Beer in a Can - 21st Amendment Brewery

Do you live in one of these states?  Even if you don't you might find 21st Amendment canned craft-brewed beer in your grocer's fridge.  To find this outstanding beer you can go to the brewery's Can Vendor Locator, but all the places I've found this beer are not on the list (i.e. Market of Choice in Eugene, OR).
My first experiences with 21st Amendment were taster cups at multiple beer festivals in Oregon.  It definitely made an impression.
My first full pint of 21st Amendment was at their brewery in San Fransisco, a trip that pushed me to start this beer blog!
My first can of 21st Amendment was bought at the Fred Meyer on SE Hawthorne and SE Cesar Chavez (if it's in this FM, maybe it's at the one near your house).  We got a 6-pack of the Bitter American and it was awesome!
My first can of 21st Amendment in a restaurant was at the Spenard Roadhouse in Anchorage.  Happy St. Patty's Day, it went well with a glass of Knob Creek.

Let's pause a moment to talk about 21st Amendment using cans instead of bottles.  The brewery's reasoning is simple, cans keep beer fresher and they're better for the environment.  Living in Alaska, cans are awesome.  First off, they are easy to bike and hike with (light and easy to open, plus the empties can be crushed to take up little space).  Second, in Cordova, we don't recycle glass!  Before Jonah and I jumped on the ferry to Cordova last month we stopped in the Brown Jug in Anchorage and stocked up on Bitter American, Brew Free or Die, and Black in Black.  This is what our fridge looked like:

 Did I mention that I love love love the Bitter American?
Cheers 21st Amendment!

Ninkasi in Bellingham

Hey B-hammers!  Ninkasi is heading up I-5 to pay you a visit.  Check them out.

My Seattle Beer 2/7 of a Week

Heading up to Seattle Wednesday to spend two nights in the Emerald City. Let's take a look at my past brewery visits and scope out what I should hit this time.
Baron Brewing - if I head that way, have to make sure I call for an appointment!
Georgetown Beer - I've tasted the Manny's Pale Ale before, excellent session beer.
Pacific Rim Brewing Co - has closed, and reopened as Big Al Brewing.

Big Time Brewery - visited Thanksgiving 2009 with Jonah and Caleb Riley.  An excellent spot.

Elliott Bay Brewery Pub - The original, city-based Elliot Bay pub, which is has organic beer.
Elysian Brewing Co - With 3 locations, I visited the Tangle Town pub with Jonah, Caleb, Molly and David Wolf Thanksgiving 2009.  Maybe I will try to hit up the Pike Street location this time.

Hale's Ales - This brewery is housed in an awesome building, I got to see it with Jonah and Caleb for Thanksgiving 2009.

Maritime Pacific Brewing Co - We tried to find this brewery before but they were in the midst of a move, I would love to see their new place.
Naked City Brewery -  looks to have quite a few beers and a kick ass logo.
Pike Brewing Company - I have been wanting to visit this brewery for awhile, maybe this time I'll remember to bring my ID.
Pyramid Brewery -  the original location of this large craft brewery.

Are there any I missed?

February 2011 Review

Boston Beer Works - Canal St, Boston MA
Cambridge Brewing Co. - Cambridge, MA
John Harvard Brew Pub - Cambridge, MA
Sebago Brewing Co - Portland, ME
Black Bear Brewery - Orono, ME
Migration Brewing Co. - Portland, OR

January 2011 Review

Arbor Brewing Company - Ann Arbor, MI
Black Star Co-op Brewery - Austin, TX
Coalition Brewing Company - Portland, OR
Jolly Pumpkin - Ann Arbor, MI
Portlandia Brewing Company - Portland, OR
Rochester Mills Beer Company - Rochester, MI
North Coast Brewing Co - Fort Bragg, CA

Arbor Brewing Company

 

 114 East Washington 

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

734-213-1393

http://www.arborbrewing.com/

 Arbor Brewing Company was our second stop in Ann Arbor.  Every beer that I tasted were good enough to get a pint, alas they have so many beers on tap that Jonah would have had to carry me to the car if I did that. 

The Crye Baby Rye was excellent.  I love when breweries have ryes, I will always order it.  It's such a rarity and such a treat, an opinion I share with my cousin Mike Szymula.  There are two pubs for Arbor Brewing Co., we visited the ABC Brewpub (clever name).  The building had a great look to it even though the back room smelled like barf, something you have to live with being in a college town.

All in all, Ann Arbor is a great beer destination if you're in the Detroit area.

Jolly Pumpkin

 311 S. Main St. 

Ann Arbor, Michigan

734-913-2730

http://www.jollypumpkin.com/annarbor/

After Austin Texas, Jonah and I hit the skies again, landing in Detroit MI.  This is my second time in America's high five in search of breweries.  This time Jonah, I, and a handful of the Michigan crew set off to the land of the Wolverines, Ann Arbor.
Here's a picture of all of us, clockwise from the bottom left: Kurt, Lynn. Jonah, me, Kraig, Kristen, Joe, Michael, John, and Karol. (All the K names are siblings of my mom.)

The beer that intrigued me was the Burley-esque, a blood orange Belguim IPA.  This is a good place to go if you want to try some experimental yet still drinkable beers.  Definitely try to stop by for lunch, the food is delicious!!

The use of a pumpkin for the logo threw me off at first, I was worried that it would pigeon-hole the brew-masters to fruity beer and make for some lame merchandise.  Well I was wrong, Jolly Pumpkin does use fruit and spices in many of their beers, but not to an over-whelming or obnoxious level.  Also, the t-shirts rocked!  I am also a fan of the tap handles.

Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

7020 Easy Wind Drive, Suite 100

Austin, TX 78752

512.452.BEER

http://www.blackstar.coop/

I didn't know what to expect from the world's first co-op owned and worker managed brewery, but this blossoming pub in Austin Texas did not disappoint.  Jonah and I are visiting his uncle in Texas and Chris suggested this brewery within a bike ride distance of his house.  We visit a lot of breweries and it's always a plus when you get the thumbs up from a local.  After only getting a little lost on our bike ride over, we met up with long-time friend Tyler, a transplant from Oregon, and his lovely girlfriend Katherine.  

The inside decor was very modern and the beers held up to the recommendation.  I started with the High-Esteem, a rye pale ale which turned out to be my favorite of the evening. Jonah had the Recalcitrant Dockhand, a poster with a lot of flavor. Although they only has three of their own beers on tap, they had 20 guest taps and most of them were Texan brews.  I was confused by the names of the beers, they lacked a relationship with the brewery and each other.  Also, there was no music playing, an odd decision for such a music-centric city. 

All in all, it is fun to experience a brewery that is just starting out.  I would like to come back in a few years and see how they evolved.  If you live in Austin, head down there and purchase a share; haven't you always wanted to own your own brewery?  If you're visiting, stop by for a beer and maybe dinner, the food is locally focused and delicious.  Also they are super nice to their employees.  

Thank you Austin.  We had a blast!

Coalition Brewing Co

Coalition Brewing Co.

2724 SE Ankeny

Portland, OR 97214

503.894.8080

http://www.coalitionbrewing.com/

Coalition Brewing Co. is awesome, hands down awesome.  Jonah and I were riding our bikes from Llyod Center back to SE Portland and just happened across the pub.  Coalition has been on my list since Portland grew 4 breweries while we were in Alaska, and I'm super pleased we rode by.

I started with the King Kitty Red which was an excellently hoppy red ale while Jonah christened the visit with the WU C.R.E.A.M. Ale, a smooth pleasant ale.  For the second round, I drank the Two Dogs IPA, a very solid IPA and Jonah had the complex and satisfying Loving Cup Maple Porter.

Also, the logo rocks.  Go to this brewery.  Seriously GO!

Boundary Bay Brewery

1107 Railroad Avenue

Bellingham, WA 98225

360.647.5593

http://www.bbaybrewery.com/

I have wanted to go to Boundary Bay Brewery since the summer of 2008.  That summer was my first Oregon Brewers Festival.  I went with Jess Stedman and we both shared a love for extremely hoppy IPAs. At that time my favorite was Boulder Beer Co.'s Hazed and Infused, I had been to the brewery the year before and it held up to my expectations.  Well, at the festival Jess and I (the second day we were there) grabbed samples of all the hoppy IPAs there and judged.  Boundary Bay, you will be glad to know that Jess voted for your brew but I stubbornly held on to my love for Hazed and Infused.  I know this isn't the way the story should be going for a review of Boundary Bay but that taste stayed with me.  Also did the intrigue of this northern washington brewery.  

So, over 2 years later, the ferry back from Alaska dropped us off within walking distance of this brewery that has been on my mind for all that time.  Jonah and I met up with Tommy McGinley, who we've beer-adventured with before, and Dani Hess, who I worked with up in Alaska.  Crazy enough, I did not get the IPA!!!

I don't know but I must have been in a dark beer mood, I started with the Dry Irish Stout and ate some wonderful stew.  I finished it up with the Imperial Oatmeal Stout.  Both beers were fabulous.

Plus, the merchandise rocks!

Skagit River Brewery

404 S. 3rd Street

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

360-336-2884

http://www.skagitbrew.com/

Jonah and I arrived in northern Washington off the ferry from Alaska, where our good friend Tommy McGinley lives, so we decided to stay with him to hang out before we headed the rest of the way south.  We got there early so had some time to kill.  After showering the ferry off us we went brewery cruising and found Skagit River Brewery.

I was floored when I saw that these were the guys who made Sculler's IPA!

I drank so much Sculler's IPA in college.  I had a roommate Brandy Rodtsbrooks who I explored beer with at our excellent local grocery store, and Sculler's was one of our awesome finds.

Sadly, they didn't have it on tap!  Now I will definitely have to go back, maybe I'll drag Brandy with me ;)  

Instead of the Sculler's IPA I had the Skagit River "Steelie" Brown Ale.  It was a solid brown but I will still have Sculler's on tap on my mind.

Haines Brewing Company

Haines Brewing Company

PO Box 911

Southeast Alaska Fairgrounds/ Dalton City
Haines, Alaska 99827
907-766-3823
http://hainesbrewing.com/

On our way back south, after spending the summer in Alaska, Jonah and I occupied the time waiting for the ferry to leave by fruitfully journeying to Haines Brewing Co.  The directions we received seemed easy enough turn right onto Haines Highway, then turn left after the school, following the signs to the fairgrounds.  Haines is a small town so we decided to walk.  We followed the directions and found a "fake city," Dalton City, the grounds of the Southeastern Alaska State Fair and the old set for the 1989 movie White Fang.  I wasn't until closer inspection that we realized this movie set was also the location of the brewery. 

I was already hooked at that point, but the visit kept getting better.  Paul Wheeler, the brewer hung out with us for the entire hour and a half we were tasting beers.  He told us a range of stories from the origin of the beer names to his opinions of other breweries.  We realized our commonalities of a history with the Forest Service and love of Portland brews; Paul even encouraged us to start our own brewery, a dream of mine and Jonah's.

On top of all that, the beer was awesome!  We got to try the Dalton Trail Ale, DMMDI IPA, Eldred Rock Red, Lookout Stout, Spruce Tip Ale, Black Fang, and the Barley Wine.  If visiting I would definitely suggest trying them all, HBC has tall tasters for $1.25.  If you can't then try the Spruce Tip Ale, it's Paul's number one sellers and is quite unique.  Also try the Black Fang, a local favorite, this imperial stout should be high on your list.  Definitely fit in the DMMDI IPA too, on second thought if you're all the way in Haines Alaska, drink them all!  It's worth it.

Moose's Tooth

(907) 258-2537

3300 Old Seward Hwy

Anchorage, AK 99503

http://www.moosestooth.net/index2.htm

The Prince William's Porter.  I didn't do the usual beer sampling at Moose's Tooth (Designated Driver, Drink Responsibly!)  I thought for this entry I'd spotlight a single beer.

It was so nice to have a good porter after a long day of work then traveling.  I'm a big fan of porter, best of both worlds I think; you get a dark, rich beer with lightness and hop-flavor.

Anchorage here we come!

Jonah and I are heading to Anchorage for the weekend!
Hopeful stops are Moose's Tooth Brewing Co., Midnight Sun Brewing Co., and maybe Glacier Brewhouse!

Midnight Sun Brewing Company

8111 Dimond Hook Drive
Anchorage, AK 99507

(907) 344-1179

http://www.midnightsunbrewing.com/

Hello excellent Alaskan beers!  It has been sad that since I've moved up to Alaska that I've certainly taken a hit with the amount of breweries I can explore.  But my few trips to Anchorage have absolutely quenched my thrist.  The company is not-so-bad either, Mary & Weston always show us a good beer time and this time added DeAnna to the review. 
Midnight Sun Brewing Co. ranges from beers you want to drink sessionly to beers that knock your socks off after one.  Their warehouse-like restaurant/ brewery is filled with 22 oz bottles, funky t-shirts, good food, and of course, fantastic beer!  Hope for a sunny day and head out to the porch.

Hopworks Urban Brewery

2944 Southeast Powell Boulevard

Portland, OR 97202
(503) 232-4677
http://www.hopworksbeer.com/

I was glad to have Hopworks as my last brewery visit before heading up to Alaska; these guys don't disappoint. Their regular beers are always tasty but it's the seasonal beers that truly impress me. This visit I had the Secession Black IPA and damn! that is good. (Plus the shirts dedicated to this beer are very awesome.) Black IPA seems to be a new trend with Oregon brewers and I have to say I am enjoying it. Here's another blogger's opinion of this trend: http://beervana.blogspot.com/2009/01/on-black-ipas.html. The other beer I had was also very very good, it was the seasonal RED but I can't remember the name and can't find the name of the seasonals anywhere on the website.
I visited the brewery with Jonah, my finance and Tommy, the man who will marry us. Actually it was here that decision was made. I am grateful to both of them - with their help I have visited all the Southeast Portland breweries! This picture is actually from California but I didn't take any photos while at HUB so this is all you get.

Now for the breakdown:
Year-round beers include
HUB Lager
Hopworks IPA
Velvet ESB
Crosstown Pale AleDeluxe Organic Ale
Survival Stout

They have a full dining area with delicious food.

Hours include:
Sunday - Thursday 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Friday - Saturday 11:00 am - 12:00 am

Black Lotus Brewing Co.

1 East 14 Mile Road
Clawson, MI 48017
(248) 577-1878
http://blacklotusbrewery.com/

I love how much my family loves beer! What I love even more is that they like me enough to try to squeeze in as many breweries on my short trip. Black Lotus Brewing Company was the finale of my Michigan brewery tour and an excellent last impression.
I wanted to put stats on their beers but forgot to steal a menu and their website is getting revamped. Instead go check it out for yourself and make sure to bring your aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandma!

Kid Rock's American Badass Beer

American BadAss Beer

brewed by Michigan Brewing Co.
1093 Highview Drive
Webberville, MI 48892
(517) 521-3600

Sports and beer have always gone hand-in-hand, but watching the Detroit Red Wings while drinking Kid Rock's lager is a match made in heaven. It is the premier beer from the musician's new company, American BadAss Beer Company and it's pretty damn good. It is light enough to be a good game beer with more flavor than you'll get from any of the macrobrews. Bob Ritchie you've done well.
Here's some pics from the game...

Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.

5919 Chicago Rd.
Warren, MI 48092
(586) 979-8361
http://www.kbrewery.com/

First impression: well impressed impression, daily beer list is always a good sign. Second, they have a tremendous about of beer, not all are on tap but you will be in for variety if you make this pub your hangout. And to round out the trifecta... you can brew your own beer here!
This brewery started as a hardware store run out of business by Lowe's but you can't see that know. It's a beautiful place with a steel horse-shoe bar and they have the beers to compliment.
My favorite is a contest between to very different beers. DRIPA is a double rice IPA, but don't shy away because of the rice thing this beer tastes like biting into a big dense hope flower and racks up a 10.5% alcohol stat. It's competitor for my taste buds is the Imperial Creme Brulee Java Stout. It's think and aromatic, you have to love a beer you can smell before it hits your lips. Keir liked the Classic American, and it lives up to it's name - a good ole fashioned session beer. It's hard sometimes to visit all these breweries, taste all the beers, try to stay sober enough to pass judgment. Ok, I know you don't feel sorry for me but a beer that's light and crisp sometimes just hits the spot.
For the rest of them the list of beers is too extensive to list here but you can find it here:
www.kbrewery.com/beer/beer.html.

Mon. - Thurs. 11am - Midnight
Friday - Saturday 11am - 2am
Sunday - Call for hours

They release new beers on Thursday - go check it out!

Dragonmead Microbrewery

14600 E. 11 Mile Rd

Warren, MI 48089

586-776-9428

Ugh, sooo disappointed: 25 minutes sitting there waiting to get helped then 5 tasters of boring beer. Take it I did only try 12.5% of the beers (5 out of 40, now you don't have to pull out the calculator), but those 5 did not leave me wanting more. I really wanted to like this brewery, I like that they had different styles categorized: Russian Ale, American, Scottish Ales, Barley Wine, Belgian Ales, Czech Lager (the only decent one I tasted), English Ales, German Ales, German Lagers, Polish Porter, then there's Mead and Wine. Hopefully with all those choices most can find something they like.

Somthing nice to say... the tap handles are cool and the sampler tray is hardy giving you 6oz of 5 beers.