The Chicago Beer Belly headed down south for a few days in the middle of November. Breweries visited were: Abita, Lazy Magnolia, and Pensacola Bay. Also attended the first ever craft beer festival at Wahoo Stadium in Pensacola.
After arriving in Gulfport, MS, went to Hog Heaven in Biloxi for some barbecue. Their pulled pork sandwich was pretty darn good but not quite as tasty as the pulled pork sandwich I had this summer in Indianapolis from Dick's Bodacious BBQ.
Next day it was off to Abita Brewery in Abita Springs, LA. Arrived there right as the tour was about to start. Belly up to the bar and go pour yourself a beer, well heck this tour is getting off to a great start, cheers. I've visited Abita once before a few years back and they have some great beers and a pretty good tour. After they showed a couple of videos it was time to head into the brewery. They show you the brew kettles and mash tun and then it is off to the fermentation tanks. Wished they would of shown us the bottling and kegging line on the tour but after the fermenters it was out back to the bar area and pour yourself a beer. My last sample I did one of their suggested mixes, Turbodog with Amber. They call it a Hound Dog, Elvis has left the building.
Got back on the road and headed back towards Mississippi in order to get to Lazy Magnolia Brewery and do their tour. I guess back in July they changed the laws in Mississippi and now they allow you to sample some of their beers on their tour. I've also been to Lazy Magnolia in the past like Abita. They give you 6 samples throughout their tour. Finding the place in the first place can be a bit of an adventure and now that they are growing in popularity they might want to invest in a bigger sign. Along with the change in the law, they can now brew beers that are as much as 10% ABV and thus Timber Beast was born. It is the first beer brewed in the state that has a high ABV and it was actually pretty darn delicious. Was one of my faves along with Southern Pecan that I have had before. Nice to see the south slowly catching on to the craft beer movement.
On the road again, this time go east young man not west. After a quick visit to the National Navy Aviation Museum it was time for some beer at Pensacola Bay Brewery. I had thought the tour started earlier than what it did otherwise could of checked into the hotel first. Never the less, sat around Pensacola Bay Brewery sipping on their Pumpkin Vanilla Porter. I love pumpkin beers but don't like pumpkin pie go figure. I really didn't taste the vanilla or pumpkin in the beer so maybe next time they brew this they may want to bump up the spices a little more. The place sure was a busy little location with people coming in to get their growlers filled. Speaking of which, while on the tour I learned that the growlers they sell are 128 ounces or 32 ounces. Typical growler size is 64 ounces but due to the law there they can't sell or bottle anything between 32 and 128 ounces. Heck, if you come in with two 64 ounce growlers they won't fill them. Was a pretty small brewery, they have only been in operation for two years and looks like they could do some more expanding to quench the locals thirst for craft beer.
Next day was the first ever Craft Beer Festival at the baseball park where the Blue Wahoo's play. Outside a Mopar car show was going on as well and that was nice, got to see the car from Stephen King's Christine movie. Was hoping to see more older cars but pretty much was mainly newer vehicles. Bring on the beer now, wait what's this a plastic sampling glass, come on get some glassware instead. Sampled a lot of different beers there that are not available here in the Chicago area. My favorite by far was Sweetwater Brewing Company from Georgia. Love their 420 Extra Pale Ale but my favorite of theirs is the LowRYEder. I love red and rye beers and this one was pretty darn good, not too bitter, just right.
After dropping my friend off in Mississippi, I was headed back home. On the way home I stopped off at Railyard Brewing Company in Montgomery, AL. Oh my the bison burger I had there was yummy for my tummy. It was so good. Because I still had a long ways to drive, I was stopping in Atlanta to see a buddy of mine, I did not sample any of their beers. But if I'm ever down there again I'll be sure and try their beers.
Well, got to Atlanta and found out Sweetwater only has tours in the last half of the week and not on Sundays or Mondays, rats. So instead, I went to Max Lager's Wood Fired Grill and Brewery. Had myself a Alernate Ryeality, well this rye beer just wasn't quite as good as Sweetwaters but I still drank it anyways.
Made sure I stopped off at a 'package' store to bring back some beers that are not available in this area. Was a very good trip and am now planning on where my next road trip will take me to.
Cheers :)
