“But there will be federal tax hikes in 2013. That's
because the legislation pushed through the Senate and House on Jan. 1 does
nothing to prevent a temporary cut in the Social Security payroll tax from
expiring. That means, under the agreement brokered by the White House and
Senate Republicans, 77 percent of American households will be forced to fork
over higher federal taxes in 2013.”
Feel that? … companion and I did …. (*tapping fingers on
desk*) … (*snapping pencil in two*) ...
The ACOW (Ass Clowns of Washington) aka the Senate and
House of Representatives decided not to tackle the issue of extending the
2% break in Social Security Tax – in this economy … INCOMPETENCE ON PARADE.
No wonder they “enjoy” an approval rating approaching
single-digits, collectively – again. We'd be better off having someone go down
to the bus depot in Washington DC, holding up a dollar bill and yelling, “Who
wants to make a dollar today? ... all you need to do is vote logically on this
Bill!”
 |
| Stop the whining Brew Bitch! |
But Jax Brew Bitch, you have a Beer Blog! … why even
mention this?
I'd rather be spending that 2% on beer, that's why – or food
– or entertainment or donating to charity. So would the Greater Jacksonville area Brews and Chews
establishments.
One thing that is dead certain – that 2% is NOT going to
support the efforts of those who own, operate or work for breweries, bars and
restaurants.
So, THAT was my motivation last night (Thursday, Jan 3) –
having companion fire up the Jeep to head out to show my support for our local
businesses and have some self-indulgent fun – in spite of our inept Senators
and House Representatives (both parties).
I know, I know … I'm dwellin' on it … and soundin' bitter
… okay, okay – enough about the worthless ACOW.
 |
| Kostas Pizza Italian Restaurant |
Our first destination for this Prowl was Kostas Pizza
Italian Restaurant (1053 Park Street – 904.355.3820) at Five Points. We had
eaten there twice before and LOVED the food. What had me focused there that
evening was learning from our friend and talented homebrewer, Jackson that
Kostas Pizza Italian Restaurant is also BYOB! … WooHoo! … I didn't know that!
Knowing how popular the Jacksonville-raised Jackson is, I
secured a couple of bottles of beer into my bag and once inside the
establishment, I timidly asked if what Jackson had told us was true for the
public – or just for him. I was excited to learn it is indeed for the public
(thank you, Jackson!).
 |
| Eggplant Lorrentini |
Kostas Pizza Italian Restaurant provides an amazing value
for your embattled Entertainment Dollar. The meals come with a HUGE salad with
your choice of homemade dressing – they'll bring them all to you, if you wish –
a LOAD of garlic bread – AND a side order of spaghetti.
If you haven't been there before, you may ask - “Is it
good?” - well, they are about to celebrate their 37th
anniversary in the same location there in the Five Points. 'Nuff said!
Companion and I selected the following from their incredible
menu:
 |
| Eggplant Parmigiana |
Eggplant Parmigiana – Fried Battered Eggplant
in Meat Sauce with Mozzarella Cheese – a great value at $8.50!
Eggplant Lorrentini – Rolled Ham and Eggplant,
Stuffed with Mozzarella, Parmigiana and Ricotta Cheeses, Mixed with Egg and
White Pepper … *drool* … yep, $8.50 also!
The beer I had brought with us to share was delicious with
the meals (descriptions per breweries' websites):
Flying Dog Brewery's Raging Bitch – (appropriate
given the antics of the ACOW … okay, sorry …)
The American IPA hoppiness of Belgian funk of Raging
Bitch can be brought out with food.
Flavor notes: Sweet malt body contrasted with pine and grapefruit hop
flavors and exotic fruit yeast notes. Pairs with: Wasabi, ginger, jerk, Cajun
or cayenne; tangy cheese with fruit; dark chocolate. - JBB Notes: Tastes good
with eggplant, too! … 8.3% ABV, 60 IBUs
Foothills Brewing Company Cottonwood Endo IPA
True to its NC roots, this American IPA delivers on the
floral, hoppy notes that made Cottonwood a Boone, NC favorite. 100% malted
barley and copious amounts of Cascade,
Magnum and Chinook hops. Note: 6.0% ABV and 66 IBUs.
 |
| House salad |
There was SO much food, both of us took home half of our
meals!
Things to consider when (not if) you plan to visit
Kostas Pizza Italian:
-
Cash only – but Wells Fargo Bank is a short walk
around the corner
-
If your are BYOBin' it – please bring your
bottles of beer/wine/both in a bag or sack and be prepared to take the empties
with you out of courtesy since there is no bottle or cork fee assessed.
-
If you don't want to swig from the bottle,
please bring your own cup or glass – they offered us a cup but again, out of
respect and courtesy, please bring your own.
-
Bring an appetite! … and be ready to tote home a
doggie bag full of delicious leftovers!
 |
| No need to pull out the red spray paint ... it's fake! |
The staff was extremely friendly and very attentive – making
this, our third trip to the restaurant – another spectacular experience!
My sincere thanks to the owner and staff of Kostas Pizza
Italian Restaurant a satisfying and economical stop on that evening's Jax Brew
Bitch Prowl.
Kostas Pizza Italian Restaurant
Flying Dog Brewery
Foothills Brewing Company
Aggravated nerves totally
soothed by Kostas Pizza Italian Restaurant, I was ready to visit other places
and I remembered The Salty Fig – a southern gastropub (901
King Street – 904.337.0146) had recently opened across the street from Kickbacks
Gastropub!
Surprisingly, we were able to
secure a spot for the Jeep about 20 feet from the front door and since it had
turned a little chillier since leaving the house, I skedaddled into The Salty
Fig ... WOW! ... it was beautiful! ... I love the decor!
 |
| Our beautiful bartender, Cat at The Salty Fig |
A friendly hostess greeted us
and confirmed we could take a seat at the bar. Our bartender that evening was
Cat, a recent transplant from Nashville with considerable experience behind a
bar.
As companion says, we were
"full as a tick", so even though the food I saw being enjoyed by
other patrons at the bar and at the numerous tables within the establishment
looked decadent, we just couldn't stuff ourselves with anything else.
I was impressed with the
available selections of craft beer – many of them locally produced - Intuition
Ale Works, Bold City Brewing, Green Room Brewing and Pinglehead Brewing! ..
they also had Terrapin Beer Company's magical and delicious Wake-n-Bake Coffee
Oatmeal Stout and Florida Beer Company's Swamp Ape IPA on tap, as well!
It was tough to decide on what
to order ... but we ended up getting and sharing (descriptions per
breweries' websites):
 |
| Swamp Ape IPA & Pinglehead's Imperial Red Ale |
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
Florida Beer Company Swamp Ape IPA
Florida Beer Swamp Ape IPA is an Imperial India Pale Ale.
The fresh and lively hop character is derived from using 5 distinct varieties
of hops: Tettnang, Centennial, Chinook, Cascade and Amarillo.
This beer has an intense hop
bitterness, flavor and aroma balanced by complex alcohol flavors, moderate
fruity esters and a medium malt character from the balance of 2-row, Europ and
Cherry Wood Smoked. Note: 10.0% ABV and 85 IBUs.
While we were there, we were
pleased to see Alex (from Intuition Ale Works) with friends enjoying themselves
at one of the tables. I was able to speak to Cat a little and learned about an
impressive Happy Hour that The Salty Fig offers:
Monday through Friday – from 4:00
pm to 7:00 pm – half priced drafts! (and specials on wells and wine)
The higher-gravity (big beers –
you know, high ABV), they sell in 10oz glasses for $5 (usual price). Their
other drafts are also $5 but are provided in 16oz pours.
This Cajun gal can't wait to
visit The Salty Fig again and chow-down on some of their amazing-looking
southern style creations! ... they got grit cakes, too! ... WooHoo! ... I'm
fixin' to make plans!
The Salty Fig – a southern
gastropub
Pinglehead Brewing Company
Florida Beer Company
It was too early for a Prowl
this exciting to end – so I suggested to companion we visit Intuition Ale
Works (720 King Street – 904.683.7720)
– to finish the evening.
I was excited to see Lindsay and
Hannah, two of my favorite Ale Angels behind the bar! ... and a little
surprised at the empty taproom!
After some quick "hellos" and initial discussions,
we decided it had to do with the recent holiday season ($) and New Year's Eve
celebrations.
 |
| The gorgeous duo at Intuition Ale Works Hannah and Lindsay. |
Security Guard Andy was in the
house and he had brought some of his wife's AMAZING fudge. No, you don't
understand - this fudge is so good, it would make you go find someone else's
momma to slap because slapping yours just wouldn't be enough!
I requested my Mug Club mug –
it's like a small barrel! ... and asked it be filled via fire hose with:
Intuition Ale Works Riverside Red Ale
Aggressively hopped, high gravity amber ale. Brewed with two-row malted barley, caramel malt, and chocolate malt. Magnum hops for bittering and Simcoe hops for flavoring, aroma, and dry-hopping.
Aggressively hopped, high gravity amber ale. Brewed with two-row malted barley, caramel malt, and chocolate malt. Magnum hops for bittering and Simcoe hops for flavoring, aroma, and dry-hopping.
Companion selected:
Intuition Ale Works Shotgun Shack Black Rye Ale
This black as night hoppy American ale hints of pine needles, roasty malt, and spicy green peppercorns. Brewed with 30% malted German rye, bittered with Magnum hops and American hops for flavor and aroma. At 5% alcohol it is a sessionable but full-bodied brew.
This black as night hoppy American ale hints of pine needles, roasty malt, and spicy green peppercorns. Brewed with 30% malted German rye, bittered with Magnum hops and American hops for flavor and aroma. At 5% alcohol it is a sessionable but full-bodied brew.
It is rare I get the
opportunity of speaking with Hannah and Lindsay as much as I was fortunate
enough to that evening. Normally, they are swamped and professionally and
pleasantly taking care of their customers. It was fun sharing stories with them
and finding out how their holidays went. And guess what? ... the Girls of Intuition will be at it again soon – now discussing plans and recipes for their
upcoming brew. If you remember, they knocked one out of the park last year with
their delectable "The Siren"! ... man, I miss that beer!
Before we left, another group
of last-minute customers arrived to enjoy some of the finely crafted creations
of the brewery before last call. When the lights came on, we knew it was time
to make tracks for home in order to let the girls and Andy go home, themselves.
My heartfelt appreciation to
Hannah and Lindsay for their fellowship, to Andy for bringing the decadent
fudge and to all the team at Intuition Ale Works for providing a perfect place
to end this evening's Jax Brew Bitch Prowl.
Intuition Ale Works
 |
| Shut up Brew Bitch!! |
Whew! ... I don't know - maybe
it was the aura of high-gravity beer in the air that evening ... but it seems
my shoes' centers-of gravity were swirling around as I left Intuition Ale Works
... ? ... what? ... the shoes were new and the ACOW ... uh, I mean Congress
... had dictated all new shoes must have dynamic centers of gravity – nothing
static allowed. It was included in the same bill as the "Bridge to
Nowhere", new light bulb requirements and has something to do with Global
Warming, mating habits of shrimp and cow dung parasites.
Companion thought he had left
his reading glasses inside and returned inside the taproom as I buckled myself
in the Jeep. I shut and locked my door and looked outside. There, on the Jeep's
hood stood Tinker Beer, the Brew Fairy – facing north into the cool
breeze, wings slightly fluttering – with the middle finger of her cute little
hand thrust up in the air ...
I giggled at the sight, opened
my door a little and asked, "Who are you looking at, little
one?"
Without turning around, Tink
replied, "Washington, D.C."
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