As promised / threatened, here are some photos and a little more description of the new facility for Breakside Brewing near where I grew up (lo those many years ago).
I shared a taster tray with my brother-in-law which ran the gamut of beer styles.
Two of the favorites were the sour options, the Passion fruit sour and the Imperial Sour Apricot. More fruit notes in the former and less apricot than expected in the latter. But both (with varying sour levels) were quite nice.
The Spruce wheat was the clear un-favorite. Way too much pine for me. Needed something else to balance it out. Maybe rye or a sturdier malt? The ESB was a little too light as well and the Session Brown was a beer in search of a style.
The tasting room is dominated by a large wooden wall with taps tucked into the bottom. They have one food option and the warehouse area around them could use a food truck to help out because it is not inspiring food wise around them. A good amount of chairs at the bar and at tables. It is a big space so crowd noise is at a minimum.
My two favorites of the tray (and subsequent visits to the Amarillo Wheat and pilsner) were the Old Skool hop bomb which is a great concept to return to the base hops that have been a bit forgotten. The one that worked best though was the Aquavit Braggot. They used the spirit barrels that held this unique liquor. Which they made the wash for to begin with! It was spicy and light and just easy drinking and a different barrel aged experience.
