Discussion of Robin Garr's Against the Grain review

I've tried all the beers offered at ATG and the only one I wouldn't order again is the Morning Wood. It wasn’t bad, just not my thing, and I did finish it.

I don't know anyone that likes morning wood

Anyway, my appetite (cheesy pun intended) for restaurant reviews are usually sated by your website.

You spelled Sauted rong !

Either of the words is fitting,

As the author, I confirm that "s-a-t-e-d" is what I intended.

So there.

Nothing else to see here, move along.

Wowzers! & definitely ouch!


As to the comments regarding the AtG beer concept... While we have a great deal of respect and admiration for the 'tried and true' method of providing the same lineup forever. It simply is not who we are...

It is our hope that those who come to AtG leave enlightened, educated, and happy with the experience we offer. We care about beer and we care about cultivating a more adept and experienced beer culture in downtown Louisville. So we will continue to move Against The Grain!

Cheers!

"Simply not who we are"...Well...If that's the hill where you chose to make your stand, then <raises glass> "here's too ya". I'm pretty sure there are enough "Justin's" and "Rogers" (and folks like them) to keep you experimenting to your hearts content.

That said, here's why I won't be a "regular"...and please don't take this as an "ouch" (BTW I thought the onion rings and fried Baloney rocked !!), I'm not trying to change your mind about your "concept"...I'm just telling ya why I (and like minded individuals) won't be embracing it. First off, quite frankly, it's becoming more and more of a "crap shoot" every time I walk into a brew pub...ANY brew pub. A lot of my beer drinking buddies are of the same vein. This whole lets-see-just-how-queer-of-a-beer-I-can-brew-bullsh** has gotten totally out of hand. To wit, almost every pub I walk into I can find -some- beers that I like and others that I wish had never crossed my palette. So basically, in a nut shell, what I'm saying is that I'm not interested in being "enlightened" and I'm not interested in being "educated" but I am interested in being happy. Having to sample my way down a beer list every time I go into a place just so I can (perhaps) find a beer or two that I really enjoy doesn't really make me "happy".

I guessing here, but I would be willing to bet that the standard offerings (Session, Hoppy, Dark, ect.) will be pretty safe bets. I guessing these guys will try to inspire and educate on the Whim and off menu beers, but I've been wrong before, according to my wife.

Anyway, I'll be at ATG on Nov. 30th at 3:45 if anyone would like to join me for a beverage.

Having to sample my way down a beer list every time I go into a place just so I can (perhaps) find a beer or two that I really enjoy doesn't really make me "happy".

This expresses my sentiments exactly. I don't always want to drink the same beer but no place can be one of my favorites unless I'm sure they're going to have beer I like there. I can't tell if I'm going to really like a beer from a sample either.

I was stunned recently when my favorite local beer up and changed on me. It's a very fine beer still (better than before most say) but there was a comfort level knowing it was there for me and I would get actual cravings for it and think...its time to go to XXXXX (name redacted to protect my drinking priveliges.) My point is, how am I going to develop a craving for "Two Wheeled Death Machine" if its never going to be there again?

Perhaps Steve and Shane can give us a bit more insight into which styles make them happy, and which ones make them sad.

Perhaps Steve and Shane can give us a bit more insight into which styles make them happy, and which ones make them sad.

My pleasure. Love to talk about beer but I'm going to have to keep this short as it is Friday. (need to drink beer)

Don't have a problem with beers based on style really except the following:
I don't want to be bothered with tasteless beers and so I don't prefer many in the pils family. Not saying there may not be some I would like but haven't found any yet. Much of the German beer "styles?" don't do anything for me really. Recently I tried a six of Hofbrau and thought it unremarkable and a German college student said “Munichers don't drink that, its for tourist.” He suggested Augustiner so I got some of that and I gave him one of the “Bitter American” cans that I'd just bought from Dutch's Bar & Bottle as I'd just bought their whole stock. Yeah bitter ales are my preference. Well the Augustiner if anything had less taste than the Hofbrau and I suspect American “lite” beer drinkers would like them both fine. German bock (meant dunkel) beers are flavorful and usually session strength. Try one with a few drops of Chambord at the end of a session. Dessert!

So far I haven't found any smoked beers that I really liked either. I've tried several. It's a curious thing though as I love smoked meats and I think I could learn to like them. Quite by accident I was setting in one of my favorite establishments and I said “Hey Tonya give me one of those “Steam Boats.” She said “Do you want a taste first?” Yes a 20z taste is pretty much what it takes. I asked her to describe it and while I forget her description, this beer tasted nothing like what I was expecting based on her description. In fact, I looked at the blokes setting on either side of me to make sure they hadn't tipped their Bloody Mary’s into my beer. This thing was....savory. I said “Is this a smoked beer?” She said it wasn't and I didn't pursue but I think I could like that beer under the right circumstances. It gives credence to the phrase “beer is food.” I also haven't found an affinity for the bourbon barrel aging craze but I haven't given up on it. It works better with the stouts/porter for me.

Sunday I went to the Rover. Heard there would be a new local offering. An oatmeal stout as it were. Well, I've mentioned on here that I quite like a Samuel Smith stout, oatmeal'd or not and I' heard that there were going to be brews from Cumberland and ATG as well. First thing I did was violate my own SOP by ordering five different 3oz servings. My intention here was not to try to identify the perfect beer but I wanted to see if any deserved a second round. Three of the five were quite robust in flavor and were a pleasure to drink. The coffee, chocolate, and the NABC Oatmeal. The oatmeal was not my favorite however. The one that really hit the spot was an old staple for any stout drinker and I normally don't even think to order it anymore. Youngs Double Chocolate stout was the bell of the ball for me. This beer has been around forever. Guess what, there's a reason for that. It freakin great and drinking it made me remember having fun drinking it many other times, though not for many years. All of them were fine and a couple were just too bland to make any impression. Sorta like a Guiness. Very drinkable, won't upset anyone cause it doesn't have enough character to actually offend.

Style, not the issue here at all. I like a saison when I want to taste the French countryside and set by the river smelling the flowers. I'm ok with many Belgians (fruited or browns) although the tendency to pump them up to nearly wine strength makes me steer clear most times. I've tried these new (to me) black lagers and black IPAs and found all of them very drinkable. The Brooklyn Lager is about the only Lager I ever order. I just tend to assume lagers are going to be mostly tasteless.

Now maybe you can help me out with something here. I'm no beer expert, don't try to be, don't want to be. What I am is someone who passionately loves good beer. Recently I've tried a couple of beers that I thought a really should have liked. One was the Sun King Scottish Ale called Wee Mac, the other was
Hazed and Infuzed (Boulder) not Scottish at all and I don't know why I should have found them both objectionable, and for the same reason. They both have an aftertaste that I can't identify. I wish someone would tell me what it is, David,? Todd, Roger?.

I like a Scottish Ale and I prefer McKewans (sp) but a Bellhaven will do. No, its not the style its the beer. Tell me you got Old Speckled Hen on tap and I will come. While I'm there I my try something else too. Tell me you have a casked conditioned ale on tap and I will run to drink it.

But if you leave me in suspense about what I might find if I come, I might still come but it will be for a different reason and likely not as often.

Put your brewery at the ball park and you'll have me for a paying customer every time I go to the game and I'll thank you kindly.

Oh, gotta go and drink Crooked Tree (Dark Horse) at the Fireside. I'd have their NABC offering but its too strong and I'm driving tonight.

Cheers Roger!

P.S. ...don't you find dark beers give you the vapors?

Perhaps Steve and Shane can give us a bit more insight into which styles make them happy, and which ones make them sad.

Roger,

I can't speak for Shane but for me it's not about "which styles make me happy"...I enjoy many styles of beer (several of them on a quite regular basis) and (right off the top of my head) I can't identify any particular style that I haven't enjoyed at some point in time. I'm just not into this whole goofy if-it-ain't-big-it-ain't-sh** mentality a lot of you guys have adopted over the past few years.

Oh, gotta go and drink Crooked Tree (Dark Horse) at the Fireside.

http://www.firesidebarandgrill.net/menu/winebeer

I had never heard of either, but wish the beer prices were like that in Louisville. I'll have to check out both of them the next time I cross the creek.

I guessing here, but I would be willing to bet that the standard offerings (Session, Hoppy, Dark, ect.) will be pretty safe bets. I guessing these guys will try to inspire and educate on the Whim and off menu beers, but I've been wrong before, according to my wife.

Anyway, I'll be at ATG on Nov. 30th at 3:45 if anyone would like to join me for a beverage.

I'm in.

Beckmann and I went to Against the Grain yesterday for a late lunch. Sat at the bar, met Jessie the bartender and enjoyed Onion Rings with Beer Cheese, Turkey Burger and a Monte Cristo. I loved the Hoppy Seconds (I think that is the name) and Beckmann had one of their featured cask beers. WE also had a taste of the smokey selection-I was not a fan but Beckmann liked it...all in all a nice experience and WE WILL be BACK soon!!! The Menu had so many items I can't wait to try!! PLUS I just love the long Bar!

Beckmann and I went to Against the Grain yesterday for a late lunch. Sat at the bar, met Jessie the bartender and enjoyed Onion Rings with Beer Cheese, Turkey Burger and a Monte Cristo. I loved the Hoppy Seconds (I think that is the name) and Beckmann had one of their featured cask beers. WE also had a taste of the smokey selection-I was not a fan but Beckmann liked it...all in all a nice experience and WE WILL be BACK soon!!! The Menu had so many items I can't wait to try!! PLUS I just love the long Bar!

I loved the turkey burger. Most are dry, tasteless, and dense pucks, AtG's version was moist and full flavored.

.
I loved the turkey burger. Most are dry, tasteless, and dense pucks, AtG's version was moist and full flavored.

And to temper my previous criticism of their beer model, I thought the fried Baloney sammich with fried (local) egg...rocked. The onion rings were also dah bomb...nice and smokey. How dey do dat ?

[Robin Garr]

The onion rings were also dah bomb...nice and smokey. How dey do dat ?

Just guessing, Ledersmoken rauchbier in the beer batter?

I'm just not into this whole goofy if-it-ain't-big-it-ain't-sh** mentality a lot of you guys have adopted over the past few years.

Creativity invariably makes me happy. I've just always been new-fashioned that way.