Your First Brew-Pub?

[steveh]

In a parallel thought to the discussion going on in this thread, (http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16217&perpage=15&highlight=&pagenumber=1) I thought I'd start a new discussion.

What was the first brew-pub you ever visited and when was it?

Brewmasters' Pub & Brewery, Kenosha, WI -- probably around 1986. They opened a second pub on the north side of town, but have since closed both places. Got to know the 3 brewmasters very well; joined their home-brew club, brewed with them, even traveled to England with them -- still see them once or twice a year at the local H-B competition. Cheers to Jim, Jim, and Dave!

S.

[The Alchemist]

Penn Brewery in either the fall of 1989 or winter of 1990. It was then known as the Allegheny Brewery of the Pennsylvania Brewing Co.(Allegheny was once an independent city before becoming part of Pittsburgh)

[steveh]

Is/was Penn a brew-pub? Or a microbrewery?

I'll make the question a little more specific with the age-old definition that a brew-pub is basically a tavern (serving food) with a brewing system.

Yeah, I know - some micros (Bridgeport, Oregon) have attached pubs too -- so I'd count that.

Edit: based on their web site, I see that Penn is much like Bridgeport: a micro with an attached restaurant so it fits.

S.

[The Alchemist]

Honestly, I didn't look closely enough at your question, my fault. However, if memory serves Penn was the first " tied house " in Pennsylvania since Prohibition. That term meaning to be able to brew beer and serve food on the same premises.

[corkybstewart]

A place in Memphis TN, I think it was called The Brewery, sometime in the early-mid 90's. That was the first time I ever had a chocolate stout, it was excellent at the time. I had a pint of everything they brewed and my little sister drove us back to Beale Street for more blues and crap beer. A couple of years later we went there again and the Brewery was gone.
Or it was the brewpub in downtown Mobile AL in 1995. Our 20th high school reunion was at a hotel around the corner so we spent a lot of time at the brewpub.

[wortchillergoal]

It was Empire Brewing Company here is Syr. For the size of the city, we were blessed with two brewpubs. The other being Syracuse Suds Factory.

The Suds factory was never as noted for beer as Empire was/is. I was told that at one point Suds facrory extraxt brewed. Empire had good brewers and took a couple of GABF medals. Empire had/has a nice menu.

The local homebrew club used to meet at Suds Factory, After the meeting a vast majority went to Empire or Clak's Ale House for continued beer drinking.

[DecoJuicer]

My first brew pub was the Great Baraboo here in the Metro Detroit area. It was ok, but I didn't really think that it was anything special.

A few years later, my neighbor invited me to a place called Dragonmead. I fell in love. I drank 5 samplers(5 six oz beers) and had a couple of pints of the ones that I really liked. Thankfully I was only a few blocks from home.

[sbv32]

My first Brewpub was 75th Brewery (http://www.75thstreet.com/) about......6 months ago.

I really like this place. I don't know how most brewpubs are but this one had all the equipment in the center of the pub so you could check it all out. I tried all their brew that night and didn't find one that I didn't like.

[jjpm74]

Westchester Brewing. It was a brewpub/cigar lounge that was across the street from what is today Lazy Boy Saloon in White Plains, NY. It was some time in the 90s. The last time I was in the area, the fermentation vessel was still present in the window even though the brewpub closed down about 10 years ago.

[Wilson]

Marin Brewing Company (http://www.marinbrewing.com/) in Larkspur, CA circa the turn of the century. Introduced me to hops and better beer.

[jesskidden]

Hmmm... that is a hard one. I'm always trying to remember the order of the first microbreweries, but "brewpubs" is even harder since state laws differed on licensing brewpubs, and some states didn't legalize them until well after the microbrewery boom was in effect, etc.

In PA., in the pre-micro days, Ortlieb's Brewery had an attached-but-with-different-owners restaurant that I visited in the late 70's, but that was a sort of end run around the law and wasn't a real "brewpub". Later in the 80's, Stoudt's pretty much did the same thing, with an attached restaurant technically owned by Ed, and the brewery owned by Carol. I remember eating there even before they were licensed to brew. Ditto for Ship Inn in NJ. Both places were know for having pretty good draught selections before becoming breweries.

So, the first true brewpub I can remember visiting was probably the Manhattan Brewery in NYC (where Garrett Oliver got his start) 1984-5 (?). It was only a few blocks away from my employers' "home office" when I worked driving a truck from NJ into NYC every day, but, as a trucker, one's not supposed to drink at all "on duty" so I never stopped in as often as I would have liked. New Amsterdam opened up on the west side of Manhattan around the same time, but I can't recall if they were brewing in-house yet when I visited.

Outside the US, I'd taken a pub and brewery filled trip to the UK in the mid-80's, but the facts are hazy for that trip (real ale in massive quantities will do that, as will age, I suppose) but I'm pretty sure we stopped into a few "brewpubs" along the way- including one of those "_______ & Firkin" pubs (that was a chain of brewpubs, right?).

[Airborneguy]

Probably Hops, a now-defunct brewpub mini-chain in Colorado Springs.

[Mill Rat]

I'm thinking it was a hole-in-the-wall place in Ann Arbor, MI in a 1991 sort of time frame, but I could be utterly wrong on that, the memory isn't serving me well. I also know that I was at Goose Island in Chicago not much more than a year after that, but 1992, 1993? Hard to say. The first I can give a definite time & place on is America's Brewing Company in Aurora, IL, 19 July 1995.

[barleyburps]

1989 - the 19th Street Brewery and International Fest Haus in VIrginia Beach.

It was one in a chain of 3 Weeping Radish Breweries out of Manteo NC.

I stopped in to apply for bartender, also put brewers assistant on the application, and 2 weeks later I was brewing for a living. . . .the right place at the right time. . .

[Bob E.]

The Portsmouth Brewing Company in Portsmouth, Ohio in '05. I had their Pilsner and it whooped the hell out of the Budweiser I was loyal to beforehand. I bought two half-gallon jugs to bring home. They were emptied within the first few days and served as shelf ornaments, but now that I've started brewing they look like a mighty good place for a yeast starter.

[jjpm74]

Originally posted by Airborneguy
Probably Hops, a now-defunct brewpub mini-chain in Colorado Springs.

Hops is still alive and well. They have 2 locations in CT and many others throughout the US.

[wild]

The Bandersbatch in Tempe, Az while attending ASU in '95.
Sadly the first brewpub in Az is gone now but JB is said to be starting a new place in Fountain Hills soon.

Wild

[iamnick]

Mill Street Brewery in Toronto. My gfs father paid dearly for offering to pay for everything. Decent food and good beers. I don't remember the stout being too memorable, but the coffee porter was good and the tankhouse pale ale very good. I had a few others but don't remember too much about them other than the raspberry wheat my gf was drinking was VERY fruity, but good for what it was. I was happy with all I tried, and very happy about a few. All of the beers were served in the proper glassware, too, which was real cool.

[M.K. Jeeves]

A Mcminamins brew pub in Portland, Oregon in 1991. I had a raspberry wheat, and became an instant convert into the obsession.

I was lucky enough to be at the right place and time, because in the Pacific northwest at that time you couldn't throw a rock without hitting a brewpub. Maybe I'm looking at it through rose colored glasses, but I honestly cannot ever remember having a bad pint, (but of course some of that was due to the amount consumed).

[steveh]

Originally posted by M.K. Jeeves
A Mcminamins brew pub in Portland, Oregon in 1991.

Which one? Weren't there about 3 McMinamins (McMenamins?) in Portland alone back then?

I hit one or 2 in '95, but the crew I was with were real brew-pub snobs and looked down on McM's because they were chain-like. As I recall, their beer wasn't bad at all -- and as you said, to have that sort of variety right outside your door was outstanding. Nothing like it in the Midwest.

S.

[newportstorm]

Most likely The Brewery Exchange in Lowell, MA - during college days (mid 90s) at UMass-Lowell. It's seen changes in ownership, occupancy (Concord Brewery now exists inside) and quality over the years.

Last time I was there was for my wedding rehearsal dinner 5 years ago. Great time but from what I've heard it hasn't maintained it's quality. Shame.

[sharkstewbrewer]

gritty mcduffs in portland ,me back in 1988 or 89

it was great, close enough so you could have a few and still run to catch the ferry out to the islands
still can for that matter

[HarkJohnny]

i don't remember for sure, but probably Barrelhouse or Main Street here in Cincinnati about 1998.

Main Street is long gone, Barrelhouse is now a brewery only. We are, sadly, left with one brewpub in cincy which is a Rock Bottom. Though we are getting a BJs chain out in the burbs soon.

[steveh]

Originally posted by HarkJohnny
We are, sadly, left with one brewpub in cincy

Doesn't the Cincy Hofbrauhaus brew its own? Or is that too far away to really be considered Cincy Metro?

S.

[M.K. Jeeves]

Steve, I believe it was #3 but not for sure, I was attending Western culinary institute on SW Morrison street. I need to Make it back to the Rose city one of these days.

[Candymaker]

The Great Dane - Madison, WI. Went to the original one up by the capitol shortly after my 21st while in school there. So many tasty beers!!!

[fretlessman71]

Coopersmith's in Fort Collins. Went there first in 1992. Still going strong - great beer, really good food, TVs in the bar for watching the Rockies win (:D), and in a seperate building just 6 feet from the entrance they have a 2nd bar with pool tables and such. So you don't HAVE to hear people playing pool while you imbibe if you don't want to.

[Vienna Lager]

The Isadore Street Brew Pub in Stevens Point, WI about 12+ years ago. It is now defunked which is not a big deal as two other micro breweries have sprung up locally bringing a total of 3 breweries within a 12 mile radius.

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Coopersmith's in Fort Collins.

Now that could have been an epiphany to the uninitiated!

Vienna -- I just read there's another pub opening in Plover -- is that one of the three of which you speak, or is it now 4?

S.

[Test_Engineer]

I honestly can't remember.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by steveh
Doesn't the Cincy Hofbrauhaus brew its own? Or is that too far away to really be considered Cincy Metro?

S.

well, it's actually in Newport, KY across the river so I wasn't counting it. But as far as authenticity goes it's probably the closest thing to old school german brewing as (maybe) the entire US of A has. pretty cool.

there was a nice article on Conrad Freihofer (the brewmaster who still gets regular visits from his german superiors to ensure quality and that things are done the right, er German way) in a recent issue of Cincinnati Gentleman magazine, which I cannot find a copy online or i'd share it.

[Vienna Lager]

steveh:

The newest brewery in the area is the one in Plover, WI and is called O'So Brewery Company that is a 9 barrel system. On Sunday, 10-7-07 they did their first test batch to check the system out and club members were giving the runnings so the stuff wouldn't go down the drain. I racked mine to seconday last night and it tastes like an Okto, rather yummy.

The owner is a great guy and his wife is the owner of the LHBS and they are easy to get along with.

Another local brewery is Central Waters Brewing Company in Amherst, WI (they also have a brew pub in Marshfield, WI) who does a lot of stouts such as Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout which did quite well at GABF in 2006.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Vienna Lager
On Sunday, 10-7-07 they did their first test batch to check the system out and club members were giving the runnings so the stuff wouldn't go down the drain. I racked mine to seconday last night and it tastes like an Okto, rather yummy.


Very cool -- local brew-pubs are great for that sort of thing, we did it all the time. Sounds like fun!

S.

[threecb]

I've been trying to remember what my first was. If it wasn't one in NYC, then it was on a trip to Maine around 1993 or 4. That was the first trip where I plotted out beer destinations. I think it would've been Portsmouth Brewing in NH.

[hooky]

Mishawaka Brewing Company in Mishawaka, IN. Founders Stout was the beer I drank.

[chazwicke]

I'm not sure, perhaps Weeping Radish in Manteo. But I was at plenty of older breweries that had pubs or at least tap rooms attached. Some early places on the East Coast were Sissons & Baltimore Brewing in Baltimore. Gritty's and Portsmouth in New England. I made extensive brew pub tours through New England and Northern California in the late 80s and early 90s but had been to ChesBay which was just a brewery and other regionals long before. I live near Old Dominion and toured it as soon as it was open for tours. But it too was a just a brewery back in the 80s. I can't recall which brewery was the first I ever was in but I have been in many since the mid 70s some of which were long closed when I went in. I think the first brewpub overseas was probably Rose Street Brewery in Edinburgh, Scotland back when they actually were a brewpub. I was in there again last March and they are a pub but no longer brew and haven't for some time.

It's all a blur to me however, I did try to make a practice of taking photos of every brewery / brewpub that I visited and I have them all in different albums or stacks of pictures somewhere. I still try to do this. Also when I was selling off my collection of old brewery / brewpub tee shirts on Ebay awhile back It was fun to go down memory lane. Most of my shirts were from places now long defunct. Collectors items. I sold about 150 and still have about 30 or so more which I'll sell in the future when I have time again.

[hasher on hops]

I don't remember the name of it, but it was in Raleigh NC. Went to it a number of times when up visiting friends. Would have been 1990 or 91. I don't even remember the styles of beer that I drank. I just know it was a big step up from common beers.

[chazwicke]

Probably Greenshields. It's no longer there. I think they had a fire or something. I visited a couple times. Raleigh needs a top notch brewpub.

[BrewDog]

I think for me it was the Victory Brewpub in Malvern/King Of Prussia PA area. It was in a strip mall. The building before that used to be a movie theatre that burned down. I don't think that was all the way out in Downingtown but I might be wrong. This would have been around '94 or '95.

[xtalman]

My best recollection would be the Weeping Radish in Manteo back in the mid to late 80's, I don't remember exactly. After that it would probably be the Buffalo Brew Pub in Amherst NY.

As for tap rooms, does the tap in the wall at Straubs in St. Mary's PA count? :D

[MadDog88]

I think it was Capital City Brewing in Springfield,IL 1994. The next was one in Troy, NY a couple of years later.

[Stahlsturm]

Originally posted by steveh
I'll make the question a little more specific with the age-old definition that a brew-pub is basically a tavern (serving food) with a brewing system.

Yeah, I know - some micros (Bridgeport, Oregon) have attached pubs too -- so I'd count that.

I've been to Spital, Kneitinger, Prösselbräu, Bischofshof (was then still called Domspatz) and Thurn Und Taxis (was then still and independent brewery) while I was 16. That'd place it in 1983.

But all these places would not be brewpubs in my book. They run their own restaurants next to their brewery but they bottle and distribute (at least locally) and they also give their beer to other pubs.

I think the first actual brewpub to open in Regensburg was the Brauhaus Johann Albrecht sometime in the mid 90s.

[jesskidden]

Originally posted by xtalman


As for tap rooms, does the tap in the wall at Straubs in St. Mary's PA count? :D

Free beer *always* counts.

[Airborneguy]

Mad dog, which one in Troy? I was just at Brown's a few weeks ago. Great place!

[chazwicke]

I've also been to one in Troy with seating right on the river.

[threecb]

AFAIK, Brown's is the only game in town in Troy, but it's had 3 different names. Prior to the renaming as Brown's (which is supposedly because they are trying to get a production brewery off the ground further east on Rt. 7) it was Troy Pub & Brewery/Uncle Sam's Brewing Co. Before that it was Brown and Moran's (I guess before Moran left the business). so I guess they've come full circle on the naming!

[fatboy570]

Bootleggers, in Aurora, MO was my first brewpub. They brewed beer on premesis, and served some damn good steaks, too. Some friends and I had went there to try some different beers before we started homebrewing, to get a taste of the various styles.

[SoxyinMO]

I'm thinking it had to be Pizza Port in Solana Beach about a billion years ago... no, wait, maybe just last century.

[Stodbrew]

I think my first one had to be the Tap Room at Sierra Nevada. Either that, or Los Gatos Brewing Co., where I later brewed for a couple years.

[dennis3951]

Oldenberg Brewing,Fort Mitchell,KY 1998 or 99. Sadly Oldenberg is gone . They brewed great German Lagers. My wife and i were visiting her grandmother in Cincinnati Oh. and i found a flyer in our motel lobby . Since then where i/we go i look for brewpubs as soon i we get there.

[DubbelDach]

Appalachian Brewing Company right here in Harrisburg, PA. It was probably circa 2000-2001ish. We were there on a busy Saturday night and the service/food wasn't very great at all, but the Jolly Scot Scottish Ale captivated me. My favorite beer to this day.

And the food/service has gotten to be absolutely outstanding since I've been serving it for the past 3 years :p

[chazwicke]

I've found the service at ABC to be spotty. I've been to Gettysburg several times and Camp hill once. I like the down town Harrisburg branch the best of the three and usually stop there. The service has been spotty as I have said - sometimes great sometimes dismal but the food and beer are decent. And the variety of beers that ABC makes is impressive. I've not been to Harrisburg since Jonathan Reeves started brewing there but his beers were solid and good when he was here at Sweetwater Tavern.

[Seymour]

Steamworks in Durango, Colorado. My wife and I were on our honeymoon in Oct of 1997. We were relatively new to craft beers (converted in '93; at that time we thought Guinness and Bass "exotic":rolleyes: ) but were unaware of the existence of brewpubs. Wow, they brew their beer right on the premises? Who'da thunk it? Apparently they had opened just the month before.

[dparsons]

Assets Grille here in Albuquerque. The beer was so-so, the service was poor and the food was fair. As far as I know it is still that way. There are better choces, so if you are in town pick another. Il Vicino, Kelly's, & Blue Corn are all better.

[Jake]

Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse in Gaylord, Michigan

http://www.bigbuck.com/

I have talked my Postmaster into having our office Christmas party there this year.

She ask me why I wanted to have it there and I said because they cook great flamed steaks and serve real beer and not just Bud & Miller Lite. I'm looking forword to having a few with the boss.