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| Grandmother "Laura D" |
We were headed out to the service and to help my mother with
things on Friday of that week. Of course, it is always difficult dealing with
the passing of loved ones and during the intervening days before we traveled, I
was reflecting on fond memories of my grandmother. Known from her youth as
“Laura D”, she was always a lively soul – enjoying life – and regarded by those
around her as a real “pistol” …
My grandfather owned three bars in the Cotton Valley area of
northwest Louisiana and was on his way home from meeting one of his
distributors at one of his bars very early one morning when he was killed by a
large 18-wheeler truck on one of the narrow parish roads which existed in the
early 1950's. Grandmother, in her grief, soon lost the twins she was carrying
at the time but managed to regroup and raise three children she and my
grandfather already had.
It was devastating to her, of course – and in the early
1950's, it was very difficult for a woman to work and raise a family – still
is, huh?. But back then, women in the workplace was indeed rare – and the pay
scale – well, let's just say it was as little as the volume of craft beer left
in my glass when I stand to leave an establishment. An amazing and beautiful
woman, she attracted a significant number of men, but no one could ever replace
my grandfather.
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| My heart ... |
They had no problem with me taking a sip of the scotch and
water but I found I could time it such that one didn't know the frequency at
which the other was sharing it with me, so most times, I was getting twice what
they each thought. They’d probably be thrown in jail, nowadays, in the
over-reactionary society we live in. But hey, I turned out all right, correct?
… I SAID, “I TURNED OUT ALL RIGHT, CORRECT?” … is that ... crickets … I
hear? … oh, okay, companion just said I turned out just fine – after elbowing
him in the side as he sits next to me in bed, watching television.
Heart surgery in her eighties, traveling to and gambling at
the casinos even after her heart surgery, she lived to be almost 95 years old. Her mind was all there
until the very end – but she had been aggravated for years that her body
declined faster than her brain.
Her spirit lives in me and I am honored to have been her
only granddaughter.
Companion could tell I was having a tough time of it, so he
had been secretly researching some things before we left to help break up the
trip on the way and get my mind off of the “sad things”. After almost 20 years
together, he can read me pretty well and knows what I need sometimes before I
ask.
While sitting comfortably at the bar, we ordered and
thoroughly enjoyed (descriptions per Intuition's website) :
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| The Redman & the Honey Badger |
“Counter to its mischevous Irish folklore namesake, The
Redman is a smooth and enjoyable Irish red. Malty and lightly hopped, this brew
is perfect for any drinking session.”
Honey Badger
“Inspired by everyone’s favorite member of the animal
kingdom. This Farmhouse ale was fermented very warm with 50 pounds of Florida
honey. This created a dry and spicy but sweet style ale that “don’t care”… this
week we also have our special Anniversary Honey Badge aged on oak brett.”
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| Sun Ray Wit |
“A fruity and refreshing Belgian witbier.“
The Terrific Trio – Bryan, Hannah and Robin – were serving
that evening and each offered their sincere condolences. There is a reason
Bryan is one of my Beer Buds and both Hannah and Robin are two of my Ale
Angels. Their people skills are exceptional and all three are first-class
individuals. Besides that, they know their beer and how to “sling it” !
While enjoying our Intuition brews, companion mentioned his
idea of a couple of stops – on the way to or back from Louisiana to experience
a “refreshing of my soul” - something he said Grandmother would want me to
have.
I accepted – but told him I would not be in a mood to party
or “get all Jax Brew Bitch” during the trip. However, a respite from the grief and
those things we all go through when losing a loved one would certainly be
welcome.
My heartfelt appreciation to Bryan, Hannah and Robin for
their best wishes and to them and Intuition
Ale Works for providing a comfortable resting place on a somber Jax Brew
Bitch evening.
One of the places we had decided to stop was the Pensacola Bay Brewing Company in, of
course, Pensacola, Florida. We had been there a couple of times in pre-Jax Brew
Bitch days when traveling there for companion's work.
Nestled in the Historic District of Pensacola, significant
nightlife is close by and the setting is very comfortable. Entering, the décor
had been augmented since our earlier visits and is rather upscale and inviting.
T-Shirts, mugs and other swag has its place on the wall, conveniently displayed
for customers to browse through.
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| Carey & Lauren at Pensacola Bay Brewery |
I had alerted one of the owners and President, Elliott
Eckland via e-mail that we were traveling through and hoped we could see him
there. We had met Elliott earlier at the Florida
Tap Takeover on Friday, April 6 at the Green
Room Brewery (see previous post for that day).
Unfortunately, Elliott had just left the brewery since duty
called him to the festival starting in the same area. However, Carey and Lauren
were there, serving from behind the bar. Carey is so kind and was gracious
enough to let me take some photos and discuss the Pensacola Bay Brewery's
current selections. Lauren was engaging and efficient behind the bar – I can
see why she is so popular!
From the tempting list of available brews at the Pensacola Bay Brewery, we selected the
following (descriptions per their website):
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| Lil' Napoleon IPA & the Oatmeal Stout |
“Napoleon never set foot on Florida’s shores, but if he
did, we’re sure he’d be looking for a way to conquer the land from coast to
coast. He’d probably have some supporters - after all, the French helped settle
Pensacola.
Our Li’l Napoleon was christened in the name of all
short bastards - the good, the bad and the infamous. Strong and hoppy, Li’l
Napoleon can sneak up on you if you let it. With a smooth caramel and honey
finish, you’ll want to have a second. And probably a third.
Take time to savor the good ole days, when the French
had power and Florida was a territory waiting to be developed. We reckon
Napoleon would be proud of the IPA that bears his name. (Aside from his hatred
of all things English, naturally). Menu Pairings include: Thai food; Spicy Jerk
Chicken; Nutty cheeses like Parmesan and Colby; Onion Rings”
Realizing we still had a long way to go, we said goodbye to
Carey and Lauren and got back onto the Interstate heading west.
Thanks to Cary, Lauren and Pensacola Bay Brewery for a
relaxing break from our drive and comfortable setting to temporarily take my
mind off the reason for the trip.
To view photos from Penssacola Bay Brewey, visit the link
below:
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| The Keg & Barrel Hattiesburg, MS |
Housed in what was originally a residential structure, the
decidedly historic structure serves well as a brew pub. It was quite busy –
being in a college town and on a Friday night – but there was ample room at the
bar.
After sizing up the impressive beer menu, we selected the
following tasty brews (descriptions from their websites):
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| Bayou Teche Brewing's Mello Double |
“In collaboration with Mello Joy Coffee we have crafted a
Belgian Dubbel style beer that is spiked with their signature, dark French-roasted,
and very Cajun coffee.“
JBB Note – Hello, Mello! … that subtle, under the
surface “I'm about to get you drunk” Dubbel attitude with a coffee jolt comin'
your way – this was fantastic!
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| Southern Prohibition Ale's POW - Rye in the Kissser |
“A pale ale with a generous amount of rye added to the grain
bill. I balanced it with some nice bright American
hops (cascade and centennial). A session beer with enough taste to keep your
attention without leaving you with a headache”
JBB Note: I did not expect the eye-opening flavor of
this fine nectar! … if I lived closer, this would become an addiction ...
Barrett and Katie were so very kind and took the time to
answer some questions.
Barrett shared some information about the brewery and plans
for expanding their beer selections.
Katie informed us the recently passed legislation to raise
the ABV % cap to 8% - up from I believe 4.0% - in Mississippi had just been
signed by the governor! … in an earlier JBB post, I had mentioned the bill had
been passed by the State Legislature and sent to the Governor for his
signature.
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| Our Brewtenders, Barrett & Katie |
Under different circumstances, we would have stayed a lot
longer but responsibilities beckoned down the road and I needed to get to them.
Thanks to Katie, Barrett and Keg and Barrel Brew Pub for a wonderful first experience! … I hope
to return in the not too distant future!
To view more photos from Keg and Barrel, visit the link
below:
It was a little later in the evening, so the crowd there had
thinned – but more people kept coming in after we entered. We were impressed –
with everything!
Water was the beverage of choice due to the length of our
travel – and we'd had enough beer. Super King Buffet does have beer available
but I was too engrossed in the buffet to find out.
The food was superb! … I mention it because I have certainly
eaten at other establishments (some of them filthy) of this genre where the
sushi was all “rolls” - and those being both dry and tasteless. Not here!
Thanks to Super King
Buffet for being on top of their game! … it was a wonderful meal.
The next few days were consumed with the gatherings, services
and responsibilities including serving as Pallbearer for my Grandmother, which
was a privilege and honor to do so. It was good seeing family members and old
friends during the five days we were there – I just wish it had been under
happier circumstances. However, I knew that Grandmother would not want me upset
for too long after the normal grieving period. I cherish my memories of her and
being with her – and I'm thankful for her influence in my life. I know I'll
still get upset from time to time in the future, but I know “Laura D” would
want me “gettin' back at it” ...
Arriving a few minutes after they opened at 3:00 pm, there
were no other customers when we entered. There were three staff members present
and all three gave us a very warm and sincere welcome. Tending to us that day
were Nicole, Katie and Dustin – with Nichole busying herself behind the bar as
Dustin and Katie were hustling around getting the place ready for later that
evening.
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| Katie, Dustin, JBB & Nichole |
I was able to ask all three some questions about their beer
and had a lengthy discussion with Nichole about her tenure there at 3docs, her background and more about
the bar itself.
The bar has an impressive number of taps and a good
selection of bottled beer – many of them from Louisiana based breweries.
We selected a couple of draft beers - one from a Houston,
Texas brewery and one from Baton Rouge (descriptions per breweries' websites) :
“Santo is a black Kölsch, which technically doesn’t exist
as a style, but this is as close as we can come to describing it. Essentially
it is brewed using a Kölsch recipe with the addition of Munich and black malt.
It is light bodied and floral yet with a distinct dark malt flavor. Our goal
was to create a dark yet refreshing beer that would pair perfectly with a plate
of enchiladas.
The label artwork is by Houston artist Carlos Hernandez who is known for his Day of the Dead Rock Star series of paintings and prints.”
The label artwork is by Houston artist Carlos Hernandez who is known for his Day of the Dead Rock Star series of paintings and prints.”
JBB Note – WOW! … malty to the core – love the floral
accents in this deceivingly light-bodied Texas brew!
Tin Roof Brewing Company's Voodoo Bengal Pale Ale -
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| Tin Roof ... Rusted! |
JBB Note – noticeable but not overpowering hop flavor
– not a jolt which wouldn't be expected in a pale, anyway – but still very
flavorful. Honey there, for sure in this Baton Rouge brew. Website description
definitely nails it with the food pairings!
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| Our Bar-temptress, Nichole |
If you are ever traveling along Interstate 20 about an hour east of Shreveport - and it is after 3:00 pm Monday through Friday or after noon on Saturday or Sunday, “get yer butt off that danged asphalt” - stop by for a cold beer and sit a spell - and enjoy a really nice time - at 3docs Brewhouse.
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| JBB chattin' it up with Nichole |
To view more photos from 3docs Brewhouse, visit the link
below:
Later that same evening, companion wanted to take me and my
mother and her friend Joanne to another surprise destination. We were also
going to join one of my friends, Tara and her husband Ken who both work in the
film industry in movies and television productions shot throughout Louisiana.
Companion had researched and found a brewery with a website
– Red River Brewing Company on
Viking Drive in Bossier City. We headed off, excited to try a new place in the
casino-laden city next to Shreveport. We drove to the spot, per our GPS, and we
found ourselves in an industrial neighborhood – but that didn't faze us. We
kept looking, as did Tara and Ken, who had met us there on Viking Drive. No
luck! … we tried and tried – even went into some nearby businesses and asked.
Their responses indicated they had no idea – and that made us wonder if it had
closed and they just let their website remain online. (After the fact, we
realized Red River Brewing apparently has yet to open but the owner has applied
for permits in 2009 and possibly still going through the process?)
Entering, I could tell I would like the place – and we had
decided we were going to eat there since I was starving! … a busy night, the
waitress was still very prompt and experienced and soon had our order in the
kitchen. Live music was being presented for the customers gathered inside.
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| BFF's since birth, Tara and JBB |
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| Red Hook Brewing ESB |
“Brewed in the style of a traditional British ESB (Extra
Special Bitter), we’ve been making ESB continuously since 1987, and it’s now
the benchmark for the Amber beer category. Despite having “bitter” in its name,
Redhook ESB is really not that bitter at all. This brew is all about the
balance of caramel malt sweetness completed by spicy, citrusy hops.”
JBB Note – I noticed the citrus in the amber colored
brew – with 28 IBUs and 5.8% ABV, this is a good middle-of-the road beer I
would like to have as a quick grab out of the fridge.
Companion opted for “The Savage Sandwich” described on Noble Savage Tavern's menu:
“Half pound of ground chuck, hand patted and cooked to
temperature, smothered with grilled onions, mushroom and swiss cheese, served
open faced on a toasted garlic roll with new potato fries and savage slaw - $8”
I had a bite (or two) of the Savage Sandwich and it was
awesome! … a GREAT value for $8! …
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| The "Alley Cat" |
“sour dough bread piled high with pastrami, smoked
turkey, capicola, swiss and provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and
Dijon mustard served with potato chips and savage slaw”
This sandwich was right up MY alley and was also a GREAT
value!
Thanks to Noble
Savage Tavern for delivering a unique experience and a substantial
value-priced meal!
At an out-of-the way location, this establishment houses
what reportedly is the largest brew selections in Shreveport.
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| Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout & Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout |
Tara, Ken, my mother (Rebecca) and Joanne all wanted me to
suggest some beer for them to try. I decided to start slowly and have some
mass-produced light options at the table in case palates were not ready for my
true preferences.
Among those I brought to the table included:
North Coast Brewing Company's Old Rasputin Russian Imperial
Stout (http://www.northcoastbrewing.com/)
Samuel Adams Brewery's Brown Ale (http://www.samueladams.com)
Samuel Smith's Brewery's Oatmeal Stout (http://www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk/)
Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company's Southern Pecan Deep South
Pale Ale (http://lazymagnolia.com/verify.php)
Bear Republic Brewery's Racer 5 IPA (http://www.bearrepublic.com/)
Abita Brewing Company's Jockamo IPA (http://www.abita.com/)
We had a wonderful time meeting with Tara and Ken. My mother
and Joanne both said they had a blast and that they hadn't been out that late
for awhile. Sadly, I new this out-of-town mini-prowl must come to an end so
that we could start our drive back to Jax the next day.
Thanks to Strange Brew for a wonderful experience – good
beer selection and bartender – and just the right atmosphere to end the
evening.
To view more photos from Noble Savage Tavern and Strange
Brew, visit the link below:
http://www.strangebrewla.com/ (COMING SOON)
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| Pet friendly, too! |
Upon reaching Pensacola, we did just that. This time only
Carey was behind the bar and he was every bit as gracious as before. We enjoyed
(description per Pensacola Bay Brewery's website):
Conquistador Dopplebock
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| Our handsome brewtender Carey |
The conquistadors were searching for treasure in
Florida: gold, silver, the secret of immortality. While we can’t guarantee
you’ll find gold at the bottom of a pint, maybe there’s a drop from the
Fountain of Youth. And we’re not telling where it is.
Take home a growler, enjoy a pint - the Conquistador
Dopplebock will make the weakest men ready to sail across the sea.
Menu pairings include Roast Beef; Drunken Muscles;
Grilled Venison or other hearty game; Strong cheeses like Limburger or perhaps
a Grilled Brie; Mole Sauce”
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| Banyan Brown Ale & the Conquistador Dupplebock |
“Strength comes in many forms. With our Banyan Brown
Ale, the flavors develop slowly and wrap around your taste buds. You’ll taste
notes of chocolate and a certain nutty hoppiness that will inspire you to ask
for a second pint.
Banyan trees are known as survivors. By nestling in
crevices in other trees, the small seed of the Banyan takes hold and starts to
expand. Slowly, over time, the Banyan tree drops its limbs and wraps around the
original trunk. We like to think of the Banyan Brown Ale in the same way – take
a sip, drop your troubles and start to relax.
The Banyan Brown Ale is perfect for Florida winters.
The mild body is enough to keep you warm, without making you reach for woolen
mittens. With hints of caramel and cocoa, you’ll enjoy sipping the Banyan Brown
Ale all year long.
Menu pairings include Chicken Kiev; Grilled Flounder;
Peppery cheeses like Monterey and Pepper Jack “
As before, we could not linger as long as we wished since we
needed to get back on the road as soon as practical. We bid farewell to Carey
and Ashley, a fascinating girl we met at the bar.
To view photos from Pensacola Bay Brewery, visit the link
below:
Getting situated in the “filled-to-the-gills” car for the
last 5 hour leg of the brutal drive back home to Jacksonville, I was somewhat
relieved the end of this trip drew near. As I buckled up and settled in, I was
thinking back on the past few days – the past few years – and days of youthful innocent
bliss.
Companion started the car and looked over at me and noticed
I had something on my mind – and then asked what it was.
I responded by telling him I had been thinking of Carol
Burnett and her ear tug.
Carol Burnett credited Mae White (whom she called
"Nanny"), the grandmother who raised her, with teaching her to greet
life's difficulties with a sunny outlook. The Burnett ear tug first made famous
during the 1967-1979 run of CBS's popular Carol
Burnett Show was a message to her grandmother, a way of saying,
"Hello, I love you."
I told companion that I think my “tug” from henceforth will
accompany the first toast of the evening wherever the Jax Brew Bitch
prowls. The first “tink” I make with my
glass will be done in remembrance of my grandmother and our precious time spent
together. She would like that because she loved LIFE – and dancing - and
gambling (a little) – and drinking (a little) – and me (a lot).
So here's to YOU, Laura D! … you'll always be “Grandmother”
to me.
My sincere appreciation to those who read this for indulging
me this little nostalgic and I hope not too much of a “downer” little piece –
thank you all so very much - for being here.
Most Sincerely,
Laura D's Granddaughter – The Jax Brew Bitch
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