Blowing Rock, NC - Blowing Rock Alehouse and Inn

Blowing Rock Alehouse - definitely blog-worthy,

I have to be honest.  In the last year I have visited a number of brew pubs that I simply felt weren't blog-worthy.  This blog is all about places that offer quality beer, wine and chocolate in a fun or unique venue. Recently there have been too many new craft beer joints that produce mediocre product, offer the same old food, in an uninspired venue. They've just left me flat. That's why I was so happy to discover the Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn. This place has only been brewing beer for a year, and the product is excellent.  The ale house was originally an old lodge and has a warm intimate feeling inside. It still offers rooms on the upper floors. Since we visited with our pooch, we sat one of their outside tables on the front lawn, surrounded by colorful gardens.  That early Saturday evening there was a lively crowd both inside and out.

This happy couple was enjoying the beautiful evening.

We sampled a number of the artisan beers brewed at the ale house as well as the three brewed at their facility in Hickory, NC. They varied from a summer ale to a seasonal farmhouse peach to a hearty imperial stout, and I honestly liked them all. The brewmaster clearly knows what he's doing.

Great beer, great food and dog friendly!

In addition, the food was as good as we've ever had at a brew pub.  We started with mussels steamed in pilsner and followed with a ahi tuna and fried green tomato sandwich, accompanied with hand cut fries and marinated seasonal veggies. Perfectly prepared and presented, and so delicious.

The servers were friendly and kept us supplied with plenty of beer.  It was a memorable night in charming downtown Blowing Rock and a pleasure to finally find a new brew pub that is worth writing about.

Brevard, NC -Brevard Brewing Company

The store front entrance of  Brevard Brewing Company. 

When I told our friends Angie and Jonathan that we were heading to Asheville for the 4th of July, they suggested we stop on the way in Brevard, NC, and check out their new microbrewery. We took them up on it, and what a great recommendation!  Brevard is a quaint mountain town with one main street.  Brevard Brewing Company is located in one of the store fronts downtown.  To walk inside you can tell this establishment was only open in April and is still getting started.  The brewing takes place in the back room, a large bar and open area with limited seating makes up the tasting room.  Local art is the main decor that lines the walls.  The building may feel like it's still a work in progress and nothing out of the ordinary, but the beer is the real deal.  Their main problem is keeping up with demand.  After tasting all they had to offer, I can understand why.

Brevard Brewing serves five outstanding ales. 

What did we have:  This was a short stop and we still had almost an hour of driving left to get to Asheville, so we limited our drinking.  As the driver, I ordered the taster of five beers and only had a few sips of each.  It was enough to make me want more! Their specialties are German style ale. Just one short year ago we were drinking beer in Munich, so we felt qualified to judge if it truly was up to German standards.  I must say, it comes pretty darn close.  The flight consisted of Lager, Pilsner, Hefeweisen, IPA and Dunkel. When sipping the Dunkel I could imagine myself relaxing in a German Beer Garden. It burst with flavor.  The hef was also a highlight.  The biggest surprise was the IPA which has just the right hop finish to make it interesting.

Ahhh, the pretty beer!

Why is it fun:  It was a great treat to find such a high quality microbrewery in the small town of Brevard. At the time of our visit, around 5 pm, there was a nice gathering of locals who have clearly claimed this place their own.  Live music is featured on the weekends and I'm told that it's very lively.  The server informed us their beer is now served at all the restaurants in Brevard, and if they could meet demand, I'm sure they could easily expand into Asheville.  For right now, a stop in Brevard and a visit to the local microbrewery is well worth the trip. We'll be back, and next time we'll pick up a growler to bring home.

Hood River, OR - Full Sail Pub

Our family has a long history of enjoying venues that offer excellent beer and wine.  I have a vivid memory of slipping a little taste of Riesling to our oldest son when we were on a family outing to a winery in the Finger Lakes region of NY.  He was 16 and I wanted him to appreciate the fine wine produced in the region.  I also remember ordering a glass of San Giovese for our youngest son in Venice so he could get the full experience of Italy.  He was also 16. So now, all the children are of legal age, and they all appreciate fine wine and quality beer.  Our family outings often include sampling the finest naturally fermented beverages available in the area.  It only made sense that on the final days of our summer vacation, we traveled to Hood River in search of both.



The unasuming entrance to Full Sail leads to the famous pub.

As fans of Full Sail beer, a trip to their brewpub in Hood River, OR was much anticpated, and thoroughly savored.   

What did we have: We enjoyed their superior beer and their unexpectedly delicious pub grub.
What's fun: Full Sail is a pleasant pub overlooking the mighty Columbia Gorge dotted with colorful wind and kite surfers that serves amazing beer and surprisingly good food.

Everyone in our family is a fan of Full Sail beer, so we decided to end our vacation together with a short trip to Hood River and a stop at the pub. Since we had been on brewery tours, we decided to pass up that experience and make our way directly to the drinking establishment. The pub is located on an unassuming street overlooking the Columbia Gorge. The first thing you notice when you enter are the wall of windows along the back allowing for amazing views of the river below, and the numerous colorful wind and kite surfers.  It is quite breathtaking and even if the beer and food wasn't that good, it still would have been a worthwhile visit. Fortunately for us, that wasn't the case.

A sampler of beer, an amazing view. 

What did we have: We wanted to try all the available beers, so we ordered two samplers, that featured seven of the twelve beers they had on tap. They offered everything from a mellow and flavorful lager to a highly hopped IPA. One thing about Full Sail that differentiates it from many other breweries is the consistency and quality of the beer. Even the brews that weren't my favorites had interesting character, depth and levels of flavor. My choices included their Pale Ale which was crisp and refreshing, the LTD 03, a lager bursting with flavor and the Belgian Style Dubbel which was bold with the perfect balance of malt and hops.  Just thinking about it makes me smile. We ordered food which was surprisingly good. Since it was a chilly day I enjoyed the Mediterranean chicken soup with orzo. The fries were a big hit with our gang, and perhaps the best of all was the turkey brie and apple panini served on garlic toast.

Delicious food and tasty beer makes for happy folks!

What was fun: A family outing to a great brew pub is always fun. Discovering 12 different beers on tap, enjoying samples of all of them, and taking in the spectacular view, added to the experience. Finding out that the food far exceeded our expectations was a pleasant surprise. Visiting the pub during the middle of the day, without crowds, when we could relax, enjoy our beer and savor the experience was priceless.  

Asheville, NC - The Lab (Lexington Avenue Brewery)

Asheville is like no other place I've ever visited.  If you love beer,wine, or chocolate, it is an absolute must.  On a Friday night in June, you're not likely to find a more vibrant city in the Southeast, or perhaps, in all of the US. Asheville oozes personality.  From the outdoor concerts, to the electric, pulsing drum circle in the heart of downtown, to the street performers, and the fine eating and drinking establishments, it's one big festival, and crazy fun. As I read on a T-shirt, "Asheville, where normal is weird."  Truthfully, you'll see folks with multi-colored dreadlocks strolling next to girls in pearls.  It's a cacophony of color, sound, smell, and taste. No matter what your race, religion, sexual orientation, politics, financial status or fashion sense, everyone feels welcome in Asheville.  The most difficult part of reviewing the festive spots of this friendly city, is where to go first.  No worries, this will not be my only trip to here.  I'll start with a few favorites.  If you know somewhere I should check out, be sure to let me know.

The open air design of the Lab adds to the fun.

The Lab: One of Asheville's lively new brewpubs located in the heart of downtown, featuring a large open air patio with sleek modern decor housed in a historic building
What we had:  White Ale, American Pale Ale and Octoberfest
What's fun: Open air patio offering non-stop people watching, live music, really good beer

The curved bar adds to the sleek modern design.

My husband is a scientist and spends many hours in the laboratory.  But his favorite Lab, is located in Asheville, and offers a fine selection of unfiltered, naturally carbonated, additive free, in-house brewed beer.  Located on a busy street in the heart of downtown Asheville, it's a perfect location to kick back, enjoy a cold beer and watch the world go by. The Lab has only been open for a year and a half, but it's already a popular stop for beer enthusiasts.  Usually, they have at least ten of their own brews on tap, but the evening of our visit, they only had four. They were preparing for their 100 Brew celebration the following week.  Fortunately, two of their offerings were just what we wanted, so we were in good shape. We were fortunate to get a table on their covered patio.  The patio has retractable doors that can be open or shut depending on the weather. The pub is spacious and the decor is modern. The large curved bar is located in the center of the action, and offers wine and mixed drinks.  I was impressed with the lengthy wine list since their selections come from various regions of the US including local vinyards, as well as Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand.

The beer is why people keep coming back.

What did we have:  I was looking for something refreshing after the three hour drive to Asheville, and the White Ale, a Belgian style beer,with a slight taste of citrus was refreshing and tasty.  My husband had the Octoberfest, a malty ale with a hint of spice. Very nice.  I also sampled their American Pale Ale which had a pleasant balance of malt and hops, and the IPA with a serious hop kick. We shared a pesto and mushroom flat bread pizza which was uncommonly flavorful.   They boast that their menu consists of comfort food with a new slant and included appetizers, sandwiches and burgers and a few special entrees. The prices are quite reasonable, especially the beer which is all brewed in-house.  At this time they do not bottle their beer, but according to the bartender, plans are in the works.

What's fun:  It's a lively place with a great open air patio, and the best people watching. The crowd is a mix of tourists and locals, young and older during the day and early evening. The Lab really pulses at night when live bands are featured and the crowd turns younger and a little more hip.

Bend, OR - Deschutes Brew Pub

Deschutes Brew Pub in downtown Bend, OR. 

Deschutes Brew Pub: a classic brew pub located in scenic Bend, Oregon

What did we have:  A sampler of Deschutes amazing beers.

What's fun:  A lively brew pub located in a vibrant downtown Bend, offering a wide variety of their excellent microbrews.


If you love beer, a visit to the world famous Deschutes Brew Pub  in Bend, Oregon is a must.  Established in 1988, this is the real deal.  Located in the heart of downtown Bend, Deschutes is a bustling pub filled with enthusiastic patrons.  The pub is currently undergoing a major renovation, which is much needed.  There are currently 25 tables, and there is almost always a wait.  We were told 40 minutes when we arrived on a Friday evening around 5:30 pm, but it was worth waiting.  The new expansion will triple the size and include a banquet room.  There is no disruption of service while the expansion is taking place, and the doors to the new addition should be open in early 2012.  In the mean time, we made our way up to the busy bar and enjoyed a pint as we waited for our table.  Bend is a truly friendly town, and we struck up conversations with both locals and visitors as we were waiting.  A mix of singles, couples, and groups of friends surrounded the bar.  The Deschutes dining area is family friendly and there were many family groups with children at the tables.

A fine sampling of six great Deschutes beer. 

What did we have:  Once seated I selected the sampler which included six 5 oz glasses.  I was able to select any combination I wanted from the 22 beers on tap.  I chose the Twilight Ale, Black Butte Porter, Pompion Nitro, Mathilda's Ring, Benderweisse and Prima Chela.  What a great selection!  I really loved them all, but I can't stop thinking about the Prima Chela, a great concoction combining malt from Vienna, yeast from Mexico City and hops from Germany. Mellow and tasty! Another standout was the Pompion Nitro, a pumpkin beer with the flavor of many different spices.  I really must rave about Deschutes beer.  It really is something special.  We also enjoyed the ahi tuna and fresh halibit sandwiches accompanied by a wonderful side salad with Deschutes special vinaigrette dressing.  We topped our meal with a chocolate sundae shooter, the perfect ending to great evening.

The bartender fills the growler for a happy customer. 

What's fun:   First of all, Bend is such festive town, that the location in the heart of the city is perfect.  The clientele includes a nice mix of locals and visitors, and everyone is congenial.  If you're in town by yourself, Deschutes would be the perfect place to go to make a friend or two. The ambiance is warm and welcoming, the service outstanding, and the BEER....what more can I say.  They serve their beverages in a great selection of interesting glasses.  If you want a keepsake, you can buy one to bring home. The t-shirts are colorful and attractive as well.  I promise, that once you visit Deschutes Brew Pub, you're not likely to forget the experience.

A chocolate sundae to finish our meal. 

Bend, OR - 10 Barrel Brewing Company

Fast becoming one of our favorite stops in Bend, Oregon,  is the 10 Barrel Brewing Company. The original design of the pub, the award winning brews and the outstanding pizza keeps us coming back.  On this visit we were joined by our daughter and her family.  If you want to experience a cross section of the Bend community, this is the place to visit.  A favorite of locals and visitors, it's the perfect place to meet up with friends after a day of skiing, hiking or work.   The large patio has a fire pit, so patrons can always enjoy sitting outdoors no matter what the weather.  The wall  that faces that patio has two large garage doors that can be raised or lowered depending on the weather, giving the pub an al fresco feel on warm days. This is also true for the bar which features outdoor seating weather permitting.  The feel of the pub is industrial, but warm and friendly.  On my first visit I thought it might have been a renovated gas station, but was informed it actually was a bakery.  The unique design was the brain child of the innovative creators.

What did we have:  The beer selection ranges from golden ale to a dark black ale, as well as a number of hoppy selections with a little higher alcohol content.  I was in the mood for a lighter beer and chose the "Mike-Saw-Sasquatch" Session Ale, a flavorful golden ale with just a touch of sweetness.  It was smooth and delicious. My husband ordered the Irish Red Ale since he enjoys a little malty flavor. Although she usually favors the award winning Black Sinister Ale, our daughter decided on a glass of wine and selected the Loosen Riesling for its bright, fruit inspired character. A pizza margarita, a hippy pie (their loaded veggie) and a "can't fail" peperoni pizza, satisfied everyone's cravings.  The generous portion of chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream was delivered with five spoons, and was devoured in no time by this chocolate loving crowd.

What's fun: Oh my gosh, at 10 Barrel it's everything!  The brews, the food, the atmosphere all add to the fun factor. We've been there during all seasons and it's always filled with happy folks. I've had great conversations with locals sipping nice dark brews by the outdoor fire pit.  Pubs are always most fun when the crowd represents a cross section of the community.  That is definitely the case at 10 Barrel.  It's a comfortable place for families and groups of friends. The friendly, kick-back atmosphere encourages anyone who visits to have a good time.  If you want to experience the flavor of Bend, definitely check out 10 Barrel.