Strangeways Brewing

2/9/14:

Stars: 4.3 out of 5.0

Pros: Lots of Space, Huge Draft Selection, Creative Beers

Cons: Hit & Miss Flavor

     I think by now that you all realize that I love craft beer. I certainly have said it enough. So, when a trip to Strangeways Brewery gets flopped out onto the table, who am I to say no? I went one night when they first opened, but I never reviewed it. Lucky for Strangeways I thought to take photos this time.

     Strangeway Brewing (Strangeways Brewing) is quite a strange ways from where you expect a brewery to be. It is located on Dabney Rd among various warehousey/officey type buildings. The train yard is very close too. It's off the beaten path to say the least. When they first opened, they only had seating in the big front room with a few picnic tables outside. Since my last visit they have opened a back bar with even more tables. This gives them a massive indoor space and a fairly nice outdoor one. So, you'll be able to find a seat.

     Recently Strangeways upped their tap game in a big big way. In the beginning they had 4, maybe 6 beers on tap at all times. On Wednesday they would introduce a variation or two of existing beers. Now they have 25 beers on tap at all times. That's their promise to us and by god I love that about them. They use their small range of, well we will call them "staple beers", and add fresh new flavors to them. The bounds of their creativity is endless as proven by the constant new flavors that arrive. Now, if they would make an Espresso Woodbooger, I would be a happy man.

     BN and I both each tried one of the rotating custom beers. I can't remember what I had for the life of me, but I know he had a beer that was maple flavored. The maple was there, but it was in a slightly odd way. It left a complex, almost weird flavor to the beer that was very different. Not so much in a good way. We also had a standard Woodbooger, of which I am a big fan. It always has a very consistent, rich flavor which I hope for in a brown ale. I will have to experiment more, but my big concern is that sometimes the beers, especially the experimental ones don't always provide the promised flavor. They are kind of hit and miss.

     Overall, Strangeways is another example of what a craft brewery is all about. They are continuously pushing the flavor boundaries of what a normal pallet expects. Their promise of 25 beers on tap at all times is no small feat and they execute it well. I raise a glass to them and I'll be back for them to fill it when it's empty.