My take on brewpub reviewing
You may ask, what do you base your reviews
on?? Just what you like?? The answer is a definite NO! The things that make me
rate one brewpub over another are as follows (but not NECESSARILY in any order):
- Beer - If I were reviewing the food this would be a restaurant review
page. It's not and a brewpub is (for us beer lovers) for beer first and food
second (although the food in a brewpub IS important), so do I like the beer??
- Quality - All other things taken into account, two beers with quality
problems from the same establishment at the same time lands them on my "Please
Miss This" list.
- Variety - A high quality brewpub has at least 5 disparate brews and does
at least one of them in an exceptional manner.
- Innovation - Having a high quality Raspberry Wheat, American Wheat, Pale
Ale , Red and Stout does not make a good brewpub. Basically I'm looking for
something to differentiate a brewpub from the rest of the crowd. Examples:
Phantom Canyon's Peated Porter, Glenwood Canyon's Red Mountain Ale (it is
uncategorizable, yet very distinctive and quite delicious).
- Food - This category serves to sort out the brewpub pack, although in many
cases I have not had the chance to try out the food. This makes a brewpub,
IMO, first rather than third on my list, not one to miss versus one to seek
out.
- Atmosphere - I usually don't take away from anyone if the atmosphere isn't
great, I just add if it is something that catches my eye.
Go
To Colorado Brewpub Review page
Go To
Colorado Beer Source page
by Mitch Mather, Broomfield, CO copyright 1996-2002
Please send any questions or comments to:
[email protected].