Here's some details about 95 brewpubs I've visited that have since closed or are no longer brewing. The ones that are still open are on a separate page.
A complete list of all breweries closed and open, can be found at BeerMe.com.
| Alabama | |||
| Birmingham | Mill Brewery, Baker, and Eatery
2000 Now closed. |
This Mill location does not brew their own beer. |
Magiic - Served at 33º. Light nut brown but you can sort of taste it. Harvest Gold Light Honey Wheat Amber |
| Arizona | |||
| Mesa | Bandersnath Brewpub
1991 Now closed. |
Upscale college bar and business lunch joint that has added
a brewery. Cross between a German chateau and a Village Inn Pizza.
Beer-in-your-face-club. Drink enough different beers and you get a beer thrown in your face. Honest. |
Cardinal Pale - Balanced, light. Centennial
hops. Premium Ale - Slightly sweet, fruity. Amber. Cascade hops. Milk Stout - Mild and creamy. Smooth. Some roasted malt flavor. Not a Mackison clone Clarks Oktoberfest Lager - Biting and rich. Still fairly mild for style. |
| Phoenix | Coyote Springs
1995 Now closed. |
Magnificent triple arch bar back and matching bar from a hotel in Oregon. | Coyote Gold Cream Ale - Very effervescent.
Light and crisp. Good summer beer. Southwest Wheat Hefeweizen - Quite cloudy. Good crisp tart citrus. Best Bitter - Light, not heavily hopped. Coal Porter - Quite strong and roasty. Blue Coal - Blueberry Porter. Fresh. |
| Phoenix | Hops
1991 Now closed. |
High-priced spread a block away from a Neiman-Marcus. Valet parking. Mouthwash dispenser in the men's room. Ham and brie sandwich. | Pilsner - Budmillercoors. Summer Lager - Wheat with slight yeast taste. Refreshing. Amber Ale - Dark, bland, lager. Oktoberfest - Biting. Moderately thick. Good malt flavor. Served too cold. |
| Arkansas | |||
| Fayetteville | Ozark Brewing
1996 Now closed |
Tall, 2-story post & beam pine and white restaurant.
Good food.
All beers served decently warm. |
Export Lager - Heineken. Stale and skunked. Horseshoe Hefe Weizen - Cloudy dull copper. Mild, almost bland. Rich mouthfeel. Coach Light Ale - Brighter yellow, Goldings hops. Pilsner and cara pils malt. Quite satisfying. IPA - Very heavily hopped (for the time, ie 45 IBU) Six In Hand Stout - Bisuit, Pilsner, Munich, Cara Munich, and some roasted barley. Robust enought. Slightly acrid or metallic. |
| California | |||
| Arcata | Humbolt Brewing
1995 Now closed |
Tap room and down home neighborhood boisterous bar. | Red Nectar - Fresh, crisp, cold, with an accent
on hops. Chinook, Mt. Hood, Cascade, Willamette. Oatmeal Stout - Nitro. Roasty bit.e A bit sweet. Black Cherry Stout - Comes through accurately. Not overpowering. Not sweet or cloying. No cherry in smell at all. |
| Redding | Red, White, & Brew
1995 Now closed |
Small (holds 22) neighborhood style slapped together bar
and homebrew supply with a small brewery just because they like to brew
beer.
1 of their beers and 8 more taps. |
Pale Ale - Unfiltered serious beer with good balance. A touch fruity. |
| Tahoe City | Blue Water Brewing
1995 Now closed |
Overlooking the lake. | Palisades Pale - Yellow blonde for Bud
drinkers. Cascade hops but not noticable. Sabre Tooth IPAE. Copper. Chinook and Cascade dry hopped. Arrowhead Red - Good balance. NW hops. Crystal malt. Quite dark red/copper. Endless Winter Brown - Good strong brown just short of a roasty porter. |
| Truckee | Truckee Brewing Co. / Pizza Junction
1991 Became Donner Summit Brewery. Now closed. |
Local hangout surprisingly not for tourists.
Brewery outside in a railroad box car. |
Amber lager - Slightly tart and fruity.
Unfiltered. Very light color. Good. Dark Lager - Slightly malty mainstream beer. Darker than the amber. |
| Truckee | Donner Summit Brewery
1995 Now closed |
Seems like all beers are variations of the same recipe. | Truckee Amber - Darkish gold. Sweetish.
Slightly malty and a touch fruity. Truckee Dark. Very malty. No hops evident. Boca Bocklager - Very malty. Brown. Very sweet. No redeemable social ... |
| Colorado | |||
| Boulder | Oasis
1995 Now closed. Oasis beers still brewed by Rockies Brewing Co. |
Elegant Denny's atmosphere with Egyptian motif including horizontal fans. Osiris' barge as bar back. | Oasis Pale Ale - Lots of Cascade and
Tettnanger. Capstone ESB - More Cascade. Scarab Red - Real malt flavor. Red copper. Dry finish. Tut Brown Ale - Looks like a brown and tastes like a porter. Zoser Oatmeal Stout - Thick stout with Centennial hops. |
| Fort Collins | Casa De Colorado
1995 Now closed |
Mexican restaurant with a brewery for the love of brewing. | Aspen - American pale ale. Slightly cloudy
medium copper. Hoppy to edge of style. Oktoberfest - Balanced. Less hoppy. A bit sweet in the finish. |
| Greeley | Union Colony Brewery
1995 Now Closed |
Sterile formica and classless except for big bottle collection. The pool room is the big draw. | Go West Wheat - Quite citric. Clear pale
yellow. Old #8 Alt - Gold slightly malty American blond. Paunee Buttes Pale Ale - Malty ale. Black Bear Razz - Amber raspberry with little punch. |
| Connecticut | |||
| Hamden | Diglio's Brewpub
1997 Now closed. |
Large local Italian restaurant that has recently added a brewery. They call themselves "America's smallest brewpub". | Sleeping Giant Stout Whitney Falls Pale Ale Red Ale |
| Waterford | Post Road Brewing Co.
1997 Oopened in 1996. Became Lodge Light Restaurant and Brewery then closed in 1998 |
Brick restaurant in 100 year old house on US 1. 2nd floor private dining and game room. Copper topped tables and marble bar. Lots of stained glass and carved moldings. | Ledge Light Ale - Bluish yellow. Certainly some
wheat in the grain bill. Colonel Leoyard's Bitter - Pale gold. Cascade and a little malt. Nut Brown - Corovan reddish brown. Nice and bitter. Mudhead Brown - Malty strong but not sweet. Dark brown. Nautilus Porter - Totally opaque black. Mild session porter. Blackfish Stout - Served on a combination of CO2 and nitrogen. Smooth creamy. No bitterness. Eagle Alt IPA Summer Brew Cream Ale |
| Westport | John Harvard's Brew House
1997 Now closed. |
Light pine and cherry roadhouse. One of a big NE chain. Gotta admire the stained glass murals. | Stout - Cask conditioned. Tall brown head. Dark
toasty taste. Perfect warm temperature. John Harvard's Pale Ale All American Light Lager Nut Brown Ale AAA Gold. |
| Florida | |||
| Englewood | Bootleggers Brewing and Steakery
2002 No longer brewing. |
Tall white stark restaurant with a horseshoe bar. Liquor
store attached.
Extract brewery. |
Cloudy Day Hefeweizen - Some citrus. Watery but
drinkable. Dull peach color. Sunset Red - Brown color but otherwise to style. Sea Breeze Blonde Prohibition Porter Bootleggers APA |
| Tallahassee | Buckhead Brewery
2002 Now closed. |
Big iknotty pine lodge restaurant. Dead animal theme. | Stalke Sweet Stout - Mackisonish. ESB - Very very bitter. Can't say more until eyes unsquint. Winter Ale - Very malty sweet. Anise. Can't say more until tongue unstiffens. Red Hills Amber - Well balanced. Reddish copper. Buckhead Light |
| Georgia | |||
| Atlanta | Atlanta Beer Garten
1998 Now closed. |
Rustic decor sports bar in running-down end of a yuppie bar area. One of 4 brewpubs in the immediate vicinity. | Beer Garten Alt - Dark, almost opaque. Creamy
brown head. Crisper than a brown but as much malt. Too thin to be an old
ale. Definitely German hops. Buffalo Skull Buck Red Ale Lunatic Lager Stone Mountain Stout - Irish style. Bohemian Pilsner. |
| Atlanta | John Harvard's Brew House (Buckhead)
1998 Now closed. |
Expansive & extensive British pub styled restaurant.
Friendly bar area with good conversation and local beer geeks.
All beers are quite creamy. |
Buckhead Light Lager - Gold. Old Ivy Pale Ale - Hop head's delight. Dark honey color. Dry. Mostly Fuggles with a touch of Cascades hops. ESB - Lots of Fuggles. Over the top. Raspberry Brown - Sweet but no raspberry character. Loch Lanier Scotch Ale - Light for a Scotch. Maybe a Scottish. Full aroma. Porter - Cask conditinoed. Caramelly. Fudge chocolate. Corodovan red. Sweet and malty. |
| Atlanta | Percy's Fish House
1998 Now closed. |
Fish restaurant to be sure. Oysters a specialty. | Deep Sea ESB - Crisp, bright, strong. Wahoo Wheat Buckhead Blonde Cutthrought Red Skipjack Stout Back Boards Bock |
| Kennesaw | Water Tower Brewery
1998 No longer brewing. |
A brewpub in a big entertainment palace centered around a bowling alley. Big classy TV sports bar with cloth napkins. | Kennesaw Mt Gold - Blonde. Big Shanty Pale Ale - English hops. Bright copper. IPA range of bitterness. Amber - Could be an 80/ Scottish. Medium copper. Malty, complex, but a bit thin. Thrasher Brown Ale - Dark copper. A thin brown. A bit acidic and not much sweet. Red - Light, almost yellow. General Stout - Nitro dispense. Rich, sweet stout. Plenty of coffee. |
| Idaho | |||
| Boise | Harrison Hollow Brewhouse
1995 Now closed. |
Popular eating house with the college and older crowd. | Raspberry wheat - Very pale hefe. Cloudy lemon
yellow. Very citric with little raspberry. Western Ale - Cascade hops dominate everything. Bitter/sour finish. An overhopped American pale ale. Casey's Alt - Same but hoppiness is cut back to be not offensive. Fiegwurth - Decnet English ale. Dark copper with blotchy head. On the hoppy side. Fairly complex. Superior Stout - More Cascade hops. Wrong, wrong, wrong. |
| Boise | Star Garnet Brewing
1995 Now closed. |
Refurbished corner gas station serving nachos, sausages, and pizzas. Picnic table seating for 13 inside and 20 outside. On the corner of a busy intersection fronting a failing strip mall. Extract brewery. This doesn't have a chance of staying in business. | Hefeweizen - Cloudy, sweet, little character. Bayern Alt - Ruby copper with a creamy head. Mildly hoppy. |
| Boise | Table Rock Brewing
1995 Now closed. |
Neat architecture and friendly people.
Brewer Terry Dennis brought out a 15-month old cider for sampling. It was 5 different batches blended together. Tartness and mouth pinch were there and within reason. |
Whitebird Wheat - Slight citric and slight
sweet. Clear and crisp. Tablerock Red - Malt and hops both come on strong. Orangish copper. Creamy. Orange Blossom Special - Wit with noticable coriander, orange, and citric hints. Bright copper. Balanced. Razzberry Ale - Pale yellow with strong raspberry taste. Summer Celebration - ESBish amber combo. Some honey. T.D.'s Nut Brown - 8 different malts. Solid brown opaque color. Some roasty notes. Porter - Creamy. Some smoke. Drinkable. |
| Illinois | |||
| Champaign | (was first Bud's Brewpub)
Chiefs 1991 (became) Joe's Brewery 1995 Now closed |
Comfortable college bar. Young staff. Friendly. | I.P.A. - Almost clear copper. Hoppy American
IPA with plenty of Cascade. Very little carbonation. Dunkel-Weizen - Very dark. Almost opaque. Very malty. Complex beer. Toasty and bready. Very little carbonation. Gueze-Lambic - Cloudy copper. Darned if it doesn't smell and taste like a Geuze. Long finish. Very little carbonation. Amazing. "Spontaneously fermented" using yeast cultured from about a dozen bottle of Boon Gueze. Academic Ale - A session beer with Belgian malt and British hops giving
a strongly bitter IPA. Cloudy darkish copper. Flat head. Served too cold. |
| Springfield | Capitol City
1995 Now closed |
Open & Airy. In the Vinegar Hill Mall. Brewery behind glass. Mixutre of mall fern bar and sports bar. Fixtures done on the cheap. | Light Lager - Sweet and hoppy Pilsner - Again, sweet and hoppy Pale Ale - Creamy, hoppy, light. blond. Honey Beer - Thickish strong lager |
| Indiana | |||
| Fort Wayne | Oyster Bar
2003 Stopped brewing 2003. |
Fairly fancy restaurant with a nautical theme in a shopping center. | Lighthouse Ale - Kolsch style session ale. Uses Pilsner and some wheat malt with Cascade hops. Amber Ale - Deep color. Cascade dry-hopped. IPA - English-style IPA with big, clingy bubbles. Goldings hops. Fairly long, bitter aftertaste. Oyster Stout Their signature beer. Very rich. Black. Roasty and a bit sweet. No burnt edges. Calming. Faint anise, coffee, and salty notes. Luna Lager - "Mexican-style light lager" using noticeable corn. They'll serve it with a lime. |
| Indianapolis | Circle V
1997 Now closed. |
Shopping mall outbuilding with pretentious food. | Bullseye Bitter - Session ale that's a bit
watery. Muddy Waters Brown - Strong dark brown. Venus Blonde Paler Pale Ale Brickyard Red Probate Porter |
| Indianapolis | Glacier's End
1997 Now closed. |
In large shopping mall. Decor is old, dark,
stained glass and tin ceiling.
Was Spats restaurant. Opened as brewpub in October of 1996. Brewing started in November. Re-opened in April, 1997 with new owners. |
Summer Wheat - Bland american weiss. Clear.
Served nicely warm. Blueberry Wheat - Medium yellow. Very stornt aroma and quite strong taste. All blueberry. No wheat or beer notes. Dunkel Weiss - Good malty medium dark beer. To style and likable. Amber Ale - Typical American amber. Good balance. Not sweet. ESB - Medium dark copper. Smooth. Not overly hoppy. Right to style. IPA - A haoopy very pale ale. Refreshingly not a hophead beer. Chocolate Stout - Dark brown and a bit thin. Light tasting also but chocolate comes through. Really a chocolate brown. |
| Indianapolis | Hops
1997 Now closed. |
One of the Hops chain out of Atlanta in an outbuilding in a small shopping strip mall. | No beer reviews but the Wheat was at least passable. All others were very bland. |
| Indianapolis | Indianapolis Brewing Co.
1996 Closed in 1997 |
Not a brewpub. A regional brewery located in an industrial park. Known familiarly as the Naptown Brewery. Sells under brand names Duesseldorfer and Main Street. Both are mundane lagers and often outdated when found in stores. | |
| Indianapolis | Wildcat Brewing
1998 Closed in 2000 |
An extract brewpub added to a Bombay Bicycle Club chain restaurant. | No beer reviews. The Brown was the best but all were variable and often harsh. |
| Michigan City | Duneland Brewhouse
1999 Closed in 2004 |
Denny's atmosphere in an old Sambo's restaurant. Brewery behind glass. | American wheat - Creamy golden light ale. Lighthouse Lite - "Kolsch". Just light. Salmon Tail Pale Ale - American style with Cascade and Centennial hops. Bubba's Brown - Lots of chocolate malt. Little hopping. Creamy and smooth. Shoreline Stout - Not very dark. Mild. Residual sugars. Raspberry Wheat Open Hearth Amber |
| Mishawaka | Just Brew It
1997 Closed in 2000. |
A Brew-On-Premises with about a dozen vessels.
They also produce specialty one-off "contract" beers for
weddings, etc. Very clean surroundings, of course.
Note they moved to a larger location in 1999 as a brewpub. |
|
| Salem | Tucker Brewing
1997 Now closed. |
Not a brewpub. Brewery distributing in bottles. | Tucker Nut Brown - Translucent slight reddish brown with a tan head. Biting. |
| Valparaiso | Aberdeen Brewing
2000 Not now brewing. |
Brewpub in a gated golf community. Attentive and
smiling service. Typically expensive food. High ceilings, well furnished.
Scottish theme.
At the time of this visit, owned by Greg Emig of Lafayette Brewpub and his dad. All beers served cold. |
Rampant Rye - Light, crisp with some sour
overtones. Very little rye notes. Hallertauer hops. IPA - Broadripplish. Big Cascade hoppy. Unfiltered and lightly cloudy. Tartan Kilt Amber - Crystal and chocolate malts. Cascade hops. Smooth and mild. Scottish - 80/ style. Light hops. Creamy and rich. Malty. Like a condensed mild. County Porter - Greg's Porter. You all know it. New equipment, same beer. Roasty smokey, chowy, smooth. Not firm. |
| Iowa | |||
| Des Moines | Babes Brewpub
1995 Now closed |
Cavern of a place. A dark downtown hideaway. Sort of looks like no one is taking care of the place. | Extra Light - Clear amber. Slight citric. This
lawnmower wouldn't start. Wood Duck Wheat - More body. Pleasant Tart taste. Infected? Thoroughbred Classic Ale - Unfiltered medium copper. Fruity English Ale. Maybe old. Owl's Head Brown Ale - Dark brown opaque. Some effervescence. Some date/prune notes. Black Angus Oatmeal Stout - Thickish stout look. Sweet. Dark fruit notes. |
| Dubuque | Dubuque Star Tap Room
1996 Now closed. |
Darn near untouched basic bar at the corner of the brewery. Actually has a local crowd. They have most of the 31 brands brewed Dubuque Brewing | Wild Boar Hefe Weizen - Muddy yellow gold.
Floral citric. Slightly sour. Needs a Belgian name. Dubuque Star River Town Brown - Smooth, malty, with good balance. Dark lager category. Simpatico |
| Iowa City | Fitzpatrick Brewing
1991 Now closed |
Sprawling conglomeration of a neighborhood bar. | Celtic Ale (Amber) - Darkish red copper with
little head. Lots of malts. Low on hops. A touch sweet. Long finish. Irish Stout (Regular) - Irish stout light. Lighter than most porters. Not interesting. |
| Kentucky | |||
| Covington | Brew Works at the Party Source
1998 Now closed. |
Owned by Wynkoop of Denver. Four floors of bars and murals. Cleaned up warehouse with intentional grungy feel. | Railyard Ale - Brewed here to Wynkoop's
original recipe. Dull copper. Foam, long lasting head. Typical malty
American pale ale. VIP Ale - Very Indiana Pale Ale. Fuggles and Goldings until it hurts. Ruddy, cloudy copper. Schott Ale - Good, rich, malty Scottish. Not overpowering. Thick mouthfeeel. Son of Mephistopheles - Belgian notes but what style? Darkish yellow. Light and crisp. Devon Dark Robust Porter - Opaque brown with fine-toothed head. Chocolate and a little roasty. Not too sweet. |
| Ft. Mitchell | Oldenberg Brewery
1995 Closed in 2000. |
Very expansive brewery and restaurant in convention center setting. Tons of breweriana in the big German-style beer hall. | Premium Verum - A run-of-the-mill lager. |
| Lexington | Lexington City Brewery
1998 Closed in 2000. |
Big shopping center cave. 10 big tanks behind glass are the
centerpiece.
All beers have thing bug persistent head and are served very cold. |
Belle Breeze Gold - Light bronze. Winner's Gold - Dark bronze. Soft. Malty. Madison Brown Ale - Light brown. Light malty. Very inviting. Complex. Salty? Or maybe just an unusual taste on the back of the throat. Burley Red - Mild malty fruity amber. Not sweet. Good once warmed. Smiley Pete's Stout - Velvet stout. Weak for Irish style. Opaque. Bland. |
| Louisiana | |||
| New Orleans | Acadian Brewing
1996 Closed in 2002. |
Small brewery with tap room. All located in
converted gas station. Friendly place, they even tolerate tourists.
They had just opened before my visit. |
Lager - Pale but full taste. |
| Maryland | ||
| Ocean City | Worcester Street Brewing
1997 Closed shortly after our visit |
Not really a brewpub. Sold 2 contracted beers under their name. Unnotable, literally. |
| Massachusetts | |||
| Pittsfield | The Brewery at 34 Depot Street
1998 Now closed. |
Bar and restaurant in old train station. The beer here is just one more quirk for the public. Actual brewery is on premises but by a different company - originally Arrowhead but now Old Saddleback Brewing (also now closed). | Honey Blond - Light gold lawnmower beer. No
honey notes. Red Room Pale Ale - Copper. NW hoppy. Typical. Iron Works IPA - Nice hoppy American pale ale. Lighter color. Excellent balance. Lenox Half Stock Irish Red Ale - Decent British ale using Kent Goldings. Raven's Rock Stout - Here's where the grain storage is used up. Lots of roastiness. Daily Dubbel - Sweet Belgian brown. Fine. |
| Michigan | |||
| Bay City | Hereford and Hops
2000 Now closed. |
Yuppie active place. Gift shop. Grill-your-own restaurant. Takes up almost a block of the 3-block historic bar-filled downtown district. | Stumpsitter Stout Pintail Pilsner Licht Haus Lager Hefeweizen Octoberfest English Bitter Razzberri |
| Boyne City | Boyne River Brewing Co
2000 Reportedly out of business. |
"Home of the Laid Back Ales" | Lawnmower - Malty Fire Whistle Ale - Mild American Pale. Yellow. Pale Ale - American IPA. Log Jam Ale - Caramel notes. Crystal hops. Brown Ale - A little chocolate and some nut. A bit thin. Chinook hops. Lake Trout Stout - Sweet Irish style. Also some ciders. |
| Jackson | Jackson Brewing
2000 Became Zig's Kettle and Brew and closed in 2003. |
In an old Win Schulers.
All beer served quite cold. |
Pale Ale - Fuggles IPA. Aggressively
dry-hopped. Hefe - Bluish sheen and 99% clear. Mild with some wheat and little citrus. Brown Oktoberfest Cascade Gold Mad Jackson Red Crossroads Porter Cooperstown Lager |
| Minnesota | |||
| Minnetonka | Sherlock's Home
1996 Now closed. |
Gorgeous Victorian fancy restaurant on one side and a big
fancy brewpub on the other. Pheasant pie. Yorkshire pudding.
English beers of course. Vinegar and salt crisps on the bar to munch. All the beers detailed here are cask conditioned and served at 52°. One of our favorite places - worth a pilgrimage. Felt sad when we heard it closed. |
Bishop's Bitter - Perfect. Extra malty southern
style. Piper's Price - Great Scottish. What McEwans Export should be in a perfect world. Palace Porter - Dark, smooth, creamy. Not roasty or toasty, just an extra dark mild. Stags Head Stout - Deeper, not overblown. Brown head. Lace. Slightly roasty with coffee. Maybe not enough body. |
| Rochester | Club Haus Brewpub / Hondo Brewing Co.
1996 Now closed. |
Walking distance to Mayo Clinic. Sidewalk patio. Paint and
carpet downtown renovation on the cheap. Copper sheeted bar top is nice.
Pool, darts, pinball upstairs.
Money Magazine named Rochester a top city to live in twice - both times mentioning the Club Haus. All beers served very cold. |
Rochester Gold - Nice hoppy blonde. Not bitter
but noticeably hoppy. Good starter beer. Hondo Pale Ale - Slightly darker gold. Mild but hoppy American pale ale. Second Street Wheat - Clear gold. Malty, biscuity, floral, well-balanced American wheat. Strong wheat notes. Rasp Wheat - Wheat with raspberry syrup. |
| Saint Paul | Minnesota Brewing Company
1996 Now closed. |
Not a brewpub. The old Schmidt Brewery, closed in 1990, re-opened in 1991 as MBC mainly producing contract brews. 900bbl batches - 5 batches per day. | Grain Belt Pig's Eye Brewers Cave Carmel Lager Pete's |
| Saint Paul | Shannon Kelly's Brewpub
1996 Now closed. |
Downtown bar that started brewing in 1995. | ESB - Cask conditioned. Certainly unfiltered.
Still plenty of sugars in the beer. Smooth, creamy, hazy. Shannon's Wheat Kevin's Pale Ale Shamus's Stout Brady's Brown Ale Shannon's Blond Ale |
| Missouri | |||
| Springfield | Ebbet's Field
1996 Now closed. |
Right smack in the middle of a residential street in a
converted 7-room house. Sandwiches and pasties.
Nick, the gregarious owner/barkeep was a Dodgers fan back in Brooklyn. He serves all the beers at the proper temperatures. Had a restaurant near SW Mo. State U but lost it in an eminent domain fight - now a parking lot. Lots of local publicity ensued and he had kept good business. |
Razzberry Wheat - Champagne effervescence.
Strong raspberry taste but neutral between sweetness and tartness. Honey Liston Wheat - Cascade and Mt. Hood hops. O'Malley's IPA - Complex and balanced. Lots of hops and malt. Some flaked rye. Beautiful beer. Ebbet Head Amber Ale - Yellow, not red. NW hops, wheat and rye. Slightly bolder than the Honey Liston Wheat but not malty enough to be an amber. Honey Porter - Light looking with a great head. Light mouthfeel, balanced. Walnut Street Black and Tan - From one tap. Sweet, malty. Dark copper. |
| Nebraska | |||
| Lincoln | Crane River Brewpub
1995 |
Big college-town place with impressive decor including many hand-made quilts. | Homestead Pale Ale - Agreeably dark. American
bitterness comes through. Oktoberfest - Yet another ale-based octoberfest beer. Hmmm. Nothing special. |
| Omaha | Jones Street Brewery
1995 Became Breckenridge BBQ Now closed |
And far end of industrial rejuvination area. | Harvester Wheat - light yellow. Very light
citric. Lawnmower beer. Bolt Nut & Screw Golden Ale - Richer yellow blond lawnmower ale. Patch Pale Ale - Light to English style but pleasant tast and balance. Irish Red - Lighter version of Grand Slam Amber. Mild American amber. Grand Slam Amber - "5 malts". Much more satisfying. Good balance and short finish Dark Wheat - Clear brown with short creamy head. More character than Harvester Wheat. No citric or spice. Session beer. Raspberry Wheat - Bright pink with pinkness in head. Effervescent with a hint of raspberry. Ryan's Irish Stout - Nitro. Faintly red. Lighter bodied than style and less hops. Smooth. |
| Nevada | |||
| Carson City | Carson Depot
1995 Now closed |
Video poker at the bar (with corresponding crumbs).
Liters to go in box bags. |
Wabaska Wheat - "German hops". Quite
sparkly light. Served with lemon and that was most of the taste. Griz Ale - Cold, bracing balanced American ale with light Cascade taste. Roundhouse Red - Typically malty red. Toasted molasses. Kati Porter - Quite chocolatey. Unbalanced sweet. Served in an iced mug! |
| New Hampshire | |||
| Laconia | Stone Coast Brewing
1997 Now closed. |
Downtown lunch room. 14bbl system right inside
front door behind a half wall. Big stage for night club. Big circular bar.
2-store chain with others in Portland and Bethel Maine. |
Pilsner - Bright yellow. Inappropriate NW hops. Waterfront Wheat - Clear and crisp. Typical but on the mild end. Stone Coast's Blonde - Yellow. Infected sample. 420 IPA - Copper. GObs and gobs of Cascade from a hophead brewer. Peaks Pale Ale - Acceptably hopped with Cascades. Redstone Ale - A touch of crystal malt and less Cascades. Their most balanced beer. Black Bear Porter - Red brown. Very translucent. Strong and a lot of hops. |
| New Jersey | |||
| Egg Harbor City | Cedar Creek Brewery
1997 Now closed. |
Dark wood welcoming place in big old house. First sight
inside is a horseshoe bar and a bartender beckoning you in. Board outside
lists their ales. Small menu of mainly pasta.
Most beers use Northern Brewer and Cascade hops. |
Lark Light Ale - Almost unhopped. Touch of
wheat. Roundhouse Rye Ale - Rye is not apparent. Pale yellow like the light. Privateer Pale Ale - Also pale yellow. Slight sour and metallic show this to be an old batch. IPA - Light copper. Highly hopped. Amintonce Amber Ale - Typical. Innofensive. Little Giant Chocolate Porter. Light body and color but within range. Medium chocolate. Smuggler's Stout - Good medium dry stout with small brown head. My choice. |
| New Mexico | |||
| Alamogordo | Keg's Brewery
1996 Now closed. |
Carry out and dine-in restaurant that brews beer on the
side.
Owner bought this restaurant in 1994. Put in tanks and hired a brewer. Got no beer. Hired another brewer. Got no beer. Hired a third brewer (a member of the local homebrew club) 2 months previous to our visit. Now have 7 drinkable beers. |
White Sands Honey Blonde - Effervescent.
Typically mild. Raspberry Blond - Medium tart. Quite fruity. Yellow copper. Black Cherry - Very cherry ale. Dark brown. Unfiltered. Local cherry season is in full swing and this uses very fresh cherries. Alamo Amber Ale - Overhopped and metallic. Tuliie Basin Brown - Deep brown color. Really a stout. Uses caramel, chocolate, and roasted malts; toasted oats; molasses. El Diablo - Medium copper. Clear. Belgian triple. Clover honey and candy sugar. 7.6% ABV. Mild for style. |
| Albuquerque | Rio Bravo
1995 Now closed |
Neo-industrial restaurant with open kitchen. | Golden - Pale yellow gold. Plenty of
bitterness. Copper - Typcial American pale ale with Cascade and Chinook hops. Porter - Good dark brown. Creamy head. Toasty. A bit raw. IPA - Exact American style. IPA Cask Conditioned - Fresh & clooudy. Fruity. Just ready. |
| Embudo Station | Cinco Santos Brewing
1991 Now closed |
Was Sangre de Cristo Brewing.
Picnic tables only at a canoe livery. Brewer Steve Eskeback now owns Eske's in Taos. |
Taos Green Chile - Mady by dry
"hopping" with roasted green chile skins. Real Mexican taste
with a little smokeyness. Quite agreeable. Alt - A little weak. Wheat - A little weak. Locomotor Doppel Bock |
| Las Cruces | Organ Mountain Brewing
1996 Now closed. |
Shopping mall rich-looking restaurant with white and green
motif.
The wheat beers seem to be the same with some syrups added. |
Wheat - Slightly tart, very effervescent, clear
pale yellow/green bland beer. Raspberry Wheat - Cloudy though maybe from chill haze. Slightly darker than Miller Lite but not more taste. Apricot Wheat - Lemon yellow-green. Vague peach flavor. Atomic Dog Pale Ale. Nice clinging lace. American IPA with strong hop presence. Dog Spit Stout |
| New York | |||
| Ithica | The Chapter House
1997 Now closed. |
Big dark unruly college campus bar. | Imperial Stout Copper Ale |
| Fredonia | Barker Brewing
2003 Now closed. |
Downtown 2-story narrow lunch, dinner, and lazing bar. | Purified by Pain Pale Ale - Hoppy American pale with tingly effervescence. Clean. Porter - Deep brown. Less gassy. Thinish body. Good strong balanced roasty malt. Amber On Vacation Irish Red. |
| Poughkeepsie | Gentleman Jack's Bistro & Brewery
1998 Now closed. |
Redone house as only New England can do it. Busy sports bar. Mature classy. | Sweet Sheila's Wheat - Light gold. Bright.
Bland Hunny Brown - Light. Light. Butternut Brown - Darker. Still no body. No flavor. Just beer. Blarneystone Bitter - Dark gold. Balanced to hoppy with NW hops. Creamy body. Galway Gold - Finally some bitter. Bright gold. Poughkeepsie Porter - Thickish. Reasonably malty. Thin white head. Without A Doubt Stout - Brown head but thin. Roasty. Decent beer. |
| Suffern | Mountain Valley Brewpub
1997 Became Ramapo Valley Brewery in 2001 then closed. |
Really neat cave treatment on walls. Beaten rough copper bar. Noisy place, it even echos. A popular place with locals. | Pale Ale - Dark yellow but very pale ale. Gobs
of Cascade hops. ESB - Slightly darker with more malt. Balanced but still lots of Cascades. Copper Ale - Their flagship. Darker with some red caramel malt. Porter - Midrange brown. Not strong nor roasty. Good though. Mai Bock - Creamy yellow and thick with little carbonation. Well balanced. Good beer. No sharp edges. The Raz - Pinkish copper with no head. Medium tart raz. Little beer taste. |
| White Plains | Westchester Brewing Co.
1997 Now closed. |
Downtown white and oak sorta industrial bar in
slightly renovated shopping area. Very expensive entrees. Friendly staff.
All beers have a creamy head. |
Hitchinson Blonde Ale - Typical blonde. Light.
Creamy. Tarrytown Wheat - Bright. Spicy bold. Bronck's India Pale - British hops and a lot of them. 7% ABV. headless Horseman - Good pale ale with Willamette and Goldings. Strong darkish pale ale color. Oakley's Secret Porter - Roasted chocolate and coffee. Strong and good. Some aftertaste and a good belch. General Washington's Cherry Ale - Brown ale with tart red cherries. Not much aftertaste. |
| Ohio | |||
| Cleveland | Diamondback Brewing
1998 Now closed. |
Energetic restaurant brewery that seems to be overextending itself. | Dubbel - Clean but not impressive. Not complex,
mainly malty. Framboise - Red. Way too sour. |
| Columbus | Hoster Brewing
1999 Looks like they are re-opening in a new location. |
College place in south downtown being-built-up area
featuring live music.
Beers unnotable. |
Gold Top - The flagship beer. Named after the flagship of the old, now-defunct, Hoster Brewery of the 1950s. |
| Mansfield | Wooden Pony Brewing Co.
1997 Now closed. |
Big old downtown bar and neighborhood joint that now brews. Old dairy bar from the 1930s. Joined with pool hall next door. | Don's Summer Wheat - Clear gold. Bland but
quenching. No wheat character. Wildflower Honey - Unfiltered wheat. Their real hefeweizen. Red Band Pale Ale - Fuggles and Goldings hops. Too cold and too carbonated. Medium dark copper. Sandstone Special - "ESB". Lighter and more hopped than their Pale Ale. Maybe some roasted malt. Reformatory Stout - Translucent. Lots of roasted notes. Good balance. |
| Marblehead | Frontwaters Brewing
1998 Now closed or not brewing. |
Marina with brewery and bar. Pricey entrees from quality materials. Ambitious brothers built onto an old house in an out-of-the-way place. Hope it works for them. | Lake Erie Gale Warning Ale - Unfiltered IPA
with Centennial hops. Biting. Summer Wheat - Crisp, bright. Citric sharpness. Strawberry - Summer Wheat with a bigger body from the extra sugars. Port Clinton Porter - Chocolate and caramel malts. Weakish and a bit watery. Northern Brewer hops. Coriander Amber Lambic - Yellow gold. Coriander, apricots, pears, honey cinnamon. Lots going on in this one. Berliner Weizenbier - With added raspberry syrup. Sweet and tart. Russian Imperial Stout - Light for style but excellent taste. Drinkable. |
| Medina (Uniontown) | Burkhardt's Brewpub
1997 Now closed. |
In a new strip mall at interstate exit. Clean dark oak and formica. Owner is son of Burkhardt beer family of Akron. | Pale Ale - Cask Conditioned. All Goldings hops.
Tight sparkler. Apple cider notes. Mug Ale - Nut brown from an old Bitburg alt recipe. Malty raisin finish. Whitecliff Ale - Sweeter. Good stuff. Peach - Using honey malt. No wheat. They had filtering problems. Balanced. Eclipse Dark Scottish Northstar Light |
| Niles | Ohio Brewing
1998 Stopped brewing in 1999. Moved to Youngstown in 2002. |
No description. Sorry. | Cardinal Ale - Red that acts like a session
beer but has 5% ABV. Irish Stout - Big and rich. Cherry Wheat - Not much cherry but enough to smooth and soothe. Mild. Middle of the road. |
| North Canton | Brewhouse Pub and Grille
1997 Renamed to New Berlin Brewing then closed. |
In a defunct Rax restaurant. Redone entirely in burgundy and green. | Golden Boy Pale Ale - Some bitterness. Red
gold. Galloping Ghost Amber Ale - Dark copper. Typical balanced American amber. Slingin' Sammy Sammy Wheat - Dunkel weizen with plenty of bitter. Night Train Porter - Light transparent brown. Cocoa. Broadway Black and Cran - Dark copper. Cranberry fruity aroma Very tart. |
| Put-In-Bay Middle Island | J.F. Walleyes
1998 Now closed. |
Take the miller ferry to middle island, walk
past the winery and up the hill to the left. Roadhouse just opened when we
visited. Will jump on Saturday nights. Extract brewery.
All beer served cold in plastic cups. They insist on serving a 1-oz sampler before selling a beer to a tourist. Sister brewery to Brewery at the Bay on South Island. |
Walleye Dark - Chocolate porter. Nice brown
head. Blacik. Walleye Light - Dark copper. Cloudy. Malty and bitter. Might be an alt. |
| Put-In-Bay Middle Island | Hazards Brewery
1998 Not yet opened and maybe never did. |
Having a brewery is the only way to get a 3-way license around here. | |
| Westlake (Cleveland) | Wallaby's Grille and Brewpub
1998 Now closed. |
Aussie formula restaurant. More mixed drinks than beer. Could be turned into a Bob Evans with a hint of redecoration. | Bushranger Bitter - Characterless British
bitter. Bright reddish copper. Canberra Cream Ale - Creamy. Bright Gold. Good stuff. Excellent to style. Great White Wheat - Clear. Bubbly streams. No wheat character. Big Red Roo Waltzing Matilda Maori Milk Stout |
| Oregon | |||
| Grants Pass | Blue Pine Brewpub
1995 Now closed |
Almost hidden hippie hangout. Good prices. | Pearsol Peak Pale Ale - Unfiltered, cold, and
fizzy. Once warmed was a good blonde. Rip Roarin' Red - Malty sweet with some apple notes. Unfiltered. Midnight Stout. Typically good American stout. Roasty and toasty. Very unfiltered with some chunks. |
| Roseburg | Umpqua Brewing
1995 Now closed. |
No service, no clean tables, no use in sticking around. | |
| Pennsylvania | |||
| Manheim | Prussian Street Brewing
1998 Now closed. Did not morph into Swashbuckler Brewing. |
Neighborhood somewhat fancy upscale restaurant in a small town. Building built in 1817. Rents rooms. | Grant Street Golden - Clean with some hop. More
than a lawnmower beer. Summer Wheat - Clear and smooth with citrus and clove from the German yeast. Susquehanna Amber - Crisp American amber with lots of carbonation. Brown - Fairly light body but rich malty presence. Stiegel Street Stout - "7 malts". "lightly hopped". Coffee notes. Back Alley ESB |
| Philadelphia | Dock Street
1996 Now closed. |
Fancy downtown brewpub that has a laid-back Rock Bottom type feel. | Pale Ale - American robust bitter. Not a
clean taste like you'd expect from style. Amber - Lots of flavor and lots of flavors. Less carbonation. Darker. Bohemian Pilsner - Their flagship. Plenty of malt aroma but little Noble hops. |
| Pittsburgh | Valhalla Microbrewery and Restaurant
2003 Closed shortly after our visit. |
Trendy bar in the trendy bar area. Mostly obnoxious atmosphere for beer drinkers but some very good beer. Mechanico music. But what will it become next year? | Pillage Pilsner - Hoppy - Black Forest Munich Lager - Brown, tall, cold, with character but smooth without sharp edges. Better than Pious Monk at the Church Brew Works Hefe - Bluish. Clovey. Sharp edged. Good stuff. |
| Reading | Neversink Brewery and Canal Street Pub
1998 Now closed. |
Warehouse district refurb. Big inviting place with lots of activities. Brewmaster Tom Rupp is from Stoudts. | Pale Ale - Reddish copper with a thick head.
Bitter American IPA. lager - Dortmunder style. Dark gold and full body. Good beer. Kolsch - Light gold and light body and light flavor. Evident alcoholic kick. Bock - Red cordovan copper with camel colored head. Creamy and full body. Malty sweet. Güt. Mai-Bock - Lighter and more bitter. "Generous amount of honey". Fest - Really red bronze with bone head. Marzen style. Sweet but balanced. Munich and Vienna malts. Double Bock - Red, dry, thin, and bland for style but lots of alcohol. "Hefe" Weizen - Bright yellow blue. Some typical American hefe character but not as much as their menu claims. Wildberry Wheat - Slightly cloudy. Pink lemonade color. Uses blackberries, blueberries, and cherries. Very little fruit but tangy tartness. Porter - Tan head. Mild chocolate and some honey. H.N.O. Stout - "Honey Nut Oatmeal". Acts like a serious nut brown. |
| Rhode Island | |||
| Providence | Union Station Brewery
1997 Now closed. |
Busy downtown restaurant. | Golden Spike Pale - Medium copper. Some skunk. Dunkel Weissen - Darkish copper. Finely spicy with an edge of wheat. Blackberry Amber - Sweetness but no berriness. IPA - Not hoppy enough for style. Some Cascade hop bite. Light. Friar Brown Nut Brown Ale - Dark copper. Lacing. Lots of carbonation. Porter - Smooth and rich. Opaque brown. Not roasty or toasty and little hops. Stout - Black opaque. Little carbonation. Strong sweetness. |
| South Carolina | |||
| Charleston | Southend Brewery and Smokehouse
2002 Restaurant open but not brewing at this location in 2004. Beers being made by sister Southend in Morehead City. |
Fancy multi-story high-ender in historic Charleston area.
In the heart of the historic district across the street from the Exchange customs house, jail, and dungeon. Fully opening doors give it a real southern feel. |
Bombay Pale Ale - Copper. Hoppy British ale.
Served very cold. Clean. Little malt sweetness. Thin body. Blonde Blonde Light Red East Bay Brown - Dark with a tan head. Fairly light body and plenty of carbonation. |
| Columbia | Vista Brewing & Bistro
2002 No longer brewing. |
Small neon faux elegant bar. Soups to $9. Suits and cell phones. Supermodel barmaid. | Scottish Red - Cold. Malty with caramel malt.
Light on hops. Oatmeal Porter Raspberry Ale Wheat |
| South Dakota | |||
| Pierre | Chances Are Brewpub and Rough Draft Brewing
Company
1996 Now closed. |
Clean downtown cafe that happens to brew beer.
Mini-casino in back. Food after 5pm. Frozen pizza and sandwiches.
We were the only people in the place at 4:30 on a Monday afternoon. Staff seemed very leery of my notebook. |
Arkansaw Red - Amber tinted copper. Highly
carbonated. Strong malt and metalic. Cranbeery Ale - Dull copper. A bit cloudy. Not much cranberry character. Musty aftertaste. Not thrilled. Prairie Dog Porter - Chocolate and crystal malts. Too dark, too sweet, no balancing hops, too carbonated. Sigh. |
| Tennessee | |||
| Knoxville | Mill Brewery, Bakery and Eatery
1997 Now closed. |
Typical of the Mill chain. Cheapo stained wood and stucco. While we were there the bartenders peeled 97 lemons. | Meadowlark Lemon Ale - Light copper. Lemon
comes through but not annoying. Smooth. Very light carbonation with thin
head. Honey Wheat - Same light copper. No head. Very plain. No honey noticeable. Colored water. |
| Texas | |||
| Addison | Hoffbrau Steaks Brewery
1996 Now closed |
4 steakhouses, 2 of which have breweries. Big formula
restaurants. Lots of dark wood, brick, and neon. Peanut shells on the
floor. Fake tin ceiling. After work and playtime meeting place.
Cask conditioned ales on Friday and Saturday. |
Pecos Pilsner - Yellow. Moderate carbonation.
No aroma. Fairly strong, clean bitter. Certainly refreshing. Hefeweizen - Quite cloudy bright yellow. Little carbonation for style. Long-lasting head. Mild sweetness. Yellow Rose Cream Ale - Made with wheat. Good blonde style with noticable hops. Windmill Wheat Ale - German. Quite sweet. Blackrock Bock - "Cold lagered for over 6 weeks". Dark oak. Nicely malty but not too much sweet. Shawnee Amber Ale - Light copper. NW hops but not overdone. Buffalo Ale - English old ale. Very malty but with noticable hops. Rodeo Red - Cherry veneer. Not an Irish but not bad. Maybe a weak IPA. |
| Addison | Rock Bottom
1996 New closed. |
Southwest theme with a big U-shaped bar. Complimentary
valet parking. Date/yuppie place. 90% of the women in here are blonde.
50% of the guys are wearing ties.
Guy sitting next to me unloads a yuppie cigar and cuts of the whole end. Blond braless date smokes a cadet, 3 puffs, and lights a cigarette with here martini. |
Wagon Train Wheat Ale - Great lace. Delicate
but mouth filling. Rasberry Wheat - Light on the fruit. Medium copper. Just plain light. Palomino Pale Ale - Yellow copper. Weak American ale but refreshing. Falcon Red Ale - "English malts". Brassy copper. Smooth. Plenty of NW hops. Falcon Red Ale Cask Conditioned - Smoother and warmer. Hops don't attack but they're still there. Coyote Western Ale - Sweetish introduction beer. Lightly hopped. Orangey copper. Fine beer. Pelican Brown Ale - "Mysterious roasty character". Smooth and well-balanced. Raodrunner Stout - Toasty and quite bitter oatmeal stout. Roadrunner Stout Cask Conditioned - Characteristically smoother but not much difference. |
| Austin | Waterloo Brewing
1996 Now closed. |
Bustling bus station atmosphere. Order at the bar. Brew kettles up front behind front window. Pool room on 2nd floor. Attached brewing supplies store. Designed to look "used". Overhead garage door in dining room for character. Ceiling redone to look dirty and rusty. | Waterloo Hefe Weizen - Very cloudy yellow
white. Good citrus. Blended flavors. No clove. Almost creamy. Sam Houston Austin Lager - Medium copper. Malty. Has character but inoffensive. Clara's Clara - Blonde American Pale using Saaz hops and some wheat. Very light, very clear. A bit too much aftertaste. Ed's Best Bitter - Orangey deep copper. Light head but lots of carbonation. Surprise American hops. Guy Town IPA - Fuggles and Goldings. Best of the house. Drying bitterness on the verge of attack. O Henry's Porter - Pale, caramel, chocolate malts. Not overly sweet but still sweet. No noticable hops. |
| Utah | |||
| Ogden | Ebenezer's / Naisbitt's
1995 Now closed. |
Big eclectic eccentric post and beam log cabin with an upstairs bar. Dovetailing on a big scale. Beerheads and Elk heads. | Crystal Wheat - Clear, robust yellow. Very
very citric. Some malt pushes through. Raspberry Ale - Good bland American ale. Pale copper and slightly cloudy. Raspberry only comes through in the finish. Bridger Ale - Light, balanced lawnmower beer. Amber Ale - Medium copper balanced American ale. |
| Vermont | |||
| Barrington | Barrington Brewery and Restaurant
1998 Now closed. |
Old farm/barn redo in a "quaint" retail village. | Hopland Pale Ale - Pale gold. Crisp. Clean.
Some NW hops. Mohican Amber - Copper. Mot to it but similar. Maybe some darker malts but not maltier. Plenty of NW hops. Scottish Ale - Deep copper. Light body and flavor. Very agreeable but doesn't have much Scottish style character. Summer Raspberry - Very raspberry. Dark yellow. Chill haze cloudy. Black Bear Stout - Chocolate and coffee. Light brown head. |
| Wisconsin | |||
| La Crosse | Black River Brewery and Pub
1996 Now closed. |
Nice downtown bar with restaurant in back. Directly
across the street from G. Heileman's employee parking lot. Friendly
staff.
All in all a nice place. More enthusiasm than professionalism but they will grow into a fine pub / restaurant. |
White Beaver Wheat - Strong, malty hefe. Some
grapefruit notes. White Beaver Red - Irish ale yeast, Munich malts, Golding and Gelena hops. Mild ale. Very different from a typcial red. IPA - Hazy, unfiltered dull gold. Thin but persistent head. Very hoppy. Brit IPA. Sort of creamy. White Beaver Stout - Brown ale color and consistency. Good coffee roastiness. Doppelbock - Dark reddish. Fine Oktoberfest/Mai bock with a malty base. |
| Wyoming | |||
| Cheyenne | Medicine Bow Brewing
1995 Now closed. |
Executive lunch room on the 2nd floor. 8 big pool tables downstairs. Show kitchen and bakery. They had been open about 2 months when we were there. | Vedauwoo Wheat Old Bedlam Blonde Lazy Boy's Bitter Pot Belly Porter |
| Gillette | Humphrey's Bar and Grill
1996 Now closed. |
Local sports hangout bar. Every inch covered with
pennants, pictures, TVs, and beer bottles (including the bathrooms).
Back patio and horseshoe pits.
58 taps. What a find (except their beers were served in iced mugs). They brew there beers in major-label kegs. A .5bbl system. |
Hump Juice Raspberry Wheat - Dark copper.
Slight malty aroma, maybe served too cold to smell. Taste is eye-tooth
sucking tart. Hump Stout - Roasted chocolate. German hops. Dark oatmeal stout. Lots of roasty malt. Smell is burnt malt. No hop character. Camel Toe Wheat - Clear with long-lasting fine head giving thick belgian lace. Thick creamy mouthfeel. Heavy citrus and malt. |
| Laramie | J.D. Morris Restaurant and Brewpub
1995 No longer brewing. |
J.D. Morris of the J.D. Morris Restaurant was brewing at home and bringing kegs to his pub. | |