The WareHouse

Karen and I started our evening out at the The WareHouse. It is one of the best restaurants in Colorado Springs. It is a converted warehouse. The owner actually lives on the third floor, the restaurant and art gallery are on the first floor, and the brewery is in the basement.

Karen and I both had the General Palmer’s Amber Lager. It should be first noted that this is not an ale. They describe the beer as “a Bavarian-style bock beer, deep amber in color and slightly higher in alcohol. Lagered for quite some time.” It is truly a dark amber with a heavy malt taste. The staff can fool you by calling it an amber, which would lead you think it is an amber ale. The key word is “bock”. If we had known that it was a bock, I think that we would have enjoyed the beer for what it was.

Karen followed the General Palmer’s Amber Lager with the SP Belgian Ale. She truely enjoyed this beer. The server behind the bar had to have new. Normally, the SP Belgian Ale is served in smaller brandy style glass, but he provided a full pint. Karen didn’t mind.

For my second beer, I had the Trolley Car, which is Northern English Brown Ale in style. We both enjoyed this beer as we walked through the gallery. The flavor was well rounded and very satisfying.

By the way, we had the Battered English Pub Chips without the topping. They were very good. I would suggest that you ask for the chipotle mayonnaise as dipping sause. You will thank me.

Phantom Canyon Brewing Co

To end our evening, Karen and I headed over to Phantom Canyon Brewing Co to try an ale or two.

First, Phantom Canyon Brewing Co is situated in the center of downtown across the street from the Antlers. The building is the historic Cheyenne Building which had housed the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad in 1901.

Karen had the Hefeweizen while I had their Ginger Ale Beer. Karen's beer was very little in body and taste. My beer had little hint of ginger compared to what I had expected. The Ginger Ale beer is seasonal so get while you can.

Another Trip to Judge Baldwin's

Karen and I have headed into Judge Baldwin's to try some more of their brews.

Karen had the Champion Wheat and Belgian Biere de Garde. Karen thinks the Champion Wheat was very good. She said it would be a good summer beer with dinner. It was not over powering. Karen enjoyed the Belgian, too. She indicated it is similar to many other types of red ale.

I had the Cascade Amber Lager and Flanders Oud Bruin. The Cascade had a very good hop finish. It would please most anyone. The Flanders Oud Bruin is wild with flavors. It starts off with a malty fruit flavor, but transitions into an oak flavor similar to a fine whiskey's oak barrel taste.

Judge Baldwin's Brewing Company

I am sitting in Judge Baldwin's drinking their Baby Buddha Dopplebock. I have already finished a Raspberry Wheat.

Judge Baldwin's serves every beer with a straw holding a pretzel. I enjoy this, but you may not.

The Raspberry Wheat has a nice fruity raspberry bouquet and a light taste of raspberry in the finish. The beer is served with a slice of lime which can be added or not. I like it both ways.

Side Bar: Judge Baldwin's presently has a great happy hour special which has all of their brews and appetizers at two bucks. You can't beat that can you!

On to the next beer:
The Baby Buddha Dopplebock is a little sweet with light mouth feel. The beer was licorice high lights. I don't think I have ever found a bad dopplebock.

Time to settle up and head over to Jack Quinn's to listen to John Wise's group Tribe.

Il Vicino

Il Vicino has a new brew. The Mexicito is brewed new the style of a Mexician lager with agave juice.

The beer has fruity after tones with mellow malty flavors. It has light body and is servered with a slice of lime. I think a orange slice would have gone well with the fruitiness. It would go well with fish, but Il Vicino doesn’t serve fish. Bummer!

While at Il Vicino, I had the Brown ale which is hoppy for a brown ale. But, I will have to say that most Colorado Springs beer are over hopped for their style. I always enjoy this style of beer in Colorado Springs. Il Vicino’s Brown has more haze than most.

Beer Cooler Gone!

Well, the beer cooler was sold and picked up Saturday. We sold it for $250 which about what I paid for it.

I will miss the great parties we had with it servering up cold draft beer.

My wife wants to purchase new one for the new house. We will see?

The Beer Cooler

Well, it seems like we are moving into a new phase. The phase without a beer cooler. It looks like we have someone wanting to purchase our beer cooler.

Many years ago, I had the chance to go to an auction for a Sizzler restaurant's equipment. I was able to pickup a 13 foot wood lament beer cooler with two brass towers with three taps on each. I got the cooler for either $225 or $250. You can see more about it here.

I got married and quickly determined the beer cooler has not coming into the married. It stayed at my old house which my wife and I have been renting since we married. We have put the rental house up for sell and we have been looking for a new home for the beer cooler.

I brew beer and this was a great way to server the beer. I frequently had microbrews available, too. Many guys were over joyed when coming upon the sight of the beer cooler in my garage. My garage was not the typical garage, because it was carpeted and included an old couch, a pinball machine, a dart board, and of course the beer cooler.

Kicking Back With Olde Towne

Karen and I are sitting here enjoying Huntsville's first microbrewery known as Olde Towne Brewing Co. Sadly, there web site is not working or someone hasn't paid the bill (just kidding). They are are listed in Wikipedia.

We first had this beer at the grand debuted on August 12th, 2004 which was held at Humphrey's

We have had all of their standard brews which are Amber, Pale Ale, and Extra Pale Ale. The Extra Pale Ale is brewed for the “Bud” crowd to make the jump to microbrew. The Amber and Pale Ale are typically for their styles. All three have well received in Huntsville, but the favors vary from batch to batch.

Presently, Olde Towne has a Hefeweizen out as their seasonal brew. It has been their best offering to date according to us and friends.

Southern Brewers Festival

Karen and I have booked travel to the Southern Brewers Festival in Chattanooga, TN on the riverfront. It will be September 10th, 2005 instead of the Saturday before Labor Day weekend. It is a great event for all. Typically, 10 to 15 brewers are represented and each brewer has at least two beers available to tasting. At only buck a tasting with everything going to charity, who can beat it!

We stay for the whole weekend, because their is so much to do in Chattanooga. The best place to stay is Courtyard which across the street from all the activities.

We hope to see you there. We will be right in the middle of it all sitting in our folding chairs with cold beer, of course.