Monkey's Uncle Tavern Beer Dinner

I miss my cat, Napoleon. He was one of three companion selected for me one day while living in the Caribbean. We had ventured over to the Animal Shelter to take one home and while there, my heart had itself been taken by three little cute fur-balls who made it clear they felt we would be quite acceptable to them as “servants”. I couldn't make the choice because I would feel horrible about leaving the other two behind. I told companion to make the agonizing final decision as I retreated to our vehicle - with tears in my eyes.

About 15 minutes later, he emerged carrying a box and I was sad, but curious, about the outcome of his feline deliberations. I knew I wouldn't sleep well for awhile, thinking of the other two little kittens left to uncertain futures.

Companion opened my door and handed the box to me. As he walked around the Isuzu Trooper we were driving at the time, I peeked inside to see which kitten had won the Cat Lotto and I was surprised and overjoyed that he had decided to take all three! … I hugged his big ol' neck and he explained that he knew we both would feel a little odd driving off, leaving two wondering why THEY didn't qualify – plus, he said, he figured I would talk about the other two so much when we got home, he'd have to drive back up there anyway, so this was his idea of saving gas and time.

The three kittens soon had names – Alexander (Alex), Whitaker and Napoleon (Nappy). Unfortunately, Alex had a congenital defect and traveled to the Rainbow Bridge just a couple of weeks later. Whitaker (a solid black cat) and Nappy (a silver-blue Blue Russian) were inseparable and those two enriched our early-stage relationship in so many ways. As they grew, they never fought and always slept sprawled all over each other. So cute!

Sadly, two years later and a few days after Hurricane Marilyn, Whitaker went missing (we think hopefully cat-napped by the folks living down the hill from us), so Nappy became our only feline companion for the next three years.

Fast forward a handful of years and Nappy made the journey to the States as we relocated there with all our belongings.

Nappy passed on to join Alex just a few months before we moved to Jacksonville and I realized that over the first twelve years of Nappy's life, he had had to endure twelve moves – 12 moves in 12 years – brought on by our career circumstances, opportunities and changes in fortune (up & down). Nappy lived to be 16 and was only brought down by feline diabetes. Otherwise, there is no telling how long that rascal would have lived. Like I said, I miss him.

I realized Nappy had learned to adapt – to change – and that innate ability allowed him to survive. It seemed to us he was always scowling, only tolerated us humans (since we served him) and had a disdain for all things … well, not “Nappy-related”. However, he always wanted to be around us and left alone by our other critters, the number of which grew over the years. Again, Nappy adapted to his ever-changing environment.

Einstein once said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”  Good ol' Albert was not talking about Nappy, of course, but of humankind. This translates easily into various business axioms and one can certainly cite examples of businesses which adapted to change and others which did not (“There will never be a market for personal home computers”).

The concept of adaptability came to my mind while learning of the history of the Monkey's Uncle Tavern (1850 S. 3rd Street – Jax Beach – 904.246.1070 ) as I prepared to visit there for a special event on Thursday (May 17). In business since 1985, the owners have been involved in the bar and restaurant business for 50 years.

Carolyn Lowrey Graham of Brown Distributing had invited me and companion to the first Craft Beer Dinner at that establishment, one which we had seen (but never visited) when shopping at HomeGoods, located in the same shopping center.

We had left early and stopped by Engine 15 Brewing Co. to enjoy a couple of their brewery's offerings and we made sure we left in time to make it to the Craft Beer Dinner in time.

Arriving 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the event (6:30 pm), we were still able to find a convenient parking place close to the Monkey Uncle's Tavern front door.

Entering, I was expecting a smokey atmosphere but I was pleased to note no lingering pungent odor – a slight hint, yes – but not repugnant, at all. There was a noticeable crowd at the bar and I soon noticed Carolyn arranging things in the right rear of the business.

We had our choice of the designated tables and we chose to sit at the same table as Carolyn, who was up and down all evening, describing the beer and assisting staff in whatever they needed.

Melanie & Jessica

Melanie and Jessica were our effective, energetic and gracious servers – a safe bet would be they are very popular there at Monkey's Uncle Tavern! … smiling and proactive in checking on us to see if we wanted anything, they both are quite advanced in customer service!  … Tory was in charge of beer-slingin' and he did a great job in making sure every patron received his or her allotment of fine brews. I look forward to speaking with Tory more in the future about the bar and future plans for it.

Chef Michael Ayres

Carolyn was kind enough to introduce me to Chef Michael Ayres (Chef Mike), newly arrived at Monkey's Uncle Tavern with vast and impressive experience at several upscale dining establishments including serving as Executive Chef at 11 South Bistro & Bar in Jacksonville Beach.

Even though Chef Mike was quite busy and very focused on the successful execution of the event, he was gracious enough to spend some time answering my questions and his plans for future adventures there with Monkey's Uncle Tavern. Professional, educated and personable, it was an honor to take part in this event and be given the opportunity of speaking with him.

With the increased demand for smoke-free environments, ownership of Monkey's Uncle Tavern are considering new options for those customers preferring environments without the lingering essence of burning cigarette tobacco while staying committed to their long-standing customers who enjoy a smoke while drinking at the bar. It is certainly important to “dance with who brung ya'”, as my grandmother used to say – and illustrates how dedicated the ownership, management and staff have become, through adaptation, to broadening their offerings to better serve the public. Keep in mind, they also have a liquor store – right next door! … the best of all worlds!

As a future update, I will provide any detail Monkey's Uncle ownership and management will allow concerning their future plans. For now, suffice it to say that whatever direction they take, the Greater Jacksonville Brews & Chews scene will reap the benefit. I am SO excited! ...

For those of you who were unaware of the event, had other commitments or decided not to attend, I provide the menu pairings for the Craft Beer Dinner – not to tell you that you missed out! - but to give you an idea of which direction Monkey's Uncle Tavern will be heading in the future:

Passed Hors d' oeuvre

Thai peanut crusted satay with minted grapefruit dipping sauce 

Cisco Bailey's Blonde Ale (Nantucket, MA)

1^st

Crispy crab cake Porcupine with Garlic saffron aioli

Native Florida Lager (South Florida)

2^nd

Seared Atlantic salmon with grain mustard and baby arugula 

Twisted Pine Raspberry Wheat Ale (Boulder, Colorado)

3^rd

Mango lacquered Pork Tenderloin, fingerling potatoes, and crisp haricot vert 

Coronado Islander IPA (southern California)

Fin

Hot Chocolate Cake Surprise with sea salt caramel

Red Brick Porter (Atlanta, Georgia)

Yes, it was that good!

Not your average bar menu, huh? … yes, I know this was a special event – but for those of you familiar with Monkey's Uncle Tavern, you wouldn't have ever predicted such a menu (even given the fact this was a Craft Beer Dinner) from Monkey's Uncle, would you? … this represents a new horizon for Monkey's Uncle Tavern – another option for their customers – one focused on the ever-growing demand for quality brews and chews pairings in the Greater Jacksonville area ... Adaptation at its best! … at $40 per ticket, this has to be the deal of the year in Jacksonville! … no other venue offered that much top-quality Chews at that price – and then to “throw-in” the beer? … an outrageous value!

Carolyn working hard, as always!

Carolyn, Chef Mike and the owners all worked together to create this presentation for the delight of those attending the dinner – and they succeeded beyond any expectations!

The Thai peanut crusted satay was amazing – and I was dancin' the Fawn Marn Mong Kol when I learned seconds were available! … bring 'em on, Melanie and Jessica, bring 'em on!

The Crispy crab cake Porcupine was phenomenal! … the tennis ball sized piece of heaven had only problem – it wasn't the size of a basketball! ... So good it brought appreciative tears to my eyes!

The unique grain mustard accompanying the seared Atlantic salmon was described by Chef Mike and he indicated American mustard has been processed way beyond recognition in relation to “true” mustard which is still appreciated by those “across the pond”. The salmon was superb, by the way!

Chef Michael Ayres

Companion and I both moaned in delight when we tasted the mango lacquered Pork Tenderloin – mango and pork? … are you kidding, me? … how did they know these are two of my favorite things? … scrumptious! … lacquer me ecstatic!

Yeah, go ahead Chef Mike , pour on the final goodies – the Hot Chocolate Cake Surprise with sea salt caramel ,,, *moment of respectful silence* … decadent and the perfect finish to this incredible meal, the only “surprise” for me and companion was that I didn't go around to the other attendees and steal/beg more of the dessert from them.

Detailing the brew experience, I offer the following descriptions from the breweries' websites:

Cisco Brewers Bailey's Blonde Ale (Nantucket, MA)

A hoppy blonde ale. Plenty of domestic hops give this beer distinct character and a huge floral nose. Bailey's is a past recipient of a gold medal at the World Beer Championships. - Note: 5.3% ABV

The Native Brewing Company Florida Lager (South Florida)

The Native Lager is brewed with the finest German malts, German hops and a classic Germain yeast strain which produces and exceptionally smooth tasting golden lager.  Not too light and not too heavy this beer finishes with absolutely NO aftertaste.  Cool and refreshing yet flavorful... enjoy one anytime you want to feel like a Native.

Twisted Pine Brewing Raspberry Wheat Ale (Boulder, Colorado)

Raspberry Wheat Ale is an unfiltered wheat beer that is refreshing and perfectly balanced with a crisp tartness. Raspberries meet the nose, leading way to a clean creamy texture. Pours a golden color with a nice white head. The flavor is subtle, yet very distinct. A popular beer that will bring back your best summer memories all year ’round!  - Note: 5% ABV

Coronado Brewing Company Islander IPA (southern California)

Named after Coronado Island, our original India Pale Ale is a liquid expression of hometown pride. Cascade, Chinook and Columbus hops combine to provide an explosive burst of piney bitterness and luscious notes of apricot, grapefruit and mango that are sure to evoke imagery of swinging palms and sun-kissed shores. - Note: 7% ABV, 75 IBUs

Red Brick Brewing Company Porter (Atlanta, Georgia)

Intense dark copper color with a thick, intense foam with some brown color effects. Rich aromas of treated coffee of good persistence, very straight forward beer on the nose. Attack in the mouth shows some bitterness with a moderate acidity. Aromatic characters of roasted coffee beans with delicate spices. Finish is long on intense bitter cacao flavors.

Carolyn had been describing each course's paired beer and Chef Mike provided the mouth-watering details of each food item at various times during the event.

Upon conclusion of the meal, both thanked the attendees for coming to the Craft Beer Dinner and all of us gave them a rousing and well-deserved round of applause! … everyone involved in the planning and execution of this event did a remarkable job.

Good times always go so fast and this was no exception. Great food, tasty beer, warm fellowship and a common enjoyment of something new and special made this evening so very memorable.

There are new exciting chapters of Monkey's Uncle Tavern history to be written in the future. If it's been awhile since your last visit – or you've been holding off due to smoking policy – ADAPT a little, check out the beginning of a new environment – and behold the impressive metamorphosis taking place right now – at Monkey Uncle's Tavern! … you'll be sayin', “Well, I'll be a Monkey's Uncle … Tavern customer – from now on”.

My heartfelt appreciation to Carolyn Lowrey Graham for inviting me to the dinner, to Melanie and Jessica for being gracious hostesses, to Chef Michael Ayres for an AMAZING and delicious menu, to Tory and the rest of the crew at Monkey's Uncle Tavern for providing an exciting and memorable Jax Brew Bitch experience!

Most significantly, I present the “Napoleon Award” to the owners of Monkey Uncle's Tavern for having the insight and dedication to their customers and our community to embrace the concept of adaptation in order to satisfy the changing desires of their Greater Jacksonville area patrons.

Undoubtedly, Nappy would have instructed me to extend to you a sincere and most deserved, “Well done!”.

http://www.monkeysuncletavern.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monkeys-Uncle-Tavern-and-Liquor-Store/118331435680

http://www.monkeysuncletavern.com/monkeys%20menu.pdf

http://www.ciscobrewers.com/

http://www.facebook.com/CiscoBrewers

http://www.nativebrewingco.com/index.html

http://www.facebook.com/NativeBrewingCompany

http://twistedpinebrewing.com/

http://www.facebook.com/twistedpinebrewing

http://coronadobrewingcompany.com/

http://www.facebook.com/coronadobrewingcompany

http://www.redbrickbrewing.com/

http://www.facebook.com/RedBrickBrewingCompany

To view more photos from Monkey's Uncle Tavern, visit the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.303030143115935.72073.181100418642242&type=3

Getting Gas, Killing Kegs & a Double Feature at Mile Marker Brewing

Gas Full Service Restaurant

Carol Lowrey Graham of Brown Distributing told me about a restaurant in St. Augustine with a rather distinctive name – Gas Full Service Restaurant. I was intrigued by the nom de guerre, of course – all types of connotations were bouncing around in my head – but her description of the place is what motivated me to pre-plan our Prowl for Thursday evening (April 5) to center in and around the Nation's Oldest City.

Since my agenda for the evening included at least three destinations, we headed south early. To get to Gas Full Service Restaurant, we exited at the Outlet Malls (Exit 318 – S.R. 16) , turned left and stayed on S.R. 16 until it dead-ended on San Marco Avenue and turned right and drove into town. After turning left and crossing the Bridge of Lions, the establishment was just ahead on the right.

The restaurant occupies a building originally constructed as a gas station, later (reportedly) home to a florist business.  After dining there, I certainly believe the current endeavor represents its highest and best use!

Entering the place, I was instantly pleased with the décor! … fresh, clean and inviting, I was impressed with the owners' follow-through in maintenance and cleaning. You know, all restaurants open up initially extremely clean – but after awhile, you notice the occasional dead waterbug in a corner, stained baseboards, mildewed tile grout, grimy soap dispensers, etc. Not here! … it was immaculate – so refreshing!

Our server, Sami

A cute energetic girl approached, introduced herself as Sami and seated us at a table near the door. Sami is obviously happy to work there and her excitement was indeed infectious. She was attentive, efficient and never lost her smile!

A menu board noted their dinner specials and … available beer! … another plus already!

We quickly selected (descriptions per breweries' websites):

Red Brick Brewery
Brown Ale

Red Brick Brewery Brown Ale - “Dark copper color with bronze rims. Very thick foam, persistent. Nice and elegant toffee aromas with spices and roasted almonds, very persistent and evolving on brewed coffee.

Very franc in the mouth. Black fruits, plum with more intense spicy notes of canella and cloves. The texture is very delicate. The beer seems to have all characters for a beer with personality but is kind of dissociated having intense flavors at first, then some emptiness in the middle of the mouth and finishing with a bitter finish.” - Note: 6.0% ABV

Narragansett Lager
"Jaws" Beer!

Narragansett Lager - “5.0% Alcohol by Volume and 12 IBUs. A classic American lager and the workhorse of the Gansett stable. Available all year long in bottle, can and on tap! ...We brew our lager with six row malt, seedless hops, corn from Iowa, our lager strain (the same one the brewery has depended on since just after Prohibition), and the purest water from Lakes Ontario and Hemlock … This beer is brewed just right for drinking—crisp and refreshing. It’s got more flavor than other premium lagers, yet it’s one of the most drinkable beers in the world.

Chillin' with Narragansett

Narragansett has the highest rating of all domestic premium lagers on BeerAdvocate.com, and received the bronze medal for American Lagers at the 2008 World Beer Cup. 2010 Gold Medal winner in the lager category at the 14th annual Great International Beer & Cider Competition in Providence, RI. Winner of bronze medal in the 2010 World Beer Championship and the silver medal in the 2011 World Beer Championship.

The Lager is old reliable. It was the first beer brewed by “The Original Six” back in 1890, the bestselling beer in New England from the 1930s to the 1970s, and the official beer of the Boston Red Sox from 1944-1975.”

JBB note – Narragansett is also the beer Captain Sam Quint in the movie “Jaws” drinks and then crushes the can in his hand.

The Jalapeno Popper Burger

Having taken care of the brews, it was time to handle the chews! … Carol had described the Jalapeño Popper Burger in such a way my mouth watered upon hearing about it. The menu includes the drool-inspiring details: “Two 4oz. Cartwheel Ranch Beef Patties stuffed with Cream Cheese, Cheddar Cheese & Fresh Sliced Jalapenos … Grilled then Panko Breaded and Deep Fried – Served with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion and Ranch ($12.50)”  - yep, that was for me! …

Companion ordered the Black and Blue Chicken Hot Brown Sandwich described on their menu: “Open Faced Sandwich with Blackened Chicken, Blue Cheese Bechamel, Fried Green Tomatoes & Applewood Smoked Bacon ($9.50).

Black & Blue Chicken Hot Brown

The discussion I was having with companion abruptly stopped when the food arrived … I think the world stood   still for a moment, actually … as we beheld the masterpiece – an inspired creation from a talented Gastro-Maestro - the  Jalapeño Popper Burger.  The height of this … this … this sandwich (too impotent a word)  … is unbelievable! ...Owner Lindy Loose dropped by to say hello and observe our amazement. I asked how in the world one could begin consuming this marvel and she mentioned something about unhinging my jaw – much like a python. Amy Vanderbilt suggests one covering one's mouth with a pillow case when attempting this, I believe ...

Unhinging jaw ...

I would have sought the advice of companion but he was way too busy lavishing lustful attention to his Black and Blue Chicken Hot Brown Sandwich – complete with bacon and fried green tomatoes on top! … he was such a happy fellow!

The homemade potato chips we both had selected as our side are wafer-thin, crisp and have the waffle pattern body which you can see through. Very unique and delicious!

Somehow, I managed to dig into my “Mount Bovine on a Plate” and the flavor was fantastic. Don't worry about the Jalapeño influence – it is not overpowering – in fact, it is mild but noticeable – a wonderful tastebud-pleasing effect. I was able to devour half of this monster before requesting a to-go box.

I took a bite of companion's Black and Blue Chicken Sandwich – the combo of the bacon, blue cheese and fried green tomatoes with the blackened chicken was scrumptious! … hungry, he was able to empty his plate. He winked and said he was still a “growin' boy” ...

Both entrees were excellent – companion called them “grand slams” – ones we'll definitely order again!

Sea Salt & Caramel Brownie

Sami, our food temptress, casually mentioned their impressive dessert selections. Carol had already suggested the Sea Salt and Caramel Brownie  – served with homemade vanilla ice cream, I might add – so, we could NOT  leave without trying that particular delicacy. Once it arrived, we realized Gas Full Service Restaurant had once again delivered an insurmountable summit of splendor – let's call it “Sugarload Mountain”. Decadent … evil … awe-inspiring mixture of the sweet caramel, the distinctively unique salty-brine of the sea salt and down-home Mamaw-type chocolate brownie atop homemade vanilla ice cream make this dessert a benchmark for the Jax Brew Bitch. All others will be judged against this one, believe-you-me!

Sami & owner, of Gas Full Service
Restaurant, Lindy Loose

Owner Lindy dropped by our table once again and she graciously answered some questions I had about the restaurant, its history and her and her husband's (Ben) plans for the establishment's menu in the future.

Dedicated to wholesome and quality ingredients, Lindy and Ben purchase only from local suppliers offering the very best. What goes into their finished products is all fresh, clean and natural. You can certainly taste the difference and that it is important and notable in an industry where the choice between “cheap but tasteless” vs. “higher quality & cost”  is too often made by rationalizing while quoting business-school axioms about bottom-line considerations. Hogwash! … Quality In makes for Quality Out … and Gas Full Service Restaurant embraces this quality concept – and then goes the extra mile.

On the way out, I noticed above the door as you leave, there is a message on the wall thanking patrons for “Not Passing Gas” - which, of course, is targeted for others than myself for we all know that Southern girls are never plagued with that – we just get “the puffs” … however, it IS a cute play on their name and indicative of the fun atmosphere they have created and maintain.

I can tell you the Jax Brew Bitch will be returning to Gas Full Service Restaurant – and soon! … it is one of those places you can feel comfortable in recommending to your friends and family … rest assured Lindy, Ben and Sami will make your visit there memorable and first-rate!

Jacksonvillians, if you have not tried this eatery, you are truly missing out on something spectacular. Treat yourself! … get on down there, cross the Bridge of Lions and make your night-out-on-the-town or weekend getaway a very special experience by getting filled up at the Gas Full Service Restaurant!

My heartfelt appreciation to Lindy, Ben and Sami for making their place a new and exciting regular stop on Jax Brew Bitch St. Augustine Prowls!


To view more photos from Gas Full Service Restaurant, visit the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.276389362446680.66864.181100418642242&type=3

http://www.redbrickbrewing.com/

http://www.narragansettbeer.com/

http://www.facebook.com/gasfullservice

J.P. Henley's in
St. Augustine, FL

Excited with having tried a new place, I was ready to invade J.P. Henley's (10 Marine St. - St. Augustine – 904.829.3337), one of our favorite haunts in St. Augustine. That evening, they were having a Kill-the-Keg night featuring Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales Namaste and El Presidente Cervesa. I was there for the Dogfish Head, of course!

Dogfish Head's Namaste

The Namaste is described on Dogfish Head's website: “A witbier bursting with good karma. Made with dried organic orange slices, fresh-cut lemongrass and a bit of coriander, this Belgian-style white beer is a great thirst quencher. Namaste was originally... A witbier bursting with good karma. Made with dried organic orange slices, fresh-cut lemongrass and a bit of coriander, this Belgian-style white beer is a great thirst quencher.

Namaste was originally brewed at our pub in Rehoboth Beach with our Italian friend Leo from Birra del Borgo. It was a tribute to our friends at 3 Fonteinen brewery in Belgium, who had devastating production loss (1/3 of their annual production) in 2009.”

JP Henley's Roasted
Chicken Salad

Peggy had ordered their Roasted Chicken Salad ($12.95) and it looked delicious! … J.P. Henley's describes it: “Herbed Garlic Chicken, grape tomatoes & savory roasted red pepper corn relish on a bed of spring greens” - I'll get this next time!

Companion and I apparently “killed the keg” of the Namaste after only one small glass each – but there were other motivated Dogfish Head fans there before we arrived!

Thanks to J.P. Henley's for being a solid beer venue in the St. Augustine area!

http://www.dogfish.com/

http://www.presidente.com.do/

http://www.jphenleys.com/

My third main objective for this evening was to attend the Double Feature Movie Event at Mile Marker Brewing! … Movies at the Brewery? … COUNT ME IN! ...  we were Gone With the Wind from J.P. Henley's and hightailing it over to 3420 Agricultural Center Drive  - St. Augustine.

This unique beer-cinema event was starting at 8:00 pm and the movies being shown were:

“Beerfest” (2006) and “Strange Brew” (1983)

Perfect seat in the house!

Arriving just in time, I was “ready for my close-up” with some of the delicious Mile Marker brews, so companion and I grabbed a Pecan Brown Ale and a Coconut Porter, respectively, and seated ourselves on one of the comfy sofas situated in front of the large screen TV. Neither of us had seen Beerfest, so we were looking forward to enjoying this brew-centered entertainment!

Peggy joined us there and she secured her own seat on one of the other sofas near the TV. This was her first visit to Mile Marker and she loved it – she stayed out a lot longer than she had planned because of the good beer she enjoyed and the great folks she met during the evening.

Mile Marker Brewing's
Coconut Porter

During the movie, there were occasional “official” pauses to answer Beer Trivia in order to win swag and pints of beer. They were also raffling swag after providing raffle tickets to each patron. Although I need to bone up on my beer trivia, I DID win a free beer by answering one of the trivia questions! … WooHoo!  - “Hats and Horns” ! ….by the way, I'm now searching for all obscure beer facts – feel free to share ...

A little over halfway through Beerfest, Tap Room Manager Ben Stamps offered to introduce me to one of the owners, Mike Fierro, head brewer Dennis Grune and Mile Marker's “Man with the Golden Pen”, Steve and his lovely wife, Dorothy. Dorothy introduced us to Liz, who is so funny and friendly – and she and Peggy hit off, as well.

Steve, the JBB and Mike

Steve and Dorothy invested financially and emotionally in the brewery right before it opened last year, after in-depth interviews with ownership, management and staff.  They own and operate a successful business in New Jersey and their business acumen will undoubtedly benefit Mile Marker Brewery substantially in the future.

Mike Fierro's background is, in a word, amazing. His previous business successes include Vitamin Water and Honest Tea – a well-seasoned professional in the beverage industry, he is now focused on Mile Marker Brewery and its consistency of quality.

Investor Steve said that during interviews, all those involved with the brewery were very impressive – they are living, breathing examples of motivated believers – those who not only talk a good game but show their dedicated spirit in how much and how hard they each work. You hear phrases like “sweat equity” a lot in business, but Steve said this level of personal ownership in the success of Mile Marker went beyond the financial realm. It is their “baby”, he said – a  wonderful labor of love – each is firmly committed, knowing there will be growing immense satisfaction for all involved as their “baby” grows up. Notably, Steve mentioned owner Mike Fierro was “all in”, which meant a great deal to him. In fact, he said that perception was one of the deciding factors influencing his decision to invest with his pocketbook – and heart.

I also had the chance to say hello to owner Vance Joy making his way around the brewery and tap room during the evening. Of course, Houston was there, spreading the canine love to all who ventured in. As Official Ambassador for Mile Marker Brewery, Houston holds sway over the establishment.

Matt Hopcraft, one of the brewers at Mile Marker was there and I was able to speak with him and his lovely wife Amanda (with a last name like that, these two were born to be in the brewery business!). Amanda is an amazingly talented make-up artist and is soon opening her own spa in St. Augustine, providing hair styling, manicures, pedicures, facials and many other spa treatments.

Luke, Caleb & Ben

We were having such a wonderful time speaking with Vance, Dennis, Steve, Dorothy, Liz, Amanda and Matt, we missed the end of Beerfest and all of Strange Brew. - didn't bother us in the least. The discussions being had and the friendships made were all vastly more important. Ben had excused himself to pick his brother up, just in from serving our country in the Middle East – companion and I appreciate his service to our Nation!

Sweet new additions to the
Mile Marker family.

Mile Marker continues to excite me. Their enthusiasm and earnest dedication to quality is something at which to marvel. I was overjoyed when the “family” there at Mile Marker formally invited me to come and “brew for a day” with them – to have the opportunity of learning firsthand more about the brewing process. They warned I would get hot and dirty – but hey, I get the same over a pile of freshly boiled crawfish! … I can't wait to do this! … words cannot express how grateful I am to be given the privilege of this unique experience!

Time flew by and way too soon it seemed, it was closing time. Bidding farewell to Houston and the gang at Mile Marker Brewery, we buckled ourselves into the Jeep and headed North by Northwest. I knew I would soon sleep soundly, having enjoyed such a wonderful evening - one so satisfying, it was the perfect Jax Brew Bitch Prowl.

It is said “if you don't know where you're going, any road will do” - I can tell you without a doubt that Mile Mark Brewery knows where THEY are going and the road they are traveling is headed toward a place called “Success”.

Jacksonvillians, exciting adventures await just a short trip south … I urge you to climb aboard the Mile Marker Brewery Express ... hold on to your pints ... and enjoy the ride!

A meaningful Jax Brew Bitch “thank you” to Ben, Vance, Dennis, Mike, Steve, Dorothy, Matt, Amanda and all at Mile Marker Brewing for delivering yet another delightful and unique event, for providing our friend Peggy with an outstanding first-time experience – and for making me and companion feel so very welcome!


To view more photos from Mile Marker Brewing, visit the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.276402435778706.66867.181100418642242&type=3

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486551/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086373/

http://www.milemarkerbrewing.com/

http://www.facebook.com/MileMarkerBrewing

Girls Pint Out at Cork & Keg

Women-only Beer Tasting? … take THAT testosterone-laden sports bars and chauvinistic man-caves! … I was excited to hear about such an event to be held at Cork and Keg (108 Bartram Oaks Walk – Suite 105 – Fruit Cove – 904.287.4310) on Tuesday (April 3). Carol Lowrey Graham from Brown Distributing was managing the event beginning at 7:00 pm and I wanted to be on time. It was time to show the “world of suits” that females have a definite spot at the brew table!

Feeling ever-so Simone de Beauvoir,  I batted my eyes at companion and he kindly agreed to being my … uh … hmmm … DRIVER!  (yes, that's the word I was looking for) for the evening. As part of the deal, he said he would much prefer to sequester himself at the nearby Shannon's Irish Pub, located in the same upscale shopping center. Being equal partners, I agreed to this stipulation.

Our hostess, Amanda

Arriving a bit early, we drove around the development and was impressed with the design used for the site layout and architecture. Sadly, the economy has taken its toll on a number of businesses formerly based there, but maintenance is obviously superb and it appears lease management is located right on-site.

In pre-Jax Brew Bitch days, we had driven through this shopping center and noticed Cork and Keg and judging-that-book-by-its-cover, assumed it was a snooty, over-priced heavily wine-centered establishment. Boy howdy, how wrong we were!

Now, as background, let me say the Jax Brew Bitch does like herself some wine – red, mainly – so, I harbor no ill  will about wine merchants whatsoever – but, you know – some become a little pretentious, brusquely ringing you (the peasant) up with a smug, stifled chortle at your feeble selection of a $21.99 bottle of wine. Wine has its place – which I believe is slipping a little due to the explosion of the craft beer industry.

There's certainly not near the same excitement around the office water cooler - “Joe, did your hear about the new Merlot from Cali?”  - nope, more probably, “Joe, did you hear Bold City/Brewer’s Pizza/Engine 15/Green Room/Intuition/Kickbacks/Mile Marker tapped a new IPA? - it's awesome!”

So, back to the beer-suffrage movement at Cork and Keg – hey, we women can have a say in this industry! .... As I said, we were so wrong in our initial “drive-by” perception of this place.

Companion parked us near the front door and skedaddled over to Shannon's. I entered Cork and Keg and was instantly impressed. Beautiful décor and subtle lighting combine to create the warm, comfortable ambiance of the place. Yes, there is a good selection of notable wines but my field of vision was overtaken by the wall sections filled with beer!

Girls Pint Out

Still being a little early, I was surprised to find the bar was full, shoulder-to-shoulder with women obviously already enjoying the event. I found two spots at the far end of the bar (one being reserved for someone), so I bellied up on the last remaining stool. The empty one next to me was soon occupied by Kelle, who also works at Cork & Keg. She was “off-duty” that evening and I soon was carrying on a conversation with her about Cork and Keg, her work there – and beer! … this gal knows her brews!

Amanda, the experienced and gracious bartender, approached and introduced herself. Sweet, beautiful and friendly, she was the perfect hostess for the evening. Of course, I had already noticed Carol was directing traffic, beer-wise, and I had already given this fellow-Cajun-gal a big southern-Louisiana hug.

Carol is phenomenal! … dedicated and knowledgeable, she is the best. Here are the brews of which she shared and educated us that evening (descriptions from breweries):

Cigar City's
Tropical Heat Wave

Cigar City Brewing Tropical Heatwave

American Wheat Ale, hazy light gold in color. The use of New Zealand hop varietal, Kohatu, creates a pleasant passion fruit expression in the aroma. The flavor opens with a clean floral bitterness and then has a tropical fruit bitterness that resembles passion fruit with underlying hints of pine. Overall, a refreshing, sessionable wheat ale with a wave of hop flavor to beat the Summer heat. Made for WBMF 88.5 FM – a listener-supported community radio that celebrates cultural diversity and is committed to equality, peace and economic justice. It has been serving Tampa since 1979 and is celebrating the 31^st Anniversary of the WMNF Tropical Heatwave – 5% ABV

Left Hand Brewing Company Milk Stout

Left Hand Brewing Co.
Milk Stout

Milk sugar in your stout is like cream in your coffee. This full bodied sweet stout is dark and delicious. America's great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be. An English style cream stout, the milk sugar feeds the yeast to create a creamy mouth-feel with hints of chocolate and coffee. -  5.5% ABV and 25 IBUs

Cigar City Brewing Maduro Brown Ale

Maduro is a Northern English-style brown ale with some American affectations. Maduro is higher in alcohol than the common English brown ale and features flaked oats in the malt bill which imparts a silky body and works to mesh the roasted, toasted and chocolate components together in Maduro's complex malt profile. Caramel, toffee, chocolate and hints of espresso are all on display in this complex but approachable brown ale. The end result is a remarkably full-flavored and sessionable brown ale which pairs well with roasted meat, sweet chocolate-based desserts and mild to medium cigars. 5.5% ABV

Peak Organic Brewing Company IPA

This unique India Pale Ale features our favorite hope – Simcoe, Amarillo and Nugget. A generous Amarillo and Simcoe dry hop provide for an assertive, hop-forward nose and front palate. We don't use traditional bittering hops in our IPA, providing nothing but stimulating citrus and floral characteristics. Suggested food pairings include spicy foods, pesto, smoked meats, mild cheddar or mild blue cheese and gorgonzola. 7.2% ABV and 76 IBUs

Peak Organic Brewing Company Hop Noir Black IPA

Hop Noir is a delectable Black IPA, dripping with piney, aromatic Centennial hops. The malt base is dark and rich, anchored by organic black malt. This provides a strong foundation for the extravagant kettle hopping and dry-hopping that this beer experiences. Suggested food pairings include Brie, grilled vegetables, lamb shank and pungent cheeses. 8.2% ABV and 98 IBUs

Beer Ice Cream Float

Shipyard Brewing Company “Smashed Blueberry”

A hybrid between a Porter and a Scotch Ale. This ber has a rich mouth-feel and a body of complex intensity. Upfront, there are noted of coffee and chocolate beautifully accentuated by the aroma of blueberries. The finish features a delicate balance of sweet fruit and dry hops. Pairs well with glazed dick, ribs, BBQ, chocolate and blueberry desserts – or try in a “smashed float” (JBB Note: We DID! … a cup of vanilla ice cream with Shipyard Smashed Blueberry – most decidedly decadent yummers! ) 9.0% ABV

B Nektar Meadery Wildberry Pyment

A “Pyment” (pie-ment)is a mead made with grapes. This one is made with clover honey, shiraz grape juice and natural wildberry concentrate. It is full bodied and semi-sweet. Makes a great sangria or try it over ice as a spritzer. This is B Nektar's most popular mead. 14% ABV

B Nektar Meadery Orange Blossom

Our orange blossom mead is made from the honey of orange and other citrus trees and is aged on American oak. The flavor and bouquet will transport you to warm climates, where citrus groves stretch on for miles and miles. This mead will continue to mature wonderfully in your cellar. 14% ABV

Everything was so good – and undoubtedly, the “Fellowship of the Females” contributed to the positive perception of all the offerings presented by Carol.

After an hour, I texted companion and learned he had just left Shannon's and was resting comfortably on one of the benches arranged around the development. I insisted he come in and he reluctantly agreed, first confirming he would be able to sit somewhere so as not to interrupt the event. Cork and Keg has high-top tables, sofa and love seat combos for their customers, so I told him to get his be-hind in there at once!

I HAD to run up to him to see his first reaction upon entering – and it was priceless! … his open-mouthed staring was reminiscent of the night we met – but now, nearly 20 years later, it was focused on the wide selection of fine and in some cases, rare, craft beer. By the way, I do take pleasure in the fact that after two decades, I still have that same effect on him – don't know why – maybe, I constantly surprise him with my antics!

He jumped to the bar and asked Amanda which of the Terrapin brews she had cold in the cooler behind the bar. I heard a whimper (or was it a gurgle?)  come from him as the list she verbally provided finally got down to Wake-N-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout! …. STOP! .. . speak nary another word! … selection made!

Terrapin describes the Wake-N-Bake:

“Black as night, this coffee stout is thick, rich and full of real coffee flavor. Brewed with the Terrapin Wake-n-Bake coffee blend created by Terrapin & Jittery Joe’s Coffee. The high content alcohol of these beers make them perfect for cellaring…hide them away and pull one out for a special event 2-3 years later.

ABV: 8.6%

IBU’s: 50

O.G.: 20.8

Malt: 2- Row Pale Malt, Flaked Oats, Flaked Barley, Chocolate Malt, Black Malt & Roasted Barley

Hops: Chinook, Northern Brewer

Coffee: Premium blend of Costa Rican, Guatemalan, & Zimbabwe : Premium blend of Costa Rican, Guatemalan, & Zimbabwe

Without a doubt, this is companion's favorite – and is certainly one of mine. The smooth and robust coffee flavor mixed with the oats, barley and malts gives it that sweet taste which is so mesmerizing.  A great end-of-your-prowl selection – I suggest having a nice dinner and follow up with a Wake-N-Bake for dessert!

I was still sluggin' – I mean, sampling, all the fine brews Carol was slingin' about – but by the time companion had finished his Wake-N-Bake, the event had drawn to a close. I brought Kelle over to meet companion since her husband is also a Texas A&M grad. She told us she was going home to quickly grab him (Brad) and come back up since they live just a few blocks away from Cork and Keg.

While she was away, companion and I decided to split Lagunitas Brewing Company's The Censored (aka The Kronic) Rich Copper Ale.

Lagunitas "Censored" 

Lagunitas Brewing Company's website says of the Kro.... uh, The Censored: “The original name of this original ale was originally derived from an origin so heinous that we cannot reveal its aboriginal orogeny. Sorry. Actually, it's an easy drinking malty Copper Ale that goes easy on the hops. Whatever. 6.75% ABV” - I noticed a toast and honey accent on this medium bodied ale. I love it and the story behind its name!

No sooner than we had procured The Censored, Kelle and Brad walked in.  Brad and companion introduced themselves and there began a long discussion about Texas A&M, where they used to live (although separated in time by a couple of decades, amazingly had lived on the same floor of the same dorm), and the impact the Aggies move from the Big12 conference to the Southeastern Conference will have on tradition – you know, the stuff guys like to talk about.

Funny, Brad told him he too felt he would be “in the way” if he violated the “man-ban” requirement, so was planning on staying home all evening. Kelle and I left companion and Brad tellin' “Ol' Ag” stories and settled ourselves at one of the several outside tables in front of Cork and Keg.

After “the boys” had sufficiently supplied each other with tales from the Dixie Chicken (link below), a landmark in College Station, they came outside to join us. “The Chicken”, as all Aggies refer to the place, has been around a LONG time, even earlier than when companion went there (*wink*) and he has told me of “the old days” when the menu consisted basically of Lone Star Longnecks, giant dill pickles and crackers. Bar activities included dominoes and … drinkin' ...

Happy to continue on this sidetrack, companion told me he used to get the best burgers at a place called DSP which stood for Dead-Solid-Perfect. - a house converted into a burger joint on the northwest side of the Aggie campus. He remembers on certain Fridays, he would pick up a DSP burger to go and an announcement board would indicate a performer was appearing there later in the evening who had the same last name as the name on the personalized license plate of the late-model maroon Mercedes parked in the dorm's parking lot. (easy to spot he said amidst the old pickups and dented sedans). The last name was “Lovett” (Lyle being the first name, by the way). He never met him or heard him perform (too busy chasin' skirt, I believe) – but the legend of DSP lives on.

In speaking with Kelle and Brad, we learned of their background and the amazing story of how they relocated their family from Texas. We are excited we have met this beer-centric couple! … great family and outgoing, they are quite popular with the crowd at Cork and Keg!

The event was a smashing success! … what a tremendous evening! … it was difficult pulling ourselves away from Kelle & Brad and the rest of the fine folks we met, but it WAS, unfortunately, a school night. My early feminist-like attraction to the women-only tasting had evaporated in the mix of hops and malts, so I gladly accepted companion's gentlemanly gesture of opening my door and making sure I was safely buckled in. Besides, “the Age of Chivalry has no end” and more significantly, there remains a “little princess” in all of us grown-up girls.

My heartfelt appreciation to Carol Lowrey Graham from Brown Distributing, Amanda from Cork and Keg, Kelle and Brad for providing a most memorable … and perfect ... Jax Brew Bitch evening!

To view photos from the tasting at The Cork & Keg, visit the link below ...

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.273400612745555.66223.181100418642242&type=3

http://terrapinbeer.com/

http://www.lagunitas.com/

http://www.dixiechicken.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cork-Keg-Jacksonville/185758718114182