This afternoon we met friends at Great River http://greatriverbrewery.com/ for a beer or two. Great River is a brewery with a tasting room. They do not serve anything but beer, well ok they have in shell peanuts, but does that really count? Since they only serve beer only true beer drinkers show up. Today as any other Saturday from 1-3pm they do $1 cans, cans that are not a complete fill or dented. So yes they do can their beer, currently they can the 483 Pale Ale and Roller Dam Red with plans to soon can the Redband Stout, a coffee stout. These are 3 of there 6 regular beers the other three are La Jefa, a Mexican Lager, Organic Farmer Brown Ale, American nut brown ale, and Straight Pipe Stout, a milk stout. Also they always have some seasonals on tap, currently Dirty Blonde, a chocolate blonde and Aaah ... Bock, remember Radar and Hawkeye on Mash aaah Bach, hope your old enough to get the reference. If I remember correctly Radar's date went quite well after he used that line. Plus they have a Brewer's Reserve Beer, this time it was Straight Pipe Stout aged in bourbon barrels, always these beers are barrel aged and yummy! Overall the beers are quite good; sometimes some of their seasonals are challenging to drink. They usually have a special tapping of their latest seasonal, including a potluck. They usually provide some kind of meat and everyone brings a dish. Fun is had by all, especially with the first golden keg since it is no charge.
The tasting room is purpose built it has a bar that can sit around 15 people with a couple tables as well. The top amount of people that comfortably fit in the tasting room is 30-40. A wonderful place to meet friends and have a few beers. A pint of beer is $4, unless it is barge season and the bridge is open then they are only $2 a fun gimmick that some people take a bit too seriously. They also sell growlers, 1/6 barrels and half barrels, check with them for availability. The bars staff are competent and friendly as the can be.
The tasting room itself has a nice purpose built bar and an impressive back bar that displays glasses and t-shirts. When it warms up outside they have picnic tables with umbrellas so people can enjoy their "beer garden". Also they always have the promise of a game of corn hole. They are dog friendly, always having dog bowls of h2o for the 4 legged kind in the warm seasons. Also they are only a block away from the bike trail, so bikers are regulars as well, both the pedal and motor kind are welcome.
They have opened their doors to MUGZ http://www.mugzhomebrew.org/ for our monthly meetings. They are more than friendly to home brewers and craft beer lovers. Also they are active in the local community for various interests.
Do not be afraid to come down to Great River and enjoy a beer or two. If Paul or Scott are around they are more than willing to chat with the average beer fan. Also from their "beer garden" you can easily see the lock and dam and the Mississippi as well.
A good day!
QC Beerguy
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