Bridgeport Brewing Company
I made my first visit to the Bridgeport Brewing Company last week. I went to last Thursday night's Haymaker Pale Ale release party and had myself a grand 'ol time. (Were any of you there?) The brewery has been making their own beer for almost 25 years now. Opening in 1984, Bridgeport has 8 of their own beers on tap. Buckeye and I (she seems like my drinking partner, eh?) bought a sampler tray while we were there on Thursday night and tried all 9 of the beers they had on tap. While a few weren't for us (Buckeye likes the lighter ales and I like the dark meals in a bottle) we enjoyed the $7.50 worth of beer we tried.
BridgePort India Pale Ale - "Brewed with a blend of five hop varieties, BridgePort IPA presents a floral, citrusy aroma and full hop flavor, while downplaying the bitterness."
BridgePort Extra Special Bitter - "Robust malts and a generous dry-hopping of imported hops result in a flavorful bitter that recalls the great traditional ales of England."
BridgePort Black Strap Stout® - "A generous dose of Northwest hops mingles with the sweetness of black strap molasses to yield a full-bodied ale that pours with a rich, creamy head."
Ropewalkâ„¢ Amber Ale - "Ropewalk is a mellow, malt-driven amber that dances a subtly sweet line. The balance of Crystal malt with a subtle dose of Northwest hops delivers a refreshing ale that makes for a great session beer."
Blue Heron Pale Ale - "The taste reflects its Northwest roots, drawing on indigenous ingredients from the hop fields of the Willamette Valley and the barley fields of the high Northwest desert." (if I remember correctly, this was Buckeye's favorite beer)
BridgePort Ebenezer AleThe malty, full body is balanced with a light hop aroma, leading to a caramel finish." (and since this is a seasonal beer, we were unable to try it)
Haymaker Extra Pale Ale - "Haymaker is a refreshing, extra pale ale that is simply sunshine in a bottle! It's a distinct blend of four malts and three varieties of hops that create a slightly complex, crisp and bright ale." (my second favorite)
Beertown Brown - "Beertown Brown brings together roasted chocolate and caramel malts in a flavorful handshake. Hops add a little crisp spice to the mix for the perfectly balanced pint." (this was my absolute favorite beer that I tried this evening)
BridgePort Old Knucklehead - "BridgePort Old Knucklehead is a classic barley wine, brewed with double the amounts of malts and hops to create a beer that is malty, complex and full of character. The sweetness and richness of this beer make it an excellent partner for a variety of desserts or as an after-dinner libation." (this beer only comes in 1/2 pints because it's so rich & heavy ... it's not something you could drink a lot of, but it was worth the tasting!)
If you're interested, BridgePort even offers a tour of the brewery! I haven't been yet, but do plan on going sometime in the near future (anyone want to go with?)!
