When in Boise, Idaho and thirsty drop in downtown and you’ll be pleased with the new 10 Barrel Brewing pub. I was on a very long road trip so my visit was brief. Beer: Good. Food: Good. Ambiance: Good.
Looks like Boise has a pleasant downtown to explore by foot or bike. Or perhaps on this:
Bring it on New Belgium!
Second stop on our trip to Walla Walla. Prodigal Son Brewery and Pub. This is the pub sampler. Not a loser in the lot. Clean, good flavored brews. The most innovative would be their hefeweizen served with a slice of grapefruit.
Food, nicely better than plain pub chow. The fries delivered on all the promises of the menu. Two thumbs up.
From The Bruery in California comes Trade Winds Tripel, “belgian-style ale brewed with rice and Thai basil” says the label.
What’s it like? Floral, alcoholic, definitely a bit like sake. Delicate.
This beverage tastes like it is balanced, balanced in a way you may never be. Me? I’m not balanced, merely “aimed”.
This beer is balanced like a cartoon kung-fu master on top of a stone monolith, busting down his student’s sad rookie attitude with his mad skills.
I wish I could say I could taste the basil, but perhaps someone who hasn’t smoked a big cigar earlier could. It feels good that it might be in there.
I call it good, go out and pick up two bottles and send one to me.
Now here is the Good Stuff.
(pretend the bottle in the photo says 2009)
This is a spice molassas cookie, maybe your mom made something like this, but it didn’t have such a nice foamy head on it. This beer is a holiday snack in a bottle.
This beer is actually made by Unibroue. These guys make beer with flavor. Dang fine beer. Usually it’s $8 or more a bottle. You can get this from TJ’s for $4.99.
If this isn’t living the good life for us regular folks, then I don’t know what is. I imagine this guy name “Joe” down in Monrovia, CA passed out on a stack of these empty bottles and chocolate wrappers inside a vast warehouse of Trader Joe products. The happiest fat guy in the world!
What can a man say? Sierra Nevada, they turn out winner every year. Malty, slighty bitter. Good mouthfeel, lots of flavor, but it’s not a heavy beer. If you’ve been a microbrew fan for a while, you probably already know everything there is to know about Sierra Nevada and their products.
If this world is new to you, definitely it’s a good buy. $7.49/6 at the QFC with their Frequent Consumer card.
Smooth and chocolately. If you like porters, you’ll like this one.
We’re in Seattle for Pete’s International Tiki Day party. We’re not yet reviewing tiki coctails, but if we did, we’d probably pass out from the voodoo punch.
Stay beautiful.