Bell's Brewery, Kalamazoo, MI

Bell's Brewery, visited on 10/10 (http://bellsbeer.com/eccentric-cafe/)

As a continuance of our honeymoon/Michigan beer tour, Holly and I headed out on a four-stop trip through Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids (rated #22 among 'beer cities' in the world), and Holland, hitting up some of the state's finest craft beer establishments. I'm going to review Bell's, perhaps my favorite stop of the day.

Bell's Eccentric Cafe is located in a cool somewhat industrial/but downtown part of Kalamazoo. It seems to be near the main drag of the city and adjacent to railroad tracks, adding elements of blue collar nostalgia. The bar is neat with an interesting take on service: you head to the bar to give beer and food orders, and pick up both when they're ready. We enjoyed the pretzel plate which was just ho-hum. There is also a sweet beer store with a ton of beer-making items and ingredients to go along with Bell's shwag.

Entrance to Eccentric Cafe

Here's what we tried, and keep in mind that while I realize 'real' taste-tests need to come in the form of a pint, this was our first stop of the day. I didn't want to blow my beer load but did instantly desire a return visit the moment I walked out the door to get my hands on some fuller pint-tastings:

Draft list

EXP Hop 2012-4 - 4.8%abv; penned a Hefeweizen with 998 hops; nice copper color, much darker than typical hefies; lil head; consistent lacing; airy smell; lil fruity with fruity pebbles up front; solid and interesting as a hoppy-hefe.

Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout - 10.9%abv; let's be honest, we got right after it here...if a beer on the draft list seemed 'big', I ordered it up: no wonder I left here well on my way; the color here is deep mahogany; light red at the top; no head; minimal lacing; boozy on the nose, slightly sweet; very bourbon-y in flavor; very faint smell/taste of cherry; delicious and extremely well balanced...dank!

Bourbon Barrel Batch 9000 - 14.9%abv; um, yeah...this is a f'n wine; it's hardcore with booze and a pint of this would put you on your ass; it's an aged imperial stout; looks dark brown, almost black and tan; minimal head; hints of vanilla and clove; light lacing; really boozy, really bourbon-y (again); this is heady and will get you drunk. 

This One Goes to 11 - 11%abv; imperial red ale; reddish copper; moderate head; grapefruit and citrus strong on the nose; wow, this beer is awesome...delicious pine and citrus balance; one of the best beers I've ever tried; perfect balance! Top notch beer! (note: I somehow found a 6er of this at a farmer's market in Sawyer...I brought it back in full and will review further in a future post. No I will not share).

Rye Stout - 6%abv; 'earthy, dark chocolate aroma'; significant head; strong lacing; deep brown in color; malty on the nose; chocolate malt in flavor; one of the lightest stouts I've tried; easy and sessionable, but slightly bitter.

Double Cream Stout - 6%abv; 'made with 10 specialty malts'; darkest of the beers we tried, and that's saying a lot; medium head; minimal lacing; cocoa and malty nose; slightly bitter; faint hints of hops; easy-drinking stout with a creamy aftertaste, easy mouthfeel; solid overall.

Build your own sampler...and I did! 

Thanks Bell's...we'll be back...and I already can't wait to get in to the sixer of TOGT11 when I get the chance. Jackpot!

BJ's Brewhouse, Boulder

BJ's Brewhouse, visited on 5/27 (http://www.bjsrestaurants.com/bj-beers)

Let's be honest: many 'traditional' microbreweries might not consider a BJ's, or another 'chain' restaurant as a true craft brewer. But BJ's makes, at least in appearance, small batch beers, if only they're supplying regional other chains in doing so. It doesn't appear they bottle, and this little brewhouse on Pearl Street in Boulder as all the appearances (mash tons, tanks, etc.) of a 'normal' microbrewery.

The same party that visited Wild Mountain in Nederland stopped in at BJ's somewhat accidentally, essentially looking for a place to consume a drink or two while awaiting dinner. BJ's has an overly ridiculous food menu (think Cheesecake Factory) and a decent list of beers that look pretty tasty. I only managed to enjoy their HopStorm IPA, which at 6.5% ABV is completely sessionable if not overpoweringly hoppy.

I'm sure given all our recent jaunts to Boulder, we'll come back to BJ's for a few more pints and I'll update this post at that point. If you can get past that chain-feel of a microbrewery, which is pretty easy to do with the exposed tanks and comfy booths at this venue, you might find yourself enjoying one of their offerings without feeling like you've lost your 'beer edge'. The sip of Harvest Hefeweizen I tried was good, and I'd love to try their Pumpkin Ale in the fall. Perhaps we'll see you in November...

Lone Tree Brewing Company, Lone Tree

Lone Tree Brewing Company, visited on 5/13  (http://www.lonetreebrewingco.com/)

Holly and I have visited Lone Tree Brewing Company on a number of prior occasions, but I had never sat down and put pen to paper (or finger to iPhone, as it were) as it relates to the brewery's beer offerings. LTBC holds a fairly special place in my heart as it was the location where I asked Holly's dad for her hand in marriage. Let's just say Sunday's visit was a little less stressful than that fateful visit back in February.

LTBC is yet another brewery operation posted up in a nondescript commercial strip, really close to Park Meadows but thankfully off the beaten path of other strip malls and PM Mall. The bar room is pretty sprawling with ample table spaces and a really big soft-L shaped bar. The tanks and fermenters are all visible, as is the general working space for those lucky employees who are regularly tasked with creating what I drink. There are a few TVs in the bar, a stack of games in the corner, and a popcorn machine to help wash their tasty beers down with something salty. Strike that though, and reverse it...Willy Wonka style.

Here's what we drank, this time. I've enjoyed every one of their flagship beers and the February-to-May carryover, Cherry Chocolate Stout, on prior visits:

Hoptree IPA - 80IBUs, 8.0%ABV; dark amber in color; very minimal head; light lacing; 'soapy' bubbles present; grassy on the nose; hoppy and citrusy, almost orange or tangerine smelling; great balance up-front; overall, heady grapefruit and smooth hop flavor; bitter and slightly piney; easy-going 8% abv beer...borderline sessionable; probably the best LTBC beer, although I'm always sympathetic to IPAs.

Hoptree IPA in foreground, with a line of yummy taps behind

Toots Oatmeal Stout - 31IBUS, 5.2%ABV; very dark colored...almost tar-looking; small head; light lacing; lightly sweet and oatmeal-y on the nose; nutty, almost coffee-pungent aromas; nutty on the front when drank; again, lightly sweet and cocoa smooth; good, well-balanced stout.

Das Bart Dunkelweizen - 15IBUs, 5.8% ABV; I originally ordered the Hefeweizen, which I've tried and liked on prior visits, but the keg was getting changed and the barkeep recommended this tasty number; great 1-inch head; nut-brown looking; smells a bit like a burnt banana; spicy bubblegum on the nose and mouth; kinda tastes like roasted banana bread in liquid form; hints of clove and all-spice; German-malt-laced Hefe, by all accounts; good beer!

I always enjoy my visits at LTBC, and while it's a bit far away from the city and well in to the suburbs, it's absolutely worth a visit. There's quality beer getting made here...and as far as I know, short of a few local restaurants, you can only get it on-site.

Elk Mountain Brewing, Parker

Elk Mountain Brewing, visited on 1/31/12  (http://www.elkmountainbrewing.com/)

After cancelling a gym membership in Parker (oh the irony), I felt the distinct need to visit the town's only brewery. Elk Mountain is a simple little brewpub tucked away in an obscure commercial strip in Parker. The place still manages to feel like a neighborhood bar. There's no food offered but there is a little popcorn machine, games and several mounted TVs for 'sports-watchin'. Elk Mountain, at about 4PM on a Tuesday, had a row of 8 or so men and women enjoying their brews. There's a blue-collar feel here despite the fact Parker isn't really all that blue-collar. The barkeep was friendly and I chatted up a man sitting next to me who's son works back east in small-arms training/physical security in MD. Small world.

I tried three beers, all of which were quite good. I walked out with a growler of the last one I tried, and after finishing the growler last night with Holly, vowed to return for a fill or two of the same beer. Or another...

Wild Wapiti Hefeweizen Wheat - 5.5abv; good yellow/golden hue; cloudy, but not full of sediment...I imagine this is not unfiltered; good quarter inch head, light lacing; as with many hefes, there is a VERY noticeable banana flavor; crisp taste; smells a little bitter, doesn't taste bitter at all; smells 'wheaty'; good beer, very easygoing; lack of overall complexity, but a great summer beer I'm sure. Despite always trying hefes, and usually never being overtly impressed, this was an impressive beer to session for the lighter-palate crowd.

Elk Horn Oatmeal Stout - 7.2abv; debated on this or Vanilla Caramel Porter for a second pint; this beer is dark; there is no head, almost no lacing; coffee and cocoa on the nose; strong oatmeal flavor; a touch of sweet that almost goes unnoticed; a little bitter on the back end; I'm curious about any hops used; hardy beer perfect for winter; I'm almost instantly full; overall a great stout flavor with an abv wallop you can't even taste. Good beer, great oatmeal stout.

Vanilla Caramel Porter - 6.3abv; I took town a 2 oz taster of this and LOVED it; ultimately left with a 64 oz growler; growler was a reasonable $5, fill of this winter season was $12...worth it! Good quarter-plus inch head; again, very dark; companion at the bar says 'dessert beer'; smells exceptionally like caramel and vanilla; great nose overall; heavy on caramel in flavor; despite the flavor and color, this beer isn't overly heavy; repeat sips really brings out the caramel; delicious beer. Not quite dessert, but certainly sweet and yummy, perhaps nonetheless an 'apertif beer'. H and I really enjoyed the growler...and I think I've found a beer lineup she can really get behind: slightly sweet, but definitely dark...she's a porter/stout girl.

Good stuff Elk Mountain...I'll be back for a growler fill soon!

Colorado Mountain Brewery, Colorado Springs (ish)

Colorado Mountain Brewery: visited on 1/2/12  (http://www.cmbrew.com/)

As a continuance of our 1/2/12 brewery tour, we stopped at Colorado Mountain Brewery in the North Springs, and learned something: a surplus local tax is levied here because the Springs doesn't consider Interquest Parkway a part of their town. I sure hope they aren't paying Springs taxes!

UniBrau Hefeweissen - quite good; perfect spring/summer beer for this patio w views of Pike; citrus and easy; banana love!

Panther India Pale Ale - deep amber hue; almost like an amber w hops; not entirely pale ale to the palette; tastes like a macro IPA, a little generic.

Legit restaurant; ate ketel chips w blue cheese and wing sauce; family style place to go; could be chain; also ate a sub-par Chicken Philly. This is a decent place to enjoy amazing views of the southern part of the Front Range with a legit patio and endless views, including Pikes.