::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. 

A Visit to Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus

A few months ago {a little late on posting this... but I still wanted to share} we went to visit friends near Columbus, Ohio. After hanging out and enjoying some company that I don't get to see very often, my husband and I had a bit of a "date" over at Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus. 

First impression: We've been to this lovely establishment before. We will probably go again. I like the big historical buildings in this part of Columbus and the bar is just plain beautiful.

Service: Very good. We've always had nice servers at Elevator. They are knowledgeable about the menu and offer suggestions. I applaud them for this as I think they get a lot of jerk customers in there. Maybe this is due to the draught haus having lots of customers and the sheer volume requires that some come off as not my favorite. Or maybe this is because people are hungry and need a brew when they walk in... or  the "jerk customers" need other patrons to know how important they are. Surely these observations are debatable on a case by case basis. {I will make a point so this isn't just some rant about rude people.} My point is, remember to be nice to your wait staff - they work hard and don't want you to be hungry either. Plus if you are out to eat with people who love you, the other patrons already know that you are important. They don't need to hear your stories of self-involvement from three tables over. Calm down and drink a pint.

 Food: I love the appetizers at this place! They often have a soup or salad that can go well with their seasonal brew. I highly recommend the corn brats, the hummus, and their almond crusted chicken salad. But really, all the food has been great!

Prices & Other Notes: Of course you pay for what you get. I'd say this is one of the more expensive "draught haus"es that I've written about, however the food is quality. And dinner is the meal where you get some higher dollar meals. It isn't outlandish, but this is honestly a restaurant (this means do not expect "pub room" prices). 

This is a place great for families, couples or larger groups of friends. During a different visit, we had 16 of us meet up to play pool and get drinks. The staff was very accommodating. We were served food and drinks in the billiard space and were able to just hang out for a few hours. We decided to leave after the place got busier, so I'm not sure if lots of people shoot pool while they are there.

As for the beer: When we visit the draught haus, we always order the specialty beer, because it is the only time we can try it. However, some of their mainstays I would recommend: Bleeding Buckeye Red Ale (it's an amber) the Dark Horse Lager (so smooth!)and Flying Hydrant (if you are in the mood for something light after all those appetizers).  

I've enjoyed all types of Elevator brew... they are tasty. And you can find them lots of places (i.e. chain grocery stores with good beer selection). So if you ever come across them in your local grocery, pick up a six pack (mix and get a variety to try if you are able). It is important for us to support our more local breweries in bigger stores... your dollars influence the way those shelves are stocked. So give it a try. You'll be glad you did.

Shoreline Brewery in Michigan City, Indiana

Our final brewery to visit on our end of the summer brewcation was Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant in Michigan City, Indiana.

First impression: Well... we came pretty early in the day, so there were not many people there. The general area around the brewery and restaurant was pretty deserted. It felt a bit like a ghost town to tell you the truth. But when we walked inside it looked like a typical sports pub and there were fellas around drinking beers and watching a football game. Very relaxing sort of feel.

Service: Great! We sat at a table and had a nice waitress. She even opened the brew gear room for us to look around.

Food: They did have a full menu (I saw ribs for listed for lunch and pasta for dinner). We did not eat at this location. It was poor timing and a bit of a random stop. This is what happens when you pass a sign for a brewery after a late brunch with an early dinner planned and ingredients are already in the cooler (camping + dinner = cooking when the sun is still out)

Prices & Other Notes: We were pretty excited to learn how affordable the growlers were... then we found out that they do Monday $8 growler refills. (And $8 pitchers on Sunday) They also have music often on Saturday nights and Open Mic on Tuesdays. It seems any day of the week is a good time to go!

As for the beer: Our group had pints of Stella Blue, Benny's APA and Beltain's Scotch. Benny's and Beltains are World Beer Cup Medal winners and we thought they were deserving of such awards. The boys liked the brews so well that they ended up stopping back later in the day to pick up a growler for the campsite. They chose the Sesh Wheat Ale and it was tasty too!

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.

HopCat in Grand Rapids, MI

We knew when going to SW Michigan we would need to stop by HopCat's pub in Grand Rapids. 

First impression: I've got a special place in my heart for bricks, gorgeous windows and let's be honest, cats. The music was good, and there were interesting displays, signs, and posters on the walls. We had walked into a place that we could stay awhile. 

Service: Great. Our waiter helped us choose some great beer. He also mentioned a few other breweries in the area that we should try and some of his personal favorite bars. We hope to go back to Grand Rapids and spend more time... maybe check out a few more of his recommendations. 

Food: In effort to try some of the favorite and recommended foods we ate lots of fried bar appetizers on this brewcation. And at Hopcat we dove into some serious fries. That's right, I'm talking "Crack Fries" my friends. So tasty, just order it and split it like we did. That way you don't have to feel guilty when later in the day you wish you had more. 

Prices & Other Notes: HopCat is rated "#3 Beer Bar on Planet Earth" by Beer Advocate Magazine... I don't think any other notes can compare to that...

As for the beer: We tried the Hoppopotamus IPA (just over 6%). It was light enough for us with the full bellies. :) HopCat had a very long beer list including lots of brews from other local brewers... which is great if you want to try a few others but not travel to their specific locations.


After our stop at HopCat we walked a few blocks to hit up Founders Brewing Company... we truly enjoyed Grand Rapids!

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. 

Paw Paw Brewing Company in Paw Paw, Michigan

One of my all time favorite beers is a Paw Paw Wheat Beer. So when we heard about Paw Paw Brewing Company we were thrilled to make it part of our trip!

First impression: Small bar, loads of people! We often find that the smaller the bar the more we love it... slightly crowded tables, camaraderie, good drafts. If the locals are catered to, then obviously you'll want to be there. (I base this theory on the fact that locals get to choose what bars they visit in their area all the time. So they most likely frequent the best ones.) 

Service: Great. We were given a draft list right away and were able to order up some great brews. 

Food: Minimal offerings. We had read some online reviews that the food was good however when we got there it wasn't a typical menu. They seem to have rotating entrees. The night we went there was a reuben special and a chicken sandwich. So if you want a selection eat ahead or make plans for a second stop. You could also call ahead to hear what they were serving at the bar that day. 

Prices & Other Notes: 

Something I love about breweries is that they typically are connected to a great community. There was a noticeable mug club and various events that seemed like they would be a good time for regular customers. The bartenders were busy grabbing drinks and chatting with lots of people. They were very friendly and obviously knew many of their patrons.  

As for the beer: Yum! As I mentioned before, paw paw brews are my bag so we were impressed. We ordered the Paw Paw Wheat and it was light and tasty!

This was a short stop for us, but I was glad we found it. Definitely check out Paw Paw Brewing Company if you are passing through Paw Paw, 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!