This, unfortunately, was a quick trip to New Hampshire to celebrate my dad's birthday with him, a bit early, but celebratory none-the-less. When my parents were down earlier to visit us earlier this spring, they enjoyed the winery and brewery tours and tastings so much that they wanted to do it again...so we did. My dad and Adam bond over tasty beer, and my mom and I enjoy the people watching and learning new things. We also enjoy watching the boys revel in their beer.
Smuttynose Brewing Company was a really cool brewery, along the same size at Heavy Seas here in Baltimore, but with a nice yankee flair to it. Who doesn't love a bit of yankee flair? You get some "wickeds" thrown in with a nice dropping of anything involving an "r", and a dash of speaking REALLY quickly. That and beer. The men were happy and the women were entertained.
That being said,
Throwback Brewery was second on our list to visit, and first on our list of breweries ever visited. If you are looking for fancy, or formal, or anything resembling a large formal operation, you should skip this place. If you are looking for AWESOME, down-to-earth, local, engaging, and relaxing...well, this should be the top of your list. It is in the middle of an industrial park (as we are learning most breweries are), and is a single large room with a bar and tables at the front with the brewing operation at the back. We all could have easily spent the day here, even if not a beer drinker like my mom and myself. It is the honor system, take a token for each tasting and pay at the end. You sit a few formica tables recycles from the 50s and 60s with mismatched chairs (I had an awesome barbers chair re-appolstered in velvet) and enjoy the relaxation of the day. It was absolutely amazing, and still my FAVORITE brewery to date. I seriously wish this outfit all the success in the world, they truly deserve it.
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| Tasting before the tour |
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| Cases |
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| And kegs |
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| Love |
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| More love |
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| Throwback Brewery = AWESOMENESS |
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| We are on the bridge in from of an apt. complex, this goes under the complex! |
The remainder of the trip was spent catching up with family and relaxation. We spent an awesome morning at Panera with my Aunt Rita and Uncle Pete, and Aunt Gretchen and Uncle Steve (actually my dad's aunts and uncles, but my pseudo-grandparents) as traditions foretells (we do this EVERY time we visit as Panera is my vice and reserved for NH trips), and then an afternoon with my cousin Sam at
Harpoon Brewery after checking out his new and awesome house that he and my dad are renovating. It's funny how much time can pass between visits, but how, when you are all together, it is as if no time has passed at all.
