Companion told me Friday (April 20) that it would take me a
little while to get “back in the saddle” after returning from Louisiana
following my grandmother's funeral service. He suggested we take it slowly and
start by getting a bite to eat out somewhere and then maybe have a beer. …
maybe??? …
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| Bold City's, Duke's Cold Nose Brown Ale |
I told him to “GIDDY-UP” and after eating, decide which
trail to drive.
In short order, the Jeep had galloped us over and had us at
the front door of Bubba's Burger Grill –
which was opened for us by an official greeter (I just love that little
extra special attention!). Luttnie was her name and she courteously
welcomed us to Bubba Burger and confirmed it was our first visit. She had a
beautiful accent and we learned she was born in Haiti which led to a short
conversation about our years in the Caribbean.
She seated us at a table with a clear view of the bar and
soon Sue made her appearance as our server. Notably, a young man had visited
the table just prior to Sue arriving and had already taken our drink order –
which was two Bold City Brewing Company's Duke's Cold Nose Brown Ale
described on Bold City's website:
“This is a mild brown ale which is easily drinkable. A
Slight nuttiness and sweetness are present.”
The best part? … the fact that during Happy Hour at Bubba's
Burger Grill, each one is only $1.99 ! … WooHoo! … I was kickin' up my spurs to
that! … (okay, enough the cowboy theme, I know) ...
 |
| Bold City & Intuition on tap! |
Annie, the bartender brought over our drinks and did
something I had never seen before. She sprinkled some salt on the napkins being
used as coasters. She explained it was to keep the glass from sticking to the
napkin when lifting the glass! … WOW! … I had no idea that would work and it IS
certainly aggravating when I pick up my glass and the coaster holds on long
enough to then fall on the floor – and roll to the most inaccessible part of
the room. Annie was gracious enough to explain their Happy Hour in more detail
later – as well as allowing me some pictures of the taps there at Bubba Burger
Grill.
Our server Sue was very informative and helped us navigate
through their menu and explained their “Build Your Own BUBBA” option using
their handy-dandy pre-printed form! … using the form, you:
1) Choose
Your Bun
2) Choose
Your Cheese
3) Choose
Your BUBBA (5 regular BUBBAs and 3 Premium BUBBAs)
4) Choose
Your Toppings (16 included toppings to choose from – 5 more for $0.49 to $0.99
extra)
Note: The five toppings costing you just a fraction more
include:
a) BUBBA Bacon ($0.99)
b) Sautéed Mushrooms - ($0.49)
c) Fried Egg - (I have GOT to try this!) - ($0.99)
d) BUBBA Slaw - ($0.49)
e) BUBBA Chili - ($0.49)
 |
| The Hellfire Burger |
Companion had his eyes set on the Hellfire BUBBA which had
jalapeno peppers mixed with the ground beef, pepperjack cheese, all the
“fixins” and smothered with hot wing sauce. ($8.99) – Companion sprinkled a
little brimstone-pepper on top and totally consumed it.
I opted for a Build Your Own BUBBA – an Onion Burger on a
wheat bun, Provolone cheese, mustard and barbecue sauce. ($6.99) – Absolute
Yummers!
Assistant Manager Aaron dropped by the table to speak with
us and to check on how we liked the food. He explained the structure of
management of the various locations of Bubba Burger Grill and their commitment
to the customer, taking extra steps (like the greeter!) to make their
experience a positive one.
The attention given us by the staff was consistent but not
overdone – in fact, they would sometimes confirm they were not hovering too
close or too often – something with which I was impressed!
Clean and inviting interior – Bubba Burger Grill on Normandy
is a refreshing departure from the greasy atmosphere which accompanies most
establishments offering the same genre of food.
The next time you get a “hankerin' “ for a burger and a
brew, round up your friends and go treat yourself to a new experience at Bubbas
Burger Grill !
Thanks to Luttnie, Sue, Annie, Aaron and the rest of the
crew at Bubbas Burger Grill for an enjoyable initial visit and another new stop
on future Jax Brew Bitch Prowls!
We then traveled down to Riverside Liquors (1035 Park
Street – 904.356.4517) to have a beer at the bar. Scott was once again our
friendly and effective bartender quickly providing the two glass of Sierra
Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale described on Sierra Nevada's website:
“Our award-winning barleywine boasts a dense, fruity
bouquet, an intense flavor palate and a deep reddish-brown color. Its big maltiness
is superbly balanced by a wonderfully bittersweet hoppiness. - 9.6% ABV and 90
IBUs”
We also shared a bottle of Dogfish Head's 120:
 |
| Dogfish Head's 120 |
“Too extreme to be called beer? 120 Minute IPA is
brewed to a colossal 45-degree plato, boiled for a full two hours while being
continuously hopped with high-alpha American hops, then dry-hopped daily in the
fermenter for a month and aged for another month on whole-leaf hops!
Clocking in at 15-20% ABV and 120 IBUs, 120 Minute is
by far the biggest IPA ever brewed! It's easy to see why we call this beer THE
HOLY GRAIL for hopheads!
We brew 120 Minute IPA a few times a year, but it goes
fast. If you find some grab a few bottles -- some to enjoy and some to age.”
We are always so comfortable in Riverside Liquors – comfortable seating and intimate, cozy ambiance combine to make this bar a regular stop on Riverside-area Prowls.
We spent an hour or so there enjoying the beer, discussions
with Scott and talking with a fascinating new couple we met there.
Thanks to Scott and Riverside
Liquors for creating and maintaining such an inviting venue for those of us
here in Jacksonville!
Tinker Beer, the Beer Fairy appeared after a lengthy
absence, appeared and suggested we travel
to “Beer Central”, one of our favorite haunts, Kickbacks Gastropub
(910 King Street – 904.388.9551).
Since it was a Friday night, we figured we would have some
trouble finding parking, but we were pleased there was an empty spot nearby.
We were quickly seated in the elevated corner where live
entertainment sometimes performs and we were happy to learn Lea would be
serving us that evening. Lea is an accomplished chef and provided the “roasted
leg of lamb croustades with Cypress Grove Humbolt Fog and finished with a
cranberry-red wine onion marmalade, over fresh tossed greens with an Imperial
Smoked Porter reduction” - one of the Courses in the Kickbacks / Sierra
Nevada Beer Dinner presented at Kickbacks in November, 2011.
Originally planning on ordering the Terrapin Wake-N-Bake and
Sweetwater 420, we were a little disappointed to learn they were out of both.
However, Lea suggested the following which were phenomenal (descriptions
from breweries' websites):
Brewery Ommegang's Art of Darkness
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| Ommegang's Art of Darkness & Great Divide's Oak Aged Yeti |
“Let us now acknowledge the dark arts of brewing. Our
limited edition Art of Darkness Ale is deep, dark and magical, with
champagne-like carbonation and rich maltiiness from a complex recipe of
multiple barley and wheat malts, as well as flaked oats.
Using no spices or flavorings, Art of Darkness gains
all its rich aromas, tastes, and apparent spiciness from the malts and
Ommegang's proprietary house yeast.
There are no secret ingredients or magical incantation.
There is only Ommegang brewers' creating the finest quality dark, strong ale of
complex and deep character.
Art of Darkness is a fine ale to enjoy immediately, and
is excellent to cellar - 8.9% ABV”
Great Divide Brewing's Oak Aged Yeti
“This Oak Aged Yeti is Yeti Imperial Stout’s
sophisticated sibling. They may be from the same clan, but they have entirely
different personalities. Oak aging gives a subtle vanilla character, rounding
out Yeti’s intense roastiness and huge hoppy nature. Who says you can’t tame a
Yeti? 9.5% ABV”
From time to time, Lea would drop by to check on us and I
was excited to be able to speak to her about her French background, events
leading her to Jacksonville and her talent and motivation as a chef.
 |
| Fried Jalapeno Bottlecaps |
We also ordered the Fried Jalapeno Bottlecaps ($6.79)
which is red and green breaded
jalapeno bites served with jalapeno ranch dressing. The pepper really brings
out the beer flavors even more.
It always feels like home when we sit down for a while at Kickbacks Gastropub – many thanks to
Lea and the kitchen staff at Kickbacks for providing a perfect end to a
“getting-back-in-my-saddle” Jax Brew Bitch evening.
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