Free at last, Free at last.....

A night free in Downtown Winston Salem....

With Hudson at the in-laws me and the misses set out for a night about town. Started off with a movie at the very nice new theater, The Grand. Then it was downtown for dinner and drinks. Our first thought was Sweet Potatoes if the menu had anything new on it. It didn't, and while the food is fantastic, it was already a 45 minute wait and their drink selection SUCKS! So on the recommendation of our good friend Philip (aka Opie, of the formerly wonderful restaurant Opie's and co-proprietor of Finnegan's Wake, which will be opening soon!) said that the food was much improved over at 6th and Vine, and the chef was great. Plus they have a fantastic Beer and Wine selection, and the owner/manager Chris Barnes is a wonderful guy. So begins our fun evening out.

6th and Vine
Is it a new chef? Is it a new menu? I don't know. All I know is that the food rocks! And they have a damn fine beer and wine list. With six drafts and a bottle list that has at least one beer for at least 15 different styles, it's hard to go wrong. The owner and Manager, Chris Barnes tries to keep at least two different beers for each of the styles on his list. My only issue would be that all of the higher ABV are all lumped together, instead of separated out by style. But remember, we only changed our antiquated beer definition here in NC about 1 year ago. I started with a Sierra Nevada Summerfest because it was bloody hot out. I have to say I wasn't very impressed. It wasn't bad, I was just very underwhelmed.

But then came the food! Mellie ordered the amazing Free Range Chicken stuffed with housemade mozzarella cheese and I had the Half a duck in a cherry reduction sauce. Funny thing was I ordered Saison Dupont which paired better with Mellie's chicken and she ordered a great Pinot Noir which paired a little better with my Duck. I knew I should have ordered something with more malt, but I wanted the Saison Dupont. It is simply a fantastic beer, and Saison in general are some of the best and most versatile food beers. The white pepper and spice in the Saison really brought out the seasoning on the chicken and the creaminess of the cheese just seemed to pair with the hops wonderfully. It was also very good with the duck, and seemed to bring out some of the gaminess, but it was a much better pair with the duck.

From there it was on to the Mellow Mushroom for a few more beers. Mellie ordered the Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar and I had the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA both of which are far superior on draft. Then a Unibroue Maudite for me and a Highland Tasgall Ale for Mellie. And then it was time to move on once again.




Recreation Billards
What a great surprise this place was! Sixteen beers on tap, nearly every one a quality craft brew or import. Oh, and they still had the Duck Rabbit Imperial Stout that I had so been wanting to try. Delicious! Had a great time talking to one of the owners George, who has taken over the place from his father, who is still there serving beers. Great place to relax, drink beer, shoot pool, watch the game, or run into a old roommate you haven't seen in a few months. The place never got to smokey, which is a major feat for a bar/pool hall in Winston Salem, NC IMHO.

Anyway, Philip met up with us at the bar and the rest of the evening gets a little hazy from there. Needless to say we had to take a cab home and pickup my car downtown the next day.

Good Press/Bad Press
In a recent article that was on the front page of GoTriad.com, writer Jon Kirby gives a mixed review about Foothills Brewing Co. Now maybe its because Jamie is a good fried of mine, or the fact that I love his beer, or the fact that it is the only brewpub in a 40+ mile radius, or that I'm just overly sensitive when it comes to craft beer, but good old Jon both bashes and praises Foothills while seemingly contradicting himself. On one hand he is pissing and moaning because he can't take the crowds, college kids, loud music, or the fact he always seems to get drunk there. Yet on the other the ass clown comes in wasted and is doing shots of tequila at a brewpub. Hey! Here's a thought. If you always get too drunk at Foothills put down the shots of tequilla and pickup a cold pint of hand made, craft beer!

Yet I find Jon redeeming himself as he is points out that most of the Decs have no taste by the fact they "still insist on swilling bottled domestics"..." Despite some terrific brews" that Jamie makes. I have also been there on crowded Friday and Saturday nights and been nearly brought to tears by the fact can be more people drinking mass produced, fizzy yellow beers; when they have probably never tried any of Jamie's beers. But hey, if Jamie can live with it, then who the hell am I to say anything.

Anyway, it seems that Jon appreciates the beer and the place at times;, he just can't handle the crowds, the noise, the hipsters, or the hangover. My only advice. Next time put down the tequila and pickup glass of Seeing Double. You may still get a hangover, but at least you'll be drinking a damn fine beer!

All this talk of people drinking mass produced swill reminds me of an old joke, but recently retold by commedian Zane Lamprey during the Belgium episode of his hilarious and informative show Three Sheets. While talking with the bartender/manager of the Delirium Café, Zane says; "How are mass produced American beers like Sex in a Canoe?.....Their both fucking close to water!" The show is really funny and does a good job highlighting the local drinking culture. Think the Thristy Traveler meets Up All Night with Dave Attel.

Beer baron loses license after DUI arrest
Keeping you informed, it appears that Pete Coors has lost his license after being convicted for DUI. Oh Pete, when are you going to learn? However, unlike most DUI covictees, this one can afford a limo and a driver. Not to mention a helicopter, a leer jet, or just hire some guy to ride him around in a rickshaw, ala Seinfeld.

Well that's all for now. Reviews to come later this week and a Beer Dinner with two former Beer Drinkers of the year!