder's Brewing Company for drinks and dinner. 

First impression: Love. Dreamy hardwood floors, open balcony, loads of good natured folk. 

Service: Great! We had two lovely waitresses checking on us for drinks very often (and filling water glasses for our designated driver). When ordering food there are specific windows to place and pick up your order and the fellas back there were very pleasant as well! 

Food: We ordered their "Tree Hugger" sandwich and it was tasty! The food was good quality but we did order an extra side item (pasta salad - tasted great) that we didn't think was really worth the cost. I believe while eating it my husband and I agreed that we should have just split a new brew for the calories and cash we "spent". So if you are there for the food, eat up an extra side item because they have several to try. But if you are not the designated driver the sandwich and fries were plenty (we split it). Then grab a second (or third) brew. 

Other Notes: Founders Brewing Company has been ranked in the top five breweries in the world for years on ratebeer.com. Since 2011 they have held the second place position on Best Brewery in the World.

As for the beer: Never found a beer that we didn't like from Founders. It was great to have pints straight from their taps. On this evening I liked their Honey Wheat but the boys at our table enjoyed drinking All Day IPA, Centennial IPA, Red's Rye and the Fest Wheat. All good, all recommended. 

I really enjoyed the atmosphere at Founders Brewing Company. The place was beautiful and there were all types of people there (locals and not-so locals, crowds of mixed ages and groups of friends). Please check out their website to see if you'd like to stop by the next time you are in Grand Rapids, MI.

New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, Michigan

Our next stop during our "end of summer brewcation" was Holland, Michigan. We enjoyed the town for the afternoon (yay for the farmer's market!). We went on an official brewery tour of New Holland Brewing Company's Brew House and had yummy refreshments at their pub.


Let's start off by saying we had a great time on the New Holland Brewery Tour! They were actually brewing on that Saturday morning, which we were excited about. The air smelled like sweet liquid bread and the boys got to talk shop around the huge equipment with the guys who knew brew.

The tour cost about $10 per person but it was worth every penny. By the end of the tour we had learned a bit, tasted four generous samples and had a pint glass to take home with us.

Later in the day we stopped by the New Holland Brewing Company's Brew Pub.

First impression of the Brew Pub: By this time in the day it was a beautiful sunny afternoon. The streets and shops were super inviting and the Brew Pub was packed! (We actually had to wait a bit for a table)

Service: Just fine. To tell you the truth, I was a bigger fan of the folks at the brewery than the host and wait staff at the Brew Pub. Nothing wrong happened, I probably just liked hearing them talk about crafting brew in the brewery versus telling me what was on tap in the pub.

Food: We ate up some recommended appetizers (from the guys at the brewery): Pepperoni Pinwheels and the Brew Pub's fresh made potato chips. The Pepperoni Pinwheels were awesome! With super tasty dipping sauces too.

Prices & Other Notes: 

I really liked the look of the Brew Pub. Nice light, brick, beautiful wood. Very relaxing and tons of people were there having a late lunch or watching the football game on the screens in various parts of the bar.

As for the beer: There is not one brew I haven't liked from New Holland Brewing Company. Whether enjoying samples in the brew house, drinks at the Brew Pub, or six packs at home I like their style. So I thought maybe I'd just mention two of my favorites from the trip: Ichabod Pumpkin and Beerhive Honey Ginger Ales. Ichabod has all the right spices for a perfect fall brew while the Beerhive is strong and a bit sweet.

I think I'd like to spend more time in Holland. It seems like a great town to have as part of the state of Michigan. 

Bell's Inspired Brewing in Kalamazoo, MI

Our third brewcation brewery stop was Bell's in Kalamazoo. Since we have purchased their brew from several of our local stores that carry Bell's six packs we had actually considered not going to this brewery. But after some thought we decided a true brewcation to the Southwest area of Michigan required a visit to Bell's. We were able to check out their General Store, Pub and outdoor patio.

First impression: Where are we going to park?! By this time of the day it was late enough for after work crowds (on a Friday too). We had to circle the block twice to find a parking spot. It was worth the hassle, but it was a hopping place and pretty packed.



Service: The tables were clean and we ordered at the bar. The bartender was knowledgeable and answered our questions about the "Beer Engine" (see more below in beer descriptions)

Food: We did not have any food here. Our original plan had been to eat at the cafe, but since we had made our impromptu stop in Indiana we weren't really hungry. If we ever go back I definitely want to try something because the food that was passed around the nearby tables looked AMAZING!



Prices & Other Notes: 

We spent some time in the General Store which was really neat. They had Bell's gear, home brew supplies and a chilly walk in cooler.

We noticed the use of Greenware cups for the patio and the crowd seemed pretty laid back. Mostly groups of friends meeting to start off the weekend. Some groups did have children with them, many of them sat outside and the kids ran around the patio area. It was very relaxed.

As for the beer:

The bar selection was awesome! So many brews on tap and they even had Two Hearted Ale on the "Beer Engine". Which we thought was fun to try. The beer was less carbonated with accentuated hop flavors. It tasted as if it was straight from the fermenter. It was also served a little warm.

We ordered two specialties beers from the bar and one year-round brew:

Le Contrebassiste Ale (specialty) - a "French Bier de Garde" style ale, it was smooth, nutty and had a rich maple flavor.(7% alcohol by volume)

Wedding Ale (specialty) - mmm! Honey flavor (more so than the orange peel and coriander) but not very sweet. Pretty strong ale at 8% alcohol by volume. 

Oarsman Ale (year round) - A tasty session beer at 4% alcohol by volume it was easy to drink. It is described as palate-cleansing beer which makes it great for drinking with different foods.

Beautiful bar, great location, tasty brews. Definitely recommended. 

Arcadia Brewing Company in Battle Creek, MI

Our first "scheduled brewer" was Arcadia Brewing Company in Battle Creek, Michigan. However after our surprise stop at Mad Anthony Brewing it ended up being our second brewery and pub to visit on our "2012 Michigan Brewcation".

First impression: We parked across the street from the building, which gave us plenty of time to start peeking in the windows of the brewing side of their current location. It was fun to be able to see workers cleaning and preparing the brewing space while we were drinking one of their fine crafted beers (as you can see the brewing area from the bar as well). I was excited to learn that they are expanding and will soon be brewing in a bigger Michigan location (around Spring 2013). It was evident they needed more space as we had noticed that they are cramming a lot of work/equipment in their brewery in order to supply the demands of their customers (because the beer was tasty and people like a good thing). 

Service: Prompt and attentive. The bartender checked on us often and had descriptions and explanations for us about various beers. She also refilled the water of our designated driver often, which was much appreciated!

Food: We were only tasting a few brews at this location and did not order from the kitchen. However, they had wood fire pizza and several people ordering food when we sat down. We were there in the late afternoon and not during any sort of dinner rush which made us believe the food must be good. There were lots of options of fresh foods and interesting appetizers on the menu. If we ever go back I am definitely trying something!

Prices & Other Notes: 

We were actually there during their happy hour, so we enjoyed very affordable brews ($1 off each brew)! 

I loved the packaging at Arcadia! Their images and designs were awesome. I could look at the labels for each brew all day!

Something else we noticed in the menu was the pride of serving local food. They are using locally grown products whenever they can. Whether it is in the brew or the food. 

This is something I love about breweries. The idea of local. Drinking local and eating local. Makes so much sense and for such fresh tastes.

As for the beer:

The great thing about having a brewcation at the beginning of September is that many places still had summer beers and were just starting to have fall beers. Some of my favorite brews are pumpkin beers and fall harvest ales. 

Jaw-Jacker (spiced amber wheat ale) was one of those fall beers that we thought was truly AMAZING!

Lochdown was a sweet and malty scotch ale.

Whitsun was a pale wheat ale, reminiscent of Blue Moon with a citrus and coriander taste... so good!

Sky High Rye was a rye beer that reminded me of sweet rye bread.








We left with more gifts for friends (and a few beers to take home)... a six pack of Sky High Rye in cans as a gift, and two six packs of bottles (one Jaw Jacker and one Nut Brown). 












It has been so chilly the past few days, drinking a  Jaw-Jacker after dinner just feels like fall to me... well, maybe its all the butternut squash bread I've been baking(find my favorite recipe here). But either way, I want to take a drive and pick up a bit more of that fall spiced brew. 

Mad Anthony Brewing in Auburn, Indiana

Our first brew on the brewcation was a bit of a surprise. We had planned several brewery visits for once we got to Michigan. We did this knowing we would make stops along the way for shopping and eating. It just so happened we were hungry at the right time for a Mad Anthony lunch stop at their Auburn, Indiana location.

First impression: Hoppin' little town! There were loads of people having lunch in the local restaurants (we were there on Friday around noon). 

Service: Just fine. The place was busy and we had a nice waitress who gave suggestions. We didn't feel unattended even though there were so many patrons.

Food: We ordered the Scooby Snacks and the Bavarian Pretzels for starters. The "Scooby Snacks" are considered one of their signature appetizers - crispy little potato wedges with spicy (but not too spicy) seasoning and a yummy dip. The pretzels were awesome with jalapeno beer cheese (a bit spicy too) and mustard dipping sauces. For our actual lunch my husband and I split the turkey and avocado pita sandwich - so tasty!

Prices & Other Notes: Affordable. We spent about five dollars an appetizer and a little less than eight dollars for the sandwich. They sell six packs ($10 per six pack) and growlers to take home (even on Sundays). Also, on Mondays they have half priced pints!

As for the beer:

We tried two different brews...

One was "Ol Woody Pale Ale" which was crisp and had a distinct hop flavor and the other was "Summer Daze" which was a smooth crisp wheat ale.

We decided to purchase a six pack for a friend and he is trying out their Auburn Lager for us. 

We really enjoyed our lunch and considered it to be a pretty lucky stop!

End of Summer Brewcation 2012

I love to "start" and "end" summer with little trips. It can be something short and sweet like visiting family, or camping. There is something about the changing of seasons... it always inspires travel in my bones. This fall we found ourselves coming back to thoughts of breweries, tents, hikes, and lake shores...

We've just returned from taking a long weekend camping trip - after 4 days, 2 campsites and 8 breweries (1 official brew house tour) we had completed my goal of a 2012 "brewcation".

Friday morning started our short roadtrip up to Michigan. We stopped along the way for antique stores and a brewery that had not been part of our original afternoon plan! It was the perfect stop for lunch on our way (thanks flexibility and Mad Anthony Brewing Company)!

We went on this little getaway with two great friends who also have a taste for good brew and beautiful scenery. These interests were what led us to choosing to camp near Lake Michigan.

After crossing into MI we hit up Arcadia Ales, Bell's, and Paw Paw Brewing, before we even landed in our campsite on Friday night. On Saturday we started out with a morning walk on the lake shore, and an awesome breakfast. 

That afternoon we had a ton of fun on the official brewery tour of New Holland Brewing's brew house and shopping at Holland's farmer's market! Our brewery stops that afternoon and evening were: New Holland Brew Pub, HopCat, and Founders. We had two rainy evenings while camping in Michigan, which wasn't the worst thing ever, but it did cut into our campfire time!

We saved Sunday for camping and hiking in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (and a quick taste test of nearby Shoreline Brewery). It was a very lovely national park (which surrounds a state park) and the only night we encountered zero rain! On the way to Indiana we stopped at Luisa's Cafe which was the home of the most lovely little Swedish bakery. Don't even get me started on their cherry jam.

Monday was for traveling back to Ohio, so one more cute bakery stop and we were ready for home!

Can't wait to share more about the breweries and great craft beer we enjoyed (responsibly as we always designate a driver) in Michigan's Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and also Indiana's Auburn and Michigan City!

Florida 2012: A Visit to the Sarasota Brewing Company

We recently traveled to sunny Florida to visit some family - and enjoy some beach time.


When scheduling our trip we had heard that the first (and only) microbrewery of Sarasota County was close to one of our favorite beaches. I visited their website prior to our trip and we made plans to head over for a lunch date. While visiting the nearby Siesta Key Beach for an awesomely lazy day on a cabana (talk about luxury) we knew it was the perfect time to order something tasty from Sarasota Brewing Company!

First impression: Interested. We pulled up to the general area of the bar and parked down the street near a few little shops and many other restaurants and bars. Upon entering the bar we noticed several college football team flags - most of which were colleges from Ohio!

Service: Just fine. We chose to sit in the dining area. We were even able to watch a soccer game on a large screen. Our waitress was attentive but quiet. She eventually warmed up to us by the end of our meal.

Food: We had an order of fish and chips and a reuben. The food was warm, tasty and perfect after a morning on the beach!

Prices & Other Notes: Affordable prices on both food and beer ($5.50 for a pint). Since we went during lunch time we did not get a good feel for a dinner or late night crowd. The website states that the bar is family friendly and has a children's menu. 

As for the beer: Since it was only lunch time we decided to order the flight of samples to taste all of their current brews on tap. (Only $4.75 for the flight)

The Sarasota Brewing Company mentioned many times (on website and on location) that their selection is often changing. During our experience this is what was on tap:

Sarasota Gold - Light golden easy drinking beer

Sequoia Amber Lager - Mild sweet amber lager

Honeymeade Ale - Sweetest of the flight. The honey was evident and was my favorite!

Maibok - Medium bodied, mildly hoppy, German lager

Sarasota India Pale Ale - Pretty tasty IPA (which are not typically my favorite)

Midnight Pass Porter - Full bodied, dark porter (received my husband's approval)

If you are ever in the area and want to visit the first and only microbrewery of Sarasota County it will be a drink or meal worth consumed! And after you visit feel free to add a comment about your experience. I hope to go back again to see what else is on tap!

Main Street Grille & Brewing Company

We recently visited loved ones in the Northeast corner of our state. They are all about the impromptu visits and any excuse for fun... obviously this is why we adore them. Of course they wanted to drive over to Garrettsville and see what Main Street Grille & Brewing Company was all about.

First impression: GREAT! We were so excited to pull up to the historical building and take a quick peek down to the water and see the mill!

Service: Wonderful. We chose to sit in the dining area and we had a perfect seat next to a window overlooking the mill. Our waitress was attentive and had many suggestions for us.

Food: Mmm... Our server recommended the burger and reuben sandwich - we were not disappointed. (And I will admit that a good reuben sandwich has become a guilty pleasure of mine...)

Prices & Other Notes: Affordable prices and the other patrons were of all ages - so it was an appropriate "restaurant" type meal and not just a bar.

Wait, we actually went there for the brew... and I haven't mentioned that part yet.

As for the beer: Once again reasonable prices, I felt like we were getting a steal since good beer isn't cheap one pint at a time. Our table shared all eight samples for ten dollars just to get a taste of each. I was madly in-love with the Strawberry Fields (which I ordered as my large brew to enjoy by myself), however the Dizzy Ninja had a special place in my tummy as well. In fact our designated driver - he took home a growler of the Dizzy Ninja.

We all noticed smooth mouth feel across the board, and some of the brews were pretty strong (Three Scots Ale at an above 8% ABV). This is why we advise when traveling for your microbrew experience to have a designated driver or make appropriate arrangements for after the adult beverages.

Our favorite beers at Main Street Grille & Brewing Company: Three Scots Ale (strong but so tasty), Strawberry Fields (fruity but not too sweet), River Rat (a smooth and balanced amber ale) and the Dizzy Ninja (and I.P.A.'s are not typically my first choice).

So overall I would highly recommend a trip to Main Street Grille & Brewing Co. - check out their website (which includes their menu with beer descriptions and prices).

If we didn't owe a ton of money for love our new little house we would probably move a bit closer to take advantage of their half price growler Tuesdays! We definitely hope to return for a burger and brew again soon. In fact, we'd like to see it in the summer to take a closer look at the water and go for a walk around town.