"The Pub" in Mishawaka Tap List

For those of you who haven't been to "The Pub" in Mishawaka since they started serving craft beer instead of the macro swill, here is their tap list, thanks to one of thebeerisgood.com readers. I've never been to this place, but now I'm definitely going to make a point to swing by!

Victory Golden Monkey
Pilsner Urquell
Two Brothers Monarch Wit
Bell's Two Hearted
Great Lakes Brewing's Burning River
Left Hand Sawtooth
Left Hand Milk Stout
Dark Horse Crooked Tree
Stone IPA
Paulaner

Where can I get a pint?

Our community is facing a major crisis right now, and you can be part of the solution! Every day, in restaurants and pubs all around the area, craft beer is being poured into glasses (hopefully not chilled ones, I'm looking at you Bar Louie) and nobody is saying a word. Tap lists are rarely online, and the ones that are seem to get updated only after it has become obsolete. As much as I would like to spend every day searching for craft beer in local pubs/restaurants, it's nearly impossible to do. With that being said, I need to ask a favor of all my blog readers in South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart and surrounding areas. Whenever you are at a restaurant/pub that sells craft beer, take a picture of their tap list or just write them down (although pictures are way more cool) and send them to the below email address. The two I try to keep up with regularly are Fiddler's Hearth and The Mark Dine and Tap, but even those places let a few slip by me.

So if you would like to put an end to this beer crisis, please send tap lists, pictures or just "Hey, they have Beer X on tap at such-and-such place," to andy@thebeerisgood.com. I'll keep all tipsters anonymous.

Here is a list of examples of places that serve craft beer but don't put their menu online.

The Pub (On Cleveland Road)
The Mark Dine and Tap
Bar Louie
Chubby Trout
Etc, Etc, Etc

Delicious brews at Fiddler's Hearth!

Tipping back a Two Brothers Cane and Ebel (7% Rye). Pretty hoppy and very tasty! They also have Upland Preservation Pils, Dogfish Olde School and He'Brew Jewbelation, along with Alpha King, Sierra Nevada Pale, Bells Two Hearted, etc.

It is quiet around here right now, so stop by and help me put a dent in this beer!

The Mark Dine & Tap Beer List

Since The Mark Dine and Tap in South Bend has one of the better tap lists in the area, but does a terrible job of updating said list on their website, I feel it is my beer responsibility to provide you with it here. I stopped by for lunch today and had the carnitas quesadillas (Very good) and thought I'd snap a few pics. Nothing too exciting, however I wouldn't mind coming back by, when I'm able to have a beer, for the Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti, even though I have a bottle in my fridge. Also one quick note, the Old Rasputin that they had on Nitro is out for now. I've not had that on nitro yet, so I wouldn't mind giving it a try sometime soon.

3 Floyds Blackheart available in South Bend

I recently picked up this little number in South Bend, and is available at Belmont on South Bend Ave, and Citywide on Grape. Blackheart (9% abv) is an English style IPA, brewed with all traditional English ingredients and aged on toasted oak. Get it while you still can!

Citywide Liquors Craft Beer Tasting!

I completely forgot to mention that there is a craft beer tasting at Citywide Liquors tonight from 5-7. Here is a copy/paste job from a facebook note I saw reminding me of the event. I can't make it, but you should!

"Big beer tasting tonight at Citywide featuring three different distributors. We will be tasting all the Great Lakes products, Sam Adams Longshot, Sam Adams latitude deconstructed and many different styles of Belgians. Starts at 5 and goes til around 7. Bring your ID and a fresh palette!"

Last night's brew choices

Sometimes you just have to drink beer from a can. No reviews, no scrutinizing, just good craft beer after a long day.

I picked all 3 up at citywide liquors downtown south bend.

Cheers!

Bridgeport Hop Czar

Style: Imperial IPA
Brewery: Bridgeport Brewing Co
Package: Bottle into Pint
ABV: 7.5%
Gravity: 17.8 degrees  
IBU: 85
Location: From Portland via fellow Craft Beer Enthusiast

Aroma: Big floral hops, citrus and pine. Not getting much from the malt side, but that's typical for a west coast brew of this style.

Appearance: Golden, fairly translucent with an off-white creamy head. Huge sheets of lace trail the beer down to the bottom of the glass.

Taste: Lots of citrus such as orange and grapefruit with pine coming through. Just a bit of bready, lightly toasted malt provides a touch of balance and finishes bitter with a slight alcohol warmth.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation.

Overall: Not bad at all, pretty easy to drink but really doesn't stand out much. I did enjoy it, and would have more given the opportunity.

Notes: Uses Nugget, Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hops. This is my first from Bridgeport and always appreciate trying beer that I can't get in my area. Definitely looking forward to trying more from this brewery.

Grade: B+

Celebrate National Craft Beer Week at Fiddler's Hearth!

I heard earlier in the week that New Beglium La Folie, Dogfish Head Olde School, and Tyranena Scurvy will be on tap later this week at Fiddler's Hearth on Main Street in South Bend. In addition to these great beers, they also have the typical lineup of craft beer from Stone, 3 Floyds, Bell's, etc.

So wherever you are and whatever your doing, make sure it's with a great craft beer in hand this week (and all weeks)!

Pyramid Outburst

Style: Imperial IPA
Brewery: Pyramid Brewing Company
Package: Bottle into Bruges Glass
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 80
Location: Citywide (Downtown)

Aroma: Citrusy and floral with lightly toasted malt

Appearance: Deep orange/amber with a light frothy white head that dissipates quickly

Taste: Bitter, citrusy and overall very hoppy. Grapefruit and pine are also pretty noticeable, then balanced off with caramel and toasted malt

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation, crisp and clean, finished dry.

Overall: Not bad, not great. The alcohol is barely noticeable, I could drink a couple of these before my taste buds start to scream.

Notes: Dry hopped. Uses 2-row, munich, caramel malt, along with nugget, chinook, Centennial and simcoe hops

Grade: B

Weekend Roundup (Pre-National Craft Beer Week)

What a badass beer weekend it's been, starting Friday afternoon...

Stopped by my favorite brewery, 3 Floyds, for some lunch and awesome beer. As usual, I had the pizza, tasty as always. Along with the great food, I ordered a Zombie Dust, which unfortunately they had run out of at the time I was there, so I settled for a 3 Kings. While eating, I was able to meet Barnaby, Vice President of FFF and one hell of a cool guy. After two pints of 3K, a half pint of Arctic Panzer Wolf and most of a pepperoni pizza, it was time to order the "to go" brew and be on my way. Unfortunately for my good friend AV, I must have had one of the last few 3 Kings, because he was unable to get the growler he was hoping for. This, of course, was after the disappointment of not being able to grab a couple growlers of Zombie Dust. Instead, we decided to grab a few bombers of their one-time special brew "Evil Power," an Imperial Pilsner. All in all, another great visit to 3 Floyds. The only downside... Zombie Dust was back on tap just an hour after I left, as was Blackheart and others.

Saturday afternoon was set aside for a few pints at my favorite local pub, Fiddler's Hearth. Every week they have something special on tap, which happened to be one of my other favorite brewery's, Sierra Nevada. From S.N., they had the new Ovila Abbey Dubbel, a specialty one-time only beer on tap, along with the Estate Homegrown Ale and other great beer. I'm not an expert on Belgian style beers, however I did enjoy the dubbel very much. Fortunately I have a bottle in my fridge, and am looking forward to giving it a review. The Estate Homegrown (pictured to the right), is wet-hopped and uses Sierra Nevada's homegrown barley. This was a delicious, well balanced brew with nice lacing that marked each sip from the glass. I also happen to have the alcohol tolerance of an entire beer pong championship team. 

While enjoying a few pints at Fiddler's, I had the opportunity to talk beer with a really cool local fellow beer geek, Andrew. Not only did I have a good time conversing with him, but he also brought me beer! In advance of a trade we are going to make, he gave me a bottle of Hop Czar from Brideport Brewing Company in Oregon, and a Lagunitas IPA. All in all, another good time a Fid's.

Since the kids were away for the weekend, I decided to pickup some special brew for Saturday night with my wife. I stopped at my go-to bottle shop, Citywide downtown, for some Founders Old Curmudgeon Ale. Not only was I hooked up with this year's Curmudgeon, we did some hunting through the cooler for a vertical of it, 2008-2011. My wife and I had a great time sharing each year, starting with the 2011 and going backward, noting the difference in taste. We found the freshness of the 2011 was very good, but also enjoyed the 2009 with it's more mellow malt profile and alcohol.

What am I drinking today? While working around the house, I've managed to share and enjoy a Bare Hands Belgian Golden Strong, the Lagunitas IPA that Andrew gave me, a Rogue Mocha Porter, the bomber of 3 Floyds Evil Power and I reviewed (which I'll share at a later date) the Bridgeport Hop Czar. Don't worry ladies and gentlemen, this was over 9 hours with plenty of water and breaks in between.

Overall, it was a very relaxing and enjoyable weekend. I was able to try a lot of really great beer, catch up on some sleep and watch the Cubs win, then lose, then get postponed.

Bare Hands Citra IPA

Style: IPA
Brewery: Bare Hands
Package: Bomber into Pint
ABV: 7.3
IBU: 60
Location: Straight from the Brewer himself in Granger, IN.

Aroma: Big-time flowery citra hops with slight earthy undertones combined with grapefruit, orange and lemon zest. There is also a nice sweet aroma to it.

Appearance: Thick, dark golden color that doesn't let much light through, only a nice glow. A 2-finger white foamy cap sits on top.

Taste: Huge flavor from showcasing the citra hops. Grapefruit and orange really shines through here and balanced out well with a great malty sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Full body, somewhat viscous and chewy with a great balance of bitterness to go with the sweet. Just a slight alcohol warmth toward the backside of a sip.

Overall: This is a damn good beer, very well balanced with a great hop profile and extremely smooth. I really can't wait to have this again.

Notes: Not to sound like a hipster, but Bare Hands is proving to be a really great brewery that you've probably never heard of. The owner/brewer, Chris, is a super cool guy, passionate about beer and working hard to get the production brewery/pub off the ground, much to the delight of an ever increasing line of people waiting for it. The Citra IPA is the 5th brew from Bare Hands that I have tried (3 at BrewFest, 1 small glass of Double Thai at the brewery and this one) and I've enjoyed them all. I'm especially fond of this one since it showcases the Citra hops, which has become one of my favorite variety of hops in this style of beer. Cheers to Bare Hands!   

Grade: A-

Bare Hands Citra IPA

Hopefully everyone is enjoying their Saturday, I certainly am with a very delicious Citra IPA from Bare Hands in Granger! Review to come, but this beer is damn good!

Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree Tapping at Fiddler's Hearth

Come one, come all for a chance to drink a very enjoyable brew on tap, Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree, at Fiddler's Hearth in South Bend tomorrow (5/4). DCT (Double IPA, 13.6%) has been tough to come by in this area lately, although I hear it's recently become available at South Bend area bottle shops.

Get some before it runs out!

Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Grand Cru

Style: Grand Cru
Brewery: Sierra Nevada
Package: Bomber into Bruges
ABV: 9.2%
IBU: Unknown
Location: Citywide Downtown S.B.

Aroma: Mild flowery hops, caramel malt, slight fruitiness and a hint of oak. I'm definitely smelling some of Sierra Nevada's flagship pale ale coming through.

Appearance: Frothy, foamy off-white color cap on top of a reddish brown brew.

Taste: Rich, sweet caramel with only a fleeting warmth from the alcohol. Very well balanced with citrusy and flowery hops.

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation and a medium-to-full body. Very smooth, only a slight bitterness.

Overall: A might fine brew, smooth and balanced well with no one ingredient dominating the overall taste. Quite complex with the mixture of different brews involved, but not messy.

Notes:  Although I bought the previous 30th Anniversary bottles, and planned to buy this one, it still came highly recommended by Dan at Citywide downtown, and I completely agree. For those that haven't heard of this, it is a mixture of some of their most popular beers, Celebration Ale, Pale Ale and Bigfoot, then "generously" dry hopped. Sierra Nevada is one of my top 5 favorite breweries, and they did a great job with this, probably the best of the four anniversary beers that they did.

Grade: A-