Patiently Brewing Some of the Best Craft Beer in the Midwest

The Brewers of Infusion. From left to right - Tyler Pawelkop, Max Stewart, and Aaron Bush

I got a chance to sit down and chat with Aaron Bush, who is the head brewer at Infusion Brewing Company in Omaha, Nebraska. It was a late Friday afternoon and probably the hottest day so far this summer. Aaron came out from the brewing area, sweat covered, but a big smile one his face. As we shook hands, I knew this was going to be an interesting next hour or so.

My curiosity quickly got the best of me, so I had to ask Aaron how his brewing journey began. Aaron started out home brewing around 17 years ago. The very first beer he selected to brew was a Pilsner. With high expectations, Aaron anxiously awaited opening that first bottle to get a taste of what he had created. "It was terrible" said Aaron, "I remember telling my wife that I had put the rest of the bottles in a garbage bag". I can completely relate to this, because this was exactly my first but only experience brewing beer. Aaron then continued on with the story that he couldn't bring himself to getting rid of the first batch. Then one day his wife told him it was time to either drink the beer or dump it into the garbage. Aaron decided to put a couple of bottles into the fridge and try them out later that day while grilling. "Time" said Aaron. I asked him as to what he meant by that. Aaron continued on, "Time was all the beer needed to finish." Aaron then went on to say how this first experience taught him how important patience is in brewing.  Some of the steps especially during brewing days happen quickly with lots of action on those days.  But the key to a great beer is in the final steps of the process and allowing it the time it needs before pouring into a glass and enjoying that first sip.

Grains that are used to brew the beer

"Was there one specific type of beer that you wanted to focus on?", I asked. Aaron explained that for him, it wasn't about taking one recipe and tweaking it for months, it was more about exploring all kinds of beers. This made complete sense to me especially in your early brewing years when you want to delve into all of the possibilities. Also what better way to learn than to try different things. I followed up that question with "What was your most important thing that you wanted to get out of each batch?" I found the answer to be very intriguing. Aaron discussed how he wanted there to be a specific characteristic that people would taste and remember in the beer. I have to say that is probably the main reason why I like craft beer so much. I can remember having my very first pint of the Dominican Brown Ale from Infusion. There was chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, and coconut notes that make this beer so special to me. A special taste that brings me back for more!

So many questions started coming into my head that I wanted to explore with Aaron. My next one was, "How did you learn to make all of the different styles of beer?" Aaron told me it was a lot of research time. Books were a good starting point. Hours of listening to craft beer podcasts by some of the greats like James Spencer - Basic Brewing Radio helped also. Spending time in the home brew supply stores provide a place to ask questions about different hops, malts, etc. "What about the internet?", I asked. Aaron with a smile on his face said "You can't believe everything you read on the internet".  Aaron then went on to say that the internet did help with finding some places where he could purchase malts, hops, etc. for brewing that he couldn't find locally. But in the end, practice is what makes the most difference. "Just keep brewing" said Aaron.

Dominican Brown Ale bottling

So from home brewer to brewing for Infusion had to be a big step. I was very curious to get Aaron's take on this. Aaron explained that for him, he now knew that every step of the process had to be repeatable. With a lot of great experience from home brewing, it was time to take that knowledge and see what it could be at a larger scale.  Aaron then went on to say that right away he noticed that good beers even got better due to making sure that each step of the process was being done the same way. I started to think that this had to be a part of why Infusion has become so successful. I needed to learn more!

I then asked Aaron if he could take me back in time and walk me through the early days of Infusion. Aaron talked about getting the brewery and taproom up in running in Benson in 2013. For those who haven't been to Infusion in Benson, I highly recommend taking the tour. The brewery is in the building that once was Olsen's Meat Market. Sorry back to the story...  Aaron went on to explain that the goal was to produce enough beer to keep the tap room supplied. For a new brewery that seems like a very reasonable goal. "So what were some of the first beers you offered?", I asked. Aaron listed off several in which these are some of them:

• Maiden Voyage American Stout

• Anything Goes Blonde

• Butcher Block Brown Ale

• Radial IPA

• Second Base Pale Ale

• Pulley Man Pale Ale

• Sand Stone Wheat

• Joel Porter

• Dean's Red Sled

• Bedford Park Black IPA

• Camaraderie Blood Orange IPA

I love the names and the stories behind them such as Joel Porter. This beer was named for the metal craftsman who did everything around the bars including the handrails and taps at the brewery.  He is the wizard of stainless steel!  Joel even created a 5 liter steel keg mail box for the Benson location.

Pulley Man Pale Ale named after Doug Deshazer.  Doug was instrumental in the construction work to turn Olsen's Meat Market into the Infusion Brewery and tap room in Benson. Doug has an amazing collection of barn pulleys.  Doug has captured the history of pulleys in a museum in Crofton, Nebraska.  Check out this great article written by the Omaha World Herald.

Dean's Red Sled was named after Dean Dobmeier who was a brewer from Jobber's Canyon. Dean gave the recipe of the Winter Red Ale to Infusion. Dean has been more than a great friend to Infusion, he has also been an instrumental mentor on how to run a brewery. 

Camaraderie Blood Orange IPA was named after the collaboration with Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado. This IPA is part of an annual trio of IPAs that also includes a Red IPA and the South Pacific Pineapple IPA. Some great names I know I will never forget!

From the Southwest Tap Room

So I remember visiting Infusion in Benson in 2015 for the first time as part of a tour for Omaha Beer Week. There was a lot of buzz about the popularity of the beer. "So Aaron what was the main catalyst for the explosion of Infusion beers in bars and restaurants in Nebraska?"  Aaron said "Believe it or not it was a small batch of Anything Goes Blonde with some Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans in it". This beer is what all of us now have come to know as Vanilla Bean Blonde. I told Aaron I think I understand the attraction of this beer. For many who are use to light beers, Vanilla Bean Blonde gives them a chance to try a craft beer similar in color. Once they enjoy a pint of the wonderful flavor, they can throw out their light beers.  Aaron then went on to say that 12 Infusion tap handles in Omaha quickly grew into 400 over the state of Nebraska. Wow that is insane growth! Quickly Infusion outgrew the brewing capacity of the Benson location and opened a second location in Southwest Omaha. The second location is in a warehouse (as seen in the picture above) with room to build out the needed capacity to try to keep up with the demand for their brews. 

One of my favorite questions to ask a brewer is - "So what are some of the craziest ingredients that you have put into a beer? Being an extremely creative guy, Aaron had a pretty good list that included:

• Skittles in an IPA

• Gummy worms in a Belgium brew

• Slow Pokes

• Other various candy used in darker beers

I really love the fact that Infusion over the years has done several different things to promote new brew ideas. The Ice Box Series was a favorite of mine to get to try some new beers in small batches. Danger Stout came out recently as a small bottled batch that was crazy popular. Last but not least is the Summer Bean Fest where not 1 but 8 different Vanilla Bean beers are available for a day. I told Aaron I thought it was really cool to get to see, hear about, and taste the creations from Infusion.

Time was running short so the last question for Aaron was, "So what has it meant for you to be a part of Infusion from its inception?" Aaron replied, "It meant a lot to be part of something from the very start. It is like being on a construction crew starting at the ground floor and building a skyscraper."  Aaron went on to describe that he gets to use his passion of brewing beer and learning everyday. Aaron then said "Infusion has been a great place to be at because of the people. Everyone works hard to deliver quality beers in a very fast paced time of the craft beer industry. As a group we get to spend time together to come of with new and exciting ideas for that next beer."

I can say that I personally enjoy getting to meet everyone that works at the brewery. I volunteered for the Summer Bean Fest and you get to see first hand how much work and effort goes into an event like that. But this is work that is going on behind the scenes each and everyday that as consumers we don't get to see. I now have a better sense of a day in the life of a brewer. I also now understand even more why the beers at Infusion are top notch!

Aaron, "Is there anything else you would like to add?" Aaron's smiled and said "I am a lucky man most of all because I have a wife who understands."  What a great way to wrap up our conversation! 

Find some time and stop in Infusion at their Benson or Southwest Omaha location. I know you will enjoy the people there as well as a pint or two of some of the best craft beer in the Midwest!

Cheers!

Beer Fest Rookie

One little innocent glass that gets handed to you and then you are off to each of the tents where the craft beer is flowing. Sounds great doesn't it! Well I have to admit this is my rookie season and I attended the Benson Beer Fest earlier this summer. I keep asking myself as to why I waited so long to try out this wonderful adventure. I have to say the experience was amazing and wanted to tell you this story through the eyes of a newbie to Beer Fests.

Rooftop photo from the 1912, Benson NE

So the amazing part to me was the fact that there were breweries represented from coast to coast across the United States. I looked up and down the street and saw so many local favorites like Scratchtown, Thunderhead Brewing, and a newcomer to Nebraska - Prairie Pride Brewing - out of Grand Island. Then quickly saw favorites from the northwest like Deschutes, Elysian, and Rogue breweries.  Down another street Colorado well represented with New Belgium, Odell, and Avery Brewing. Wait, I can't forget the incredible breweries from Michigan - Bells, Founders, and Saugatuck brewing. My oh my, I was like a kid in a candy story.  Which ones to try first? So many to try, so little time!

Beer Fests are a great socializing event

Favorite Brewery Swag

The breweries come prepared with lots of free items to promote their products and as well as some items for sale.  For example, I purchased a very cool hat from Peace Tree Brewing in Iowa.

• Favorite sticker comes from Avery Brewing (CO)

• Favorite coaster from Deschutes Brewery (OR)

• Favorite tattoo from Rogue (OR)

• Favorite free beer token from Scratchtown Brewing (NE)

When first arriving I wasn't sure as to what to expect. I met a friend for the event and we headed to get in line. I had already purchased my ticket, but my friend Jeff hadn't. Let me tell you, my first tip is to get your ticket ahead of time to avoid the long lines to purchase one. Once into the event, I hadn't really thought too much about a game plan. The one thing I did know is that I would have to pace myself. The worst thing to do would be to over indulge in the first hour and miss out on the rest of the event. The second tip I have is to find where the water is at and make sure to stay hydrated during the event. This is especially important for summer beer fests when it is hot outside. The other thing this will do for you is to space out the time between beer samples keeping yourself on a good beer consumption rate.

The third tip that I have for you is make sure to go with a friend or a group of friends. First of all, it is great to have someone to share the experience with and secondly someone that will make sure you are not having too much fun!  Jeff is a fellow craft beer enthusiast and enjoys meeting new people, so we both had a great time meeting the people of the breweries and getting to sample their beers. Also we chatted with lots of people that day getting to hear what type of beers they were enjoying at the event. There is nothing like getting a second opinion on a beer from someone else's taste buds. Maybe a little tough to see in this picture, but Jeff has a pretty healthy pour from the sample he got from New Belgium brewing. Most of the time the pours are probably only a couple of ounces in your 7 oz glass. That is a good amount for being able to get a good idea of the aroma of the brew and enough for your palette to determine if it is something you like. On to another favorite part of the beer fest, the swag.

I have to admit I had the time of my life talking with all of the breweries and learning more about all of the types of beer.  Here are some of the highlights from the beer tasting:

• Overall Favorite Beer: Founders Sumatra Mountain Brown. What a robust coffee flavor in an imperial brown ale.

• Favorite New Local Brew: Prairie Pride Islander Porter. This toasted coconut infused porter was an incredibly smooth and malty treat.

• Favorite New Type of Beer: Rogue's Cold Brew IPA. I was intrigued by the coffee aroma and loved the back end hop finish. Definitely a beer I wouldn't have thought I would like before trying this one!

• Favorite Beer Tent: Scratchtown Brewing. I always love getting a chance to talk with Mike, the head brewer and Shay, assistant brewer. These guys turn out fantastic brews like their Black Eye Imperial Porter. Ever have a question about craft beer, Mike and Shay can answer it. If you ever make it to Ord, NE stop in, say hi, and enjoy the Sandhill's finest on tap.

I think that is about a wrap. Even though I am a rookie, I had an incredible time and plan on at least attending one or two more beer fests this year. I have so much to learn about craft beer, but these events definitely help. I hope to see you at the next one and would love to meet you!  I am sure I will be the only guy walking around in a Joe Java-Stout t-shirt.

Cheers!

The Art of a Creating a Great Taproom

The Thunderhead Brewing taproom has incredible service. So I am sure the question you are thinking as you are reading this is "So what do you mean by that?"  Service is the little things that make me feel important as a customer. For example, when I am curious about a new beer on the menu, the bartender is quick to provide me a sample and explain more about the beer. I can tell Jake spends a lot of time keeping up with all of the nuances of the beers Thunderhead Brewing provides and other breweries also. You can ask Jake any question about a beer and he gives you an honest opinion of what he thinks. For me, this is important because I enjoy learning about different beers through someone else's palette. Another subtle but important point is that most taprooms are designed so that the customers come up to the bar and order their beer. I have been to many taprooms that didn't take into consideration as to a place that standouts out where I should go to order a beer. Beau didn't miss a beat on this one.  The straight shaped bar has an area that is clearly lower than the rest which is a great visual indication. Then as you get closer to order, you notice the very cool natural tree cut piece of wood that is different than that rest of the bar top. When the taproom is busy, this really helps versus for example meandering around a horseshoe shape bar hoping that one of the bartenders will see you and take your order.

As I started to talk to Jake more about other things about the taproom, I asked him, do you allow events to take place in the taproom? Jake's response was "absolutely". The Thunderhead Brewing taproom welcomes special events like the Siberian Huskies & Alaskan Malamutes rescue event shown to the right. They have also had wedding rehearsal parties, birthday parties, college alumni reunions, and team building events.  Wait the team building events might have been me thinking to myself about how great would it be to bring my team here for an afternoon! Beau told me they are in the works of acquiring additional space so that the can accommodate even larger events like wedding receptions. His vision for the additional space is incredible and even brings with it the possibility of having live music events!

So when it is comes to a having a great taproom, having a good variety of beers is a must for me. Granted my first love is coffee stouts and porters, but I like different beers throughout the year. When you come to Thunderhead Brewing Taproom you will find 10 year around beers and 5 or more seasonal beers.  Wow what a selection! Beyond that, there are additional 5+ guess taps rotated frequently with beers that you might not normally get your hands on in Omaha. Jake does a great job of searching out the various beers that are on the guess tap list. I have to admit that I have had only one from the list, because frankly I enjoy the Thunderhead Brewing brews very much.

I started to think about all of the taprooms I have been to and why certain ones seem to draw me to frequent one more than another. There are so many new ones that keep popping up with the explosion of the craft beer industry (which is a good thing) that makes me wonder is it by chance that the establishment becomes great or is there more to it? I would like to take you through what I believe makes a taproom "great".

I recently had the pleasure to sit down with the owner Beau Starkel and manager Jake Heiliger from the Thunderhead Brewing Company taproom in Omaha, Nebraska. I had a great time learning about how they got there taproom started and their philosophy about taprooms. Beau stated that the key to making a taproom successful is service and atmosphere.  I couldn't agree more with that.

The first time walking from the parking lot, down the stairs, and into the Thunderhead Brewing taproom, I got this vibe that this would be a great place to hang out with friends to have a couple of beers. Taproom location and design is not by chance. It takes a lot of time and consideration picking the right building and location. Beau described to me the process he went through and how important it was to find a space that had the key things he was looking for. For example, the Thunderhead Brewing taproom has an awesome patio with a good variety of seating choices from tables to cool cushioned tree stumps. The thing that makes the patio so nice is that it has the right amount of sun, and is between buildings to where you can have a casual conversation with someone without yelling. I have been to places where the street noise makes it almost impossible to have a good conversation, not at the Thunderhead Taproom, it is perfect!

Photo from Jake Heiliger

You probably have been thinking when is this guy going to talk about the beer?  Had to save the best for last!  I was introduced to the Thunderhead Brewing beers last fall and I love the character of each and every one of these beers. Trevor Schaben and his wife Jenny open a very small taproom on Railroad Street in Kearney, Nebraska in 1999.  The 3 barrel system they started with back then has grown to a 30 barrel system that now resides outside of Kearney in Axtell. The business has grown due to Trevor's great passion for brewing quality craft beer and also the unique twist he develops for some of the seasonal and small batches.  One of my favorites... ok my favorite is the Calico Espresso Stout which won the brewery it's first gold medal at the World Beer Cup competition.  Other incredible beers that are on tap everyday are listed on the left. I have been making my way through the list and find that the Cornstalker is one of the most unique wheat beers I have ever had. It has chocolate and caramel notes and brewed with a very special ingredient.  You are thinking "love" aren't you. Well that is true, but the ingredient I am talking about is malted Nebraska corn! Hopluia is a recent addition and is now being brewed by Thunderhead Brewing after Spilker Ales in Cortland, Nebraska closed their brewery earlier this spring. I don't know if you can find a better staple of year around beers than the ones from Thunderhead Brewing!

I hope some of the tips in the article help you find the great taprooms that are out there.  Special thanks to the Thunderhead Brewing taproom for all of the insight in to the making of their great establishment. If you are ever in Omaha, Nebraska, make sure you stop in at Thunderhead Brewing to enjoy a great beer, conversation, and maybe even pick up something to go. Cheers!

A Hidden Oasis in the Sandhills...

After passing this sign, I just wanted to jump out of my jeep and start taking photos of the beautiful property, but I had to focus. Yes there is great craft beer waiting just moments away.  Bootleg Brewers was many years in the making.  Ron Worm back in 1978 had his first craft beer brewing session with his father-in-law Charlie. After one session Ron was hooked and his passion for brewing continued throughout the years as a hobby and a great way to meet people.  News traveled and people started showing up at the ranch to get a pint. Ron's wife Dodie enjoyed meeting everyone who stopped by. It was inevitable that the two would someday run their own brewery and that day came in the fall of 2015.  The story is incredible and I highly recommend checking out the rest of it on Bootleg Brewers website.

If you can imagine driving mile after mile seeing only the rolling Sandhills of Nebraska and an occasional cow then this sign is a mighty welcomed sight. Bootleg Brewers is a hidden gem located outside of Taylor, Nebraska. I had been planning this trip for 6 months. The excitement was building when we entered the property, so much that I didn't pay close enough attention to the fact there was 3 more miles until I would be able to have my first Bootleg Brewers beer! There are more signs along the way to let you know that you are heading in the right direction.

Where was I ... oh yes we had arrived.   The brewery nestled in the hills and trees was a welcomed sight.   I parked the jeep and made my way into the taproom.   Once up at the bar, I got the chance to talk with Stephanie who is Ron and Dodie's daughter. Stephanie talked about her dad's passion for brewing and mom's love of designing the building.  It is a great setup with the bar, kitchen, and a special area upstairs for bands to come play music.  Ron and Dodie continue to love meeting new people and keeping the beer flowing!  Stephanie manages the daily operations and explained many of challenges to overcome to get the brewery up and running.  In order to make this a true destination, Stephanie explained that the cabins needed to be ready at the same time that the brewery opened.  Also equally as important was to have a kitchen to serve food so that people could enjoy the brews without having to worry about traveling back to town to get something to eat.

Now to the Bootleg Brewers brews! I started out with a sampler and the first thing I noticed was how smooth and refreshing each of the beers are.  I had the Hoppy Homesteader IPA which is a great summer IPA coming in at 63 IBUs. Next the Horned Hereford Red Ale which is a very tasty session amber ale.  The Muddy Duck was next up for the tasting.   This English Brown Ale is an easy drinking ale with nice chocolate notes.  Last but not least is the Naked Orange Stinger. This is my new favorite summer beer!

The Naked Orange Stinger is a crisp, citrusy beer with just a hint of sweetness from the honey. This beer can bring sunshine to you on a cloudy day! I liked the Naked Orange Stinger so much that I brought some home in this cool growler!

What an amazing day! I plan on getting myself a cabin the next time I come out which I hope is this fall.  Please check out Bootleg Brewers, it is definitely worth the drive. Thanks again to Stephanie and everyone for the hospitality. Hope to see you soon!

Support Local - Drink Local

Support Local is more than just words for most craft beer breweries.   I had a wonderful time again last weekend getting reminded of this. Infusion Brewing established itself as one of the significant staples in revitalizing Benson. The brewery is located in a great historical old building that began as Olson's Meat Market. I remember getting to take my first tour of the brewery and how Infusion Brewing kept so much of the history of the butcher shop in it.  Infusion also has a second tap room that is new but still harnesses the atmosphere of the one in Benson.

During that tour, the owner Bill Baburek described the brewing process and the grains that are used to make the beer.   Bill went on to say that the spent grain makes excellent feed for livestock.   Infusion Brewing partnered with a local pork producer in Ft. Calhoun Nebraska that uses the spent grain as feed.  As a token of appreciation, Deer, Goose & Kid's Farms donates a hog (or two) each year to Infusion for their hog roast event. What a great way for two local businesses to support each other! While standing in line that night for some of the wonderful smoked pork,  I got to meet Nick and his family. He said they receive a significant amount of spent grain each week.  This spent grain gets put back into the food chain instead of becoming landfill material which is a good thing.  You could tell how appreciative Nick is of the spent grain he gets from Infusion Brewing.  The grain provides a healthy, natural means for his livestock to grow. Nick is a great guy trying to keep his farm like those of 100 years ago. He doesn't use chemicals or medicines. The closest thing they have to medicine is apple cider vinegar. Keeping the farm as a nice open space is high priority on this farm.  The chickens and goats are allowed to roam freely just like they would of a century ago on most farms. 

Chocolate Pistachio Milk Porter

It was a great time chatting with Nick.  He is very nice person who is very passionate about his farm and providing quality meats to Eastern Nebraska.  I really loved the story about how the farm was named.  The name is based on his last name and his wife's maiden name.   Nick's wife's maiden name is Hersh which in German means deer.   You might see a deer near the farm but their are none for sale.  Goose came from Nick's last name of Gosling.  Last but not least Kid came from Nick's daughter.   A great local farm in hills outside of Omaha.   Give Deer, Goose, & Kid's Farms a call at 402-699-6425 if you are ever in need of some good beef or pork!

The picture is hiding a great quote - "Brewed Here ... Loved Here" which is very true and why I support local breweries.  There is a lot of pride and hard work that goes into a good craft beer and Infusion Brewing has both going for them.   I love to meet new people and when talking to a couple of regular customers, Jim and Kerri they felt the same way.   In order to come to this event, you had to be a "Secret Society of Malt & Hops" member.   The membership has many great perks and is required to get into the hog roast event. Jim was a member and Kerri decided it was well worth the membership fee to be able to attend the event. I am glad both were there because we had an awesome time talking about craft beer local and around the country!

Craft beer enthusiasts really make up a great community of people who love to drink local beers. Now after some brewery tours and events, I really understand how the breweries are making a significant impact to the communities they are in.  

Cheers to #SupportLocal / #DrinkLocal! 

Sandhills' Finest

One of Nebraska's gems is located in the Sandhills and about a 3 hour drive from Omaha.   Ord, Nebraska, population 2,061 might not seem like a destination city but it is definitely one of my favorites!   Why do you ask?   Great small town vibe, beautiful scenic hills, and best of all - home of Scratchtown Brewing! 

On the Road...

I love a good road trip and the "Keys to the Asylum Release" at Scratchtown gave me a good reason to get out on the road.   That Saturday, my son Noah, best friend Jeff, and I hit the road in my Jeep.  We had some great conversation and took in the scenery as we drove the country highways out to Ord.  Nebaska has so many cool small towns like North Loup.   Many refer to North Loup as the popcorn capital of the country. Each year the town hosts a Popcorn Days Fair and this year it is August 25 - 27th.  

Destination

We made our way into Ord and there was the landmark we had our sights on - Scratchtown Brewing!   Scratchtown is a very small brewery in terms of brewing space but some of the best craft beer in Nebraska comes straight out of this facility. The brewery is owned by 4 couples and the nicest people you could ever meet.   I got the chance to chat with Caleb Pollard about all things going on in the brewery.  I was fascinated to hear about the hops that he grows just outside Ord that goes into some of their beers.   Also how the quality of water makes a big difference in the beer.  Scratchtown has access to the Ogallala Aquifer for the purest water in Nebraska!

Brewmaster

Mike Klimek is the brewmaster and in my opinion one of the best if not the best in Nebraska.   Mike last summer gave a group of my friends and me an amazing tour of the brewery.   It is so fun to talk to Mike because of his great passion for producing amazing beers and a good variety of them.   If you get the chance to meet Mike, you have to ask him about some of the craziest ingredients that he has put into his beers like popcorn and donuts.  There is always something  that I get to learn about craft beer when I visit Scratchtown.   On this trip, I learned how important the temperature of the beer is when serving it.   For example, if you over chill the Barrel Aged OL' 59 Smoked Porter you will not get as much of the smoked malt flavor.  Luckily for us novice craft beer drinkers they also put the recommended serving temperature on the bottle which for this incredible beer is 50 degrees.

Brews

What a day it was to sit outside and enjoy some of the beers of Scratchtown.   My favorite of the day was the Vanilla Normal.   This breakfast stout has a smooth milky finish with a hint of vanilla and coffee flavor.   What a wonderful beer to enjoy on the patio! My friend Jeff, enjoyed the Big Joe Pilsner.   He said this was by far the best Pilsner beer he has ever had. We also got some of the Imperial Beers from the "Keys to the Asylum Release" to bring back with us. What a treat to have some of the best imperials in your hands!

All Good Things Must Come to an End...

Well it was time to pack things in and call it a day.   Thanks Scratchtown Brewing for your hospitality!  Last year 300,000 visitors made their way through Ord and I hope they got some time to stop in visit Scratchtown.  Truly a great experience I would recommend to anyone!

The map above has some of the other breweries and attractions in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Make sure you find your way out to some of the best brews and scenery in Nebraska!

Pint Night

Pint Night

There is nothing like a good pint night at a local tap room.   So, for those who might be new to the concept, a pint night is where you can purchase a decorative beer glass for a price and then typically get refills at a discounted price.  I have been to a few (ok several) over the past few years and to me there are a few things that make a great pint night.

The most obvious is the glass if you are a collector like me.   I know I enjoy seeing the different creative designs that breweries come up with.   Hey graphic artist out there, I bet it is a fun time getting a chance to work with breweries on logo designs!  I remember the very first glass I got which was El Mastodon from Lucky Bucket Brewing Company.  The glass is very cool and I was excited to get it.  The other thing that made my night was getting introduced to a new beer.

Boy was that a treat that night getting to try a barley wine.   Pint nights are a great opportunity to try out a new beer.   Most of the time the pint night themes are around a seasonal beer that the brewery is promoting.   It is a great way for craft beer fans to look forward to a new porter or stout in the winter months and a nice crisp IPA in spring or summer months.   I am always up for trying something new, but there is no shame in filling up your pint glass with one of your favorites from that brewery. 

Last but not least, pint nights offer you the chance to catch up with your friends.   I love the social aspect of the pint night!   Many times I will share out the event on social media hoping to catch up with other friends who enjoy craft beer.   Great conversations usually follow as each person talks about the beer of the evening.  It is fun to see what others think about the pint night beer!

I hope you find a great pint night in your near future.

Cheers!