Stoudt's Brewing Company, Adamstown - Bar # 157

Generally, it is easy to get started writing about the Retired Guys latest adventure.  In the case of Stoudt's Brewing Company in Adamstown it is proving to be very difficult.  The issue is that there is so much about this place that held us in awe that where to start is a challenge! 

OK, I figure we should start with the most important element - the staff at the brewery.  First, we met Kathy who would be our bartender for the day.  She was so pleasant upon our entering just before opening time that we knew we'd have a good visit.  Kathy immediately advised us that samples from any of the 15 in house brew taps were available and graciously poured our first beers while inviting us to freely walk around the facility to view all that was available in the bar and restaurant.  Next we met Liam, a grandson of the founders who enjoyed fully describing each of the current beers on tap and bragging about the made from scratch food provided by his mom Elizabeth in the restaurant.

Next, we of course sampled a couple of beers.  We each had a version of our favorite ales and then for our second we basically had our socks knocked off when we tried the "Chocolate/coconut/bourbon stout at room temperature powered through the system by nitro.  It must be really good when a stout fearing person like myself praises it!  We convinced a number of other customers sitting at the bar to give it a try but with taste being so personal, we found we raved about it more than the others.  It is possible that after 157 bars, these older guys have expanded our tastes!

We shared a couple of delicious appetizers that caused us to vow to return in the not too distant future for a complete dinner.  Clearly, making from scratch on location contributes a huge difference!

Finally, I'll talk about the location.  As a man's man or a guy's guy (at least in my own mind) I can say that the term "quaint" when used to describe a restaurant or bar has never exited my mouth.....until today.  Stoudt's Brewing and Stoudt's Black Angus Restaurant is QUAINT! From the tin ceiling to the original woodwork to the art (soft porn) in the men's room everything takes us back to a period in time before even the Retired Guys age.  What a terrific place!  Without question, we will be returning soon!

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Levengoods, Lancaster - Bar # 156



 Today the Retired Guys wandered off the beaten path, not literally, but figuratively.  In the 100 block of West King Street in downtown Lancaster sits a cidery named Levengoods.  You may ask, "What are beer drinkers doing at a cidery"?  Well, they also dispense some very good craft brews from  Mad Chef in East Petersburg and we felt the need to broaden our appreciation of other types of brewing.

We were very pleasantly surprised with the taste and, in some cases, the ABV.  Garry commented that it took him back to his youth and drinking cider in Canada.  I must say I'm all in for reliving happy times from your younger days.  There are 12 taps of brews; 8 cider and 4 craft beer.  The ciders seemed to run the range of traditional cider taste to different fruit combos that give a refreshing, thirst quenching finish.  Tim, our server, was very good at recommending ciders and what to expect in the taste.  Garry and I both send a word of caution as the ciders we tried went down very easy.  The Mad Chef products were a porter, a lager and two IPAs.

The food menu is not large, but has some very good options to pair with cider or beer.  Some items are pulled pork sandwiches, chili and a cheese plater.  The Retired Guys chose the warm soft pretzels with dipping mustard.  It's hard to beat a beer and pretzel combo!

The moral for today's story is, walk a couple a paces off your normal path.  There are many people, places and things to discover.  Even if you have been around the block a few times, keep moving.  There is still much to discover and enjoy in life.

Until next time, CHEERS!

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Norse Brewing, Elizabethtown - Special Edition

Today the Retired Guys reaped a benefit from our quest that we had no idea would exist when we started our journey to all of Lancaster County's bars.  We have met so many good people that it is almost a shame we don't become regular patrons at some locations and nurture the friendships that spontaneously happen.

Ron Bell is a home brewer we met while visiting Cox Brewing in Elizabethtown earlier this year.  While at Cox talking beer and brewing with other beer lovers that day, everyone was in agreement that Ron is a home brewer with few equals.  In accepting a gracious invitation to visit his home today, we are ready to declare loudly that he is pretty darn extraordinary in his knowledge of beer, brewing and how to educate on beer appreciation.

Thank you, Ron, for sharing your love of beer and brewing.  You are exceptional at your craft as evidenced by the beer we sampled.  In the minds of the Retired Guys; today was proof that there really is a Santa Claus.

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and CHEERS!

Funk Brewing, Elizabethtown - Bar # 155

The definition of grandchildren - A reward for not killing your teenager.

Today, The Retired Guys satisfied their craving for beer at our 22nd Brewery/Brewpub in Lancaster County by escaping to Elizabethtown at Funk Brewing Company  Funk Brewing is actually headquartered in Emmaus, PA and it is at Emmaus where virtually all the Funk beer is manufactured, making the E'town location a "Taproom".  

Upon entry (right at opening time), we met Bill who greeted us enthusiastically at the door and proceeded to tell us about all the beer and food options available to us. We followed his recommendation and selected a "flight" and then deliberated until we each chose 4 beers from the available 10 taps. Once our beer selection was made we met Ryan who is the brewmaster and he was kind enough to explain the variety of hops and other such things that went into the making of our beers.  Ryan also explained that in the near future, Funk will be brewing beer at the E'town location and also will begin to manufacture its own spirits when the distillery is created.  

For each of us the 4 beers in our flights were all excellent but as taste is very subjective, we had our own favorites.  If you are a fan of IPA beers, you will enjoy one here as the mix of beers offered favors IPAs in number.

As has been our custom over the past couple of years, we ordered an appetizer of sliders and with a very small upcharge, we were able to obtain two each of the pork and brisket ones.  The appetizer was excellent and convinced us that we should return in the future for more beer and a full meal.

If you need a reason other than great beer and great food for an outing contact Funk to find out when they will be serving "Resilience IPA", a collaborative effort across the USA to raise funds for the California Camp Fire Relief Fund.  Check out an article explaining the full story at Lancaster Online.

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Maize Mexican Cantina, Lancaster - Bar # 154

There have been many new restaurants/pubs opening in the Lancaster area during the past year.  Most of those are chains, and while they have good qualities, it was nice to walk into a new venue opened by a local guy.  Mick Owens, the owner, has a few other sites, but this venture seems like it could be a stretch from his usual success formula.  Maize Mexican Cantina on Richmond Drive looks first class, feels first class and has a very welcoming staff.  We were still picking our spot at the bar when we were greeted warmly by Sue and Dave.  The afternoon only got better after that.  I even had the opportunity to see a former staff person from Mick's on Columbia Avenue.  Sabrina was on top of her game as usual and obviously is enjoying her shift in location.

While there are no mega rows of beer selections, there are 10 taps with great beers and several of the Mexican variety.  Dave, our bartender, seemed to have a tremendous amount of experience as a mixologist and conversationalist; two qualities admired by The Retired Guys.  And while we are primarily beer drinkers, Dave's description of the fresh squeezed margaritas tempted us.

Dave also went on to describe the great sounding menu items that are prepared with fresh ingredients by an accomplished chef.  Our appetizer selection was Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers.  Very tasty with just the right zip.



The Retired Guys broadened our horizons today with a south-of-the-border excursion right here in Lancaster County.  Maize Mexican Cantina is a great escape from the norm.  So when the troubles of today's world seem depressing, take the short drive to Richmond Square.  No caravan needed.

Until next time, CHEERS!

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Miller's Ale House, Lancaster - Bar # 152

Wow, our 152nd bar!  Miller's Ale House is actually part of a chain of now 95 locations that had its start in Florida and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month!  This place just opened 2 days ago so it had its regular staff as well as trainers from other locations on hand.  When we entered, we were greeted by a happy group who wanted to tell us all we needed to know about Miller's in general and this location in particular.  Definitely made us feel warmly welcomed!

We settled on the annex bar which in warmer weather would have all its "garage style" doors opened.  This section had 24 beers on tap which represented exactly half of the total selection at the main bar.  Not to worry, a request for any beer will be filled by the bartender even if they have to scurry over to the other bar to get it.  Our bartender for the afternoon was a very pleasant Rebecca who shared with us all the training the whole staff undertook to prepare for a flawless opening.  The regular staff will be accompanied by a small army of trainers from other locations for the next week or two.  This process helps to avoid the normal startup hiccups experienced with cold openings.

Rebecca was accompanied for a good part of the time by Alissa who is an out of town  "coach".  The two young ladies were very knowledgeable of the available beer selections and generously offered a tasting of any beer on tap.  It is nice to be helped by someone who is enthusiastic about their product offering and without question encourages a positive experience.  When we asked for a recommendation for an appetizer, both quickly suggested the "Zingers".  So we accepted that and also chose the "Southwestern chicken egg rolls".  Both items were excellent but taste being personal, it ended up that both Retired Guys preferred the egg rolls.  Fantastic would be a good description for both.

After our customary 2nd beer we exited through the main bar/restaurant area where we met Jason, another out of towner coach who shared his experience with us as a career employee of Miller's.  He, like the others mentioned earlier is enthusiastic about his role in sharing the offerings available and is just another reason we will make it back to this friendly bar.

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Voodoo Brewing, Lancaster - Bar # 151

What do you get when you combine a warm Fall day, a thriving downtown area, a very good craft beer, a friendly and knowledgeable staff and a converted steel storage container?  A heck of an experience for the Retired Guys that was enjoyable and relaxing.

Most everyone is impressed by the resurgence of downtown Lancaster because of the many thriving shops, restaurants and positive social growth.  Today put a stamp of validity on that great progress in the eyes of the Retired Guys.  What a wonderful afternoon in downtown Lancaster at the Prince Street Park on North Prince Street at Voodoo Brewing's satellite sale location.  Ben, our bartender, could not have been friendlier and better suited to talk about his employer and the products they sell.  It is young people like Ben who are really helping to drive the good feelings and positive attitude for downtown Lancaster.

The beers on tap are all first rate and have catchy names to help you remember what you would want on a return visit.  Voodoo Brewing does not sell food, but there is a Tacos Lancaster food trailer in the park with really, really good tacos and munchies that are a perfect complement to the brews.

Today was a relaxing afternoon of sharing funny stories and watching the world pass southward on Prince Street downtown.  Even with so many world and national problems we should have solved, we chilled out and enjoyed the weather, good company and very good beer.

Until next time, CHEERS!

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Tellus Three Sixty, Lancaster - Bar # 150

About 15 people attended our "Event" at Tellus360 to mark our 150th bar visit.  If you haven't been there before, it is a great venue with individual bars on each of its three floors situated right in the heart of Downtown Lancaster.  With the weather as good as it was, the logical choice of bar was the one up on the third floor roof!

Before we made our way to the roof, we were served our first beer by John on the first floor.  He was very welcoming and advised that we could sample any of the beers before commiting to a full size glass but, being the experienced consumers that we are, we bypassed the sample and chose one of their Irish reds.  There were 14 taps at the bar and John explained that the other two bars each had 10 taps but the most popular beers were available at each site.  John also set up a tab for us that worked no matter which bar we chose to acquire our liquid refresments.

Greg greeted us when we arrived on the rooftop and basically took care of us the rest of the evening.  It was interesting to observe how Greg handled a temporary problem with the tap system because he showed no frustration at all and assured us it would be fixed shortly.  Within a 5 minute period the problem was resolved and he moved on to happily serving his growing legion of thirsty customers.

At one point I descended to the 2nd floor for a refill and was rapidly taken care of.  My expereince there was the same as the other two floors - dealing with a person who made you feel at home and who appeared to enjoy what he was doing.

With all the company, we had little time to eat but did manage to sneak in an appetizer of tortilla chips with three distinctly different types of salsa.  It was excellent and a teaser to assure our return at a date in the not too distant future.

#150 marked a milestone of sorts and we plan to forge ahead with our plan to visit all bars.  We believe we will be doing this at least well into 2020 to achieve our goal.

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Cox Brewing Company, Elizabethtown - Bar # 149

This ain't your average brew pub and it's a little off the beaten path and the hours are a bit irregular, but boy do they do their "thing" well.  The Cox Brewing Company, in the village of Rheems, is right down the road from Elizabethtown.  When arriving don't bother the nice people in the house along the road.  Travel up the lane to the open garage door where happiness awaits.

The best description I can come up with for the whole experience is, it's like the neighborhood's friendliest people with their garage door open, great beer on draught and everyone comes to share laughter and fun.  We also had the good fortune to meet Tim, the Head Brewer/Owner, who started as a homebrewer and has taken his passion to a new level with Cox Brewing.  Tim and fellow owner, Nick, are also military veterans which makes it all the easier to pull for them to be successful.

Our server was Cat who was ever present when somebody needed a refill or info on the 12 Cox Brewing masterpieces on tap.  Four taps are constant with the other 8 rotating.  We were told there is a new beer tapped every Wednesday.  The Retired Guys sampled 6 different beers and found them all very good.  From the crowd that gathered I would say many people felt the same way.  Other than the snacks on the bar, there is no food available.  But hey, with beer this good, who wants to fill up on food?

Most of the folks who stopped by seemed to be local and regulars.  Everyone was friendly and willing to speak with the Retired Guys about beer, time in the military and life in general.  We even met the homebrewer who won the homebrew contest at Bube's Brewery in Mt Joy this year.  That was a treat meeting Ron who shared pictures of his operation.  What a set-up!

Today was an experience we will talk about often.  Tim and Cat behind the bar were very attentive, friendly set the tone for a wonderful atmosphere.  The other patrons were all open to conversation and enjoying the moment with others who appreciate beer and good company.  The beer is brewed very well and covers a wide ranging spectrum of tastes.

Lastly, while you're there, thank a vet.

Until next time, CHEERS!

In about two weeks we'll be visiting our 150th bar.  Check out our event notification at  https://www.facebook.com/events/2018659128464564/ and consider dropping by for a visit.

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Fetish Brewing Company, Lititz - Bar # 148

The Retired Guys have been wanting to go to Fetish Brewing Company at Rock Lititz in Lititz for some time now but its hours of operation were outside of our "normal" environment.  Since we're not so old to be completely inflexible, we finally modified our "normal" and got there today.  I could end this blog right now by simply stating "what the heck were we waiting for?".  This is a place you should not delay getting to as there are so many good reasons to be there.  First to be looked forward to is the very welcome feeling you get when greeted by Aaron, one of the owners or Amy, our barmaid of the day.  In talking with both of them, we could easily see they were happy to be a part of this enterprise and enjoyed sharing their knowledge of the products offered for consumption.  Both were so easy to talk with and happy to answer any questions we had about their operation.

BEER

There were 10 Fetish made beers on tap with an additional 2 "guest beers".  Terry and I  tried a pair of IPA selections which were clearly different from each other but both excellent in their own way.  As we got close to finishing our 2nd glasses of beer, we asked Aaron to explain what the Hophash Infusion for an additional $2.00 was all about.  It sounded great and we pretty much decided that we should return in the near future just to try it out.  Any of our readers who head out to visit Fetish Brewing Company should seriously consider trying it as a special beer adventure.

SNACKS

Fetish Brewing Company does not currently serve food but they do provide some salty snacks.  My favorite chip in the world, Grandma UTZ, was on the bar for all patrons to consume along with some pretzels.  Both of us seriously enjoyed those chips!

MUSIC

We really liked the music selection and the equipment used to play it.  Clearly, the amplifier and speakers were adequate for fantastic brodcasting of songs throughout the bar without overpowering our ears with noise.  The sound system consists of vinyl records played on a real quality turntable producing excellent replay.  The sizeable album selection is there for anyone to peruse and queue up simply by placing the chosen album next to the turntable.

While Fetish Brewing Company is a bit of a drive from our home base of Lancaster, it is well worth the visit and we encourage all beer lovers to get out there as soon as they can in order to enjoy the varied beer selection provided by the talented brewmaster.

In about three weeks we'll be visiting our 150th bar.  Check out our event notification at  https://www.facebook.com/events/2018659128464564/ and consider dropping by for a visit.

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Red Rose Tavern, Lancaster - Bar # 147

Today the Retired Guys visited a location formerly occupied by a number of other establishments.  I have to say that this operation feels the most comfortable of all.  Upon entry Joe, our bartender, was welcoming and focused on our needs.  Joe is not only employed as a bartender, but he seems to embrace the profession and lifestyle.  He is a perfect fit for the The Red Rose Tavern at the corner of Mulberry and James in Lancaster; a great neighborhood bar with a classy flair.

The well stocked bar has a very nice selection of top shelf liquors and all of the other usual suspects.  They also have 11 taps with a number of craft brews including some local creations.  There are two beers named for the tavern, Red Rose Tavern Lager and Red Rose IPA, both are very good and worth a taste on a visit to the Red Rose Tavern.

The menu is not huge, but enough of a range to fit most appetites and dietary needs.  We went a little wild today and sampled more food than normal.  The quality was outstanding and further cemented our desire to return soon.  Our selections were a bacon Caesar salad, a bowl of bean soup that was tremendous and a soft pretzel with beer cheese dip.

Today was a very enjoyable outing to an establishment that I trust is not a dying breed.  With today's climate of liquor licenses being bought by gas stations and grocery stores, the number of neighborhood pubs where neighbors go to socialize and visit with barkeeps that are like family are dwindling.  Thread by thread the fabric of a community is changing too fast for old Retired Guys to be comfortable.  It's up to all of us to support local business.  Whether it is a locally owned pub, a corner store or your neighborhood pizzeria, they help to build the community you live in and love.

Please support them.

Until next time, CHEERS!

Keep watching our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Retired-Guys-Beer-Afternoon-246464365759312/) as we will post an "event" highlighting the location where we will be visiting the 150th bar.  That visit will occur during the 3rd week of September.  Full details will be provided in the near future in the Facebook Event.

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Twisted Bine Beer Co, Mount Joy - Bar # 146

What in the heck is a "bine"?  I was questioning this as we drove toward our next bar, The Twisted Bine Beer Company in Mount Joy and found out with Terry's dogged lookup on Wikipedia that it is "a long flexible stem of a climbing plant, especially a hop".  The name now makes total sense!

We got to the brewery a little early on a hot humid day and found that the door was locked.  A moment or two later, Kelly unlocked the door for us stating she didn't want to make us stay out in the heat!  This was just the beginning of our experience of awesome service and customer caring at Twisted Bine.  Before we found our way to the bar in this well renovated location we were greeted by Marge who explained the selection options of beer and wine as well as showed us how to go about ordering food if we cared for any.

Each of us ordered a "flight" so as to sample a broader selection of the offerings.  Terry chose as one of his four 4oz glasses a porter, The Good Ship, and claimed it to be the best porter he has ever had!  Greg, the brewmaster, offered me a small sample and I have to admit it is the first porter I ever liked.

We spoke at length with Jamie the proprietor who fully explained the brewing process right through the cleaning operation between batches.  He mentioned some of the challenges of ramping up volume and how he overcame them.  As a newly opened place we questioned if there were any startup hiccups and he honestly shared that there were some surprises but really nothing that couldn't be handled.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit today for two reasons - the service and friendliness of all people we encountered was great and every beer we sampled was excellent.  To put it as simple as we can, WE'LL BE BACK!

Keep watching our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Retired-Guys-Beer-Afternoon-246464365759312/) as we will post an "event" highlighting the location where we will be visiting the 150th bar.  That visit will occur during the 3rd week of September.  Full details will be provided in the near future in the Facebook Event.

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Brancyn's Restaurant and Bar, Denver - Bar # 145

The Retired Guys unearthed another Lancaster County gem in Denver today.  Brancyn's Restaurant and Bar, formerly The Black Horse Restaurant and Tavern, was well worth the drive north on Route 222.

There are only 6 beers on tap, but all are local brewery creations that covered a respectable range of styles.  And if the drafts don't grab you, the great selection of bottles probably will.  Along with the beer on our afternoons we have come to look forward to our food sampling.  Today we chose a sampler appetizer that included some wings, tenders, shrimp and mozzarella bites.  Not gourmet, but it was fried and fried is usually good.  This was no exception.

As we walk down this road of beer happiness we have come to appreciate how the bartender sets the mood and atmosphere of each establishment.  Today Dave greeted us warmly and immediately upon entering.  As others entered he was the same welcoming face we saw and very accommodating to those dining as well.

Overall, it was another enjoyable afternoon at a watering hole we may never have traveled to without our beer quest.  It is also necessary to mention that Brancyn's got it's name as a tribute to two young ladies who passed away too soon.  We find it easy to root for success for an operation with a heart like that.

Until next time, CHEERS!



SPECIAL NOTE

Watch for a special gathering the Retired Guys are planning when we go to our 150th bar.  This will be occurring in September with details to be announced on our Facebook page very soon.

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