The 5 Napkin Burger Beer & Bourbon Blog strikes again! Jimmy and Mark recount some time in Frankfort, KY and the Buffalo Trace Distillery where they learned about this spirit, a wonderfully crafted Bourbon with big vanilla notes and a great history to boot.
Did you know that 5 Napkin Burger has its own house beer? ;They absolutely do, 5 Napkin Nut Brown Lager - this is a wonderful beer made exclusively for them by Kelso of Brooklyn, a favorite of The Happy Hour Guys.
The 5 Napkin Burger Beer and Bourbon blog continues to grow with the addition of this gem of a bourbon from the Jim Beam family. An 8 year spirit, Jim Beam Black is a favorite of many who work for Beam.
Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer incorporated! We're gonna do it! Okay, many of you have seen the opener of Laverne and Shirley as the glove goes down the assembly line of Schotz Brewery. Milwaukee, Wisconsin has long been associated with the behemoth side of the American brewing industry because it gave birth to Miller, Pabst, Schlitz, and Blatz. But the world of craft brewing is also alive and thriving in Brew City!
Howdy! Artsy guy here. I'm here in the MKE to see my artsy goods exhibited at Ten Chimneys (estate of the late, great Lunts of Broadway) and decided to take advantage of the weekend to catch up with friends and visit old haunts from my recent days at Milwaukee Rep. One of these is Sugar Maple in the Bayview neighborhood.
This place is a craft beer lover's dream. They feature 60 rotating taps (SIXTY!!!) that rely heavily on local and regional craft suds (i.e. New Glarus, Bell's, Three Floyds, Founders, etc.) and those from across the country (i.e. Lagunitas, Moylans, Rogue, North Coast, Oskar Blues, Southern Tier, Ommegang, and more). And they have hard booze too although I was, as usual, hop-focused.
(Interesting fact #1: Sugar Maple occupies the former home of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin that relocated in 2007.)
I ordered a taster tray of amazing mostly local stuff to which my bartender added another wee taste of something she thought I might like (and she was right). The only food they serve is a rotating menu of soups made by local restaurant Triskele's. The simple menu works very well. My bowl of sweet corn and potato chowder was incredible. The place also features the work of local artists and musicians.
If you find yourself in Milwaukee, get thee to Sugar Maple! That's what's HOPpenin'! (The catch phrase is a groaner, I know, but one day I'll just embrace it without qualification.) Cheers, y'all!
(Interesting fact #2: Sugar Maple was named for the state tree of Wisconsin.)
Mark and Happy Hour Guy Andy Kindig venture out to Conestoga / Lancaster, PA, and spend some time discovering a real up-and-coming Brewery that is putting out some inventive and bold beers; and has also managed to find a real welcome with their Taproom in bustling downtown Lancaster. Enjoy!
Hey folks. Joe the Loud Guy here. And Monday night I lived up to that, going to see Paul Keller Orchestra's weekly night of jazz at Zal Gaz Grotto in Ann Arbor. Nothing special on tap there, but they did have $4 bottles of Bell's Oberon and Winter White Ale. And the jazz was outstanding -- man, what a sax section!
Zal Gaz Grotto is associated with the Masons (not the people who make the jelly jars, apparently). It is open to the public on Monday and Tuesday nights for some awesome jazz -- Monday night is PKO's Big Band, and Tuesday night is Paul Klinger's Easy Street Band. And sometimes the Cake Lady is there! They have standard bar food available, and a small bar. Sometimes they get growlers from Wolverine State Brewing Company across the street...
Mark, the history guy here. My neighborhood, Astoria, NY, has seen a drastic change in drinking options in recent times. Once the home of a few working class bars (which I love) and the odd Irish or Mexican spot (which I also love), I've seen choices, great choices, pop up on many street corners.
I write this while siting in Hell's Gate Social, an almost unmarked neighborhood spot with a speakeasy feel and a killer bourbon list. And nightly specials, including $3 drafts on Mondays. Yesterday I tried new beers at MexiQ, a Latin fusion restaurant with 48 tap lines of craft beer.
One of my favorites, Vesta Trattoria, features amazing food and local wine on tap. Sunswick, 5 Napkin Burger, The Astor Room, Pachanga Patterson, Club 21, and more have all joined the local lineup and feature craft beverages and culturally specific cuisine.
All this is to say, we live in exciting times. There have never been so many choices and such quality do adventurous drinkers. A a happy Hour Guy it's awfully exciting. Man, we have some work to do! Go explore!
