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| Engine 15's Oxtail Stew |
Let's go eat some cow tail! … not something you hear every day, is it? … well, companion heard that Wednesday afternoon (March 21) when I called him with an idea for the evening's Prowl. From us having lived in the Caribbean a number of years, he knew my reference to bovine protuberance was in regards to Oxtail Stew – a special offering from the crew at Engine 15. They noted that a special pairing of the Oxtail Stew with some German beer would be happening that night.
Rambling eastwardly in the Jeep along Beach Boulevard, our thoughts were taking us back to our time spent in the islands – the laid-back lifestyle … the aggravations … the wonderful restaurants ... the lack of groceries on the shelves ... the beautiful weather ... the hurricanes ... Cruzan Rum … Old Milwaukee … Brow Soda … the wonderful island people … fungi, kallaloo, soursop, sea moss (drink) and ... Oxtail Stew..
Without speaking, we both knew the other was wondering if the Oxtail Stew would measure up to the best we found in our tropical experience. Bob Marley playing in the background, we finally arrived at Engine 15 and I “Dutty-Wined” myself in through the front door.
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| Kevin & Mall at Engine 15 |
Companion caught up and we found a place at the bar. We were quickly and warmly greeted by Mall, a beautiful girl from Estonia serving as our beer temptress. We placed our order of the Oxtail Stew and two beers – Sierra Nevada's Ruthless Rye and Engine 15's own Old Battle Axe.
Sierra Nevada describes their Ruthless Rye: “Rye has been a staple grain for millennia—sought after for its stubborn resilience in the field and revered for its unique flavor. Ruthless Rye IPA is brewed with rustic grains for refined flavors—combining the peppery spice of rye and the bright citrusy flavors of whole-cone hops to create a complex ale for the tumultuous transition to spring.“ Note – 6.6% ABV and 55 IBUs – Decadent, full-body rye!
Engine 15 includes the following detail about the Old Battle Axe: “The Summit hops lend a pronounced pineapple and citrus character to this American IPA, late additions of Northern Brewer, Glacier and more Summit round out the hop profile in this delicious nectar.” - Note – smooth all the way down with the hop jolt I like!
The Oxtail Stew was served in a shallow bowl over rice – and companion always allows me to take the first bite. I did and it was so good and reminiscent of our early days together there in the Caribbean, it brought tears to my eyes. The flavor was simply outstanding!
The idea for serving Oxtail Stew came from one of the owners and Culinary Director, Andy Price. Sam, the cook mentioned he obtained the recipe from a friend whose mother lives in Jamaica. Righteous! Sam also informed me he used the Hofstettner Beer available that night at Engine 15 in the preparation of the Oxtail Stew.
Companion then tried a spoonful and behind the smile I saw on his face, I could tell there were fond memories floating through that noggin of his, as well. I truly hope Engine 15 offers this delicacy again in the near future.
Now for my flight plan, the German beer … descriptions from breweries' websites except Hofstettner - taken from online reviews:
Hofstetten Hochzeitsbier - “The aroma is full of clove and banana with just a hint of wheat. Much like a hefeweizen but not quite.” - Note – Accurate description but I also noticed a hint of honey.
Shiner Dortmunder - “Shiner Dortmunder has a smooth, well-rounded flavor – the perfect fit for any Springtime activity. Because of the unique nature of the style, Shiner Dortmunder is sure to satisfy the palate of a diverse crowd.” - Note: 5.5% ABV and 24 IBUs – I could taste a small but noticeable hop flavor.
Schlenkerla Rauch Bier - “Smokebeer from Schlenkerla is a dark, aromatic, bottom fermented beer with 13.5 percent original extract, which is equivalent to an alcohol content of 5.1 percent. No doubt: there are stronger beers, but nevertheless, one should not underestimate” - Note: Definite smoky flavor – and not a heavy beer
Hofbrau Hefe Weisen - “Once upon a time, Weissbier could only be brewed by ducal privilege. Hofbräuhaus enjoyed this exclusive right for nearly 200 years, thus holding a monopoly on Weissbier in Bavaria.
But even without a monopoly, Münchner Weisse is a really special kind of beer. What could be more pleasurable than quenching your thirst with a deliciously yeasty Weissbier, and savouring the tingling, fizzy sensation in your mouth? With an alcoholic content of around 5,1% volume, it's pure, refreshing enjoyment.” - Note: My taste was crisp citrus – with some spice.
You can tell an establishment cares about its patrons when they diligently search for unconventional and exotic offerings to keep the experience fresh and memorable. Engine 15 is definitely this type of place. Management and staff have developed a venue those of us here in Jacksonville certainly cherish and other cities undoubtedly covet.
Jacksonvillians, tell all your friends to get off their collective oxtail - and all of you get down to Engine 15 to show your appreciation for their continuing efforts!
Thanks to Mall, Sam, Kevin and the rest of the gang at Engine15 for providing such a unique experience to start that evening's Jax Brew Bitch Prowl!
http://www.sierranevada.com/
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| Philly's Finest & Ice Bar |
Leaving Engine was indeed difficult, but I felt the night was rather young and other adventures beckoned. Once back inside the Jeep, I looked to my left and noticed Tinker Beer, that hoppin' Brew Fairy had settled on my shoulder. Tinker Beer said we needed to go to an ice bar … an ice bar? … well, we HAD visited one during an earlier Prowl (Aromas on Southside) but Tink seemed to be indicating another destination.
We found ourselves at Philly’s Finest (1527 North Third Street – Jax Beach) and noticed Tink had indeed led us to a significant ice bar. Once inside, I loved the atmosphere immediately. Wednesday must be a busy night for them, because there was a whole host of folks there.
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| Magic Hat #9 & SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale |
Trivia was the activity of the evening, so I quickly brushed up on the names of all the Presidents and state capitals. We learned it was free to play and a $100 bar tab was the prize! … WooHoo! ... Immediately, I asked companion if he remembered the name of Harry Truman's Secretary of State. Well? ... I was motivated …
Team Jax Brew Bitch held our own during the first half but companion said we choked like the Dallas Cowboys during the second half and ended up, after betting-the-bank on the final question, with a paltry and appalling total. Good thing Philly’s Finest has cold beer! … and good stuff, too! …
We ordered a pint each of:
Magic Hat Brewing Company's No 9 Not Quite Pale described on their website: “A beer cloaked in secrecy. An ale whose mysterious and unusual palate will swirl across your tongue and ask more questions than it answers. A sort of dry, crisp, refreshing, not-quite pale ale. #9 is really impossible to describe because there's never been anything else quite like it.” - NOTE – 5.1% ABV and 20 IBUs – I love this beer – not rough and tasty enough to make it a regular in my fridge.
and
SweetWater Brewing Company's Bong Water …. uh … I mean 420 Extra Pale Ale noted on their website: “SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale, our most popular brew, is a tasty West Coast Style Pale Ale with a stimulating hop character and a crisp finish. 1st brewed on April 20th 1997.” - Note – 5.4% ABV – This has been a favorite of mine from pre-Jax Brew Bitch days, first trying it at a Mellow Mushroom restaurant in Albany, Georgia. We've also enjoyed a pitcher of this heavenly nectar with our group over at the Mellow Mushroom at the beach.
Companion also prodded me to choose something from Philly’s Finest interesting menu – and I leaned toward the Mini Corn Dog Basket ($7.69) ... yes, Corn Dog Basket – or as companion said Texans accurately call them, Corny Dogs. Talk about taking one back to their youth – they smelled like the carnival – and tasted so very good. Hey, cheap food can be the best – especially during extended Prowls!
Jacque was our friendly and very attentive bartender – she made the experience even better. The restrooms are clean and the ice bar is amazing. Kept our beer quite cool during our Trivia Meltdown.
I must say, Philly’s Finest is a GREAT spot! - one we'll make a regular stop when we're over near the beaches!
A heartfelt thank you to Jacque and the kitchen staff at Philly’s Finest for providing a new regular stop on future Jax Brew Bitch Prowls! (Note to self: break out our old Trivial Pursuit games)
The last I noticed, Tinker Beer was swimming around in someone's mug of Bold City's Dukes Cold Nose Brown Ale inside Philly’s Finest – but we just left and headed to the Green Room.
We were not surprised with the smaller crowd, given the lateness of the hour and the fact it was a “school night”. We sat at the bar and was served jointly by Christina and Tap Room Manager, Jason. Christina is such a doll and she always has a friendly smile on her face!
Jason told us about his early upbringing in Miami and some future events at Green Room including:
Friday, April 6 at 4 – 11:30 pm - Florida beer tasting at Green Room Brewing. In celebration of the inaugural Jax Craft Beer week we are doubling our taps and putting more Florida Beers on.
We will have beers on tap that have never been poured in Jacksonville before such as Pensacola Bay Brewing, 7th Sun brewing, and special release beers from Swamp Head, Bold City, Cigar City, Tequesta, and more..
Saturday, April 7 12 – 3 pm - Rare Bottle Sharing Event. Bring a Rare, Hard to get, or just a damn tasty beer to share with other craft beer fans. North Florida Sales will be donating some beer and they will be raiding the cellars to start out with some good ones. Feel free to bring snacks as well.
If I learn of any future events for the Green Room Brewing, I will surely add them. Sign up for my events calendar:
He also told us about an unofficial group which meets at Green Room on Sundays and shares rare and unique beer. WooHoo! … count me in! …
As he talked more about events, the one commemorating Green Room's anniversary includes the tapping of their mysterious Secret Spot brew – now aging contentedly in whiskey barrels inside the brewery.
...(*tapping foot on floor*) … aw, c'mon! … what's in it? … c'mon … Jason is such a Taste Bud Tease! … I've gotta try this one so I'm getting up early that day!
Jason then shared a little info about his personal brew, currently sleeping inside Palm Ridge Whiskey barrels in the back of the brewery. He let us back there to look at them – sort of like when new parents let you tiptoe into the nursery to see their sleeping newborn … he coughed up a little more info about his personal recipe which includes Madagascar Vanilla Beans … how did he think of this? … it sounds SO good, I offered a batch of my homemade crawfish etouffee in exchange for a small tasting of it when he taps it … I'll even throw in companion mowing his yard for two months …
Seriously, Jason was a tremendous host that night and I appreciate him taking the time to speak with me.
This wonderful experience at Green Room Brewing put the perfect finishing touch on this Jax Brew Bitch Prowl.
A sincere “Thank You!” to Christina and Jason for making us feel so welcome ... and comfortable!
To view more photos visit the link below ...
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