Month: October 2012

Stick to Duval Street in Key West and Skip the Brewery

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Yes, believe it or not, there is a brewery in Key West. It is a couple of blocks off Duval Street and owned by actress, Kelly McGillis of Top Gun fame. However, if you are thinking about going by Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, Grill and Brewery— DON’T!  The beer is okay, but the service is beyond awful.  We went at the end of season, late May, so restaurants and bars weren’t packed. Business was slow when we got to Kelly’s.  There were probably less than 20 people in the place. However, we waited forever to get served at the bar.  The bartenders went about their business talking to other customers and doing everything, it appeared, to avoid waiting on us. When we finally got service, I asked for a sampler of their local brews.  The bartender seemed really put out by having to pour a sampler. Our intent was to have a couple of drinks there before moving on to another place.  Yet, we ended up leaving some money on the  bar, after getting tired of waiting to get a check, and walked out.  Back to Duval Street we went and got great service at Sloppy Joe’s, which unlike Kelly’s was packed!  Guess there is no need to wonder why.

I do have to say that not everything about Kelly’s is awful. The building itself is lovely– an older style Florida home with a wrap around veranda. The bar is open to the outside and has a lovely, tropical feel.  If you can stomach the bad service and mediocre beer, then go for a quick drink just because it is pretty.

End of Sampler at Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, Grill and Brewery.

Sampler at Kelly’s Caribbean Bar, Grill and Brewery

A Little Closer to Home– Marco Island Brewery

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I thought that today I would chose a local brewpub. We only really have one in the area so not a hard choice. Florida has some great craft breweries but they are only starting to make their way down here in Southwest Florida.  The Marco Island Brewery sits in a strip mall about 45 minutes south of Naples on Marco Island. Marco Island is known for its extremely low speed limit, rich and elderly tourists, and the area’s only comedy club (in addition to the only brewery).  Marco is a ghost town through the summer months but this is the best time to head down to the brewery.  The beer here is marginal to poor but it is cheap. Happy hour gets you a huge beer for only $3.  In addition, the brewery has a great outdoor patio. Unfortunately, it has views of only the strip mall parking lot but it does allow you to get some fresh air while enjoying a cheap beer.  The food is also marginal but also very reasonably priced.   The brewery has a lot of great craft beers from around the world available by bottle or on draft, making it the best place on Marco to grab a beer.

The brewery is nothing to write home about but we try to make it down there every couple of months just to support the fact that they are trying to brew craft beer locally– support your local businesses!

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A Brewpub in Montreal

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Montreal is a very European style city.  I was lucky enough to go during an unseasonably warm spell in the Fall.  Since the city is so European and the weather was so warm, we were able to take advantage of all the outdoor patios and seating.  The Old City of Montreal is quite lovely and really does transport you “across the Pond.”

I was surprised to find a very cute brewpub in the Old City area of Montreal called Les 3 Brasseurs.  Although a chain, the ambience of the Old City in Montreal really gives a unique look and feel.  The beers are not really anything special, but the atmosphere is so unique you have to try it if you find yourself in Montreal on a warm day!

Sacramento– The City that Sleeps

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I have been to Sacramento a few times and I love the area around Sacramento. However, the city itself really is quite a bore. This last time I was there I was really surprised at how much of a bore it really was. I understand it is a city based on government and when 5 o’clock comes it is time for all the bureaucrats to head home.  However, it is California and a large city, so you would think it would have somewhat of a nightlife.  But, this has not been my experience.

Last time I was in town, we thought we would have a quick dinner on a Sunday evening then head over to the Pyramid Brewery down by the Capitol for a few beers. Well, that was a big mistake. Turns out that the Pyramid Brewery closes about 6 pm on Sunday in the middle of the summer. Who would have thought? We weren’t the only ones surprised we probably saw 10-20 people also walk up and try the doors.

Luckily, we had a map that mentioned another brewery about 10-15 blocks away. It was quite a walk but well worth it. The Rubicon Brewing Company was a gem in a dead city.   The beer was good, staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was a little bit dive bar. Great place to go and everyone seemed to be a local. Put this one on your list if you visit the area– and its better beer than Pyramid anyway.

Now a little mention about the areas around Sacramento, because where Sacramento fails, they shine.  The Apple Hill region is east of Sacramento. It is filled with wineries, a few breweries, and apple/fruit orchards.  This is a great place to spend the day, especially in the Fall when the fruit trees are in season.  Every time I make it to Sacramento, I try to make a trip out this way to visit some wineries and my favorite brewery, the Jack Russell Farm Brewery (which now also has a winery). The beers here are all English style and quite good. I think I have tried most of their regular brews and  haven’t found a bad one. The atmosphere is great, especially on the weekends when the outside tables are packed with people. The staff is friendly. The place can be a bit hard to find your first time. Make sure if you visit this area to stop at a visitors center to get a map– this list breweries, wineries, and orchards in the area.

Finally, I have to mention Lodi– land of the Zinfindel. It was a few times that I visited Sacramento before I realized that Lodi was only about 45 minutes to the south.  Lodi is a great little town with wineries scattered throughout.  They also grow a lot of almonds in the area and I got a huge bag of some great raw almonds at a local winery just for saying that they were so tasty.  Stop at the Lodi Visitor Center for a wine map of the area.  Michael David Winery is probably the most visited as it sits right off the interstate. They are of course known for their 7 Deadly Zins– great name and good wine for the money.  This winery also sells local produce and a deli style restaurant so it makes a great place for lunch.  The Van Ruiten Family Winery sits right next door and makes one of my favorite zins.

So what do I have to say about Sacramento– skip the city and head for the hills (literally if you head toward Apple Hill)!

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