I’m sure if I asked you what your favorite part of the summer is, I would get any number of answers. Sunshine, warm weather, sun tanning, being outdoors, sunglasses, vacation, etc, etc. I’ll bet every single one of you would agree however, that the best part is getting out of town. I don’t care if it’s the beach, mountains, up North, down South, out of the country, at a camp ground or where ever, the summer gives us all the travel bug. Me personally, it’s specifically about the road trip. There’s nothing like getting in a car and taking a 1, 2 or 3 day trip to see sites, friends, family, eat, drink or whatever suits your fancy. When me and couple of my guy friends hop in the car and go, it’s known as the …
THE BROHD TRIP
Take the eateries from the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives,” add in a group of friends like on HBO’s “Entourage” and sparkle it with a dose of Roadside America and you have THE BROHD TRIP. It’s an excuse for a couple of bro’s to get out of town and have some fun driving around this great country of ours eating food, drinking beer and seeing some randomly random stuff.
THE BROHD TRIP 3– DAY 1
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Hertz Rent A Car
NYC
10:00 am
It’s New York City and most of us don’t own cars so that means a rental. Mighty Mike Fox and my buddy (and co-owner of Idle Hands Bar) hopped in what might be the doofiest looking car I’ve ever seen. It was part grocery-getter, part, low-riding SUV, part-Sedan. I don’t even remember the make and model, I just know it was derpymobile.
R U Hungry
http://www.ruhungrynj.net/
40 College Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
11:02 am
I can’t be in a car for more than an hour without getting antsy which made New Brunswick, NJ a great first stop on the 3rd Brohd Trip. There are sandwiches and then there are those of lore. Forget that limp Bologna & Cheese that Mom used to slip into your lunch box in kindergarten, in New Brunswick, NJ you’ll find that Fat Cat. There are several stories on it’s origin but it’s based deep in the 70s and was made popular by grease trucks serving hungry students looking for fast and hot eats between classes & after the bars closed.
The original Fat Cat came on a Submarine Roll with two Hamburger patties, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions, Ketchup and French Fries right on top of the Sandwich. From there, dozens and dozens of different variations have spawned using all kinds of different ingredients. For example:
- “Fat Koko” – A Pizza Steak with French fries & Mozzarella Sticks
- “Fat Sam” – Cheese Steak, Grilled Chicken, French Fries, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayonnaise, and Ketchup
- “Fat Elvis” – Gyro, Mozzarella Sticks, French Fries, Lettuce, Tomoatoes, White Sauce & Hot Sauce
Basically, it’s similar to rule 34, if it’s edible, there a fat sandwich for it. If you want to see all of them, check out the R U Hungry Menu. At one point time, yours truly won a contest to have their Fat Sandwich added to the menu at Jimmy’s Grill & Specialties. My Sandwich, appropriately named the “Fat Reverend” had Grilled Roast Beef, Bacon, Mozzarella Sticks, Hot Sauce, White Sauce, Lettuce & French Fries.But on this BROHD trip stop off, we split a “Fat Moon” – Chicken Fingers, Turkey Bacon, Egg, French Fries, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayonnaise and Ketchup. It was an awesome way to start up what was going to be one helluvan adventure.
Yards Brewing Co
http://www.yardsbrewing.com
901 North Delaware Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
12:31 pm
We hopped back into the car for my allotted one hour or less driving time before going stir crazy to the “Illadelph.” In recent years, Philly has really embraced the craft beer scene launching all kinds of great gasto-pubs, Beer bars & of course breweries. One suche brewery is the Yards Brewing Co. Founded by Tom Kehoe and Jon Bovit in 1994, the brewery is now located on the Delaware waterfront in the Northern Liberties neighborhood. It’s at this location that Yards busts out an entire line of English style ales.
The tasting room is open every day but if you want to take a tour of the Yards Brewhouse facility, a mandatory part of a BROHD TRIP, you have to go on a Saturday or Sunday. If your a Beer geek like me, it’s absolutely worth it.
After a once around the Brewhouse, plunk yourself down in the tasting room and have a good go at all the delicious Yards Beers. They offer tasting flights, so if you’re a taste collector, and you’re reading this blog so I will assume you will, this is the way to go. The three of us split a Signature flight, made of the 4 flagship Beers & a Revolutionary flight comprised of Yards more specialty Beers, known as their “Ales of the Revolution.” My fave from the former was the Yards Extra Special Ale or “ESA.” It’s a traditional English Ale that has a smooth Cask-Ale like profile but with a nice hoppy bitterness. My fave Beer of the day, which happened to be from the Revolution Ales was Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce Ale. This Beer, which was first made to celebrate what would’ve been Ben Franklin’s 300th birthday, was based on one of old Ben’s personal recipes. Instead of Barley & Hops, they make the beer with Spruce tips and Molasses as the former were not available back in Benny Frank’s time. It’s uniquely delicious.
Both of these tasty Ales paired incredibly well with one of the most uniquely made Sandwiches I have ever had. Available exclusively at the Yards tasting room is a Smoked Bison Sausage Sandwich featuring Bison from Hillside Farm in Telford, PA with your choice of: Chili & Cheese or Sauerkraut & Onions. What really make this bad mama jamma so special is that the spent Grains from the brewing process are not only used to make the hearty and flavorful Roll but they are also fed to the Bison! The only thing more awesome than the story is the Sandwich itself. Put this on your do not miss list.
Tony Luke’s
http://www.tonylukes.com
39 East Oregon Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19148
2:04 pm
No food oriented trip to Philadelphia is complete without eating one of their signature Philly Cheesesteaks. If you’re asking and you are, the undisputed BEST Cheesesteak in town is at Jim’s Steaks. They have many locations but it’s a must to eat them at the original location on South Street. Unfortunately for us the line for Jim’s was more than an hour long and we didn’t have the time to spare. But we would not be defeated, we had to have our Sandwich. Next best option? Well there isn’t one in my opinion. Jim’s is the best but if you are looking for another mighty fine Philadelphia sandwich, it’s the Roast Pork from Tony Luke’s.
Tony’s slices the Beef for their Cheesesteak and while some prefer it (only God knows why) The Rev only eats his chopped. But the Roast Pork Sandwich with Provolone is one of the most savory, tangy and delicious Sandwiches I have ever eaten. In fact, I would put a golden star on your forehead if you ate it back to back with a Cheesesteak from Jim’s! Tony Lukes also offers one of my absolutely favorite snacks but as a topping, hollowed out Cherry Peppers. Oh man. I just had to wipe saliva off my lip as I stared back at these pictures.
Honeygo Wine and Spirits
http://honeygowines.com/
5004 Honeygo Center Dr # 104
Perry Hall, MD 21128
4:10 pm
Liquor laws are funny. Some states only allow the state itself to vend liquor, some only allow it to be sold until 9 pm, some won’t let you sell Beer & Liquor in the same store, some let you buy it at gas stations, some require you to have a membership card to purchase and so on and so on. Many states also require Breweries & Liquor companies to acquire a license to vend inside the state. Because of this rule and the high cost of transportation, you’ll find different selections from state to state.
Ever heard of the New Belgium Brewing Company or Bell’s Brewery? They are two of the largest craft brewers in America and we can’t get Beers from either of them in NY State. So when on a BROHD TRIP, it’s always a good idea to pop into a well known bottle shop and see what you can pick up. While I was driving, I put Marc on task to see what he could find along our route.
Enter Honeygo Wine and Spirits in Perry Hall, MD. As we walked up and I saw the Flying Dog, Stone, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium & Dogfish Head logos all over their windows, I knew we hit the hoppy jackpot. When I tell you this place has A LOT of Craft Beer, you can validate that below when you see it took me 4 photos to show you only a part of the more than 1000 Beers they carry. While there was a lot of stuff we can get in NY, I still walked out with about $220 in Beer I can’t get!! The staff here is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly so do not hesitate to ask any questions or for suggestions.
Heavy Seas Ale House
http://heavyseasalehouse.com
1300 Bank Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
5:23 pm
I love Beer. I really, really love a finely made Craft Beer. The work, the passion, the fresh ingredients, the brewer’s unique process, all of it comes together in cold pint that dances across your tongue, remding you of what’s good in life and helping you to socially relax with some friends. The first pint of the is often a moment I truly cherish. But for as much as I love Beer, I can not compete with Hugh Sisson.
Hugh is the founder, owner and head brewer of the Heavy Seas Brewery in Halethorpe, MD and the Heavy Seas Ale House in Baltimore, MD. Hugh’s story is a unique one. In short, his father asked him to take over their family pub instead of moving to NYC to become an actor. Hugh turned Sisson’s into Maryland’s first brewpub. However back in the 80s, this was illegal. Hugh fought legislation that prevented brew pubs and in 1989 they won the battle. In 1994 Hugh started up the Clipper City Brewing Co. and in 2003 due to the popularity of their Heavy Seas brand, he switched the name over and has been brewing under it since. I mean seriously, what’s not cool about Pirate themed English Ales, Firkins and robust one-off Brews?
If you get to meet you Hugh you’ll find out that he is one of nicest, most passionate, intelligent, progressive and gifted brewers out there. He often hosts tastings at the pub downtown and I strongly you suggest you head over for one. Often times Hugh puts on a line of their more rare & strange Beers and if you really want to taste a unique Heavy Seas brew, this is the way to do. While there I was able to have a glass of the Heavy Seas Letter of Marque 2011, a delectable Belgian style Triple Wit. The Beer is made with Orange Peels & Belgian Yeast. It’s vibrant and fruity with a slight sweetness that’s balanced out in a smooth batch of spiciness.
Whole Foods Market
http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/harboreast/
1001 Fleet Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
7:02 pm
Yes. Yes we went to Whole Foods on the BROHD TRIP. Why? It’s not like they are really all that different from state to state. Even though we have a couple of great locations in NYC they don’t all carry the same products. There are great companies all over this land that aren’t big enough yet to ship their goods or produce enough to send every where. That’s what’s great about the BROHD TRIP, getting to take part in regional products and experiences.
While attending the International Association of Culinary Professionals annual conference in NYC I met Chris Paladino. He is the owner of the Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company. This Maryland based Coffee roaster & supplier is best explained by Chris himself: “Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company is a completely different coffee company, devoted to making the world around us a better place. Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company produces some of the region’s finest coffees with modern technologies that lowers our carbon footprint by nearly 80% when compared to traditional roasters today. We pledge 2% of sales back in support of our H2O Initiative program that contributes funding to local community organizations devoted to restoring our regional treasure, the Chesapeake Bay, back to the thriving ecosystem it once was.”
Chris gave me a can of their Coffee at the conference and my life has not been the same since. First of all you need to understand something, I love Coffee. I drink it every day, sometimes twice. But I don’t care who made it, where it comes from, what bean was used, nothing…I just love it. I find greatness in the coffee at the corner bodega, a Starbucks or the finest coffee in the world. I only veer when it comes to instant Coffee (although the Starbucks instant isn’t bad) or the stuff our Grandparents drink like Folgers. Other than that, I love and NEED Coffee.
But the Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company is different. I knew from the first whiff and then the first sip that this was no ordinary roast. It’s dark, it’s rich, it’s robust, it’s flavorful, it’s bitter, it’s chocolately…I could go on. You most certainly can order it on line but with shipping, it’s a little pricey so I hesitate. But knowing we were going to be driving through CBRC territory, I checked their online Coffee finder and had to pull the car over to buy some. Unfortunately they were out of the Cattail Dark, my fave, but I still got to buy 3 of the last cans in the store.
Isabella’s Brick Oven
http://isabellasbrickoven.net
221 S. High St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
7:20 pm
The BROHD TRIP is about exploring Food, places, Beer & people, It’s not really about repeating, re-visiting or going to places you know but sometimes you have to make an exception. Even though we hit Isabella’s on the first BROHD TRIP, it was only a couple blocks from Whole Foods and what kind of friend would I be to Marc & Mike if I didn’t take them to eat the best Italian Sandwich in America? The Scooch from Isabella’s in Baltimore. “Scooch” is Italian for “Best. Italian. Sandwich. Ever.”
This tiny little cafe and grocery store sells a small selection of Italian grocery items along with a hand selected menu of Italian goodies like brick oven Pizzas, Sandwiches, Salads and sides. With barely enough room for 12 people to seat, this Little Italy staple always has customers in the house.
Most of them are coming for one thing, The “Scooch” – Capicollo, Soppressata and Porchetta with Gouda Cheese, Roasted Peppers and Lettuce in a Balsamic Dressing. Sounds like any other Italian sandwich right? I’d agree with you and when I was first told about it, I had too held the same questions and possibilities of disbelief that you have right now. But much like me, Leo and Bram from the first BROHD TRIP, when you finish eating the Sandwich, you’re going to pause, take a breath, collect your thoughts and finally speak; “I think that was the best Italian Sandwich I’ve ever had.” Why? Because even after you’ve eaten it yourself, you’ll still find it hard to believe. Seated on the most perfect and crunchy warm Italian Bread you’ll ever eat are fresh and warm Meats and Cheeses with wonderfully roasted Peppers and crisp Lettuce with the tangiest Balsamic Dressing you’ll ever eat.
You can try to eat an entire Scooch and I wouldn’t stop you from doing it. However, at least take a moment to consider saving room for one of Isabella’s stuffed Peppers. They take green and red Peppadew Peppers, hollow them out, fill them with Prosciutto and hard Italian Cheese before allowing them to bath in Extra Virgin Olive Oil to soak up the flavor. They’re ALMOST as good as the Scooch and definitely worth taking one down before moving onto the sandwich. We also split up a Meatball Sandwich which honest to God, kicked a lot of ass.
Tune Inn Restaurant & Bar
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tune-inn-washington
331 Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast
Washington, DC 20003
9:37 pm
This is a Burger blog right? Well you know a review was coming right? When it comes to a passion for Burgers & history, there is none other like George Motz, the maniac behind the “Hamburger America,” film & corresponding book. He is the Indiana Jones of Hamburgers, travelling to the far stretches just to eat a Burger that’s a historical landmark. I absolutely LOVE eating Burgers with George. His book to Burgers is what the Old Testament is to the religious. It’s the end-all, be-all road map to America’s classic Burger joints. No BROHD TRIP is ever planned with out first consulting “Hamburger America,” on where to find a classic.
Located relatively near the center of the nation’s capital, is the Tune Inn Restaurant & Bar. Part college bar, part Honkey Tonk, part eatery, this unique pub has cold beer, a rockin jukebox and enough taxidermy on the walls to be award the place museum status. It’s the oldest licensed bar on Capitol Hill. It’s history dates back before prohibition, during which it operated as a speakeasy. A very friendly staff will sling you up a cold one while you peruse the diner meets pub meets Southern comfort food menu. There’s everything from Maryland Crab Cake Sandwich to Nachos to Country Fried Steak to Hot Pastrami and of couse a 100% Ground Beef And Grilled To Order, Half-Pound Burger menu. It includes The Tony’s Beer Battered Burger which is grilled, Beer battered, dropped in the deep fryer and topped with Cheese and the Fireman’s Cheeseburger topped with Scrapple! The former was made famous from an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
While both of these creations called out to me, after much deliberation with our very friendly server, I decided to kick namesake style with the Tune Inn Burger topped with their signature Sauce, American Cheese, Bacon and Onion Straws. I was pretty damn excited to chomp down into this Burger and by my 3rd bite, I realized, I was let down. I definitely ordered it medium rare but it came well done. The Patty was dried out and therefore missing a lot of the juicy goodness that the 20% fat creates in the taste profile of a perfectly made Burger. That aside, the Bun was fresh and good, the Bacon was crispy and good, the Cheese was melted and yummy and the Lettuce was a fresk, dark green. Overall, I sucked down a couple Beers, had a couple laughs with my friends and had a great time. Perhaps I should’ve gone Tony style.
Biergartenhaus
http://biergartenhaus.com
1355 H Street Northeast
Washington, DC 20002
11:30 pm
Sometimes on a really hot and humid summer night, you just want a cold Beer. Sometimes it’s more than want, it’s a need. Sometimes a small Beer just isn’t going to cut it and you need a something equal in size to a 7-11 Super Big Gulp. We both know that no crappy macro brewery, over produced Beer is going to cut it and for satiation you need a Beer carefully made with the purest of ingredients. When this happens and you’re in Washington DC, head to the Biergartnehaus. They’ve got you covered with a long list of German purity law governed Beers on their menu for you to choose from. We didn’t eat their but their authentic German food menu looks great.
Meridian Pint
http://meridianpint.com
3400 11th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20010
1:30 am
All BROHD TRIPS need to have one good drinking session and a great local spot and in DC, the Meridian Pint fit the bill. This Craft Beer focused bar / restaurant has two levels, the lower of which includes tables with a tap installed! Just flag your server, pick a draft Beer & have them turn on the tap. Then feel free to serve yourself and whatever volume and speed your needs dictate. The Meridian Pint focuses their business on being environmentally friendly, using mostly draft Beer to eliminate recycling, hiring staff local enough to walk to work, using reclaimed or recycled material to build the place, using a windmill as an energy source and a whole lot more.
It was here that I tasted one of the best freaking Beers I have ever had in my entire freaking life. Green Peppercorn Tripel by The Brewers Art. Holy wow! This 9% ABV Belgian style Tripel spiced with Green Peppercorns will blow your freaking skull. A Belgian Tripel is usually a little sweet and can seem light on the palette. Belgian Beers in general aren’t hopped out so a peppery, spicy bite is not something one would expect to find in Beers from the region. Leave it to a crafty American brewer to keep maintain the lack of Hops in a Belgian style Beer but still find a way to get that flavor profile by using Green Peppercorns. I ordered bottle after bottle after bottle. We spent the better part of the 2nd day of the BROHD TRIP trying to find a store that carried it. No such luck.
THE BROHD TRIP 3– DAY 2
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Fast Gourmet
http://www.fast-gourmet.com/
1400 W Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20009
10:56 am
When you put together a Food road trip and start searching out sites to see, breweries to visit and places to eat, you never expect to find the words “gas station” associated with the eating portion. There’s a first time for everything! One thing in common with nearly every link found when you search “Best Sandwich Washington DC” is Fast Gourmet. This eco-friendly eatery serving up quite a strange array of savory Sandos is literally attached to a Valero gas station. The level of skepticism I had was off the charts. But then again, which roadside petrol slinger has a menu that contains the Chivito; a Sandwich made with Tenderloin, Mozzarella, Black Forest Bacon, Green Olives, Hard Boiled Eggs, Escabeche, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion & Mayo on a Soft Roll?
Unable to decide and completely hungover, we ordered 2 sandwiches to split: Black Angus Meatballs with Chorizo, Marinara, Fontina on a Garlic Baguette and the Big Mason BBQ Chicken Breast with BBQ Sauce, Bacon, Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion & Mayo on a Kaiser roll. They were both as good as they sound, honestly. I do wish the Meatball has a little more Marinara & Chorizo but it was still damn good. I was totally smoked, a gas station that has gourmet Sandwiches. Truly anything is possible. Next time, definitely getting the Chivito.
Side note, Fast Gourmet has one of the nicest, cleanest, most opulent gas station latrines I’ve ever seen. If you need to … ahem, see a man about a horse, while driving around in your car, this is the place to … drop the bomb. Just be sure to show some respect and keep it clean so it can stay this way.
The Big Chair
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2054
One-Time World’s Largest Chair
t2101 Martin Luther King Ave., SE,
Washington, DC
11:56 am
I LOVE AMERICA. I ALSO LOVE ROAD TRIPS. Therefore, in conclusion, I LOVE ROADSIDE AMERICA. Whether it’s the world’s largest jack-in-the-box, a house shaped like a flying saucer or a statue tribute to Andy Griffith & Opie from the Andy Griffith Show, I will drive out of my way to get a picture with it. Enter “THE BIG CHAIR” in Anacostia, Washington DC. The “Chair” was at one time, the world’s largest chair. Standing at 19.5 feet tall, this replica of a Duncan Phyfe chair was constructed in by the Virginia-based Bassett Furniture company in 1959. In 1960, actress Lynn Arnold lived on top of the Chair for 42 days. They build her a pod up on top with a bed, shower, toilet and such to make it possible. In 2012, three guys from NYC drove 227 miles just to take some silly pictures with it.
Las Delicias Taqueria y Papuseria Food Truck
http://www.yelp.com/biz/las-delicias-taqueria-y-papuseria-food-truck-jessup
8826 Washington Blvd
Jessup, MD 20794
12:47 pm
It’s those random occurrences and moments that make road trips super awesome and when you come across something like Las Delicias Taqueria y Papuseria Food Truck, you know you’ve struck gold. I could smell it nearly half a mile away, before we could even seen it but I knew something amazing was around the next turn. That’s when we saw the truck and trailer pulled grill sitting in a parking lot. I swung the car around and even though none of us were hungry, we had to get some. We split a Grilled Steak Platter with Yellow Rice, Pickled Veggies and Tortillas. Man, I wish, so wish that I had been hungrier because this was my favorite thing we ate all weekend.
Words can not describe the amazing flavors in the Meat or whatever was used to marinate it nor the tangy and spicy vegetables which honestly were as good as the Meat. If I lived within an hour of this place, you can bet your sweet bippy I’d be there every weekend. Make a note and go there. It’s as authentic as it gets and the taste is out of this world.
Monster Mini Golf
http://monsterminigolf.com/fran-md-columbia/index.html
Columbia East Marketplace
7351 Assateague Dr.
Jessup, MD 20794
1:07 pm
Aww, c’mon! You know you would’ve stopped here too!! All black-lit monster themed putt-putt?!?! HELL YEAH!!! Some of the creatures and creeps are robotic and will groan, grunt, shake and move but not really in a sense to scare you, just to make it more fun. The place was definitely filled with kids and while we may have seemed a little out place shooting around the party of 8 year olds in front of us, this was a total blast.
G&M Crabcakes, Baltimore, Maryland
http://gandmcrabcakes.com
804 Hammonds Ferry Rd
Linthicum, Maryland
2:35 pm
I hate Seafood, but Marc and Mike don’t and this being Maryland, it is know for it’s Crab Cakes. Thanks to the iPad, a must on a road trip of this nature, Marc was able to search out what is reported to be one of the best Crab Cake spots, G&M Crabcakes. Opened in 1974, originally as a pizza shop, G&M grew into several dining rooms and lounges. You can choose to sit down and formally dine in their huge restaurant or you can walk next door and grab one to go. After experiencing the 2nd, I’d suggest the first because it definitely has a better presentation. I didn’t try this but Mike and Marc said it was fantastic. If you’re interested, you can order them to be shipped directly to you.
Chaps Pit Beef
http://chapspitbeef.com
5801 Pulaski Hwy
Baltimore, MD 21205
3:17 pm
Google the words “Pit Beef” and even before you see a link with the definition of the food item, you’ll see a link to Chaps Pit Beef. Pit Barbecue dates back 10s of thousands of years and is a method of cooking Food below ground in what has been called an Earth oven. In modern times, we have adapted this process to an above ground charcoal grill. In this grill, marinated or dry-rubbed Meat is slow smoked over a high heat. It’s almost always served with Horseradish and is very popular along the Eastern seaboard of the US.
Chaps Pit Beef, the most famous Pit Beef Barbecue in all the world, has been doing it since 1987. Back then, Chaps was only a 12 x 15 foot shack with no electricity and a smaller menu. Nowadays the menu of Meats and combos will make your head spin off your body, down the road and right into the ocean. I definitely suggest doing a little research before entering or at least narrowing down to a couple of choices. Or you could just go with a half Pit Beef / Half Pit Turkey on Weck with fresh Horseradish and then die happy from the mouth party you will have eating it.
DuClaw Brewing Company
http://duclaw.com
16 A Bel Air South Parkway
Bel Air, MD 21015
4:07 pm
What makes a great craft Beer? Well to be honest, it’s a ton of factors from fresh grains to the PH balance of your local water, to the process to the glassware it’s served in. You could taste a hundred Pale Ales and chances are, you could really sample a lot of diversity in them. That’s why I love visiting breweries around the world. Not only do you get to sample great Beer but you get to look inside of the mind of the brewer and usually, it’s at the breweries where you get to taste the most unique Beers they make.
Production on small batch Beers is really expensive and difficult to make en masse. They also take time away from making flagship Beers that are needed to keep the lights on at the brewery. Going to the brewery really gives you a chance to experience the entire taste profile of the brewery and see what they bring to the process. Some brewers really specialize in stranger ales and one of those breweries is the DuClaw Brewing Company. Take a look at some of the names of their Beers and you’ll start to wonder if they might be a little, shall we say, off kilter; Celtic Fury, Devil’s Milk, Mayhem, Misery, Nemesis & Soul Jacker just to give you an idea.
I couldn’t wait to get down on a couple of these crazy Beers! While there I had a chance to try a couple of them. Euforia, a creamy, easy drinking 5% ABV Brown Ale with an awesome Malt profile. Repent, a ride in a completely opposite direction, ringing in at 14.6% ABV Belgian Strong Ale. This was a BIG BIG beer that was a mix of intense fruit and caramel flavors without a lot of carbonation. Certainly not for the weak of heart. Lastly, I ended on the Serum, and incredibly malted and Double IPA that’s Amber-esque in its taste. The Beer is so aggressively hopped that I almost wonder if the brewer was taking out some frustration on the Beer! Loved all 3, just wish I could get it up here in NYC!
Wawa
http://wawa.com
231 N Philadelphia Blvd
Aberdeen, MD 21001
6:11 pm
Seriously, what kind of BROHD TRIP, let alone a regular road trip into the mid-Atlantic would it be without a stop at a Wawa? Anyone that has ever driven through Pennsylvania or most parts of it’s adjoining states knows about the glory of Wawa. Any East Coast foodie knows that convenience store / deli / sometimes gas station chain WAWA is the bomb!! With their Ready-to-Go Snacks, tasty side dishes, refreshing Iced Teas, Fresh Brewed Coffee, delicious Sizzli breakfast sandwiches and of course, the best thing about Wawa, Built-to-Order Hoagies and Sandwiches!!! Just walk up to the computer screen and start mashing those hungry little fingers on the touch screen.
Our trip to Wawa, which included hot Stuffed Pretzels, Meatballs, Iced-Teas and 3 Sandwiches. This brings the Sandwich total of this BROHD TRIP to a glorious 16!!
Nearly 500 miles to drink countless Beers, hang out with 3 other friends and eat 16 different Sandwiches all in 37 hours…now that’s what I call a BROHD TRIP!
Thanks to Mike & Caroline once again for the hospitality especially during a power outage that made Silver Springs, MD look a little post World War Z.
Thanks to the awesome staff at Honeygo for the help and suggestions. Your shop rules!
Thanks to Phil for hanging with us and helping us get around Blato’s Little Italy.
Thanks to Mike & Mark for hosting and showing us around Washington DC for good libations.
Thanks to the Dude for the Jewish Bondage Goat Zombie laughs.
Thanks to my Bro’s Mike and Marc for dropping everything last minute, hopping into a car, driving all over the place and spending an entire weekend laughing our asses off.
Until the next BROHD TRIP!!
THE BURGER COUNTQUEST
543 Burgers
June 30 2012 & July 1, 2012
