Been on Manhattan's Upper East Side lately? It recently became a much more Craft-y place, thanks to some folk who have a great deal of experience creating terrific places to meet, eat, and drink. The Jeffrey is the new Neighborhood Joint that starts pouring Craft Coffee at 6am, and then goes, and goes, and goes. Join Mark, Jimmy, and Squigs on a trip to this new gem!
Video #287: Good News in Detroit - Atwater Brewing.
BIER STUBE!
Sure, there's plenty of bad news coming out of the Motor City these days - the largest American city ever to declare bankruptcy, images of ruin porn, and on and on. But we have some good news from Detroit - and it has to do with Craft. Join Mark, Jimmy, AJ and Joe at the Atwater Brewery in the historic Rivertown District in Downtown Detroit City, where a warehouse from 1919 and brewing techniques that are over 200 years old continue to do their part to revitalize a city. Cheers!
Pils. Grimage.
PilsGrimage! Thanks to our Michigan correspondents the Loud Guy and the Science Guy, here's a Happy Hour Guys motorcycle excursion to Northern MI, and Short's Brewing Company's original brewpub in Bellaire, MI. A true PilsGrimage indeed: People travel from all over the world to sample the bounteous brews that are only offered at this location.
Loud Guy not so loud with face covered.
Science Guy.
Lodging: SET.
We're On Approach.
Outside the BrewPub in Bellaire, MI.
Sweet Nectar!
Choices, Choices, Choices...
Roads well traveled.
And thanks to Hydroflask, we're taking some home!
Hopefully we'll see more updates from this quest. Keep 'em comin' guys. Now everyone, get out there and BEV-TOUR!
Video #286: Artsy's Craft Report - Port Chester Hall!
Hello Happy Hour Nation! Squigs scoots less than an hour north from New York City to experience the fantastic new Port Chester Hall. Take a peek inside this reclaimed train station and learn about some of what you will find here. Beer! Food! Trains!
And watch to the end for a wee travel tip for the thousands of you who schlep through Grand Central Terminal each day.
Video #285: BEERmuda Triangle in Avon and Upland!
Rounding out our time with the BEERmuda Triangle Tour last summer for Bagger Daves, here's our last stop, Upland Brewing and the BDVs store in Avon, Indiana. What an amazing trip this was!
New Adjunct Faculty, and #CraftBeer in Panama!
Steve Smith, an old friend of Jimmy's, reached out recently with an exciting proposition: He travels worldwide constantly for work and wanted to contribute to THHG! After much thought (2 or 3 seconds) we heartily agreed. Please welcome our newest contributor, the Frequent Flyer Guy, with a report from Panama!
Something's Brewing in Panama: Craft Beer
Like in many countries, beer options in Panama have been historically limited to large established domestic and international brands. SABMiller, for example, presently holds 66% market share in Panama, both through its indirect ownership of Panama's Cerveceria National (Atlas and Balboa brands), and as a result of its recent introduction of international brands like Miller Lite. But a fledgling craft beer movement is taking root and gaining momentum in Panama, and the prospects are looking bright for the nation's beer lovers.
The origins of the Panamanian craft beer movement can be traced to 2005, when the Istmo Brew Pub opened in the El Congrejo neighborhood of Panama City. After nearly 9 years in operation, Istmo's business definitely doesn't seem to have gone flat, drawing a large Friday night crowd of locals, ex-pats, and tourists when I visited. This is thanks in large part to its selection of house-made "cerveza artesanal", including the refreshing Istmo Colón (pictured), one of five varieties offered.
If BrewDog stopped by, these guys must be pretty cool...
In the historic and now-trendy Casco Viejo neighborhood, the La Rana Dorada brewery has burst onto the craft beer scene. It currently features four diverse selections: a Belgian blanche, a German-style pils, an English-style pale ale, and a classic English porter. La Rana Dorada enjoyed a brisk business comprised mostly of locals when I visited, so much so that two of the four beer selections had sold out by the time I arrived later in the evening.
La Rana Dorada Brewery, Panama City.
Adding to craft beer's momentum, Panama hosted its inaugural Micro Brew Fest in 2013, with Istmo Brew Pub and La Rana Dorada as two of the four domestic craft breweries participating, Also participating were Oregon's Rogue Ales and Scotland's BrewDog. 2013's success brought an expanded roster of 10 breweries in 2014, more evidence of growing interest in craft beers in Panama.
As I have traveled this past year and a half, the discovery of craft beers and breweries in unexpected places around the world has been surprising. Panama City, Bangkok, and even Shanghai are now home to thriving craft breweries, bringing to mind an image of Chairman Mao cheerfully sipping a hoppy IPA. No longer just a North American or European phenomenon, the craft beer movement has gone global, bringing choice and flavor to beer lovers everywhere.
Steve Smith, the Frequent Flyer Guy
Steve Smith is a software developer and former technology entrepreneur who is presently on a multi-year adventure exploring the food, drink, and culture of the world. Born in Detroit, Michigan, and based in San Francisco, California, he currently spends the majority of his time abroad. Steve's favorite international destinations include Paris, Bangkok, and Buenos Aires. His preference in bars tends toward neighborhood pubs, feeling that they offer the best opportunity to interact and meet new people while traveling. Some of Steve's favorite watering holes include San Francisco's R Bar, Finnerty's in New York, Le Galway Irish Pub in Paris, and The Game in Bangkok.
Outpost: Colorado.
The Maroon Bells - some of the most photographed mountains in the world.
One of the greatest things about The Happy Hour Guys has always been that the show is so very portable. As Actors, Mark and Jimmy are always traveling around then world for various projects, and where they go, The Happy Hour Guys inevitably follows.
This summer, while Mark holds down the fort on Broadway in NYC, (Newsies, The Musical) Jimmy will be spending 10 weeks in Aspen, Colorado doing the musical The Full Monty at Theatre Aspen. And there is much to cover in and around that frontier outpost! (But can a town with a Prada flagship store ever truly be called an outpost?!?!?)
These require more study. And camera angles.
Be sure and drop us a line or leave a comment if you're interested in seeing us at your place, or are looking to do a fun event - either in CO or NYC.
Its going to be a terrific summer!