Good news! I’m unexpectedly back with another post straight from Milano Italy! My friend Sam and I were trying to get over our jet lag this afternoon so we decided to burn some time in an Irish Pub of all places before dinner (Which was Authentic Naples Style pizza). We saw that The Friends Pub Milano was only about a fifteen minute walk so we went for it and man did it pay off. Not only was it a strangely accurate Irish Pub but they also brewed two of their own beers which of course got me fired up.
The Friends Pub In Milano’s version of the IPA
In the photo above was the first of their two beers which was an IPA. It was very good and similar to what I would expect from a nice IPA in the states. If anything it went above and beyond expectations because of the powerful hoppy flavors that it captured without having the bitter aftertaste that some IPA’s suffer from.
The second beer that they make at The Friends Pub In Milano is the Mystery Beer above. To be perfectly honest we both had to have about two pints of this because, one it was soooooo good and two we couldn’t figure out what fruit they had used in it. It was very obviously there and a major part of why we both enjoyed it so much but we just couldn’t place it. I’m assuming this excessive tasting session is what made us both forget what the name of the brew was, whoops. Ignoring all of that though this was a beer unlike any we have ever tried before, it was light, malty, strong but not bitter. It also had this incredibly subtle fruit flavor that we both determined was probably pear? Not entirely sure though because we went through orange, lemon, and apple before we landed on the pear flavor. Anyway I wasn’t expecting to have such a one of a kind beer experience in Italy, let alone on our first day so I’ll make sure to keep you guys posted. In the meantime thank you so much for reading as always and I’ll see you at the next one!
Welcome back!!! We are in the Utica/Rome area once again at Copper City Brewing Co. which has been recommended to me by several people so thanks for that! Much like Woodland Farm, Copper City is a micro brewery so the whole brewing process is super personal here which is something I get wicked excited about. As I’m writing this and enjoying my beer the brewing floor is literally five feet away from me. For me this whole project is about experiencing the passion and creativity of these brewers through their beer and micro breweries like Copper City Brewing Co. are where that is easiest to see. A lot of these businesses were started by men and woman who have a real desire to make beer so they pour everything they have into their brewery and eventually into your glass. Of course that statement stands true here!
This is how close we’re talking. I am sitting at the bar when I took this photo. The brewers were actually working as I was there!
Alright we’ve all gathered that I’m a sucker for a theme at this point. I don’t care how cheesy it is either, I’m the type of guy that even gets a kick out of lazy nautical themed seafood restaurant. Give me bad pirate jokes and walls covered in mounted fish and I’m sold. Whether we’re talking about the Belgian roots at Ommegang or the good old American farm at Red Shed and Copper City is no exception. Sometimes it can be really simple and Copper City Brewing Co. has really committed to the “copper” in their name. Everything in this place has a dark brown industrial feel to it. There are old copper pipes on their flight paddles, beer taps and you can rest your feet on them at the bar. If you walked into this brewery and were told you were in the basement of an old 1920’s industrial factory it wouldn’t be hard to believe. Overall just a really nice looking place to hang out.
Todays flight with Woods Valley Witte, Bloody Good Porter, Belgian Redhead, and Delta Double IPA.
Woods Valley Witte, todays winner.
We’re on to the beer and it is GOOD at Copper City; I’m talking really good, and we’re going to start with my favorite which was the Woods Valley Witte. Copper City’s version of the witte has an ABV of 4.5% and is brewed with orange peel and coriander. I’ll just go ahead and say it, the Woods Valley Witte is my favorite witte I’ve had so far and its no wonder that it is the most popular beer at Copper City. It’s similar to the witte at Brewery Ommegang except it’s missing the sort of abrasive bite that Ommegang’s has which I think is a huge plus. You can really taste the orange peel and the spice from the coriander in the Woods Valley Witte and it goes down easy while being super refreshing.
Bloody Good Porter as advertised is bloody good.
Next up is the Bloody Good Porter which has an ABV of 5.1% and is your pretty standard english porter. Its creamy, not too bitter and you can definitely taste the chocolate flavors that make porters enjoyable in my opinion. If you’re a dark beer lover this one is for you, its a simple porter done right.
Belgian Redhead!
We’re back into the world of belgian beers with Copper City’s Belgian Redhead which packs the expected licorice and spice punch from a standard belgian red. Belgian Redhead manages to incorporate those powerful flavors without overwhelming you and I would totally recommend trying this one during your next stop at Copper City Brewing Co.
Delta Double IPA (Double the delta double the fun!)
We’re going to end it on another great one from Copper City. The Delta Double IPA has a high alcohol percentage of 8.5% with a very hoppy start and a melon finish. This one is strong and really bitter when you first take a sip but that is immediately replaced by a powerful floral and melon taste which is something you don’t get often in an IPA. It is strong but if you’re somebody who normally likes IPA’s this is one you need to try. I loved it and if the Woods Valley Witte wasn’t SO GOOD then the Delta Double would have been my favorite beer at Copper City Brewing Co.
Todays “view from your beer,” the micro brewery magic.
This week’s “View from your Beer” is a simple one but I can’t emphasize enough how much I enjoy this aspect of microbreweries. That is my glass at the bar and its just a few feet away from where the beer was made in the first place. Theres just something really unique and interesting about the whole brewing process to me so naturally I love seeing it in action. Woodland Farm had a very similar setup to this as well and I know that when I walk into a view like this its going to be a good day.
If beer isn’t your thing Copper City also has some local ciders and wines available. Some of the cider is from Critz Farm Brewing & Cider Co. in Cazenovia. Critza Farm is a great place if you’re visiting the beautiful Cazenovia area. I spent New York Maple Syrup day there last year and I will be making another stop in the future for sure so stay tuned for that one.
“Never startle a brewer in their natural habitat it could be dangerous.”- probably not Steve Irwin
I did visit Copper City Brewing Co. on a Wednesday afternoon so it was a little dead other than myself and a few families headed to and from the Adirondacks but I can imagine once work gets out this is quite the place to be. The bar is huge (I’m guessing close to 50ft), the beer is some of the best I’ve had so far, and the staff is incredible. My bartender was super friendly, asking everyone where they were from, what they were doing and she even explained the brewing process to one curious guest. Copper City Brewing Co. is a wonderful place to visit, the people are friendly and the beer is really really good. I mean it, its all good, and the creativity and skill of the brewers is clear.
If you find yourself in the Utica/Rome area you can catch Copper City Brewing Co. at 1111 Oneida Street in Rome, NY or visit them online at http://www.coppercitybrewing.com!
That is it for todays visit! As always thank you for reading and feel free to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to make sure you never miss a post. See you at brewery #5!
Welcome back everyone! We are back in the hills of Cooperstown, NY at Red Shed Brewery which is actually right down the road from Brewery Ommegang. So close that you could probably walk between the two depending on how many Abbey Ales you put down.
Much like Brewery Ommegang which is based off of a traditional belgian brewery, Red Shed also has a theme and its a little closer to home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you are transported to a beautiful farm; red barn included, but instead of livestock and vegetables Red Shed Brewery gives you beer and burgers. Doesn’t sound too bad right?
Spot The Brewery Boy running to the car like an idiot against a majestic backdrop.
Inside the red barn is where the bar is located as well as a stage where Red Shed hosts a variety of entertainment. The night we were there happened to be trivia night and it was PACKED. It was an absolute circus; the good kind of course, one that is light on the clowns and animal abuse but heavy on the acrobats and Hugh Jackman musical numbers. The trivia host was wearing his best red suit, running around the room yelling questions. Really quite a scene!
Beer Garden Heaven.
If a crazy, high stakes night of trivia isn’t your thing then you can totally head outside the barn which is really where I think Red Shed Brewery shines. Imagine your ideal beer garden and that is essentially what you get here. You’ve got your big wooden picnic tables, adirondack chairs, beautiful plant life, and food truck which is all covered by strands of dull glowing lights that dot the sky like stars. There was even a cute dog, what else could you want?! Not to derail the conversation too much but while we’re talking about dogs why haven’t I seen a dog themed brewery yet kind of like the cat cafes you hear about in Japan? They could brew things like “golden retriever pale ale,” “german shepard kolsch,”wiener dog witte,” or “puppy porter.” Feel free to steal this idea because I would love to see it, anyway…
Lets get back on track here, Red Shed Brewery really is a beautiful place to spend some time with friends and family. Just look at some of the photos, it is crazy and I could have stayed there forever. Enough of that, it’s time to talk beer.
Today’s flight featuring XO Sour, Jessica’s Red Ale, I don’t Know My Own Strength, Farmers Tan Session IPA, and Henry’s Hefeweizen.
XO Sour!
Bear with me today everyone, my friends and I spent quite some time at Red Shed Brewery so my memory of the beer is a little hazy. I guess thats good news though right? It means the beer was so good I had to keep getting more. The first beer I tried was the XO Sour which has an ABV of 4.5% so it is a little on the light side but it is very tasty. I like XO Sour for the same reason I like the Pale Sour at Ommegang, its fruity, a little tangy and super refreshing. If anything I think the XO Sour does all of that better than the Pale Sour. Also before we move on notice the logo on Red Shed’s flight paddles. They’re all made by the Cooperstown Bat Co. which is a wicked cool nod to where you are and the baseball history of the Cooperstown area.
Jessica’s Red Ale.
Next up we have Red Shed’s award winning Jessica’s Red Ale which won silver at the 2019 NYSBA in the amber beer category. This one has an ABV of 5.8% and is brewed with citrus hops, caramel malts and rye which combine to give Jessica’s Red Ale a nice strong flavor but it remains refreshing like almost all of the beers I had at Red Shed Brewery. I say “almost all” because of the next beer on todays flight but Jessica’s Red Ale is award winning and very nice so you should definitely add it to your flight.
“I don’t Know my own Strength” Spoiler its superman strong.
Coming in third on todays flight is the “I don’t Know my own Strength” but if we want to get specific, its strength is a whopping ABV of 9.5% and it lets you know that as soon as you taste it. The first flavor you get is that 9.5% alcohol and it can be a little overwhelming but that almost instantly disappears and you then get a really strong guava and strawberry taste. “I don’t Know my own Strength” is a really crazy beer which is one of the things I’m looking for when I go to new breweries. Now I don’t want to scare anyone away from this one because I did actually enjoy it, but the initial alcohol taste might just be too much for some people. The payoff from the fruity flavors after that are awesome though and turn this beer around for me, so if you’re feeling adventurous totally give it a try.
Farmers Tan Session IPA
Next up we’re chilling out a little bit with the Farmers Tan Session IPA which has an ABV of 4.5% and is brewed with 100% NY state hops. Like most of the beers here at Red Shed Brewery Farms Tan Session IPA is good, easy drinking. It doesn’t need anything fancy; it has good ingredients, its made well, its served cold and it is perfect for hanging out in the beer garden. Farmers Tan Session IPA isn’t as strong as a lot of IPA’s lately so if you or somebody you’re with is on the fence about them this might be a good one to try.
H Clausen &Son: Henry’s Hefeweizen
The final beer on todays flight is part of a special collaboration with Clausen Farm that Red Shed Brewery is working on. The H. Clausen & Son Brewing Company was the 9th largest brewery in the United States before prohibition and the historic Clausen farm in nearby Sharon Springs is being restored. As a partnership with the Clausen Farm, Red Shed Brewing is reviving some of their old recipes for small batch production and Henry’s Hefeweizen is their newest example of that. Henry’s Hefeweizen like the Farmers Tan Session IPA is beautiful and simple. Nothing too crazy, its a good hefeweizen and its worth a try for the history alone.
Cloudy Girl IPA
Finally the last beer I had at Red Shed Brewery and probably my favorite, the Cloudy Girl IPA! This new england style IPA comes in with an ABV of 6.3% which is closer to what you usually expect in most IPA’s. Sticking to the Red Shed Brewery standard the Cloudy Girl IPA is ridiculous refreshing and juicy like any good new england IPA should be. This was the perfect beer to enjoy while talking and joking with friends as the sun set over the brewery. Cloudy Girl IPA was without a doubt my favorite at Red Shed Brewery and I’m sure I’ll have it again.
“view from your beer” We get it, Cooperstown is nice to look at.
Red Shed Brewery is such a cool, relaxing place to have a beer and its stunning to look at so it was a struggle to figure out what would be this weeks “view from your beer,” but then the sun started to set and that was it for me. I know I’m not the best photographer in the world, I usually just get lost in the experience and forget to take pictures but If you get the chance to watch the sunset at Red Shed Brewery then DO IT. What I nice end to any day that would be right? Just you, your friends and family, a beer and that view. Not bad at all.
Red Shed Brewery is a tremendously fun place to go and its hard to leave, believe me. My friends and I spent over four hours at Red Shed before we all realized we had to work in the morning. It was so easy to get lost in the beer and conversation while the sun set behind the hills. I honestly had one of the best nights I’ve had in a while at Red Shed Brewery and I’m sure I’ll be back for more. If you’re in the neighborhood it is a must see, so come on down, grab a beer (or six) and make the day great.
Thats one more brewery down and we are on to the next one! Like I said Red Shed Brewery was tons of fun and you should check it out if you haven’t already. You can visit them at 709 Co HWY 33 in Cooperstown, NY or at http://www.redshedbrewing.com. They also have a location in Cherry Valley NY which I plan on visiting and giving a quick blog write up as well but as for now thanks for reading and I’ll see you at the next stop!
