Sweet Racks, Panama City Beach

Last week, me and a friend ventured out of the norm and drank a beer somewhere different. I remember eating lunch at a little Bar-B-Q place some months ago that had a nice little beer selection. So, we went there.

Sweet Racks is a little Bar-B-Q place located on Thomas Drive. They have been open for a while, but we just haven't been there a lot. But we will from now on, for sure.
After talking with Ben, the owner and Master BBQer, we learned he is into great beers. He was telling us about his line of beer and we were listening. He really knew his products and wasn't just trying to up sell us. He has a nice spectrum of beers to quench your thirst at a VERY resonable price. Anything from Double IPAs to Imperial Stouts, he's got them.

The Bar-B-Q they make isn't your regular run of the mill stuff. We got an appetizer and a couple of beers, but Ben insisted we try the ribs with his sauce, so he brought us a sample. They make an interesting Tocino style sauce that has Filipino/American flavors. The sauces he brought us were really good. We were eating a spring roll, but instead of using the spring roll sauce, we used the Tocino sauce.

Go check it out and tell Ben I said What's Up!

Sam Adams Triple Bock & White Birch

Several months ago, Amy and I went to New Orleans and I stumbled upon a couple of bottles of Sam Adams Triple Bock. I opened one about a week later and gave the other to my brew bud Tony. If you are not familiar with Sam Adams Triple Bock, it was brewed three different years: 1994, 1995, 1997. These were '95 bottles. The Triple Bock was brewed with maple syrup and aged in whiskey barrels prior to bottling. At the time, it was considered the strongest beer in the world (18% ABV). A couple of weeks ago,
we had little tasting with just a few of us and Tony brought the other bottle of Triple Bock. The cork crumbled when it was removed, as did the first bottle I opened, not a good sign. The first bottle had a strong soy sauce flavor and wasn't drinkable. The bottle Tony brought was a bit more drinkable and had more flavors than soy. But still not drinkable. So, Tony made it into steak marinade.
Yep! Sam Adams Triple Bock marinaded ribeyes! And they were awesome too. The unused beer we didn't (couldn't) drink went into a Ziploc bag with a few ribeyes and went onto the grill. If you are thinking we made the wrong decision, sorry. I thought the steaks turned out great and we got some use out of the 15 year old beer. And I'm not saying all Triple Bocks are undrinkable, just these.

After dinner, we indulged ourselves with some of Amy's homemade key lime pie. She makes a great key lime pie. And Tony pulled out a really nice surprise.
White Birch Brewing Indulgence Ale. I have never had any White Birch beers and this was a very good first impression. This 2 bbl. brewery located in New Hampshire hasn't been around for long. Owner/Brewer Bill Herlicka really has a great product and I can't wait to get my hands on some more. This Black Ale poured nearly opaque with no head. The carbonation was right on for the style. The chocolate flavors blended well and you couldn't taste the alcohol, it was hidden very well. Tony is going to be up in that area soon and I will make him bring me back a couple bottles from this brewery.

Or if you are in that area, send me some.

Cigar City is coming to town!

Recently announced, Cigar City Brewing is coming to the panhandle. Believe it or not, they will start with kegs and start shipping bottles shortly after. The distributor will be Goldring distribution company, so give them a yell and tell them to get off their cushions and put some Maduro Oatmeal Brown on tap. Or stop by Wine World on Back Beach, they've already got it!

-Later