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| Just a few of the bottles shared amongst the group. |
Sunday Funday! … Woo Hoo! … I was excited early Sunday
afternoon (Aug 19) as companion was gathering the ice chest, water pitcher,
bucket and paper towels and as I was preparing myself – both necessary
preliminary activities for the Bottle Sharing get-together at Brewer's Pizza
/ Pinglehead Brewing Company (14B Blanding Blvd – Orange Park –
904.276.5159) beginning at 2:00 pm.
Companion's Virginia Beach trip for work and my recent
birthday weekend had kept us from attending this weekly (for now) event and I
was looking forward to it. Fellow craft-beer lovers gather and share bottles of
their favorite beer (or personal home brew) with all the other attendees. Same
format as the one at Green Room we attend, though that one has recently been
shifted to a once-a-month schedule. Standard protocol is to come prepared to
purchase something from Brewer's Pizza -
like one of their Pinglehead brews, the other beer they have to offer or
something from their incredible food menu. This is because they are providing
the space and the sampling glasses and re-arrange the group's tables and clean
them (though we bus them ourselves before leaving) once the event is done.
The feedback I had earlier received about that day's Bottle
Sharing event indicated possibly a handful of attendees but by 2:00 pm, there
were some who had participated in previous gatherings there, some brew-talented
members of CASK (Cowford Ale Sharing Klub) and some new folks who had learned
of it through my Facebook page. This was the largest crowd to date in the few
short weeks we have been doing this!
Early on, I noticed Damian of Solids and Stripes
Billiards sitting at the bar with another gentleman. I went to say
hello and Damian was kind enough to introduce me to his father – who was there
with Damian to tour the Pinglehead Brewery – a birthday gift from his son. This
family is amazing and their establishment has been in the Orange Park area for
almost two decades. I was going to invite them to join us but I knew they were
“on a mission”!
One thing I really appreciate about these events is the
willingness of fellow craft beer lovers to share their passion. These
get-togethers are a time of warm fellowship, fun and an opportunity of meeting
other people who share an interest in fine beer. No one trying to out-do anyone
else – just having some fun – and a chance to sample something you might never
had tasted before!
Steve Halford is such a gracious host and he and Gary did
a fabulous job of making sure we had everything we needed. Plus, Steve himself kindly
shared a couple of bottles of some very nice craft beer with the group.
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| The Seafaring Pig Pizza at Brewer's Pizza |
Companion and I ordered a pizza which, though not on their
printed menu, is noted on the chalkboard above the bar. Steve provided a sample
to us a few weeks back during an earlier Bottle Sharing and we loved it. It is
called the Seafaring Pig Pizza and consists primarily of ham and their
very popular Crab & Shrimp Bisque! … scrumptious!
Our Pinglehead Brewing Company brews for which we opted
during the course of the afternoon were (descriptions per their website):
Pinglehead Brewing Company
Tailhook American Brown Ale
Pours a dense, creamy tan
colored head with a dark brown body. The aroma strikes the nose with a
prominent sweetness from a combination of honey and caramel malts. Honey serves
as a catalyst for a potent earthy, floral hop profile to interact with a
slightly nutty, roasted malt presence. Tailhook is full of rich flavor while
possessing an exceptionally light body. Note: 7.0% ABV & 63
IBUs
Pinglehead Brewing Company
Tribal Rite Porter
Body is dark black with a thick, khaki-colored
head. This robust porter starts out with notes of milk chocolate and roasted
barley to later be subdued by a rich sweetness from an abundance of oats. Cacao
nibs were used for an earthly characteristic to compliment a soft amount of
pleasantly mild hops. Tribal Rite is wild in flavor, yet excitingly drinkable.
Pinglehead Brewing Company
Imperial Red Ale
Our flagship beer pours a clear red body with an
off-white colored head. Aroma is caramel sweet with floral undertones.
Dry-hopping gives subtle floral hop flavors to compliment a smooth caramel malt
backbone. A combination of mellow bitterness, candy sweetness and medium body
result in a balanced, highly drinkable red ale. Note: 7.8% ABV & 25 IBUs
I would list all those in attendance that day but I forgot
to ask their permission beforehand. Since the tables are pulled together
forming a large rectangle, it is always difficult to be able to speak with
everyone – but I tried to make my way down to the opposite end of the table
where companion was seated next to some of the new folks in attendance.
It was such a pleasure seeing everyone – and getting to meet
new fellow craft beer lovers – and the time flew by. Soon, it was approaching
6:00 pm, so we cleaned off and segregated our tables and bid farewell to
departing attendees, Gary and Steve.
My heartfelt thanks to all those attending – and to Steve
and the gang at Brewer's Pizza for making this Bottle Sharing event a very
enjoyable one - for ALL of us.
To view more photos from Sunday Funday Bottle Sharing at Brewer's Pizza, visit the link below:
Brewer's Pizza
Pinglehead Brewing Company
http://www.pinglehead.com/
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| Damian, owner of Solids & Stripes Billiards |
It had been awhile since our first visit to Solids and
Stripes Billiards (175 Blanding Blvd – Orange Park – 904.272.7799), so I suggested we make tracks for that establishment
– especially since we were already in the area. Due to companion being out of
town, I had missed the recent Brooklyn Brewery Tap Takeover there, darn it –
but I wanted to see what Brooklyn selections they might still have.
Located just a short distance down Blanding Boulevard south
of Brewer's Pizza, we were parked in front of Solids and Stripes within just a
few minutes.
Entering, I was surprised to see Damian once again, this
time behind the bar! … it turns out he had finished the brewery tour at
Pinglehead with his father, had some beer with his dad and then had to get back
to work.
I love this place! … now, keep in mind smoking is allowed at
Solids and Stripes but the ventilation system does a good job making sure the
smoke is not overpowering to visitors. Bottom line, this is a place for playing
pool – and darts – and pinball – and video games – and having some tasty craft
beers! ... Damian has completed some recent renovations and upgrades within the
establishment and the restrooms are very clean and well-stocked.
Companion and I surveyed the available draft beer that
evening and selected the following (descriptions per breweries' websites):
Brooklyn Brewery Brewmaster's Reserve Gold Standard
Export Kellerbier
Brooklyn Gold Standard Export Kellerbier is here to
channel those days when the land was green with beer gardens, and no one had
yet uttered the P-word* (*Prohibition. Utter it not,
allow it never). The
title “Export” connotes a beer more robust than pilsner, while the word “Kellerbier”
tells us that it’s unfiltered. Our malt is 100% floor-malted Bohemian barley,
giving the beer a rich bready backbone. And Brooklyn Gold Standard is going to
need a solid backbone to hold up all those snappy German Hallertau Perle,
Hallertau Mittelfrueh and Czech Saaz hops that are leaping out of the glass. A
long, cold lager fermentation makes it rich, but smooth. The big floral hop
aroma is followed by refreshingly bold bitterness and beautiful rounded malt
flavors. - Note: 6.2% ABV and 44.5 IBUs
Bluepoint Brewing's Toasted Lager
The best thing to come out of a brick oven since pizza.
Well, we’ve upgraded from our original direct-fire brick kettle, but our
flagship Toasted Lager still has the same toasted flavor it was named for.
Copper in color, our most popular and unique brew is made from six different
malts, including English Pale, Crystal, Munich, Carapils, Wheat, and Belgian
Caravienna. Toasted Lager’s balanced flavor of malt and hops makes for easy
drinking and the special lager yeast we use produces an exceptional,
long-lasting smooth finish. Note - 5.5%
ABV and 28 IBUs.
While we were enjoying these delicious brews, Damian was
kind enough to provide a healthy sample of two wonderful beers (descriptions
per breweries' websites):
Brooklyn Brewery Summer Ale
Brooklyn Summer Ale is a modern rendition of the
"Light Dinner Ales" brewed in England throughout the 1800's right up
until the 1940's. They were also called "luncheon ales" or even
"family ales", because they were refreshing and flavorful without
being too heavy. We brew our Brooklyn Summer Ale from premium English barley
malt, which gives this light-bodied golden beer a fresh bready flavor. German
and American hops lend a light crisp bitterness and a citrus/floral aroma,
resulting in a beer with a very sunny disposition. Note: 5.0% ABV and 18 IBUs.
Brooklyn Brewery Local No. 1 Belgian-inspired Strong
Golden Ale
In Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we forge barley malt and hops
from Germany, aromatic raw sugar from Mauritius and yeast from Belgium into our
latest beer, Brooklyn Local 1. Behind the full golden color you’ll find an
alluring aroma, a dynamic complex of flavors, Belgian flair, Brooklyn
fortitude and a dusting of our special yeast. To create this beer, we use the
old technique of 100% bottle re-fermentation, a practice now rare even in
Europe. It gives this beer a palate of unusual depth. Enjoy it locally or
globally, as an aperitif or with your favorite dishes. - Note: 9.0% ABV
and 26 IBUs
Damian informed me that Solids and Stripes was one of a very
few locations along the east coast who received a portion of a very limited
release of the usually exclusive Brooklyn Blast (description per brewery's
website):
Brooklyn Brewery Blast Big IPA
Here in Brooklyn, we're half-way between the hop country
of Yakima Valley, Washington and the hop country of Kent in England. So we use
the bright citrusy American hops to bring the noise and the earthy English hops
to build the foundation of a hop monster brandishing five pounds of hops per
barrel with considerable finesse. The varieties are half American, half
English: Ahtanum, Simcoe, Willamette, Centennial, Palisade, East Kent Golding,
Northdown, Challenger, and Fuggle. Maris Otter and German Pilsner malts bring
solidity, balance and beautiful flavors to a golden beer that's ludicrously
hoppy, strangely quaffable and oddly compelling. You won't even know what hit
you.
Of course, companion and I had to share one before we left!
Damian also informed us he would soon have another
Brewmaster Reserve from Brooklyn Brewery – the Fiat Lux
(description per brewery's website):
Brooklyn Brewery Fiat Lux
When we decided to call our latest Brewmaster’s Reserve
beer Brooklyn “Fiat Lux” (“Let There Be Light”), we weren’t trying to get all
god-like on you. What we’re really saying is “let there be summer”. Let there
be beaches, let there be blankets laid out on grass, let there be beer gardens,
let there be barbecues, let there be outdoor concerts, let there be good beer
everywhere, great people to drink it with, and time to enjoy it. Yeah, we
thought you’d be down with that too.
What are we drinking this summer? Combining Canadian
and American malts with a large proportion of un-malted white winter wheat,
Fiat Lux starts with a Belgian witbier inspiration. A blend of Pacific
Northwest hops, a little lime peel and a dash of Indian coriander brings a
bright blast of citrusy aromatic sunshine, while German Perle hops supply a
nice big zap of refreshing bitterness.
Brooklyn Fiat Lux is great with everything you’re
cooking and eating this summer (it’s not that great with beef stew… but you’re
not eating beef stew) from barbecue to burgers, from crawfish to salmon. And
it’s mighty nice with goat cheese. Have a great summer, folks. And yes, we
admit it – we really do love walking into places, declaring “Fiat Lux!” and
making it so.
Be sure and check in with Solids and Stripes soon to see
if they have this one on tap!
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| Solids and Stripes Billiards Cheeseburger with chips only $3.75! |
Hunger made its way onto my radar, so I asked Damian if I
could take a look at their bar menu. We didn't have a chance to review the menu
on our first visit, so I was interested in seeing what Solids and Stripes had
to offer.
I noticed several items which are obviously simple and quick
to prepare and all were value-priced. Then, I saw “Cheeseburger – with chips
- $3.75” …. $3.75? … was that a typo? … No!?! … well then, bring one on!
... we ordered and waited to see if it would ultimately be a
fast-food-chain-sized offering – like a slider …
Damian ventured into the back and later returned with an
amazing deal for Solids and Stripes patrons – and something he personally
prepared!
Companion had opted for jalapenos, Swiss cheese and the
“kitchen sink” on this masterfully created and delicious cheeseburger. Coupled
with a huge amount of chips, this bar-menu item is substantial enough to serve
as a meal by itself. The flavor was phenomenal – every ingredient fresh – and
all presented within a suitably sized basket, perfect for munching at the bar.
All this for $3.75? … it would be very difficult to find a better value –
anywhere.
We finished our cheeseburger – all of it – even the crumbs –
and sat and enjoyed the rest of our beer. Damian introduced us to Malia, a
very-experienced pool shark and her friend Jennifer. These two were a hoot! …
and I was so glad I was fortunate enough to meet them! … I told them about the
Sunday Funday Bottle Sharings at Brewer's Pizza and I hope they will be able to
attend the next one!
Malia and Jennifer headed out to grab some dinner and
companion and I soon followed, after bidding farewell to Damian.
It is obvious to see how Solids and Stripes has been around
for so long in the Orange Park area. This family-owned business is dedicated to
their customers and they go the extra mile to show their patrons how much they
appreciate their business.
My sincere appreciation to Damian and his family at Solids
and Stripes Billiards for providing the perfect environment in which to end
this Sunday's very memorable Jax Brew Bitch Prowl.
To view more photos from Solids and Stripes Billiards, visit the link below:
Solids and Stripes Billiards
Brooklyn Brewery
Blue Point Brewing Company
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