The Beer Mapping Project - Recent Location Reviews

North Star Craft Brewery

dorandbob - score: 81.7 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:07:59 EDT

Brewery
Date and time reviewed: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:07:59 EDT

Overall Score: 81.7
Selection: 4 | Service: 4.25 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: dorandbob

North Star is in an obscure location fairly near Shasta Dam but the small tasting room is comfortable, and there is plenty of parking available. There are three tall square tables and three round tables with stools as well as a number of stools along the bar. A side room was being used as a children’s playroom while we were there but it looks like this is where live music is performed. There’s also a nice outdoor patio that looks like a great place to while away a warm evening.

The brewery is in a large space behind the bar. We got a good view through the open door on our visit (and even better when we went through to the restrooms!)

They make five beers: Pango (peach mango wheat), Bright (Extra Pale Ale), Horizons (Amber Ale), IPA, and Blackhole (Imperial Oatmeal Porter/Stout). We had the IPA and it was truly glorious.

We didn’t try any food but it looked like there were a few interesting pub snacks available, at least in the evenings.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

dorandbob - score: 91.7 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:02:29 EDT

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:02:29 EDT

Overall Score: 91.7
Selection: 5 | Service: 4.25 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: dorandbob

Coming here is obligatory given that this is Sierra Nevada, but it’s also truly worthwhile as you will find excellent beer, good food, and a good atmosphere. The beer selection is amazing. All the beers are made by Sierra Nevada and include the usual lineup but also quite a few specials that you can’t get anywhere else.

The space has a tall ceiling and a skylight and it’s large, plush and nicely decorated. On the right is the bar section but the bulk of the space is reserved for dining. An open kitchen with a wood-fired pizza oven is in the back. Floors are quarry tile in the bar and carpeting in the dining section.

The bar and bar chairs are made from dark wood. The bar surface is copper and the bar back is an imposing structure made from the same dark wood and decorated with stained glass (motifs are hops, river scenes, and the name of brewery).

And there’s a fantastic large outdoor seating area on the left side that really takes advantage of the hot dry weather here. A large arbor covered in wisteria as well as other assorted vines and plants make this a lovely garden setting.

The food is good too. It is definitely a cut above the standard brewpub fare - better ingredients, more innovative combinations, etc. We had a delicious chorizo wood-fired pizza on our latest visit.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Mount Shasta Brewing

dorandbob - score: 85.0 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:53:44 EDT

Brewery
Date and time reviewed: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:53:44 EDT

Overall Score: 85.0
Selection: 4 | Service: 4.5 | Atmosphere: 4.25 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: dorandbob

Mt Shasta Brewing is close to I-5 in the unlikely named town of Weed, California. It has a nice large tasting room with skylights. The bar is a great old wooden bar and bar-back combination that looks historic. On the bar back is a great stained glass section that beautifully displays the name of the brewery. The bar and bar stools are a couple steps up from the main floor which has assorted wooden tables, chairs, and padded booths. The room has a tall ceiling and is decorated with assorted historic, odd, and beer-related items: 3 elk heads, old bicycles hanging from the ceiling, old skis and snowshoes, miscellaneous old tools, assorted beer coasters, and hats and t-shirts for sale. The brewery is visible through windows on the left side of the room. The outdoor seating is a couple tables on the loading dock overlooking the large parking lot. There’s also a second floor deck in the front of the building with a fantastic view of Mt. Shasta (but it wasn’t open on our visit).

They have five regular beers plus a special (a Belgian-style beer made with dry cherries on our visit; in the winter there’s a stout). The beers are well-made and true to style, if perhaps a little subdued. It’s a worthwhile visit. (p.s. The restrooms are located in the brewery itself, and visiting them affords the opportunity for an impromptu tour as well.)

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Wild River Pub And Publick House

dorandbob - score: 88.3 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:48:40 EDT

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:48:40 EDT

Overall Score: 88.3
Selection: 4.75 | Service: 4.75 | Atmosphere: 3.75 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: dorandbob

Wild River makes their own beer. They have a good selection of ales and they taste quite good too. We’ve visited several different times and always felt welcome and glad we came.

The Wild River Pub is one of two locations in Grants Pass. The other is primarily a restaurant and it’s where they brew their beer. This place is definitely a pub (albeit one that also serves food). The style is fairly generic yet it’s clearly a well-loved local place. You enter in the middle of the long side of the pub and directly face a long wooden bar with stools and a wood-fired pizza oven beyond. There is another “bar” (a tall narrow fixed table) with stools in the middle of the room and there are tables and chairs along the walls and windows. Intriguing brass lantern-style light fixtures hang from the ceiling. The floor is painted concrete with a textured pattern. The walls are white except for the long wall which has scattered green paint and is trimmed with a painting of a river scene. The end wall is completely covered by a mural of another river scene. A pool table is on one side of the room and there are several TVs with the sound off. The music was loud on our latest visit.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Happy Gnome, The

Nick - score: 90.0 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:07:20 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:07:20 EDT

Overall Score: 90.0
Selection: 4.75 | Service: 4.25 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Food: 5.0

Reviewer: Nick

After hearing about Firkin Fest I wanted to check out this place. Very restaurant oriented (dressed up servers who don't seem to swear and know their stuff). The drink menu was a bit much to take in 350 bottle selection of beer and 45 taps including a Surly Firkin that day (plus hundreds of whiskies). The draft list changes daily so, I have been coming back. The food is dynamite! You can go with a bison burger with the guys or the entrees were are fancy, delicious and my wife loves the food. A beer bar that the wife will always want to go to. Thank you Mr. Gnome.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Cooke's Family Market - El Segundo

Just Rob - score: 86.7 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:08:27 EDT

Beer Store
Date and time reviewed: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:08:27 EDT

Overall Score: 86.7
Selection: 4.5 | Service: 4.5 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: Just Rob

Local market in the center of El Segundo with plenty of parking. Great selection of micros and Belgains kept cold on the shelf. Lots of California beers. Gets just about every seasonal and special release. Not sure what to say about service in a market other than it is friendly, the manager is fairly beer kowledgeable and has come through on a request for specific beers. A little pricey but not too bad. You will pay $1 more per 6 pack than at Bev Mo. Not sure what to say about atmosphere.. It is a market..

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Kennebec River Brewery

topfermented - score: 86.7 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:55:54 EDT

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:55:54 EDT

Overall Score: 86.7
Selection: 4 | Service: 5 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 4.0

Reviewer: topfermented

Friendly and quaint, but unfortunately out in the middle of nowhere. The main building is a large log cabin with table seating inside, a short bar, and a performance space. There's an outdoor deck with a pool (that was covered) that, I take, is for people who are staying there for an "outdoor adventure" -- white water rafting trip or that sort of thing.

All beers are cask conditioned and excellent, though they were out of one of their beers (IPA) when I visited. Food portions were enormous, well-prepared, and quite tasty.

Overall, enjoyed my visit, would love to visit again.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Beer Works - Canal Street

PilsHelp - score: 83.3 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:14:42 EDT

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:14:42 EDT

Overall Score: 83.3
Selection: 4.5 | Service: 4.25 | Atmosphere: 3.75 | Food: 4.5

Reviewer: PilsHelp

Had already been to Fenway Park location when I visited this one on Canal Street in June. Area has several historical buildings that have been renovated into restaurants on first floor and commercial office space on upper floors. This restaurant utilizes upstairs space, as well, though. Interior is very spacious and lots of booths and tables throughout the first floor area. Bar area is somewhat unremarkable, though.

Tried three beers on the night. The first was a fruit seasonal, the Cherry Bomb, which was tasty but probably still a little too heavy on the palate afterwards (3). The second seasonal was also a fruited wheat: the Watermelon Ale. This one was very light and a perfect complement to a summer meal -- and not overwhelmingly sweet either (4). The final beer I had was one of their award-winners: the Backyard IPA. Great quality to this brew, wonderful finish, and comparatively one of the better IPAs I've had (4). Beer Works always has at least a dozen brews on tap between their regulars and seasonals, which presents a fun challenge to patrons as what to drink on a given night!

The meal here was also quite good. As I'd had previously at their other location, I couldn't resist the Lobster Salad Salad and their home-made fries. The service was attentive and friendly.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Beer Works - Fenway

PilsHelp - score: 88.3 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:06:21 EDT

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:06:21 EDT

Overall Score: 88.3
Selection: 4.5 | Service: 4.25 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Food: 4.75

Reviewer: PilsHelp

Right next to Fenway Park, the brewpub is intriguingly constructed with bar area in front and then 'ramp-up' effect to restaurant and second bar in back. Resides in old warehouse with beer bottles in windows, which in the late afternoon catches the sun and adds a very surreal atmosphere to the restaurant area. Young crowd mostly. Solid brewpub menu. Lobster Salad Salad was excellent -- made with fresh lobster and lots of wild greens and avocado in Raspberry Vinegarette.

Visited in March and was pining for quality IPA -- was very happy to have the Mad Hops, which was preceded by their pale ale, Fenway American.

Service was decent. A little noisy because of cavernous nature of space, but did not detract.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Goose Island - Clybourn

PilsHelp - score: 86.7 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:54:57 EDT

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:54:57 EDT

Overall Score: 86.7
Selection: 5 | Service: 3.75 | Atmosphere: 4.25 | Food: 4.0

Reviewer: PilsHelp

Cannot argue with any of the positive reviews already contributed for this Goose location. The quality of the beer selection is far and away superior to most others I've visited. On the March night I was there, the blustery winds made the beer that much more fulfilling. I tried both the Midway and Imperial IPAs -- they were phenomenal and I'd recommend them to anyone who appreciates their hops.

Liked the beer-nostalgia decorative touch and thought the aesthetics of the giant bar in the middle of the restaurant really contributed to the community feel of the establishment.

Had the hanger steak, which was decent. Service suffered a little because it was busy, but did not alter the experience overall.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com