September Adventures 9/8-9/15

This past week, I previewed a new menu at The Slidebar in Fullerton and visited Disneyland. Even though it is still summer, I was happy to see that it is already Halloween at the Happiest Place on Earth!

PizzaPort Ponto Session IPA at the Slidebar in Fullerton

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland

Live music at Disneyland is the best!

Pumpkins from each land surrounding the Partners statue at Disneyland

Slidebar's Menu Tasting, September 10th, 2014

Lovely evening for a menu preview

This past Wednesday night, I had the opportunity to preview the Slidebar's new menu which also featured craft beer paired with each item.  Usually, when I think of the Slidebar, I think of mixed drinks and loud music.  While there's nothing wrong with mixed drinks and loud music, I also enjoy eating food and drinking craft beer.  The Slidebar has recently employed a new award-winning chef, Oge Dalken, who has designed a menu which appeals to a broad range of tastes.  The new menu items feature locally grown, hormone-free, and responsibly grown ingredients from a variety of Orange County vendors.  Using local products reinforces the Slidebar's belief in supporting local music as well as food. 

Craft beers used for pairings, was great to see some local beers!

The menu preview night included selections from the appetizers, entrees, and dessert sections of the new menu.  Each item was paired with a craft beer, which further enhanced the flavors and experience.  As a self-professed "picky eater" I was happily surprised with the selections on the menu.  While I must admit, some of the selections made me nervous to try, I can say that I enjoyed all of them.  The Coulotte Steak made from a choice top sirloin cap, coated in coffee-coco rub, wrapped in bacon and topped with velvety beef demi, sundried bing cherries, stilton blue cheese and served on Dijon mashed potatoes was both mine and my boyfriend's favorite item from the evening.  We both thought that the flavor was well balanced and was prepared immaculately.  We were able to share with Chef Dalken how much we enjoyed the steak, and he told us it is one of his favorite dishes to make.

Side patio, which I never had noticed before!

From "picky eaters" like myself to "foodies" like my boyfriend, I think the new menu has something for everyone.  I'm very excited to see that another well-established venue in Orange County is taking the plunge into the world of craft beer as well as incorporating a menu which is enhanced with beer pairings.

Pizza Port Ponto Session IPA

Ahi sliders paired with Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp Belgian IPA

Coney Dog paired with Ninkasi Tricerahops DIPA

  

Mac N' Cheese paired with Chimay Trappist Ale

Chicken & Waffles paired with Bootlegger's Pumpkin Ale

Coulotte Steak paired with Golden Road Get Up Offa That Brown Ale

Banana Bread Beer Float with Wells Banana Bread Beer

Owner Jeremy Popoff talking with guests about the new menu

Bootlegger's Brewery 6th Anniversary Celebration

I'll never forget the first time I had beer from Bootlegger's Brewery.  I was at a friend's birthday party and she told me she had some beer from a brewery that was just up the street from her house.  Of course, being at a party where the beer is free, I had to try some!  I may or may not have had more than my fair share of Old World Hefeweizen.  I was amazed at how flavorful the beer was and ended up liking it a lot more than my usual beer of choice.  My friend told me, in between my sips of all of her beer, that Bootlegger's was a small brewery that was located in what looked like somebody's garage.  I just kept thinking to myself, beer that's made in a small place like someone's garage?

Thanks to Bootlegger's Brewery, I had my first taste of craft beer all those years ago.  If it wasn't for Bootlegger's Brewery, I may never have found the light that is craft beer!  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the sixth anniversary celebration of Bootlegger's Brewery.  The event was located as it has the past two years at the lovely Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton.  The setting is beautiful, making you forget that you are in Orange County.  The event featured several local breweries as well as those from other parts of California and even some from out of state, like Ninkasi Brewing.  Besides glorious beer, there were a great selection of food trucks, games, live music, and of course a mechanical bull.  Cause, what beer event is complete without a chance to test your skills on a mechanical bull?

Since the Muckenthaler occupies such a large area, jockey boxes and beer pouring stations were spread out all over the vast lawns and garden areas.  Although over 1,100 tickets were sold, it never once felt crowded while mingling with fellow craft beer enthusiasts.  The lines at all of the various vendors were never more than a few moments long, which of course helped the day to run smoothly.  Bootlegger's brought 61 beers to share with their loyal fans.  Among them were variations of their standard beers as well as beers that were only available at the anniversary.  My favorite beer of the day was the 2011 Imperial Black Phoenix.  I've had this beer before and it definitely keeps improving with age.

Thanks to Bootlegger's Brewery for putting together another amazing event, I can't wait to see what the future has in store and to celebrate again next year!

Bootlegger's Brewery's New Tasting Room

This past Friday, Bootlegger's Brewery was once again pouring craft beer for their loyal customers.  Now located at 130 South Highland Avenue in Fullerton, the new tasting room has the friendly feel of the old tasting room along with many new additions.  

                                                                                                                                                                                   

40 tap handles!

There are now forty tap handles, which will allow for the expansion of even more wonderful craft beers.  There is also space for a pilot brewing system inside the tasting room.  

Area for the pilot system.

The bar tops are covered with pennies!

View from inside the tasting room to the outside patio.

While there is ample seating inside the building, the patio also has an expansive area of both covered and uncovered seating.  

The long communal tables give a feeling of being in a German beer garden.  The tables also encourage people to get to know their fellow beer drinkers.  

Covered and uncovered seating areas on the patio.

The patio area also has enough room for food trucks to easily park so customers are able to have food while they drink their beers.  

Menu board.

The Viking Truck serving lunch.

Along with the expansion of the tasting room itself, the hours of the tasting room have also expanded.  The tasting room at Bootlegger's Brewery will now be open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m..  Fridays and Saturdays, the tasting room will be open from 11:00 a.m. until midnight.  The Grand Opening party is on Saturday, March 16th.

Plenty of parking at the new tasting room for cars and bikes!

Bootlegger's Brewery Last Hurrah...Saying Goodbye to the Original Tasting Room

On Saturday, February 23rd a chapter in Bootlegger's Brewery came to an end.  The last beers in the original tasting room located at 401 South Richman were poured to many eager customers.  This was a bittersweet day.  It was nice to see many old familiar faces as well as many new ones!

The line was out the door.

It was also "Sport Your Stein Night" which is a favorite event for regulars.  For a set price per ounce, you are able to fill any container you bring to the brewery with your favorite beer!

Aaron Barkenhagen, owner of Bootlegger's Brewery.

Blake and Grant sporting their steins.

The overflow crowd was seated in the area where the brewing ingredients, kegs, and bottles of beer used to be stored.

Overflow crowd.

 Nothing beats listening to live music while drinking your favorite beers!  There were two bands for the night. One playing Rock n' Roll while the second band of the night played Death Metal.  This was to pay homage to the note on the tasting board menu board which states Death Metal will be played at closing time.

First band of the night.