We salute Alec Harvey at the Birmingham News for his fantastic coverage featuring The Happy Hour Guys’ recent stop in that town. Video is below. And thanks, Alec, for running it on St. Paddy’s Day!
http://blog.al.com/aharvey/2010/03/webs_happy_hour_guys_feature_f.htm
Downtown Columbus, early Spring. 161 North High Street.
elevatorbrewing.com
The Elevator Brewing Company and Draught Haus, which makes its home in the historic Columbia building, built in 1897 by the Bott family to house the Bott Brother’s Billiards and a Gentleman’s Saloon. The hand-carved Phillipine Mahogany bar (which won the Blue Ribbon for craftsmanship at the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago) is absolutely stunning - in the early days of the club, it served whisky that was distilled on the second floor. The stained glass windows, and original mosaic tile floor are in pristine shape. Down by the brass rail on the floor, there is the old-school ‘trough’ by your feet, so that you could spit (or whatever, should you not want to lose your seat!) There was a bordello on the second floor, and between the first and second floor sits a ‘managers table’, or an open area that looks down on the floor below. This structure is the original ‘birdcage’, where the girls would hang out to advertise to the gentlemen below. Ah, the good ole days. Kidding.
As with most places like this, they did a brisk business until Prohibition in 1920. Post Prohibition, for years it was known as the Clock Bar, complete with a murder and a haunting.
The building is now on the National Register of Historic Buildings, and has been restored to its original glory. Elevator, an innovative local brewer, took control of the space 7 years ago, and is brewing both in the space itself and in warehouse space across the street. The brews are solid and original, including a mocha plum stout that made us wish we could stay longer.
The fact that such a gem popped up in downtown Columbus only continues to prove to us that there are amazing bars, spaces and stories EVERYWHERE. Cheers!
Jimmy, Mark, Molly, Jeff and Lakisha make a stop in the Deep South, at the J. Clyde in Birmingham Alabama. Turns out the very politically active folks at freethehops.org have a lot to teach the rest of us about loving beer, making change and caring for a community. Join the team as they prove that all great politics are local, and all great beer is craft. Cheers!
Downtown Detroit City.
The Guys venture just about as far south in the continental USA as is humanly possible... no, not Key West, but Big Pine Key, just a few miles north. And well off the Overseas Highway, nestled in a green corner well traveled by diminutive Key Deer, sits the No Name Pub, a haven for stories, history, great pizza, and a look at Old School Florida Keys that has almost disappeared. Enjoy!
A few months ago, as their tour through breweries and bars in Colorado's Front Range came to a close, Jimmy and Mark stopped through Longmont, Colorado and Left Hand Brewing. Join us for a deeper look into the connection of a Craft Brewery and the connection with the community it shares. Cheers
The Guys are back at Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids MI to spend a little time in their terrific taproom - a place where community rules, the beer is epic, and everyone drinks together.
