This Gal once again has gotten behind on sharing beer news and reviews but I did want to take a moment and write a mini review of Geronimo Brewing @ Lilly’s Jury Room in Doylestown, PA.
I had dinner plans for Honey Restaurant in Doylestown and decided to go a bit early so I could check out Geronimo Brewing which is right next door to Honey. Honey is a fantastic little gem of restaurant with incredible food and provides a special dining experience. I highly recommend you make reservations and try them out.
Geronimo Brewing is a small nano brewery that shares the space with Lilly’s Jury Room restaurant. The bar is small and the there are only a few tables on the brewery side of things. You can sit on the restaurant side and order the beer and there was a small upstairs as well. The brewery gives off warm English Pub vibes with lots of wood, fun lighting features and unique uses for antique glass insulators.
The tap list is pretty diverse and they do offer flights. I went for the Desert Fox Pilsner, Bernard’s Brown Ale, Brute Force 1 IPA and the English Porter. The Desert Fox Pilsner was a nice German style pils with Munich malts that paired nicely with the hop bitterness and was my fav of the flight. Followed closely by the English Porter which had subtle but not over powering hints of coffee and chocolate. It was an easy drinking porter full of flavor.
I’ve been busy working my way through my 2021 Breweries to Visit list but this particular visit to Source Farmhouse Brewery was much anticipated having heard so many great things about Source and being a big fan of Farmhouse beers. From the minute you turn and see the brewery you know you arrived some place special. So much so that for a moment I just stood out front taking it all in. That was after I turned around from accidentally driving past the brewery. Source sits back and I was so busy looking at the distillery that sits out front…what can I say I zoomed right by the brewery.
As I was making my way to the entrance the aroma of roasting malts was in the air. This wonderful smell made me smile and also made me realize this was something I’ve been missing. I’m not sure that last time I smelled anything brewing on a brewery visit and I miss that. I guess the timing was just right on this particularly gorgeous Friday afternoon in August.
The Jersey heat was hanging on but being a bit more kind on this particular day and the awful humidity was finally taking a retreat which enabled me to enjoy a beer outside rather than spending the entire visit inside. However, both the inside and outside are beautiful and offer plenty of seating to relax and kick back with a beer. Inside there are high top barrel tables and picnic tables on the main level as well as additional seating in the upstairs loft area that would be a great space for a small group. From the loft you can access the outside upper deck which, also, leads to the grounds. The outside area is lush with plenty of seating spread out around the lawn area with more seating on the patio section. To say the expansive outside area is beautiful is an understatement. The beauty of this South Jersey brewery grounds reminds you just how special Jersey is and why it’s called the Garden State. Please folks stop thinking of the congestion of North Jersey and the horrendous Jersey Shore show as representation of all Jersey is because she’s a special Gal with so much to offer.
I enjoyed my first two beers inside. Looking at the diverse tap list I knew I had some tough decisions to make. There were seven to eights beers I wanted to try but had to limit myself and be responsible for the drive home. No flights but they do offer half pours and tasters. I started with half pours of the Summer Saison – Farmhouse Saison 6% and the Socal West – West Coast IPA 7.4% (Woohoo WC IPA!) The Saison was everything I love in Saison from the herbal hops, to the citrus and ginger with the slightly peppery finish. The Socal West…first I want to thank Source for having a West Coast IPA on tap, Thank you!…this IPA was spot on a smooth and crisp IPA full of hop bitterness that ends dry with a variety of citrus fruits and pine in between.
Next up I did something I haven’t done in a very long time. I ordered a sour beer. I used to love sours and for years begged for breweries to brew more of this style. I learned the hard way careful what you ask for. Most are not for me but on this day, I was intrigued by the Good Ribes – Sweet Tart Ale w/ Currants & Vanilla 5%. It was tart without being overly so; yet it’s the tartness I enjoyed because my fear was it would be sweet with the vanilla and currants. It wasn’t. It was a pleasant, thirst quenching easy to drink beer with such a pleasant tart finish. Followed that up with a half pour of the Ultra Motueka – Imperial IPA 8% I didn’t realize when I ordered it that it was a NE style DIPA but I looked past that when drinking it. With bits of tropical fruits, some earthy herbs and a hit of lime it made for an enjoyable beer. I enjoyed it so much I bought a four pack. I was on a roll mixing it up that day.
Last pour for this Gal was the Source of Cheers Munich Style Helles Lager 5.4% this beer is only available for half liter and full liter pours so went for the half. This beer really did bring me back to Germany with its bread/malt sweetness and hop bitterness. An easy drinking beer is always a good way to end a summer day brewery visit. Decided to have another out of the box moment and buy a four pack of this beer as well.
What I truly loved about Source is their passion and love for what they do not only shows in the beer they brew but in the positive energy that zips around the brewery and within the professional, friendly and helpful staff. It’s a bit of a drive for me but I know I’ll be making regular treks to Source because their beer is great, I love the vibe of the place and it’s now one of my Top 5 fav breweries!
I recently had the pleasure of visiting a dear old friend…Maine Beer Company. It has been a few years since my last visit and six since my first visit and review. I had previously been back since they expanded but I decided I wanted to write a quick follow up because here we are six years later and I’m still so impressed by the brewery, staff and beer. Even though they have grown leaps and bounds they have stayed true to their core. The beer is still top notch and some of the cleanest, tastiest beer around, they still partner with several nonprofit charities and the staff has remained helpful, friendly and fun. It’s not only the beer I respect at Maine Beer Company but their philosophy as a whole.
Since my first visit the building has expanded…it’s huge. I’m not gong to front my first visit after the expansion I was a bit shocked by the size of the new tasting room and missed the little one but I was also happy to see them doing so well. They worked hard and deserved it. Now that I’m use to the size it didn’t phase me on this visit. Instead I could really take the time to sit back and enjoy how they have grown yet stayed the same.
What else has changed? No flights, a host to seat you, besides the pizza they now offer a few other snacks plus wine and expanded outside seating. Since the pandemic they have removed tables making the seating more spacious. I also noticed seating on the 2nd level – old tap room – I’m not sure if that was being utilized last visit or if it was added because of the pandemic.
On this particular visit I enjoyed:
Prince Percy Pilsner 5.1% – I was one lucky gal to enjoy two great pilsners in one day, Bissell Brothers prior. A bit hop forward balanced by the malts with classic floral aromas and hints of citrus as well.
Black Barn No. 22 IPA 6.3% – a very nice easy drinking IPA with hints of melon and lemon.
Dinner DIPA 8.2% – Of course! Tropical fruits with hints of Maine Pine and earthy garden. I always enjoy this classic.
I also purchased a bottle of Thank you IPA 6.4% to enjoy later in the week and enjoy I did. There’s a lot going on with this IPA from Saaz hops to malts with notes of fresh baked bread, coconut, mango and lemon.
After spending sometime at with this dear old friend I felt reset, relaxed and ready to enjoy Maine!
Next up on my list of breweries to visit in 2021 – Tonewood Brewery. My friend and I picked a gorgeous May weekday afternoon to meet up and see what’s what at the brewery. I love they are open Tuesday thru Sunday. Some of us like visiting breweries during the week rather than wait for the weekend. For whatever reason the location through me off a bit. The location is part industrial and, yet, part residential. I’m not sure what the building used to house and the person from Tonewood I spoke to didn’t know either. Reminded me of an old firehouse but don’t think it was. It butts right up to a residential property and neighborhood. I bet the zoning meetings for the approval had to be interesting. Also, there is a free parking lot across from the side of the building.
My friend and I chose to sit outside at the picnic tables that run along the side of the brewery. Beware you are sitting at a slant and might occasionally have to keep your beer from sliding down he table. The brewery itself is small but there are several tables inside, as well as, a bar. The wood table tops are are beautiful and I love the use of wood showcased in it’s natural glory. Pretty much the entire time I was there they played the Grateful Dead so you know this Gal was happy and it earned them huge bonus points!
Tonewood does not offer beer flights but once I saw they had a Schwarzbier on tap I new exactly what this Gal would be drinking. Black Bird Schwarzbier 4% Dark German Lager and oh so delish! Smooth, crisp and clean with hints of chocolate and pumpernickel. It was the perfect Spring beer for the early May afternoon. The day I was there the IPA’s were all hazy, just not my thing right now, so after the Schwarzbier I enjoyed the Two Versions of Me Dry Hopped Pilsner 5% and a collab beer from Tonewood and Cape May Brewing. It was a respectful Pilsner with tones of melon, white grape and a hint of oak.
Back in early May I had plans to meet a friend at Tonewood Brewing but realized Kings Road Brewery was just 10 minutes from Tonewood so felt it necessary to stop and check out Kings Road first. So glad I did.
Kings Road Brewery is located in the heart of downtown Haddonefield, NJ and what a cute town! A gorgeous downtown that just calls out for one to spend an afternoon strolling the streets, popping into the various mom and pops shops, restaurants, bakeries, and brewery. To say Haddonfield is cute is an understatement and I plan on going back to enjoy an afternoon of #smallbusiness. However, I did stop into a fun little spice and tea shop before heading to the brewery. The brewery is close to the Heritage Winery Tasting Room and across the street from The British Chop Shop which happens to be byob.
There is street meter parking out front and a rather large lot near the rear of the brewery across the street. Beings I was there on a weekday afternoon I had no problem finding parking out front. I opted to enjoy my beer outside in the back of the brewery where they had several picnic tables set up with a tent overhead for some shade. Besides the picnic table area they also had a few barrel tables outside in the front of the building and another outside area in the back with a few hightop tables and lots of sun. Inside the space is generous with lots of warm tones, wood and plenty of seating. You are allowed to bring food in and dogs are welcomed outside. The interior is a nice size and felt warm and inviting. The staff was very attentive and welcoming.
This Gal absolutely adored the tap list. It was really one of the most diverse brewery lists I’ve seen in a while and spot on for Spring. There were so many I wanted to try so opted for a taster flight:
Empire Strikes Back – English Bitter 5.1% ( you know I had to order it with a name like that) Very happy to see an English Bitter and even happier drinking it. This ESB had the perfect combination of malts and hops.
1944 Pilsner – 4.4% My go to style now a days. This was a true classic German style Pilsner. Starts with a bit of doughiness and follows up clean and crisp.
Hell n’ Bock – 6.7% A bock! Love a bock and so happy to see one on their menu. I cannot stress enough how much I loved their selection. This bock wasn’t as malty as some I’ve had but that’s ok there was still plenty of malt and had a slight taste of peppers.
Since the lager had kicked and the IPAs were NE stye, which just wasn’t in the mood for, I opted for the Black Musket Stout to round out the flight.
Black Musket Stout – 6.2% It’s been a while since I ordered a stout. I used to love the roasted coffee flavor to stouts but my taste have changed and since most stouts seem to have the coffee thing going on I tend to pass. This black beauty passed on the coffee and offered up an abundance of dark malts countered by hops and a hint of nuttiness. Rich, Smooth & Creamy.
I wish I had more time to spend at Kings Road Brewery but I had to move onto my next stop but I’ll definitely be back.
Even though my 2020 Breweries to Visit list…oh heck we all know what happened to any plans made in 2020. The fact that 2020 was a wash didn’t stop me from making my 2021 Breweries to Visit list. This year’s list focuses heavily only #NJCraftBeer with a few PA breweries in the mix and so far I’m on track with visits. My latest stop was to Icarus Brewing in Lakewood, NJ. I’ve been hearing so many good things about their beer and had to check it out for myself.
I recently met a friend there on a rainy afternoon so outside sitting wasn’t going to work. However, on nice days there is a small makeshift seating area in the parking lot in front of the brewery. Parking appears to be limited unless I missed a second lot. We chose to go early on a Friday in hopes it wouldn’t be crowded at 1:30pm and our plan worked.
The brewery is much smaller than I imagined but the layout doesn’t make you feel cramped and even though it’s in a warehouse they have it set up to be warm and inviting. There are only a handful of tables with the tables along the wall having hanging dividers between them. There are also hooks along the wall and under the bar to hang purses and coats or whatever, as well as, charging outlets. Very nice touch! (no bar seating right now) Since I had my pups with me I chose the corner table next to the bar which was really out of the way from others.
The tap list is diverse from Pilsner, IPA, Pale Ale, Fruit, Stouts and Quads on tap. I was excited to see two Pilsners on the list, my go to style right now and stuck to them and IPA’s for this trip. I was happy with all my choices. The Three B’s Pilsner 6.9% and Pound of Feathers Imperial Pilsner 7.1% both were well done, clean and crisp and my favs of the day. I enjoyed the Pound of Feathers so much I bought 4 pack for my brother. I also really enjoyed the Piner West Coast IPA 7.4%. I love a good old school W.C. IPA and the Piner was exactly what I was in the mood for with hints of pine and citrus.
The artwork on the walls is fun and I even spotted a Grateful Dead painting so you know that made this Gal happy. The have a large collection of vinyl that they play and I love that they display the album sleeve of what is currently playing. Another nice touch!
We brought our own food to enjoy. I stopped on the way to Icarus at Mama Dude’s a fantastic little mom & pop farm to table take out joint…highly recommend them. We enjoyed lunch, beers and catching up which really made for such a relaxing afternoon.
Right now seating is limited to 90 minutes if crowded, no flights and there’s a take out window up front for purchases. The staff is friendly and happy to answer any questions and the brewery is dog friendly. Mama T. and Sullivan felt very welcomed.
geekybeergal 