Category Archives: Breweries

Fredericksburg, Texas – An Intro

How do I describe Fredericksburg, Texas….. German, historic, authentic, great food, shopping, art, vineyards, beer, Luckenbach, bed and breakfasts, nature, landscapes, one of a kind destination.

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit Fredericksburg. I had been once a couple years ago for literally just for a couple hours and always said I was going to go back. Returning would involve checking a lot off my Texas Bucket List. In the short time I was there, I was able to get everything on my list done (within the area) and even check out a few others. How’s that for keeping busy!

Fredericksburg is located right off Highway 290, just west of Austin (about 2 hours). Sound familiar? I mentioned Highway 290 in last weeks post about Hye, TX. The trip to Fredericksburg is scenic route. Wildflowers graze the side of the highways along with the Texas state flower, the bluebonnets in the spring. It’s the perfect time to drive with the windows down and just enjoy the view and the fresh air. You’ll drive through Johnson City and see Lyndon B. Johnson’s old stomping grounds (if you are into history, you may want to stop by the LBJ State Park and Historic Site). Did I mention the many, many vineyards you’ll pass along the way which will leave you contemplating on whether or not to stop (trust your gut, you probably should). And if you don’t pay attention, you’ll miss that old sign for Luckenbach (I’ll fill you in on Luckenback later on.)

Soon enough, you will come into town. You’ll see the classic Texas town main street, filled with shops, restaurants and many people. Fredericksburg is a popular tourist destination, be prepared but as popular as it is there is a kind of charm that allows you to become calm, relaxed and able to enjoy the moment.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be telling you a lot about Fredericksburg. Whether you have a family, need a couples getaway or even just a getaway for yourself – leave Fredericksburg to be an option for your break from the real world. I’m going to recommend it!

Need a little more convincing?

Frederickburg is #2 in the country for a wine destination getaway (right behind Napa).
Fredericksburg holds over 400 bed and breakfasts. That’s right – 400!
Shopping, eating, drinking, live music – it’s all at your fingertips.
Need a break to venture into the outdoors? I’ll tell you about my adventure at the Enchanted Rock and the absolute breathtaking view at the top.

I was able to experience a little bit of everything that I’ve mentioned and will be giving my take in the coming weeks. Hope you’ll join me on my journey!

Portsmouth Brewery

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I’m a firm believer in micro-brews. If you have read some of my previous blogs, you have probably caught onto this by now. Pubs and breweries are pretty prominent in New England and it’s one of the reasons why I love the place. Each brewery and even each beer is diverse in its own right and provides a great opportunity to try something different. So, I did what I think every New Englander would want to do when heading back up to the great Northeast after being away for a bit – they’re wanting to go to a pub!

I happened to check out the Portsmouth Brewery.

Located in the heart of Portsmouth, it is surrounded by historical buildings and small shops. It’s a really interesting area to check out. Walking into the pub, your attention is grabbed and you soon find yourself pondering what to try first.

I seriously cannot remember which beer I tried so I’m going to be honest – it could be the Winter Ale. I’m 90% sure. I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t overly impressed – it was a little bitter for my taste. One thing I do wish is that I had tried the sampler so I could get a bigger variety. Mental note for future visits.

Char-grilled half pound cheese burger with a side of fries, obviously.

I opted to try the crab cake sandwich with bacon and avocado with a side of macaroni salad. The tomato didn’t last long and lets be honest here – neither did the lettuce. The sandwich (minus the tomato and lettuce) and the salad was tasty and filling!

What’s a brew pub without a window to the world of how beer is made!

If you happen to be in the area, there are many pubs to check out – this being one of them and I believe one of the only ones directly in the historical downtown. I would definitely suggest getting (or sharing) a sampler and while enjoying the pub fare. As always, if you happen to check it out – let me know what you thought!

World Of Beer, Arlington, TX

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This past Saturday we decided to finally check out World of Beer in Arlington, TX and it just so happened to be the Grand Opening. I heard that this place opened up a few weeks ago and couldn’t wait to go. Finding out that Velvet Love Box was playing was icing on the cake!

Before I say anything else, I will say that this is one of the places where you kick yourself because you didn’t come up with it first. I love microbrews. LOVE them. I’ve felt like since I’ve moved to Texas there just isn’t enough places that serves “the good stuff”. The closest I come is Blue Moon and Shiner at most places (not all of them). Don’t get me wrong, I like Blue Moon and Shiner but you need to get some variety in there!

And then there was World of Beer! (Chime in the music please!)

World of Beer is exactly that – a beer heaven. A heaven for those who appreciate the real beer in the world (sorry all of you Bud Light fans). They have over 500 different beers from around the world. There is no doubt that you will find something that tickles your fancy!

When you walk in, this is what you see. TV’s, a bar that sprawls across just about the entire width of the establishment and lots and lots of beer. Right above the TV’s (in the picture below) is a balcony area where the band was set up and getting ready to play. We asked if Velvet Love Box had a few VIP seats in their section that we could slyly take – their response – they only have three and they were taken (there are three guys in the band).

The night of the Grand Opening, of course it was packed but even more so due to the fact that Deep Ellum Brewery had bused in a ton of folks from Dallas. We found a spot upstairs where we had breathing room, found some free chairs and a good spot to sight see not only the band but the crowd.

If its too busy inside, grab a seat on the couch outside.

Not only does World of Beer pride themselves with having a great variety of beer but also having live music. I think this place was created just for me. And if that isn’t enough – there are plenty of tv’s so you can keep up with all of the sports! Now, I bet you are asking, what about some food? Well, in the Arlington, TX location, they provide numbers for nearby restaurants (there are many) where you can order and they’ll bring it right over to ya! Impressive, eh?

The menu is extensive. I mean, come on there are over 500 beers to choose from. So where does one begin? How does one keep track of which ones they’ve tried (especially if you have a memory like mine)?

Let me introduce you to “The Loyalty Card“.

For $15 you can sign up to get this Loyalty Card and a free t-shirt. (Let’s not kid ourselves, you are basically paying for the t-shirt.) This program is pretty simple. The card keeps track of every different kind of beer you try and you get a point for each one. These points add up of course and in return you earn rewards (a plaque, mug and even a $250 beer tab when you reach 500). Now, I don’t really think I’m ever going to reach 500 points but having the Loyalty Card just to keep track of the variety you’ve tried is pretty awesome.

Also keep an eye open for the Service Industry Appreciation card (for those in the industry) and the WOB University card (for students and faculty).

Per recommendations from a couple friends from home who travel around the world for their work – I remember they loved Kona. So I tried it out.

Now, I will say that even though they have over 500 beers available, they are missing a couple of the most important ones. So if anyone is reading this from World of Beer if you could PLEASE do this Vermonter a favor and look into some Longtrail Blackbeary Wheat and Switchback, I promise you that you and your customers won’t be disappointed!

There are many WOB locations within the US. If you are truly a beer lover or just looking for a new place to try out, you may want to check out a World of Beer near you.

**Note, WOB has no idea who I am. I was not paid or compensated for this post. However if WOB enjoys this post and decides to try out my suggestions – my email is in the contact section!