A Burger and A Beer

Due to various commitments and time constraints, I've found myself eating fast food-style burgers on several occasions this past week. Despite all the "hamburger" meals this week, I told a friend I was still craving a "real one." So on Thursday evening, when Checkered Flag and I met at The Pub for a quick dinner, there was little doubt what I'd be ordering. The Pub's burgers are long-time favorites.

The Pub is also home the Battlefield Brewing, so a house beer was in order as well. I selected Austerlitz Czech-style Black Lager. The beer was served much too cold, as The Pub seems to do with all their beers. There was no actual ice on the glass, although it was quite wet with condensation, indicating the glass was likely freshly removed from cold storage. I let the beer sit for awhile to come up to a reasonable temperature.

Austerlitz Czech-style Black Lager is a dark beer a thin beige head. The aroma is mild coffee with an earthy and mildly fruity note. The flavor had very prominent roasted coffee and espresso notes, with a mild bitterness. Light bodied, the beer checks in at 7% ABV. The roasted flavor lingers for an extended time after sipping, leaving an astringent bitterness behind. I enjoy black lagers on occasion, and this one, while not exceptional, was an acceptable accompaniment to my highly anticipated burger. Unlike the week's previous meals, this burger was topped with fresh lettuce, tomato, and pickles — so I got my salad in too. Mom would be happy.

While tasty, I didn't think my burger was up to The Pub's previous standards. We used to hit The Pub very regularly but haven't been there in a while. Sadly, the service and quality has diminished in recent years and the reviews online are hit or miss. Despite this, the meal and conversation with a friend made for an enjoyable evening.

Porter, No Ice

Just because you call your beer a "Winter Porter," doesn't mean it should come on ice.

Colleen and I were out doing some shopping Saturday evening, and decided to stop in at The Pub and take advantage of the Saturday "Burger Night" special. I wasn't sure if I'd have a beer with my dinner, but I was informed one of the house beers was Cold Harbor Winter Porter. That was a new one to me, so decided I would check it out.

As the beer arrived I could see the shimmer of frost on the side of the glass. Shoot! I thought they were over that. I should have remembered to specify I didn't want the beer "iced." It was all I could do to hold the glass in my hand, it was extremely cold. Fortunately, by the time our food arrived the beer had warmed somewhat and I could begin enjoying it.

This Battlefield Brewing beer was a dark ruby color with a thin beige head. There was mocha and a mild sweetness in the aroma. The flavor was a mocha and chocolate with a hint of roastiness to it. The mouthfeel was on the thin side, with a lingering roasted malt flavor, with some stickiness left on the lips and tongue. While it was not exceptional, the flavor was certainly not unpleasant. When our server came by later, the conversation went something like this:

"Would you like another beer?"
"Sure, if I can have it in a non-frosted glass."
"A non-frosted glass?"
"Yes, a non frosted glass."
"A non-frosted glass? Umm. Okay."

I could well-imagine the conversation going on at the bar after that. Despite having a brewery onsite, The Pub caters mainly to the BudMillerCoors crowed, which by necessity demands beer be served tastebud-numbing cold. However, my beer arrived quickly, served as requested. And despite the beer itself still being overly chilled, I noticed that my empty glass was still colder to the touch than the new serving. I enjoyed the second glass much more than the first; the mocha and roasted bitterness was more apparent without the extreme chill.

Oh, and the burgers? Excellent as always. And that of course was the reason we decided to eat there in the first place.

A Tale Of Two Pale Ales

It's hard to believe that a year has passed since I last participated in The Session. When I saw the topic that The Beer Babe had chosen, I knew I had to participate. For Session #64: Pale in Comparison, she writes:

"What is the one beer style usually makes up the first position in the sample flight, but yet is usually the one that we never get really excited about? The Pale Ale."

I actually do get excited about Pale Ales. As with the ubiquitous pub burger, when I hit a new brewpub, their Pale Ale is a must for me. I prefer the "American" Pale Ale with its emphasis on the citrus, over the English, more "malty" version, but I do enjoy both.

For this post I decided to revisit the house Pale Ales at Fredericksburg's two brewpubs.

Battlefield Brewing Chancellor Pale Ale
At The Pub, home of Battlefield Brewing, my usual selection is the Chancellor Pale Ale. I do believe this beer suffered some growing pains when the new brewery started up. However, I enjoyed a couple of pints recently and was pleased with what I tasted. According to the beer board at the pub, Chancellor Pale Ale is brewed with Centennial and Amarillo hops. The aroma is very faint. The Amarillo hops balance the citrus notes with just a bit of bitterness. There's a modicum of fruit sweetness as well. Mouth feel is on the thin side.

Blue & Gray Falmouth Pale Ale

This is my regular choice whenever I visit Lee's Retreat at the Blue & Gray Brewing Company. Falmouth Pale Ale is a classic American Pale Ale. My impression is that this beer is second in popularity only to the brewery's Fred Red. This Pale Ale pours a bright amber orange with an off-white head. The aroma brings mild citrus notes with a hint of caramel. The flavor is well-balanced between the citrus hops that hit first and the malty backbone. There's some lingering bitterness in the finish as expected. This is a crisp and refreshing beer to go with any of the pub's food.

Of the two locally brewed Pale Ales, Falmouth Pale Ale gets my pick as my favorite. This Blue & Gray beer is also available bottled in local stores. However, I suggest enjoying it at the brewpub, or picking up a growler to go, for the freshest flavor.

Now I've gone and gotten myself all thirsty again.

Battlefield Oktoberfest

Whew, I didn't miss it. I was told near the end of September that Battlefield Brewing was tapping their Oktoberfest, and despite a great desire to do so, I just never got in to try it out. Imagine my delight when we stopped in for dinner at The Pub this weekend and it was still available!

Battlefield Brewing Oktoberfest is a dark, reddish brown in color with a very thin, and quickly vanishing head. I was pleased to see my glass was not frosted and the beer was served at a reasonable temperature. The Pub has in the past been fond of frosted mugs and too cold beer, but tonight anyway that was not an issue. The aroma is mild and bready. The flavor has a strong malt profile with a nice grainy bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is light with very low carbonation. A very nice and easy to drink beer.

Now if you've read other musings here about The Pub and Battlefield Brewing, you can probably guess what food I selected to go with my Oktoberfest. Of course, one of The Pub's excellent burgers, this time the bacon-cheeseburger version. A perfect repast for a fall evening dinner.

A Different Smoke at The Pub

Unlike in years past, we frequently enjoy a smoke-free evening at The Pub. My son and I had a recent "guy's dinner out" and I found another kind of smoke at The Pub. And this was of the sort that I very much enjoyed. Four house beers from Battlefield Brewing were available during this visit. One of the listings was Khe Sanh Märzen, described as brewed with "6 different malts including one that is dried over an open flame." Tempting enough to try for sure!

Khe Sanh Märzen pours a dark reddish-brown color with a very thin beige head. The aroma is faint with hints of caramel. I did not detect any smoke aroma initially, but as the beer warmed the smoky notes became more prevalent in the aroma. The immediate flavor hit made me think of a hoppy brown ale, though that is very quickly augmented with a pleasing smoke flavor. I found the smokey aspect to be moderate and not overpowering or distracting. The finish leaves behind a long-lingering bitterness backed by the smoked malt flavor.

I paired my beer with one of The Pub's burgers (what else?) and some hot wings. The smoky Märzen had an interesting cooling effect on the spiciness of the wings.

The thing about "smoked beers" is that you either love them or hate them. Just as I was telling my son that some smoke-flavored beers are almost overpowering in their bacon-ness, but this one was nicely balanced, our waitress come by and asked how I liked my "bacon beer." She told me the flavor was too much for her — she loved bacon, but not in her beer. After I gave her my impression, she told she had taken a growler of the Märzen home and slowed cooked some ribs in it, and they were excellent. I bet they were!

On another note, I recently remarked how much of the beer-drinking populace is enamored of weak, "factory beers." I was reminded of that again at The Pub. While I was enjoying my meal at this local brewpub, with fresh beer brewed onsite, I overheard the order from a nearby table, "Bud Lite please." To each his own I suppose.

Pub Food Is Good Food

But we knew that already, right? A writer for the local Free Lance-Star recently published his "bucket list" of 20 places one must eat in the Fredericksburg area. I wasn't surprised at all to see both of Fredericksburg's brew pubs making the cut.

At number 14, is the Cheddar-Jalepeño Burger from Lee's Retreat at the Blue & Gray Brewery. I've written about this scrumptious burger previously. The burgers at Lee's Retreat are all delicious, but this one may be my favorite.

Also making the list, at number 17, are the Sweet Potato Fries with Sour Cream Dip at The Pub, home of Battlefield Brewing Company. The Pub is also serves a very respectable burger, which I've frequently enjoyed, but I have to admit, I've never had their Sweet Potato Fries. That's something I'll need to rectify sooner rather than later.

Few things make for a more enjoyable dining out experience than fresh brewed beer and good pub grub. It's not unexpected that two local brew pubs made this list.

See "Writer creates 'bucket list' of area's tempting tastes" for the complete list of must-try foods around Fredericksburg. And then get tasting!

Battlefield Scottish Ale

We had already planned for a Saturday dinner at The Pub, when I saw Lew Bryson's post about the Battlefield Brewing Spotsylvania Scottish 70 on tap at the brewpub. So, my beer choice was settled even before I arrived.

Spotsylvania Scottish 70 pours a dark cola color, with light just passing through at the edges. There's a very short-lived, thin white head. The aroma is very faint, sweet malt. The flavor has mildly sweet malt balanced with some roasted bitterness, which lingers on the palate. Though mild and light bodied, the Scottish Ale is quite enjoyable, and stands up well to The Pub's tasty bacon cheeseburger.

Battlefield's Scottish Ale is highly "sessionable." At just 4% ABV, one can certainly head back to the mines after enjoying a pint. Low alcohol AND enough flavor to be interesting, that's the definition of a session beer. I expect this to be a popular selection at The Pub, while it lasts.

Decisions at the Battlefield (Brewing Company)

Colleen and I recently stopped by The Pub for dinner, and some beers from Battlefield Brewing. It's been a while since we visited and were anxious to see, and taste, some of their newer beers. Five house beers were available, three of which we've tasted previously, along with two new selections. While I rarely go for a sampler flight when visiting a brew pub, we decided we'd go that route before selecting a beer to go with dinner. For just under $6, we got sampler of all five beers. We tasted them while enjoying a fried sampler appetizer platter.

Left to right above, the beers are Chancellor Pale Ale, Iwo Jima Red Ale, Coral Seas Kolsch, BelleauWood Belgian Ale, and Austerlitz Czech Style Black Lager. We started with the Pale Ale. Colleen and I both enjoyed the moderate citrus hop flavor. Nicely done. Next up, the Red Ale. This is a very nice, dark Irish Red Ale. At this point we both were commenting that the beers seemed a different; more fresh with a "crisper" flavor. The Pale Ale has been my beer of choice during previous visits, so I'm fairly familiar with it, but for whatever reason, it seemed improved. The beers were not bad before, but we both picked up on something different. Maybe the brewers have gotten more familiar with the brew house, the recipe has been tweaked, or it was just our mood.

Next we moved on to the Kolsch. This was a mild, fruity beer. Pleasant, and we thought it might be nice for a hot summer afternoon. The Belgian Ale was next. Fruity, and as expected for the style. The final beer was the one that I was most curious about. Austerlitz Czech Style Black Lager is described as "Cold conditioned for 4 months, made with polish Lublin hops." The beer was dark with a mild roasted aroma. The taste was a distinctive roasted malt flavor with a hint of sweetness. Of the five beers, this may have been my favorite, and I think I'd like a pint of this sipped in front of the fire pit. (Hmm, Battlefield does fill growlers to go.) But, tonight we were enjoying The Pub's tasty burgers. For me, that put the decision between Chancellor Pale Ale and Iwo Jima Red Ale. In the end, we both selected the Red Ale, and had an enjoyable meal.

Fresh beer and good burgers. That's a theme oft repeated on these Musings. The Pub is a nearby place to fulfill those needs. If you haven't been recently, check it out again. I'm glad we did.

Battlefield Brewing Khyber Pass IPA & The Pub

Fredericksburg's first brewpub, Battlefield Brewing opened in October of last year, and they've been slowing adding to their repertoire of beers. Last week, the brewery's first IPA made its debut and I stopped by Friday evening to try out Khyber Pass IPA. Brewer Lyle Brown tells me he used Munich Caramel 40 and Carastan malts, plus a touch of wheat in producing the beer. Khyber Pass IPA is hopped with Centennial, Cascade and Amarillo hops. The beer is finished by dry hopping with those same hops. This presents a beer light in aroma, but well-balanced in flavor and slightly bitter. The finish is dry with a lingering bitterness. This IPA checks in at 5.7% ABV, which is on the low side for an IPA but makes the beer quite quaffable. It went very well with my dinner of fish & chips.

Battlefield Brewing is located in The Pub. The Pub is located in a shopping center and consists of both a smoking pub and a non-smoking dining room. I've written in the past how the two sides, in practice, were not well-separated. Even on the non-smoking side, the smoke was very heavy at times. This was the first time I've visited since Virginia's restaurant smoking restriction went into affect. Since the two sides of the establishment are "technically" distinct, smoking is still allowed on the pub side. Management has added a swinging door between the two that is only used by staff, and this does help the situation. I was in the restaurant for about three hours and there was very little cigarette odor bleeding over.

When we placed our food orders, our waitress Laura remarked that she reads these Musings. "I've read the whole thing" she noted. Later, when one of our party ordered a (non-house) beer, she made a point of asking if his preference was for a room temperature or frosted mug. Good show Laura. (Although he chose incorrectly in my opinion.)

Reduced smokiness, and a growing selection of locally brewed beers makes The Pub and Battlefield Brewing a place you don't want to miss. BTW, Monday night is "Meet the Brewer Night." All house beers are $2.50/pint from 7:00 PM on, and one of the brewers is in attendance for an hour or two, depending on the crowd.

Battlefield Brewing Now Open

Fredericksburg's first brew pub is now officially open, and serving beer made on premise. Battlefield Brewing Company is located in The Pub, a long-standing and popular stop for good pub food. To help celebrate the brewery's grand opening on Friday, my family had dinner there and tried out a couple of the new beers. The brewery is currently serving three beers; Chancellor Pale Ale, Iwo Jima Irish Red, and Wilderness Wheat.

My selection for the evening was the Chancellor Pale Ale, brewed with Centennial and Amarillo hops. The Amarillo hops balance the citrus notes with just a bit of bitterness. This creates a crisp, moderately hoppy beer. I found it quite enjoyable, and it should satisfy the hop-head, as well as less adventurous beer drinkers. Colleen ordered the Iwo Jima Irish Red. This selection has a strong malt backbone with a bitter finish. From my casual observation, Iwo Jima Irish Red looked to be the most popular beer during the evening. We did not try the Wilderness Wheat, that will be a mission for another visit.

Both of the beers we had during the evening were very well done. Head brewer Lyle Brown, along with the rest of the brewers, have done an excellent job. Lyle has said that he plans to expand the breweries offerings with seasonal beers, and also let the brewers create special one-off beers in the future. That is something to look forward to. Coming up in a few weeks, Belleau Wood, a Belgian-style ale, will be available as well.

The Pub is a popular eatery, known for it's good pub grub. I am especially found of the burgers, and the fish & chips there. Now that good craft beer is being brewed onsite, it gets even better. Right now the only drawback is the smokiness of The Pub. With the new restaurant ban on smoking coming into play next month, that situation should improve.

Meanwhile, despite the smoke, I expect I'll be a frequent patron of Battlefield Brewing at The Pub. It is now the closest pub to my home, and the only one serving fresh-brewed beer.

For those keeping count, Fredericksburg now boasts TWO craft breweries. Blue & Gray Brewing also has plans to add a pub in the future.

A few pictures from Battlefield Brewing Company are here.

Battlefield Brewing Opening Set

Fredericksburg's first brewpub will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, October 30, at 5:00PM. Battlefield Brewing Company is part of The Pub, located at 4187 Plank Rd in Fredericksburg. A 3BBL brewhouse was installed in July and we've been anxiously awaiting news of beer being poured. The Pub already has a reputation for good pub food, and the addition of fresh-brewed beer is very exciting.

Head brewer Lyle Brown writes that the brewery will be tapping three beers on Friday. Chancellor Pale Ale, is an American-style Pale Ale with Centennial and Amarillo hops. Wilderness Wheat is an American-style Wheat beer brewed with Hallertau hops and a touch of Munich for sweetness . Iwo Jima Irish Red, is an Irish-style Red Ale brewed with East Kent Goldings hops. Specialty and seasonal beers are also planned for the future.

I'll see you at The Pub on Friday!

The Science of Brewing

The Brewing Science Institute of Colorado held a one-day workshop at the University of Mary Washington on Tuesday. Attended by brewers from around Virginia, the workshop presented an overview of microbiological methods in the brewing of beer. Topics such as healthy yeast cultures and brewing contaminants were discussed. Virginia breweries including Battlefield Brewing, Blue & Gray Brewing, Legend Brewing, Old Dominion Brewing, Starr Hill Brewery, St. George Brewing and Williamsburg AleWerks attended the workshop. The event was organized by Jeff Fitzpatrick of Blue & Gray Brewing.

I was disappointed to have missed this event that brought together so many Virginia brewers. I received an email about it a while back, and unfortunately filed the email and then forgot about it. The Free Lance-Star has coverage here.

More Cask Ale for Fredericksburg

The Cafaro Company, developers of the The Village at Towne Centre in Fredericksburg have announced one of their first tenants will be "The Fredericksburg Pub." The new establishment is described in a Free Lance-Star article as "An Ohio-based chain whose restaurants have exteriors modeled after the classic corner pubs of London. Their interiors include a handcrafted bar from which guests can sample a wide range of English, Scottish and Irish draft beers as well as cask-conditioned and domestic beers."

After making some inquiries, I received a reply from a manager for the new establishment that included a press release from the Cafaro Company. In part it states:

The heart of hospitality in every British neighborhood is its pub. So it shall be at the Village at Towne Centre. The Fredericksburg Pub will open its doors this November, offering a sensational array of brews, and savory dishes to satisfy hearty appetites. The Fredericksburg Pub is a warm, authentic re-creation of the a traditional British public house, with the subtle, casual flair of modern colonial influence.

The centerpiece of The Fredericksburg Pub is a stunning wraparound bar handcrafted in the United Kingdom, surrounded by beautiful, imported decor. “It’s a very authentic British Pub.”, said Tom Hoffman, Principal of the establishment. “There are 85 different beers from all over the world, mostly from the British Isles.” They include cask-conditioned brews, ales and domestics that change on a rotating basis. They are served up through “optic pourers”, inverted pouring systems that originated in Europe. The knowledgeable barkeeps also serve up an impressive variety of cocktails and wines by the glass or bottle.

I'm not familiar with this chain, but the prospect of cask-conditioned beers is itself appealing. What will the beer selection be like? How many fresh casks will be available? Real fresh ale or faux? The Pub is now reported to open by December 1, so we won't have long to wait until I can research for answers to these questions.

The Fredericksburg Pub is not to be confused with Fredericksburg's long-established "The Pub" which will soon have a brewpub onsite. Battlefield Brewing is slated to open this Fall inside the latter. Got it? Imagine the thrill of having two fresh ale pubs competing for our thirsts!

Update, December 2: The Pub's opening has been delayed two weeks due to a health department request to redesign a door leading to the outdoor patio.

Update, February 22: The Fredericksburg Pub is reviewed here.

(Yet Another) Brewpub and Beer Garden for Fredericksburg

The Blue & Gray Brewing Company has plans to open a 30-seat brewpub and an outdoor beer garden this Fall, if all goes to according to plan. The Free Lance-Star posted details this morning:

[Owner Jeff] Fitzpatrick said the move would be a "natural evolution" for his business, one that would allow customers to have a Blue & Gray beer while eating what he describes as "high-quality pub fare." He would likely open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and could expand the restaurant if all goes well. He'd also hold special events and parties.

The brewery would continue to offer retail sales of its beer on site. The brewpub would likely offer the main product lines and some smaller-batch beers not available at other bars and restaurants.

The new site, which is on 20 acres and has parking for more than 100 cars, would allow Fitzpatrick to increase the size of the brewery's St. Patrick's Day and Oktoberfest events. The latter is scheduled for Sept. 26-28.

I know this has been in the works for some time and it appears plans are now moving forward. Jeff has filed a special use permit application with the Fredericksburg Planning Commission to operate the brewpub in the Fredericksburg Battlefield Industrial Park. Blue & Gray would move their current brewing operations to the new site. Jeff has spoken previously about the possibility that the popular outdoor festivals he holds would be unable to continue at the current site. This new home would allow those to continue, and even grow in size.

Beer lovers in the area have much to look forward to. We recently were told of plans for another brewpub for Fredericksburg. Also expected this Fall is the opening of the Capital Ale House in downtown Fredericksburg. Exciting times indeed!