Posts Tagged ‘Brown’s Brewing Co.’

After a rather crazed Labor Day weekend (wherein the Cha Cha Hut made its official commercial debut), we decided to journey to Oliver’s Discount Beverage in Albany to restock a quickly dwindling cellar. I once stated the selection here is much smaller than Half Time in Poughkeepsie, but what is there is truly amazing. I always find a ton of interesting new brews when dropping into Oliver’s So much so, I can’t remember the last time we made the trip to Half Time. Plus – the Oliver’s staff seem to be really excited to be selling something other than the endless stream of BMC we see going out the door.

Bombers
Southern Tier Imperial Pumking Ale
Southern Tier Imperial Mokah (chocolate & coffee stout)
Southern Tier Imperial Cherry Saison
Southern Tier Imperial Heavy Weizen
Dogfish Head Fort (brewed with pureed raspberries)
The Bruery Black Orchard
Brown’s Whiskey Barrel Aged Porter
He’Brew Rejewvenator Harvest Ale
Avery Fifteen Anniversary Ale
Avery Collaboration Not Litigation Ale
Red Hook DB Double Black Stout with Coffee

40 oz.
People’s Pint Tap & Die Malt Liquor

6 Pack
Wolaver’s Certified Organic Will Stevens’ Pumpkin Ale
Brown’s Oatmeal Stout
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
Atwater Block Brewery Vanilla Java Porter
Boulder Beer Mojo IPA

Every so often, we strike out to explore a area we have been to before. As we had recently encountered Brown’s Brewing Co. Brown Ale, we decided to venture to Troy, NY and check out the brewery and tap room. This was actually sometime in late 2008, but I just discovered the notes from the day.

Holmes and Watson LTD (Troy, NY)
450 Broadway, Troy, NY 12180 (518) 273-8526
Nice British style pub. Stopped here after wandering Troy for a bit. Decided to have a pint of Guinness on draught. Not a real imperial pint but fairly well poured.

Brown’s Taproom (Troy, NY)
417 River Street Troy, NY 12180, 518.273.BEER(2337)
Great big tap room and restaurant. It was jumping with a Saturday happy hour when we arrived. Sat at the bar in order to check our the beer listings and chat with folks. Great selection of house brewed beers running the spectrum from light ales to massive stouts. A few we had or sampled: Brown’s Cherry Raspberry Ale – nice light ale without the cloyness of some fruit beers. That said – not enough of a fruit taste. Brown’s Imperial Stout – excellent thick stout with a heavy chocolate edge. Another of what I call a U.S. “sweet” stout but with leanings toward an Irish stout. I had a lovely buzz after two of these. Brown’s Rauchbier – why do Rauchbiers always taste like shoes/feet? I want them to be a bit smokey – which they sort of are – but usually nothing like the delicious Z Smoked Ale. Decided not to do dinner here opting for Jose Malone’s Mexican Irish Restaurant (yes – you read that right) next door.

Jose Malone’s Mexican Irish Restaurant (Troy, NY)
405 River St, Troy, NY 12180, (518) 273-2196
I think I had margaritas here. They definitely were not memorable – and proof I need to stick with beer in Upstate NY. No – I was not too buzzed to remember. This was a just ok restaurant. Nothing to exciting – though I was intrigued by the corn beef and cabbage quesadillas (but not enough to actually order them). I don;t expect to return here.