LEO/LHB: We Tappa Keg at BJ's & The BBC Tap Room

"Brewhouse" merely suggests to me that the establishment houses beer. I think people are unneccessarily picking apart the name. The sign doesn't say "brewery" or "brewing co"

In college, I frequented Scottie's Brewhouse. Every Wednesday, I drank $5 32oz. pitchers of imports/microbrews that they bought from vendors. There were no boycotts, protests, or even complaints about the name. People enjoyed themselves.

Without macrobrews, would microbrews have the same appeal? Don't days with horrible weather make sunny days better?

People assail Budweiser, but at least it is locally owned (as in American) Who owns Miller Brewing Co?

Does America benefit when Budweiser buys China's Harbin Brewery? I would think it would help contribute to our GDP...

If I bought everything locally, I could barely afford anything. It seems to me that Americans want too much money for their productivity. (Me too) I think it's great to be aware and be able to support local business, but I don't feel the need to bash anybody who made a product or performs a service well enough that people want to pay for it regardless of what corner of earth they live in.

I drink Mexican tequila, French cognac macerated with orange peels, Wine and beer from anywhere, Vodka made from anything, Canadian and Irish whiskies, Kentucky bourbons, all out of glasses that I don't give a thought to the location where they are produced.

If I could solve all of the world's problems with the beer I drank, I might give it more consideration.

Beer (food) for thought...

Best post ever!!! And no, I do not know Broc.

I'm in for it now. Doogy, I enjoy your posts because you stoke the fire; however, your seal of approval makes me a marked man.

Insert stupid emoticon to signify a wink, a laugh, a smile, and throw in some devil horns.

[Robin Garr]

I'm in for it now.

Naw. Your post was well stated and made sense. My only observation would be that the original review was not negative, and the ensuing thread hasn't really gone far down the old anti-chain road, so you appear to be battling an opponent that's not in this particular ring. But we won't jump on you for that.

Doogy, I enjoy your posts because you stoke the fire; however, your seal of approval makes me a marked man.

Be careful, though ... a circus doesn't need more than one clown ...

Insert stupid emoticon to signify a wink, a laugh, a smile, and throw in some devil horns.

Be careful, though ... a circus doesn't need more than one clown ...

What have I ever done to you to deserve this kind of crappy treatment?

[Robin Garr]

Be careful, though ... a circus doesn't need more than one clown ...

What have I ever done to you to deserve this kind of crappy treatment?

Not very strong in the sense-of-humor department, are you? I'll be glad to discuss this with your privately, though, if you actually believe that the treatment you get here is "crappy" and aren't merely trying to build your "everyone is hard on poor Doogy" persona.

I do not believe calling someone a clown is a successful attempt at humor. I believe it to be a slur towards my character and the input I provide on this board. I have no agenda other than to toss my opinion around, as a lot of others here do, and to provide insight and information as well. This poor old doogy slant is BS.

[Robin Garr]

This poor old doogy slant is BS.

Don't take my word for it. Go back, look at your own posts and see how many of them start with words to the extent of "I'm going to get flamed for this but ... " If you ASSUME that people aren't going to like what you write, you're probably mistaken. But if you assume it correctly, then this should be a good signal to you to stop writing and hit the delete key.

You're a smart guy, Doogy. But I'm not sure you communicate as well as you think you do.

I'm still waiting for a small car with Louisville Restaurant Forum painted on the side to drive out to the center ring and start letting a lot of the posters on the forum out...... myself included in there.

[Robin Garr]

I'm still waiting for a small car with Louisville Restaurant Forum painted on the side to drive out to the center ring and start letting a lot of the posters on the forum out...... myself included in there.

Hey! I want a Smart Fortwo, but there's a year and a half waiting list! I've got my own clown suit all ready, though. With TWO seltzer bottles!

Hey Roger,

Just curious here (because I wildly disagree with you), but shouldn't an establishment be commented for putting out a very accurate and very good representation of a certian type of beer? Aren't flaws, by their very nature and name, unintended consequences of a less than perfect system?

You are in essence saying that BJ's beers are flawless examples of each genre, but it is that flawlessness, that lack of unique character, that detracts from the memorabless of the experience. While I agree that the uniqueness of a particular beer is what makes it special, the ability to create accurate and flawless examples of a wide variety of beers, all having good (if not unique) flavor is a pretty impressive accomplishemnt.

Unintended flaws in the process can be good, but they can also be bad, but I have trouble rewarding someone for making a mistake, not matter how good the results. Saying that BBC and NABC et al are better because they (you) have screw ups that give the beer character is kinda silly.

I brew my own beer. No 2 batches have been the same because my process is very flawed. I've made some really good beer, and some really bad. I've had some batches that I would give anything to repeat, but I can't. I'll never be able to accurately recreate the exact environmental factors that caused the good outcome.

BJs can. They do.

To me, that is an impressive accomplishemnt. Maybe lacking uniquenss and character, but impressive none the less. They should be commended for it.

[Robin Garr]

BJs can. They do.

To me, that is an impressive accomplishemnt. Maybe lacking uniquenss and character, but impressive none the less. They should be commended for it.

That's high praise, Chris, and a well-thought-through response.

I'm not sure what Roger would say - I generally incline to a similar philosophy regarding artisan products, but we certainly don't agree on everything.

To me, though, I'm not sure that I buy "straightforward, technically correct" and "exciting but flawed" as the only two stops on a railway that has dozens of stations. I think BJ's deserves credit for making technically correct beers that a certified beer judge would rate highly on what wine judges call "typicity," an accurate and correct adherence to the guidelines of color, aroma, flavor, content and alcoholic content for each specific beer style. That's a good thing, and it deserves credit. I hope I gave them sufficient credit in my review.

But to me, a beer or wine that's correct but that doesn't push the envelope loses something in excitement. It's like, say, Kendall-Jackson or Gallo's Sonoma properties in the world of wine: They're made by experts under virtual laboratory conditions, and a trained judge could check off every block and say, "Yes, that's just how it's supposed to be."

But just as with the restaurants run by wild-eyed wacky geniuses who are willing to take risks in the pursuit of something just a little better, more interesting, more exciting, it's generally the artisans willing to experiment and take chances who come up with the beers, the wines, and the restaurant dishes that make us say "WOW!"

Not that there's anything wrong with BJ's. The beers are good, and I'll go there again. I'll go for the forum offline week after next, and frankly, I might drop in if I'm shopping at Oxmoor.

But by and large, for a whole spectrum of reasons that include but are not limited to quality, I'll remain a locavore and support the independent business people - the ones who do a good job, anyway - as often as I can.

but shouldn't an establishment be commented for putting out a very accurate and very good representation of a certian type of beer? Aren't flaws, by their very nature and name, unintended consequences of a less than perfect system?

Maybe lacking uniquenss and character, but impressive none the less. They should be commended for it.

I cut a few things out of your reply just to shorten this message a bit. The same bit of commending you are giving BJ's is the same pat on the back that Anheuser-Busch gives itself with their latest commercials where the guy walks around talking about the "Great American Lager" and how consistent they are. Consistency is a good thing when creating beer for the masses, but that is not necessarily a good thing. In the case of their beer, making a boring concoction of barley, rice, corn, and a little hops might be true to the style, but it does not make for a great beer. In the case of BJ's, their beer is average at best. Yes it is very true to the style, but there is nothing there that jumps out at you and makes you want to appreciate the beer.

As for flaws, I have to say that the beers at NABC, Cumberland, Browning's, and BBC are very consistent. Each batch of BBC American Pale Ale that I have tried is always the same flavor, but it is a really good APA, that jumps out at you. You drink it, and you know that you have had a very good beer, and I know that I can buy another 6 pack next week, and it will taste the same, and still be good, and consistent. This is the same for all of the breweries in the area. A Croupier from NABC tastes the same to me this week, as it did last year, so I think your argument falls a bit short in that regard. I guess the crux of my spiel here is that the breweries in the area brew very consistent "good to great" beers every time they produce a batch. From my experience with BJ's, they brew a very consistent "average" beer every time the produce a batch. It does not have anything to do with consistency, but it has everything to do with character, aroma, mouthfeel, and flavor. That is where BJ's is missing the boat. With that being said, they are standing on the dock looking for that boat with several suitcases full of money that they have made with their average beer, so you can't fault what they are doing all that much. I just know personally, I will go elsewhere when I'm looking for a good beer, but if I am stuck at Oxmoor, I won't turn down a trip to BJ's

what's wrong with clowns??


average is average, there's no inspiration in average, no love in a batch of beer that simply hopes to be consistently average,

average and clearly fitting the mold are no fun for me, they are acceptable, but not worthy of praise

consistency versus inspired/creative/artisan
can you not be creative and consistent

there is nothing inherently wrong with the BJs of the world,
but they will always follow the current trends,
they are not the leaders of the revolution

What beats every angle of the argument for me has got to be the company and atmosphere at the local haunts. I'm propelled by these discussions and cannot offer a rebuttal other than this subtle repose. I've eaten and drank at replicable establishments serving a good product and been bored to tears because there was not the entertainment of a cultured clientele. I'm way in the corner of supporting local merchants, so I'm the lucky one here. Cause ain't no better social decorum than my own reflection. BJ's is fine, but I prefer the alternative (and I have been there, fyi).