5- Rundown - Boise Brewing Hip Check IPA (Aspen to Idaho)

Boise Brewing | Hip Check 

India Pale Ale 7.6%

Boise, Idaho

Look: 5/5 Deep Golden Color. 

Smell: 3/5 Not much in the line of smell, clean, clear

Taste: 3.5/5 Very hoppy, bitter, simple. Not too much alcohol taste, Great flagship IPA

Feel: 5/5 Not heavy, medium body

Drinkability: 4/5 This one sits a little heavier on the stomach, maybe 3 or 4, but that may be how much I’ve missed IPAs the last few days

Overall: 4.5

So wouldn't you know - after leaving Kansas, and driving into nothingness for what seemed like a mildly hungover eternity, we arrived in the oasis of Colorado. Breaking the border of CO from KS doesn't bring much change to the landscape, but once you get to Denver - well, that's where any similarity ends.

Through the rockies we went - an incredible drive, and demanding as well. All of the day's travel brought us to the beautiful city of Aspen. Hot damn, is everything expensive though. We came all this way to  hang out with our old friend David, and met his shiny new wife, Sarah (she's awesome).

Landon, David, & Bryan in Aspen

To make the long story short, I bought david a bottle of tequila for his wedding gift, and we had a few drinks (pronounced shots). We all had a quite lengthy discussion about yoga, travel, energy, home -  a whole slew of Colorado-centric topics.  We took a break from beer for the day, and centered ourselves, regained our chi, and expelled the bad energy. I have no idea what I'm saying. It was a blast of a night though, and wonderful to see a friend that has been out of touch for 3/4 a decade!

The next morning found us traveling to what I think is one of the most underrated cities I've ever been to. Boise, effin Idaho. Being from the southeast, and never having traveled further west than Denver, an experience like this reminded me just how little of the world I have seen.

Boise has 3 things I love: organized & active community, college athletics (Go Broncos!), and a blooming beer scene! It very much reminded me of my home in Knoxville, which is a great thing. On top of those aforementioned perks, the city has nearby ski access, is a great city for touring bands, and is clean (a city pet-peeve of mine) as a whistle!

So once in town, Bryan and I grabbed an Uber to the brewery of which our focus falls on today. Boise Brewing Company. BB is such a neat story - and I don't want to take away from the owner's ability to tell it, so I'll just present it to you here:

"Started back in 2012, Collin Rudeen first came up with the idea of opening a brewery when he signed up for a community garden. He wondered why there couldn’t be a fresh pint of his favorite malty beverage for pickup along with his monthly box of vegetables. Just like that, Boise Brewing was born. From idea to opening day was about a two-year process. Collin hired on Lance Chavez from Sockeye Brewing as head brewer and together they began working on recipes, scoping out locations, and raising capital.

Boise Brewing raised some of their start-up costs from an online kick-starter campaign. However, Collin saw an opportunity in the idea of community funded projects. After many meetings with lawyers and banks…A LOT of meetings… they came up with the idea of a community supported brewery. Much like a co-op, owners could buy “stock” in the brewery and own a portion, with dividends paid out in BEER! Boise Brewing is currently one of only a couple breweries in the country to offer an ownership program of this kind. With the help of over 280 individual owners and businesses; Boise Brewing was able to raise enough money to open its doors to the public on June 13, 2014."

r. http://www.boisebrewing.com/about/ 

Awesome, right? It really makes me want to co-op a brewery somewhere in Knox County. And just think...you get paid in beer. Delicious, scintillating idea.

So, along with a fresh approach, BB has a great vibe inside of their downtown brewery/taproom as well: tall tanks everywhere, a brewer forward warehouse style space, where the taproom was fit in around it. As soon as you open the door, you can smell the scent of barley and hops. I don't know too much about brewery construction, but it felt cozy. Like a brewer's taproom - not a commercial facade in any way.  You know they are serious brewing, but they also have a lighter side when it comes to naming their beverages. Titles like Dark Daisy, Fair Dig, and Snow Boarder Porter  really make ordering an adventure in itself. This all brings us to one of my most well-liked IPA's to date. Enter Hip-Check IPA.

 The Hip-Check is a a dry-hopped American IPA, and check's just about all of my boxes. Does the beer have meaning? Check. This one is meant to bring out the 'Hop-hound' in craft lovers by using all hops from the Pacific-Northwest - one of the premier regions of hop production around the world. I love a beer that represents its region. The color is warm gold (Pantone: Nectar of the Gods). Check. and the taste? Well, if you like a dry hop, then heck yeah, this pint's for you. With a medium light body and a perfect head (great pours, Lindley & Danni), man did this go down easy. I mentioned it in my notes above, but if my imaginary brewery had a flagship IPA, then this would be it. Hops, a slight dry bitterness, and a clean finish all together make this a beer that I would sit down and have again and again. Actually -  while sitting writing right now, my mouth is watering for one. I guess I'll have to find a reason to fly out to Boise, watch those Bronco's play on that crazy blue astroturf, and have a seat at Boise Brewery. Or maybe the hip-check is that reason. Either way, Idahaveanother.

Cheers, Boise!

The only Idaho sunset I've ever seen. 10/10. 

P.S. Check out what all you get with a Boise Brewing CSB (Community Supported Beer) Membership @ http://www.boisebrewing.com/membership/ !

4- Rundown - Boulevard Pale Ale (Sampled in Manhattan, KS)

Boulevard Brewing Company | Pale Ale

Pale Ale 5.4%

Kansas City, Missouri

Missouri, not Kansas. 

Look:  5/5 What you expect from a Pale Ale - a nice golden. 

Smell:  4/5 Slightly fragrant & hoppy smell.

Taste:  3.5/5 Slightly bitter, dry, with a hoppy profile. 

Feel: 3/5 Light, subtle but not fully clean finish. The hops resonate.

Drinkability: 3/5 There’s room for three in my belly.

Overall: 3.6

After a long first day of goin' up the country, Bryan and I stopped for the night in Manhattan, Kansas. We have some close friends, Jordan & Justin that live there. Justins in the service, and they could move to Las Vegas sometime in the future, so maybe I should invite them to do the blog too. Good idea, zealots! 

So, the 'Little Apple' is actually a pretty cool town. It's flat as all get out, and you never hear too much about it, save for Kansas State being there (Go Wildcats) - but, that doesn't mean that everyone isn't extremely nice and there's nothing to offer. There were quite a few spots I wanted to try out, but being as we were only in town for 12 hours, we had to land on but one spot. 

Aside - Next time we do this, we are absolutely taking a day in between for each city we stop in. I'm worn out just thinking about 1900 miles in 4 days. 

That spot, as it turned out, was a neat, hip pub on Poyntz Ave named Bourbon & Baker. 

We scoped a few places out, but after seeing the cocktail menu here, we figured we'd be losing at life if we didn't try drinks named G.F.B.C. (Good-F*ck!n Bourbon/Coke), Mascara on a Mule, or Redundant Redhead. Our curiosity actually led us all around the drink menu, and if I recall correctly, we ended up having tequila, a few GFBC's, a bourbon or two, the ended (Sorry in advance that this post isn't about this last drink. I was a little sloshy at this point) on an absolutely beautiful glass of Sinatra's Select Jack Daniel's. Damn was that sip was delectable (No - I was drunk - was it actually that good?). 

If I'm not mistaken this also led to a walk home within which many a Christmas light was enjoyed, all to a wonderful holiday melody sang by a Cher.

But, before all of this went down - I did start the night off with a beer. This particular beer was from Boulevard Brewery - about 2 hours away, in Kansas City, Missouri. And yes, the brewery is on a boulevard (Southwest Blvd, to be precise). Born in 1989, this brewery instantly gained some clout with me, being that we were some of the last, and greatest things to ever come out of the 80's. 

The Boulevard Pale Ale was, well - Pale. It had a great flavor, color, and taste. It was a bit dry, which I liked. Maybe best in the warm evening months. Even as I like a juicy ale most of the time, something about the drinkability of this one had me sold. I would have had 3+ if I wasn't planning on waking up at 5:30 the next morning!

Alas. I feel like there is so much more ground to be covered in Manhattan. I honestly dont think I'll have too many more experiences in Kansas, but when I do, I think the best setting would be in the eastern part. Why you ask? Because the drive from Manhattan, Kansas to the next stop we made was straight and long and booooooooooring. But that's another post for another day. Cheers, Kansas!

A little history with my friend, Jordan. 

3- Rundown - Mother's Brewing Lil' Helper

Mother’s Brewing Company Lil’ Helper

Midwest Coast IPA 7.0%

Springfield, Missouri

Mother Knows Best

Look: 5/5  A bit on the darker side of IPA’s

Smell: 3/5  There's not much of a scent to this one - simple and clean. It wasnt bad by any means, but left a little to be desired.

Taste: 4/5  This IPA, as described, is a decent bit hoppy, not by any means overwhelming, though. It has a mellowness as it goes down, with almost a honey or mollasses sweetness towards the back. I like it.

Feel: 4/5   The body is light to medium- goes down smooth and easy. 

Drinkability: 3/5  Halfway through this beer, it really hits its stride. Easy to have a few. I love an IPA, and whatever a Midwest Coast IPA is, I will have another. Which as Scott says, is the best compliment you can give a beer.

Overall: 3.9/5

Missouri State's Logo

The journey from Memphis, TN to Seattle took Bryan and I about 38 hours over 4 days. After riding 6 hours on Day 1, we found ourselves in a small city by the name of Springfield, Missouri. No, I'd never heard of it - nor did I have any idea what to expect. But after a bit of yelping, we found a cool corner restaurant/bar by the name of Riad's. Riads is a unique combo of Mediterranean (didn't spell that right the first time) entrees, american sides, and craft beer with a bit of a college twist. I can imagine the place being packed with students on a Friday night - Riad's is right on the edge of Missouri State's campus (Remember Cuonzo Martin, Basketball fans? That's where he cut his teeth.) Go Bears!

So, Bryan and I sit down, order some food - a gyro, in my case -  (sorry, it was gone by the time a photo was taken) with a side of garlic parmesan fries - incredible.  We then took a look at the selection of Mother's Brews on tap. They had 4 or 5 (you can see them above), and I wanted to try them all. Alas, I've told myself that my reviews will only be on the first beer of the day- for the sake of giving each one a fair shot and not letting another throw off my opinion. So, naturally, I went for the IPA. The Lil' Helper Midwest Coast IPA is a bit darker than I imagined it would be, and lacked any real bouquet of hops, but you know, I never let that put me off on a pale ale, most are simple and clean smelling anyway. The head on this one was pretty thick, too. The best word I could use to describe the Lil' Helper is simple. And not in a bad way! It went down with medium-light body - really smooth for an IPA. The taste was mellow as IPA's go, and had the slightest bit of sweetness on the back end, like a honey or molasses, almost. 

You know, I can't say that I have paired up and IPA with a lamb gyro too many times. But with as well as this combo turned out, I might just do it a bit more often. Tzatziki Tzatziki!

2- You Should Drink Faster / Scott's Intro

You Should Drink Faster.

At the New Belgium Brewery in Asheville

Hello beer-zealots! My name is Scott, and I want to go on this beer journey with you. I live in Knoxville and love drinking local beer! I am a self-identified Hophead. I have always been a craft beer drinker. Well, for as long as I have been legally able to purchase beer, I have been a craft beer drinker. When I turned 21 in 2010 the craft beer boom was just beginning. I remember cutting my teeth on beer I have never heard of at the Surly Girl Saloon, RIP, in Columbus Ohio. I remember my first Rogue Dead Guy Ale. That was the hook. Cool name, cool tap handle, and a hop forward Red Ale. Perfect beer for a dude who had no idea what's going on.  Hell, I still never claim to know what is going on, but the curiosity lives on! I want to keep trying the next beer.

Cards on the table, I am a craft beer nerd, but I am a lazy craft beer nerd. Whenever there is a two hour line for a trendy or hyped up beer, I will be looking for the beer that is just as good that does not have a long line. I am not going to get bottles shipped across the country. There are just to many good beers I may not have ever heard of. Something under the radar. A small brewery that deserves more attention.

Since turning 21, I have learned a thing or two about beer, got a job in the industry, and have done a lot of research one pint at a time. I have been working for Blackhorse Brewery for over three years now. I started as a server and bartender, but most of that time has been spent as a Sales Rep. I did a stint the production side of the brewery. I am a Cicerone Certified Beer Server for anyone who A) cares and B) knows what that means.

Brewer's Jam!

Being in the industry has given me a unique perspective. Seeing the blood, sweat, and tears that go into brewing a beer changes a person. I will always give a beer its due. It does not matter if the beer is not my style of choice, if it is the best damn thing I have ever drank, or even has some off flavors. Every craft beer you put in hand is the fruit of someone's labor. It is easy to be a hater and put breweries work down. I always try to remember someone gives a shit about that beer and worked their ass off to brew it.

With this blog, I hope to catalogue some of my passion. I want to review new beers around Knoxville. When I travel out of town, give ya'll a review of what I'm drinking and where. I might vent about developments in the craft beer world. Maybe interview some industry folks. There will inevitably be a "grumpy old man" post about AB Inbev or one of the other big guys sticking their hands in craft beer. I really just want to post some fun blogs about beer. I want to put my opinions out n the world and see if anyone digs it. I want this to be a discussion too.

If you order a bad beer, remember, there is always the next one.