Velocity on BJ's, snobs and skeptics: Very corporate (duh).

"My girlfriend got a P.M. Porter and I chose the seasonal Lasto's Oatmeal Stout. The Porter was über-smooth and left a chocolaty finish, while the prize-winning oatmeal stout — it won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2005 and 2001 — was robust and flavorful.

"When I inquired about the beers' travels (BJ's doesn't brew in-house), I was told that the kegs are shipped from BJ's brewery in Reno, Nev. And while that isn't as fresh as something crafted next door, it's closer than many snob-approved breweries — and just as tasty ...

" ... So what about the skeptics? The menu was large enough to handle any taste, the quality of both the beer and food was excellent, and the service was great. Even better, there's no direct entrance to the mall, so passers-through are nil. But snobs will be snobs, and there are always detractors if something isn't owned by a local and located in the Highlands. Here's something for you knee-jerk critics to chew on, though: BJ's has a very active non-profit foundation which supports local charities benefiting children's health care and education, with a primary focus on Cystic Fibrosis. That's an okay neighbor in my book."

Thus spake Velocity's Josh Thomas on the topic of BJ's restaurant, bistro, brewery, trucking company (50+ outlets nationwide), and the veracity of the snobs and skeptics here in Louisville who see value in keeping things weird.

Nothing I wouldn't expect to hear from the corporate monolith Gannett, though. I'll check them out, and will be surprised if the Porter from over yonder in Reno is any better than Matt's at Cumberland, and overall, if the Nevada imports can touch the quality of the local products at the BBCs, Cumberland, Browning's and NABC.

You see, Josh, there's more to this than flippancy for the Man. It's about things like passion and commitment to community.

Velocity makes me ill. So do chains. But I'll give BJ's a fair chance -- it isn't their fault the writer is clueless -- and report back.

sounds like Josh doesn't like independence

i doubt i'd try Bj's simply based on the fact that i rarely get to visit my local breweries (my limited time is of great value and i would rather spend it supporting my local independents than by traveling to a chain)
i'll gladly wear the moniker of snob by supporting my local brewers and i'll continue to drink - beer made by hands that i trust, beer by faces i know, beer by people like me

drink local
think independently

A belated side note: I shouldn't tar all of Velocity with the same brush. The pieces contributed by Joanna Richards have been fair and balanced when it comes to craft beer, and I credit her and her perceptions. Just wanted to make that point.

I took a trip to BJ's a couple of weeks ago.

Their menu was vast and the service was solid. Overall, I enjoyed my visit, but truth be told, I have little desire to return. It reminded me of a version of The Cheesecake Factory which uses beer as the hook instead of, well, cheesecake.

My friend ordered the aforementioned Porter and I went with their Red. Both beers were serviceable, but nothing to write home about. Good representations of the styles, but nothing that would knock the socks off of we "snobs". I wish I could give a more in-depth review of the beers, but I haven't the discerning palate, vocabulary, or memory to do them justice.

On a final note, my father visited shortly after BJ's opened and asked a manager how they could call themselves a brewery if the beer wasn't brewed on site. She responded that they while they don't brew their beer on site, they do brew their own root beer.

The root beer was very good.

just another chain capitalizing on a growing trend

maybe they get a better response from communities that lack good local breweries

but for me, it is like selling yourself as something you are not, there is a serious lack of honesty in the approach

reminds me of the following examples

Kona Beer - the beer is not bottled or brewed in Hawaii
Killians Irish Red - from Colorado
Guinness - most of what we get here is not brewed in Ireland (i think only the pub draught bottles and draft are from the island)
Heineken tours in Amsterdam - where they no longer brew the beer
"Light" beers - that list the calories on the bottle, but the "regular" version of that beer does not list the calories (Heineken)
"Light" beers that do not provide any nutritional info

Pete's Wicked Ales, Sam Adams, Mackesons XXX - breweries that claim to be from one place and really are from another, or lead you to believe that they are a quaint little operation, when in reality they rent some brewery space in Pittsburgh or Cleveland and throw out a few tens of thousands of gallons of average beer

Blue Moon, Wild Hop, Stone Mill - beers that mislead you by their packaging and do not indicate that they are a front for Anheuser or Coors

I went there last Sunday (to early for beer). I had the turkey breast sandwich, it was a little dry due to the massively thick slices of bread. It was fair, but for my money I will stick with California Pizza kitchen for future visits to Oxmoor. I think by brew root beer they mean pour a root beer extract into one of the two very small conditioning tanks they have and adding water and co2.

Guinness - most of what we get here is not brewed in Ireland (i think only the pub draught bottles and draft are from the island)

Actually most of what we consume here is from Ireland. All the "draught" Guinness (kegs, cans and bottles) is brewed in Ireland and shipped over. Only the Extra Stout is imported from some place other than Ireland (I believe it comes from our neighbors to the north). Look around the local retailers and you will see that much less Extra Stout is available vs. Guinness Draught.

ok, i'll forgive the Guinness brewing periods in Jersey and Canada

Flying Dog is no longer brewed in Colorado. It's coming from Maryland now. The still have great art for their bottles. The golden ale is tasty too.

all i know is Bulldog rootbeer comes from the pacific northwest.

"Even better, there's no direct entrance to the mall"

I'll eventually get through it, but I keep making it to that part and cracking up.

I'm curious about how Kentucky state law treats such an operation. Is BJ's its own wholesaler? If not, then is their beer coming through a wholesaler? If not, is there an exemption or special status for a brewery ... but wait, they don't brew their own beer in Kentucky, right?

Not to suggest that anything is shady about it, merely wondering how the law treats the beer imported from Nevada to a place that calls itself a brewery.

[Robin Garr]

I'm curious about how Kentucky state law treats such an operation. Is BJ's its own wholesaler? If not, then is their beer coming through a wholesaler? If not, is there an exemption or special status for a brewery ... but wait, they don't brew their own beer in Kentucky, right?

Not to suggest that anything is shady about it, merely wondering how the law treats the beer imported from Nevada to a place that calls itself a brewery.

Very legitimate and fair story idea. We should dig in to it. Not, as you say, investigatively or anything like that, just "git the facts, ma'am."

First off, atmosphere counts for a lot. Secondly, this place is in a mall. It hardly makes someone a snob for not thinking much of a fake brewpub in a mall. Good heavens, you happen to have any standards above lowest common denominator and that makes you a snob?! Now, that's not to say, that the mall experience wouldn't certainly drive one to drink; however, BJ's may as well be called TGICB's! (Thank God It's Craft Beer).

[Robin Garr]

TGICB's! (Thank God It's Craft Beer).

Let the congregation chorus "AAAAMEN!"