Welcome back everyone! I have a great one for you guys today and I’m super excited I finally made it to 16 Stone Brewpub in Holland Patent. A few people have been telling me about 16 Stone and I’ve been trying to squeeze it in and they definitely did not disappoint. Everything from the newly renovated taproom, the folks behind the bar, the folks at the bar, and of course the beer are exactly what I want from a brewery. They make a wide variety of beer that is sure to please everyone and they serve it up with a quirky creativity that sets them apart from other breweries. Before we dive into the brews I want to talk a little bit about the brewery itself because like I said it was newly renovated in January and it looks too good not to talk about. Very much like Red Shed and Ommegang you get transported somewhere else as soon as you come into the doors. The outside is a little inconspicuous but that doesn’t represent the interior at all. It’s a little on the dark side, with all of the stone and wood that gives it a cozy pub feeling. There is art on the walls from a local artist as well as a really cool mural behind the stage featuring a band of demons entertaining the bar patrons that makes 16 Stone a unique place to be. 16 Stone Brewpub felt kind of like a metal Irish Pub if that makes sense and I loved it. A metal Irish pub is The Brewery Boy’s ideal setting really.
The Brewery Boy loves a beautifully decorated bar just as much as anyone but we’re all really here for the beer so lets dig in. As I said earlier they brew a wide array of beers here at 16 Stone so you are sure to find something you enjoy especially since they’re all brewed so well. Of course if beer isn’t your thing there is wine available and a variety of 1911 ciders including the fall release of cider donut (which is great mixed with a Guinness similarly to a Black and Tan).
I was able to try five beers while at 16 Stone so lets talk about beer number one which was their Satan’s Den Inferno IPA. This beer is actually a hybrid of sorts, it is a mix between an IPA and a beer they used to brew called Duchess of Dank which is a darker brew. Let me just say that the Satan’s Den Inferno might not be for everyone but this is The Brewery Boy in a glass. This one tastes how I want beer to taste, its crisp and juicy like an IPA but sharp and bold like a darker ale. Also the name really speaks to my punk nature that I haven’t been able to outgrow. Satan’s Den Inferno IPA is creative, tasty and really a perfect representation of what 16 Stone Brewpub is like.
Beer number two was the Patrick Sayze which is 16 Stone’s take on a saison. Don’t let the name worry you there is nothing dirty about this one but too many pints and you’ll be dancing (I’m so so sorry, that was bad). Jokes aside Patrick Sayze is sure to be a real crowd pleaser with anyone. It’s close enough to a pale ale but doesn’t really shy away from some interesting craft beer flavors. There is a specific flavor that I can’t quite pin down, kind of like a fruity cucumber? Very interesting and very good.
Next up is a stout named after those mischievous little garbage bandits that we all love to hate, the raccoon! The Trash Panda Stout here at 16 Stone Brewpub is Smokey in your face. If you closed your eyes the Trash Panda Stout tastes like an open fire. The flavor is excellent but there is a bitter aftertaste which could be sort of unpleasant. However, I liked it and if you’re a stout fan I would still give it a shot for sure.
The next beer was probably my ultimate favorite here at 16 Stone and that would be the Thundertaker. Like many of the beers here there is somebody or an event behind the name and the Thundertaker is named after the bartender that day who is actually an undertaker for his day job. My first reaction to this one was an audible “Oh damn this one is good.” They describe it as an IPA but its unlike any I’ve tried before and I like to think I have a pretty comprehensive knowledge of IPA’s. Maybe its the Australian hops but the Thundertaker is juicier than any other IPA. There is an incredible fruit undertone to it and that is what makes it for me. The Thundertaker is a must try even for those that aren’t fans of IPA’s. The undertaker that the beer is named after isn’t a huge fan of IPA’s either which is why they brewed this one with Australian hops to tone down the bitterness and ramp up the sweetness. I’ll be bringing friends to 16 Stone Brewpub just to try it.
Our final beer at 16 Stone was their Moonlight Sun which is a witte very much like the varieties brewed at Ommegang and Copper City. Moonlight Sun leans more towards the Copper City Style but with more of the nutty wheat flavor and less orange peel. I really like this one though, you can rarely go wrong with a witte and I think 16 Stone nailed it. Witte is probably the style that grows on me the most the more I try, they’re all so similar but have they’re own distinct characteristics at the same time.
Also sorry for the lack of pictures this time! I was either so enthralled by the beer and conversation that I forgot or the Trash Panda stuck in and stole them? I honestly have no clue. Here is a picture of my dog, Porter to make it up to you! He is a dog named after a beer so technically it still counts
There is some weird stuff going on here at 16 Stone Brewpub, in a good way so I wanted to show you a little bit of that character for this week’s “view from your beer.” Just look at the names and art work they associate with each beer and you’re sure to have a good laugh. It’s obvious there is some quirky creativity flowing through this place, everything from the beer names to the artwork is uniquely 16 Stone.
16 Stone Brewpub has what it takes to bring you in and keep you there. The renovations give the brewery a clean polished look but it keeps the comfortable friendly feeling that you want in any brewery. Like I’ve said before, the people behind the breweries are what make this whole project for me and 16 Stone is an ideal example of that. It’s blatantly obvious how much the folks at 16 Stone love this place and how much of their hard work and character gets poured into everything, not just the beer. Which is great by the way, everything I had was top notch and different from others I’ve had. I will be bringing my friends here, its just that type of place. I want to put down a few, laugh a bit, and catch up. You should stop by too! My visit to 16 Stone Brewpub was tons of fun and it will be for you as well!
If you’re sold and want to start planning your trip, you can find 16 Stone Brewpub at 9542 Main Street in Holland Patent or on their website at 16stonebrewpub.com.
Brewery #9 is in the books and we’re getting close to seeing every brewery in my general area. I think after we hit double digits I’ll get to spread out through NY State which is going to be a whole new chapter. I’m interested to see if you can see and taste the difference between different regions. I guess we’ll find out soon but until then thank you for reading!
Cheers!
The Brewery Boy