Beer-Cation Part Two: Alpine

 Let us continue out beer journey with a trip down that windy road and into Alpine. I will say, the trip back down wasn't as bad. The beer may have calmed our nerves a little, or now we just knew where we we're going. Either way, I only death gripped the the seat a few times.
Before we left Nickle, Scottish Mel told us that we would most likely drive by Alpine because it was so hidden. And that we should get the Willy Vanilly becuase it was one of their best beers. Well, Scottish Mel. You were right. We did drive by. But at least we knew we were going to drive by and managed to only go a little ways down the road, only to park in front of a liquor store. Heh. No, we didn't go in.... but in hindsight, we should have seen what hidden beer gems they had there. Oh well. Bygones will be bygones....
Before I get too far off track, we parked and walked down to Alpine. It was a neat little place. First we walked into the Growler filling room. And then Chuck remembered that Scottish Mel said we would probably do that too and to walk by the book place and then we would find the bar. And we did. Thanks Mel!
So we make it in and this place is PACKED! But it is kinda small. Like a little beer diner. As we wondered where to sit, a couple at a small table admired Charlie's UpChuck's shirt and then asked who won the Stanley Cup. ... (which if you follow hockey, two weeks ago it wasn't close to being done... Grrr... Some people just... ) And he said the Kings won the first game. And she says "So the Kings won the Stanley Cup?" Sometimes it's really hard not to say what you want.... But Charlie took it in stride and and said no, blah blah blah. Rangers... Blah Blah. And it ended with GO RANGERS! and us sitting at their table. Anywho....
We decided to get a flight so that we could try a lot of beers, and still be able to drive into San Diego. Because drinking and driving is BAD! So don't do it. Be responsible. FLIGHTS FOR TWO! But it worked out. We tried 6 different beers, and yes we got the Willy Vanilly! And once again, Scottish Mel was right. It was awesome!

But, we weren't a huge fan of the Mandarin Nectar. It was kind of bland. But I guess it was the last one we tried, and it left little to be desired after the first five flavorful beers. (Geez, say that three times fast.) The Captain Stout was actually really really good! It was perfectly dry and smooth with roasted coffee and chocolate. And mix that with the Willy Vanilly and BAM! Beer-gasm! The Pure Hoppiness was exactly that. A delicious double IPA lots o' hops! Very dry, but smooth and drinkable. The Nelson was okay. It didn't really have any rye flavor in it, but it did have a unique grapefruit taste. (Which now we come to realize that every west coast beer kinda has that grapefruit taste--like the smell of when the boiling water hits the jello powder. Weird, but accurate.) The San Diego Surprise.... well... not much to go on with that one. It was just an okay beer.
The brewery though was not bad. It had a lot of beers to try so we could have tried more, but once again that whole driving thing really puts a damper on the beer drinking. But of all the times later on in the trip when we told someone we were on a Beer-Cation, they all asked "Have you been to Alpine?" I guess Alpine is the hot new brewery that all San Diego people are talking about. I can see the appeal. It's kind of a getaway out of San Diego. 40 minutes away, up in the mountains. A casino is about 20 minutes away. Not a bad day trip really.

That ends our stay in Alpine. Now we move on into the heart of San Diego's craft beer scene.

To be continued....

Beer-cation

A week ago we were in San Diego. It was a perfect 74 degrees. Beautiful blue skies. Smell of the ocean in the air. And there was beer. Craft beer. And there was a lot.
But today, we're back in Arizona. Back to work. Back to the endless heat. Endless dirt in the air. But we have the memories.... And I feel like reminiscing about our Beer-cation.
So let's talk beer, while I drink a beer.
We decided to take a different way into San Diego so that we could go through Julian and then down to Alpine to try the local breweries there. But we ended up missing that exit, and took the same way we always go to San Diego which caused us to drive a windy, scary, narrow road up a mountain to Julian. 

We made it though. First stop with Julian Brewing Co/Bailey's BBQ. We got some pints and some sandwiches and they hit the spot.

Wife Beer: Cedar Creek Honey Ale 5.8% Honey Ale brewed with local honey.
       "Very Crisp, honey aroma. Light sweetness. Slight hop bitterness."
Husband Beer: Good Brothers Citra Pale Ale 5.3%
       "I love the malt profile of the pale ale. The hops are in the end. Color and aroma are the stars."

The place itself was great. Exactly what you would expect from a BBQ place in a tourist mining town. The beer were more than expected, but not the greatest. All in all, the food was more of the star, but the beer was a good supporting cast.

Next up in Julian was Nickle Beer Co. about a half mile down the road. Driving by, it looked like an old VFW building. Who knows, we didn't ask. We were too busy drinking beer. We go in and to the left is the bar where the little cold pints of heaven are served. To the right is the brewery. Brewery might seem like a stretch if you saw it. It was a tiny little room where the beer is made.

 After we looked over the expensive beer selection, which was really a lot for a tiny little place, we order our beers from Melody. Scottish Mel. And yes, she really was Scottish with the accent and everything. Well, not everything. She wasn't wearing a kilt. Or maybe she was... the bar was in the way... Anyway... off to the outside bar to enjoy the beer, weather and scenery.

 Husband Beer: Hop Heaven Farms IPA (Chinook, Cascade, & Centennial hops from farm in Oregon)    "Hoppy and Malty. Sweet and Floral. Sensational."
Wife Beer: Julian Pale Ale
                   "Well balanced flavors. Malty but not overly thick. Great hop bitterness and aroma. Great little brewery"
                  

So, after these two beers, and a full stomachs we were ready for the drive back down the mountain and to Alpine!

To be continued...

Happy 29th Birthday Chuck!

Hope you enjoy all your beer paraphernalia and that this jumpstarts your brewery dreams!
Love you, my husband!