Heaven will be a lot like a microbrewery
On my excursion back to Nashville this weekend I thought I’d take the opportunity to check out the local micro, Yazoo. Given that they started up in 2003, they weren’t around when I was in high school (nor was I able to purchase their beer due to “underage-ity“). So. My brother and I made the trek to Yazoo, which happens to be in an old factory just west of downtown. My brother took his camera and basically just took pictures of me drooling in awe. There were a few pics that either didn’t have me in them or didn’t have me drooling. They can be found at my brother’s Flickr site. Before I get into the nitty gritty, an interesting thing happened on the way to the brewery. We passed this sign:
Yes, it was a “sign” indeed. So let me just say that my brother and I were essentially the only tour participants. Which was sweet. There was actually one regular, Wilson, who tagged along, but he was too drunk to interfere with my enjoyment. I got to eat grains, smell hops, peek into brew kettles, and, of course, sample the goods.
In summary: the beer was good (try their Pale Ale), the people were great. Do yourself a favor and support your local micro ? and if you don’t live in Tennessee, look out for Yazoo, because they’re a-coming for you.
Stout like lion, good like beer
Who knew the Sri Lankans could brew like this? Last night I was having a nice dinner with the family at F. Scott’s in Nashville. Two things of note. 1) The valet told me mine was the only car he’d parked playing Immortal Technique. Immortal Technique is kind of heavy underground hip-hop, to which I was most definitely “b mping.” 2) While F. Scott’s has nothing on tap, they DO have Lion Stout, which was recommended to me by our waiter.
I took a sip… delicious. Heavy and nutty with strong chocolate overtones. Less bitter than most stouts. And then I looked at the bottle. Sri Lanka?! You’re a long way from home, little buddy. And not just Sri Lankan, but 8.0% alcohol. It truly is a lion. In case you were wondering, the makers of Lion Stout can be found here. I was also doing a little searching and found a write-up on the beer by self-proclaimed Beer Hunter Michael Jackson (not that Michael Jackson). This guy is insane. And by insane I mean AWESOME. Is this really his job?
How you know it’s good
I went to a bar last night. To pick up chicks… or meet some guys for a drink. Whatever. Regardless, I was less than impressed by The Rusty Nail’s beer selection. Here’s how you know a bar is going above and beyond the call of duty: Of 5 meager beers on tap, approximately 20% of them were Pabst Blue Ribbon.
I mean, seriously? You’re a bar, and only 80% of your draft beers are NOT piss-water. Serve a Swashchuckler for crying out loud.
Terrapin Rye Ale
So here I am in Nashville… minding my own business… going to dinner at OMBI, a new frou-frou restaurant here in town. While they have a bar that extends the length of the establishment, they only have 2 beers on tap. One of them is a Yazoo Stout (apparently a Nashville micro which I’m ashamed to know nothing about). The other: Terrapin Rye Ale. How does an Athens, GA beer become one of TWO beers on tap at a reputable restaurant?
Regardless, the beer was delicious. Medium-bodied and amber in color, but extremely complex in flavor. Crisp, dry, not so bitter. I think it would be the beer choice of a slightly cynical angel. I wish Jeff had been there to lend me his divine pallet so he could back me up on that assessment. I’m a mere mortal when it comes to beer-tasting. But I DO have opinions, and Terrapin Rye is definitely worth trying.
Jonathan
Welcome friends…
…to the official kickoff of Monday Night Brewery. Oh, this is going to be sweeeeeet.