Tag Archives: craft beer

WEEKEND BY THE WATER – AUG 4-6

The weekend is pack with tons to do! Fantasia, Babyface, Rancid and Dropkick Murphy are in concert. Plus, the cast of Nashville comes to Coney Island and ready up for binge watching.

Have a homegrown pint at Deep Ellum Brewing Company

Finally, the craft beer explosion has come to Dallas. May we all benefit. One of Dallas’ newest micro breweries is the Deep Ellum Brewing Company that opened in late 2011. Their bread and butter are the hoptastic Deep Ellum IPA, their Double Brown Stout and the Rye Pils. The awesome thing about a new brewery is they are constantly brewing up something new, so they have a healthy selection of seasonals available. While the brewery does n’t have an attached beer garden or restaurant or anything (what can we say, they focus on the beer), the brewery is open for tours Thursdays 5 – 7:30 and Saturdays from 12 – 3.

Thomas Farley on Top Hops Beer Shop

Lower east side NYC. Just a few blocks from NY food and beer institutions, New Beer, Whole Foods Bowery, and Katz’s Deli. This is a new place that has it all…multiple growler fill taps, 100’s of bottles (kept in growler units without lights to preserve the integrity of the beer), artisanal foods available while you enjoy a tasty draft at the bar…1/2 bar, 1/2 growler fill station..is the this the new model for craft beer distribution spots? Not sure but this is a well worth checking out location…Craft is appreciated and celebrated, mid sized spot, with a sleek and comfortable arching bar, friendly, gracious and knowledgeable owner adds to the experience…go check it out..places like this are the future and deserve to be supported.

The Hamilton

Strange and amazing, unlikely and enviable, the life of Alexander Hamilton could be a blueprint for the evolution of Washington, DC. This is a man who started off an orphan and ended up a lawyer, banker and founding father before dying famously in a duel with the Vice President of the United States. First built to house the federal government, DC is now a city where polish and sophistication have been charmed by a bohemian spirit yielding a new, thriving, artistic underground. Located just two blocks from the White House, the District’s newest destination for envelope-pushing, visionary music and talent defies convention, much like Hamilton himself. Visit thehamiltondc.com for more information.

Grab an alien-free pint at the Flying Saucer

The Flying Saucer provides another watering hole for the craft beer aficionado, with hundreds of imports, micro brews and craft beers on draft as well as some specialty bottles. While most beers are always available, they regularly rotate seasonal and new kegs, with rare tapping and glass night events during the week (buy the beer, keep the glass). The Saucer’s real claim to fame is their UFO club, in which after trying 200 different beers participants are awarded a saucer with their name and a quote on it. Scores of saucers adorn the walls from former “beer knurds” that have achieved success in beer drinking. The Flying Saucer has two locations, one in Addison and one in Sundance Square in Fort Worth. It’s worth noting that the Addison location is one of the few good places in Addison that is non-smoking (except for a small room in the back). Also worth noting is the free popcorn. Just ask for it.

Fancy beer meets fancy food at the Meddlesome Moth

The folks from the Flying Saucer bring Dallas its first official “gastro pub.” The Meddlesome Moth, located just west of downtown in the design district, provides a setting that brings foodies and beer snobs together. In addition to serving a variety of specialty beers, the menu serves up creative combinations of both meals and “share plates” (think elaborate tapas).

Favorite share plates include the Five Spice Pork Belly, Shrimp and Grits (with jalapeno gravy), Hawaiin “Ahi” Tuna and the collard greens. The cayenne-lime fried hominy is great if you’re just looking for a nibble.

The beer menu is a little slice of heaven for any craft beer snob. It contains all the staples plus a variety that changes seasonally. While beer suggestions change with every palette, for something truly different keep an eye out for any of the beers aged in whiskey/bourbon/brandy barrels (like Rahr’s Whiskey Warmer).

Hopleaf hops no matter the time of day/night

Even when every seat is taken in Hopleaf, it’s considered a slow night. But when patrons pack inside for the extensive beer list and gourmet restaurant menu, things really get hopping at Hopleaf. Despite the busy bar, the atmosphere is decidedly laid back both on the first and top floors.

When waiting for a table, grab a beer and maybe even a book on the history of beers and liquors. Hopleaf’s small library is appropriate for this tavern, considering it opened 18 years ago, just before the craft beer market exploded. Today, it offers more than 250 beer options.

The tavern opens at 3pm every day of the week, 365 days a year.

Hop City

Hop City is pushing the envelope for beer. Taking a cue from their beverage cousins, wine, Hop City organizes their beer based on based on style and not brewery. It’s the only beer store they, or we, know of that has taken this ingenious approach.It’s also the first store in Atlanta to specialize in craft beer.

Aside from its unique line-up style, Hop City is stocked with incredible beers from around the world. The store’s shelves hold 450 different types of beer including an impressive selection of 250 Belgian beers. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Hop City is so passionate about educating their costumers that every Wednesday they hold a free beer tasting. Hop City is proudly elevating the experience of beer shopping, which is long overdue.

Falling Rock Tap House: The Opus One of Beer

If Denver is the so-called Napa Valley of beer, Falling Rock Tap House is its Opus One—a legend. Though it’s not itself a brewery, beer geeks come from far and wide to sample the constantly changing selection of about 80 drafts and more than 130 bottles—which itself comes from far and wide as well as near, Coloradan and Belgian craft pours, many of them vintage, being the taphouse’s specialties. Shelves lined with 2000-plus beer bottles from the owner’s personal collection make the sprawling, ever-bustling (if not downright raucous) two-story feel like home—as does the cheeky sense of humor reflected in various words to the wise about customer etiquette that appear on the menus.

FR3