Thursday, 4 June 2015

Amtrak to California, Part 7: The Craft Beer Trail

California Journey:  Craft Beer Trail (3 photos)

It is amazing that Amtrak has even one bottle selection of craft beer, but they do.  The Southwest Chief offers Nevada Pale Ale, and I had one between Santa Fe Station (Lamy) and Albuquerque.  I confess to doing a pretty awful job this time around of taking photos and keeping track of all the places.  So sorry!  I promise to do better next time.

           With our long layover in Chicago after arriving early on our train from Detroit, even a rainy day couldn't stop me from walking to the nearby Haymarket Brewery and Pub.  Let's just say that I will be back as often as possible!

 Part of the draft beer menu at Haymarket Brewery, Chicago.  We also ate lunch
here, with several veg-friendly options available.  The back of the menu lists all
the many bottles available.  At the very bottom is a small portion entitled
"American Crap Beer."  Love it!

Banana Hammock Hefeweizen:  **1/2.
Kaiser Rauchtenstein Dry-Hop:  **1/2
Replicale 2014 Double Pale Ale: ****
Lucy Belgian Tripel Ale 8%:         ***1/2
Angry Birds American-Belgo:      ****
Ombibulous 7.0 American IPA:  ***1/2
The Defender American Stout:   ***1/2    

Chama River Brewery Microbar/Taproom, Albuquerque, NM
            This was a lifesaver!  Located just around the corner from the Amtrak Station, I was able to purchase a 32 oz growler of their Jackalope IPA!  I also tasted their Sleeping Dog Stout, which was just as awesome!  **** stars to both beers!!  I love how the website gives the recipe for home brewers!!!  On an earlier visit to Albuquerque we did visit the main brewpub, and will again.  Taproom opens at 4 pm, so it's good for the westbound train layover.  However, eastbound it doesn't work at all, unless the train is already 4 hours late.

Woodstock Pizza, San Luis Obispo, CA
            Great pizza, offering vegan cheese and a small craft brew tap area.  I enjoyed Speakeasy Prohibition Ale.  Pizza ****.  Ale ***.

Fernwood Lodge, Big Sur, CA
            The tavern is small and cozy, featuring a heated outdoor deck steeped in redwood trees.  There are about 10 craft taps.  We ate lunch here before our hike to Buzzards Roost, then had beer and coffee afterwards.  A great little place, right on Highway 1.  No time to hike to see redwoods?  Have an ale on their back deck.  I had Firestone Session IPA.  ***.

 Peter B.'s Brewpub, Monterey, CA.

            We had two visits here, including a very crowded happy hour one Thursday night, and then for a quieter lunch Friday after the whale watch cruise.  Both times I had the cask IPA and left very happy!  It is a modern, large hotel-type brewpub.  They have glass enclosed ship models.

Cannery Row Brewery, Monterey, CA
            NOT a brewery (I was pre-warned by Jennifer G.), but a large, busy restaurant with many many crafty taps (over 70!).  As we had a 7 pm reservation we were able to saunter in past the lineups at the door and get a table.  The waitress was very helpful in helping us choose vegan items.  I had a glass or two of New Belgium 1554 (****).  The restaurant is situated in the peak tourist district, very close to the ocean.  We had a lovely walk after dinner.

 SLO Brewpub, San Luis Obispo, CA
            After a hot hike in the desert mountains it was nice to come here for a cool-down.  I had an Oatmeal Stout (***), and we sampled the IPA (***1/2).  Right downtown in very cool SLO.  We tried to get in earlier in the week for an evening visit.  However, it is a popular live music venue and the lineup was out the door.  In the early afternoon of a Saturday it was just pleasantly busy.

Manrock Brewery and Taproom, Grover Beach, CA
            Located a five minute walk from our hotel in Arroyo Grande.  How could we resist?  A friendly, busy taproom right off Highway 101.  We both had "Follow the Crow IPA," which was quite outstanding.  ****

Boardroom, Pismo Beach, CA
            A few craft taps and a whole slew of bottles.  I had a pint of Sierra Nevada Hefeweizen (***).  We ate dinner here, preceded and followed by walks on the beach (sunset first, then at moon time).  It was a short drive from our fancy Best Western Motel in Arroyo Grande.

Eastbound Train ride:  I boarded in L.A. with a four-pack of Green Flash Double Stout (*** 1/2).  The only way to travel....

Elephant and Castle, Chicago
            Now a regular watering hole in Chicago.  A fancy place, part of a small chain, and in a hotel.  The bar is a work of art! If it could be transplanted to a train car, it would be the best bar in the entire world!!!  I had an IPA.  Several craft and British drafts, and many adventuresome bottles, including Meantime!

THE END


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