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| Aftermath at Sunday's Bottle Sharing |
If “craft beer” is a focal point for you – regardless of the
amount of craft beer you have tasted, you are invited to participate in the
Bottle Sharing get-togethers at Brewer's Pizza / Pinglehead Brewery (14B
Blanding Blvd – Orange Park – 904.276.5159) on Sundays – usually at 2:00 pm.
There is no cost for attending.
We DO ask you:
a) bring a bomber or two smaller bottles of craft beer
b) bring your favorite tasting glass (if you forget, we'll
have cups for you);
c) be willing to buy something off Brewer's Pizza impressive
menu and/or a pint of something available there.
For those of you who have never attended a Bottle Sharing
get-together:
The craft beer you bring does NOT have to be expensive –
just something you like or want to try and share with the group. If you are
uncertain as to what to bring, just ask the helpful and knowledgeable at Broudy's
Liquors, Beer:30, Grassroots Natural Market, Total Wine,
ABC Liquors or any other establishment which sells bottles (or cans) of
craft beer.
We only request you not bring the mass-produced national
brands like Bud, Miller, Coors, etc. Nothing particularly wrong with those – we
just focus on tasty creations from the myriad of microbreweries springing up
all over the country.
I maintain a database of e-mail addresses of those wishing
to be kept informed of the next Bottle Sharing get-together since some days we
may decide not to hold the Sharing or alter the time. If you are interested,
please send me a note with your e-mail address and you'll be “in the know'!
The Bottle Sharing of Sunday, January 13 was well-attended
at Brewer's Pizza and there was a LOAD of beer there!
Companion and I ordered the following from Brewer's Pizza's
tantalizing brew menu to start the afternoon:
Pinglehead Brewing Company Moon
Dance Oatmeal Stout
Pitch black body with a thick, mocha colored head. Luxurious, rich espresso in the nose with dark chocolate barely poking out. Sweet oats act as a blanket to nurture an abundance of roasted coffee, dark and milk chocolate and hints of roasted barley. A full body with enough strength to battle any robust stout. Note: 7.0% ABV & 29 IBUs
Pitch black body with a thick, mocha colored head. Luxurious, rich espresso in the nose with dark chocolate barely poking out. Sweet oats act as a blanket to nurture an abundance of roasted coffee, dark and milk chocolate and hints of roasted barley. A full body with enough strength to battle any robust stout. Note: 7.0% ABV & 29 IBUs
Pinglehead Brewing Company
Rawhide Strong Ale
Rawhide is the big brother of Pinglehead Imperial
Red. It pours a clear deep red with an off-white colored head. Aroma is caramel
sweet with floral undertones. Dry-hopping gives subtle floral hop flavors that
compliment a huge caramel malt backbone. Finishing with a slight hop
bitterness, this awesome strong ale is sure to put Orange Park on the map.
Note: 9.7% ABV & 25 IBUs
This laid down our “base” for the beer which we would be
tasting well into the evening … here is what I brought to share (please keep in
mind I bring too much – again, a good amount to bring is one bomber or two
smaller bottles)
St. Arnold Brewing Company Christmas Ale
This was the first seasonal we made. There has long been
a tradition amongst brewers for making a special beer for the holidays. We
decided on an old ale. The definition of this style has changed over the years.
When we use the term, we use the old definition which describes big, malty,
rich beers as they brewed in the olden days (as in a couple of hundred years
ago--those olden days). Thus the name. (Today this name often implies a big
beer that has been aged.)
We use five different types of malted barley in the
Christmas Ale, no other grains or cereals such as corn or rice. The large
quantity of malts is responsible for the sweetness and high alcohol content.
Also, we use two different Pacific Northwest hop varieties in the Christmas
Ale. The resulting hop character is a spicy bitterness and a flowery hop
bouquet. Note: 7.0& ABV & 35
IBUs
New England Brewing Company – 668 – the Neighbor of the
Beat Belgian Style Golden Ale
Good fences make good neighbors” … unless you live next
door to Satan. Then you may need something more
than a fence to accept that your neighbor is the Prince of Darkness;
like our “668”. this HELLaciously delicious Belgian Ale is brewed with pilsner
malts, candi sugar and blended with American and German hops.It will help you
accept that cloven-hooved guy next door. “668”; mortal tested; Goat Load
approved. Note: 9.0% ABV
Mikkeller Brewery Santa's Little Helper Belgian Strong
Ale
Another incredible creation from the talented folks from
that famous brewery in Copenhagen! … Belgian yeast, molasses and a slight hint
of coffee – Note: 10.50% ABV
Eel River Brewing Company Raven's Eye Imperial Stout
A rich, roasty brew with a deep espresso character, this
Russian Imperial Stout is strong, yet incredibly smooth. Originally brewed for
the Imperial Court in Russia, this style stout is a warm festive drink made
with the cold Russian winters in mind.
The intense flavor of the Raven's Eye Russian Imperial
Stout can easily overpower most main dishes; however, it stands up to goie gras
and smoked goose. For cheese pairings try long-aged cheeses such as Gouda,
parmesan or cheddar. Pair the Raven's Eye with rich desserts such as dark
chocolate truffles or chocolate raspberry mousse cake. Note: 9.5% ABV & 18
IBUs
Uinta Brewing Company Baba Black Lager
Robust and smooth, this full-flavored lager is
exceptionably drinkable and pitch black in color. Note: 4.0% ABV & 32 IBUs
Founders Brewing Company Cerise Fruit Beer –
Cherry! - Note: 6.5% AB
Please refer to the photos to see the awesome beer
shared by others at this Bottle Sharing get-together!
Come on – why don't YOU join us at an upcoming
Brewer's Pizza Brewing Bottle Sharing get-together in the very near future!
St. Arnold Brewing Company
New England Brewing Company
Mikkeller Brewery
Uinta Brewing Company
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Uinta-Brewing/136640885735?fref=ts
Another fabulous Bottle Sharing! … but now it was time to
get something to soak ...uh … I mean something to eat.
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| Spring Rolls - Little Saigon Cafe |
Leaving Brewer's Pizza by way of the rear parking lot by
taking the narrow drive along the opposite end of the building and heading
toward Wells Road, you will see 57 Heaven on the end of an adjacent building.
Just a few doors down from 57 Heaven is Little Saigon Cafe (1975 Wells
Road – Orange Park – 904.375.0061). Robin, Jackson and Gary had told us about
the place before – actually, companion said he took me there after an earlier
Bottle Sharing at Brewer's Pizza but I doubt him – I'll have to ask Tinker
Beer. Anyway, Little Saigon Cafe was our destination.
Companion said the food was outstanding the first time we
ate there, so I was taking his word for it. Glad I did! … it is truly as good
as our friends described!
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| Vermicelli & BBQ Pork - Little Saigon Cafe |
Companion and I looked over the significant menu and decided
we would have:
Spring Rolls – Clear thin rice paper rolled with
shrimp, Vermicelli noodles, fresh mints and cilantro – served with peanut sauce
– excellent appetizer!
House Deluxe Vermicelli – Shrimp, beef and chicken
served with additional crispy egg roll cut into little crunchy pieces
Vermicelli and BBQ Pork – Seasoned pork chop
marinated lemon grass flavor and Asian spices
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| House Deluxe Vermicelli - Little Saigon Cafe |
The servings were so large, we took home enough for another
meal. Our server was pleasant and Little Saigon Cafe has that type of ambiance
where you can “settle in”.
My sincere thanks to the staff at Little Saigon cafe
for providing spectacular and effective soaking-up food and for maintaining a
comfortable place to end this Special Sunday Bottle Sharing Jax Brew Bitch
Prowl.
Little Saigon Cafe
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