The Beer Thrillers

Tag: Bob Harvey Trail

  • The Trip to Indianapolis: Day Two: Rock Furnace Trail, Allusion Brewing Company, Couch Brewery, Riverview Park, Hop Farm Brewing Company, and The Meadows Casino and Racetrack.

    Woke up bright and early in Indiana, Pennsylvania and checked out of my hotel early early. My first of several hotel stops, and nearly the entire trip comes undone when I can’t find my wallet before leaving. A twenty minute search finally yields it behind the bed, it must have fallen off the nightstand back behind there. Whew, dilemma and catastrophe averted, I was on my way to towards Pittsburgh.

    My first stop of the day was a morning wake up hike. I was wanting to hike and see the Jackson Falls… but unfortunately, despite Google Maps saying you could access them, the land for Jackson Falls (recently?) became purchased by a water company and was considered private property and you were unable to use the road to them; it was now a private road / driveway for this water company.

    The Kiskiminetas River along Roaring Run Trail

    But, there was a nearby hiking trail that went along the creek called Rock Furnace Trail, and I did hike that, and it led out by the river and was a bike / walk path called Roaring Run Trail, and I walked some of that as well. The trails were located in Apollo Pennsylvania, and the river that ran alongside Roaring Run Trail is called Kiskiminetas River. It was a beautiful path (both the Rock Furnace Trail and the Roaring Run Trail), the creek alongside Rock Furnace Trail was pretty, low, meandering, and the Kiskiminetas River was big and roaring with lots of rapids. Unfortunately, no real waterfalls or cascades to see, I assume all of those were at the Jackson Falls that were now on the private property.

    Rock Furnace Trail, Roaring Run Trail, and Kiskiminetas River

    After hiking and walking the two trails / paths, it was about 11AM when I left Apollo and made my way to Vandergrift Pennsylvania, for my first brewery stop of day two. Vandergrift was a small, quaint, old time town, that reminded me of the town from Back to the Future. Not sure why, but it just did. I walked a few blocks of it before / after drinking and eating at Allusion Brewing Company.

    Vamdergrift Pennsylvania

    Allusion Brewing Company is a micro brewery located in Vandergrift Pennsylvania; just outside of Pittsburgh. According to Untappd it has 18 unique beers, with 542 ratings and has an average rating of 3.8. The Untappd description simply reads: “Vandergrift’s hometown brewery.” The oldest created unique beer was on 12.26.13, but then the next wasn’t until 5.24.14. It certainly seems like it’s a relatively new and small brewery, but the beers were great, the building was beautiful, and the staff – Jim – was wonderful. If you get a chance to go by Vandergrift, make sure to stop in, visit Allusion Brewing, and see Jim as bartender, wonderful guy, very nice, informative and talkative.

    Allusion Brewing Company

    I got a flight at Allusion Brewing, which was in an old card catalogue holder from a library, which was pretty neat. My flight was:

    • Oh, Bother!
    • One Inning More
    • Baker St. Brown
    • V.I.Porter
    Oh Bother

    Beer: Oh, Bother!
    Brewery: Allusion Brewing Company
    Style: Blonde Ale
    ABV: 4.75%
    IBU: 28
    Untappd Description: A sweet malty golden colored blonde ale brewed with caramel malts and Canadian honey malt to achieve a sweet honey taste. A beer to enjoy in the Hundred Acre woods.
    My Untappd Rating: 3.75
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.74 (as of 11.23.20)

    One Inning More

    Beer: One Inning More
    Brewery: Allusion Brewing Company
    Style: Pale Ale – American
    ABV: 5%
    IBU: 45
    Untappd Description: American Style Pale Ale brewed with Pale and Victory malts and bittered with American Willamette and Cascade hops to produce a balance beer with hints of earthy, floral, spice from the hops. Let’s hope the Mighty Casey won’t strike out so that you can enjoy another inning of entertainment and great beer.
    My Untappd Rating: 4
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.65 (as of 11.23.20)

    Baker St. Brown

    Beer: Baker St. Brown
    Brewery: Allusion Brewing Company
    Style: Brown Ale – English
    ABV: 3.5%
    IBU: 15
    Untappd Description: Traditional Mild English Brown Ale brewed with English floor malted maris otter, English chocolate malts, and English Fuggle hops for a light drinking sessionable ale with hints of caramel and toasted bread. Sit back and enjoy one while you solve your latest mystery.
    My Untappd Rating: 4.25
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.75 (as of 11.23.20)

    V.I.Porter

    Beer: V.I.Porter
    Brewery: Allusion Brewing Company
    Style: Porter – American
    ABV: 4.8%
    IBU: 38
    Untappd Description: American style robust porter brewed with various caramel malts and black mat to achieve hints of roasted coffee and dark chocolate. Sit back and enjoy your beer knowing that proceeds from each pint goes toward projects to help the local community.
    My Untappd Rating: 3.75
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.65 (as of 11.23.20)

    Bidding Jim a farewell, I was off to Pittsburgh proper and made it to the city roughly around 12:30-1PM. For the second time now, Google Maps has led me astray with the Rodef Shalom Biblical Botanical Garden. I took my daughters through Pittsburgh last summer – August – and it was closed the day we were there, despite Google Maps saying it was open. Same thing, again, Google Maps listed it as open, but it was closed (closed for the season on September 15th). I have since figured out the issue – the synagogue that the garden is attached to is open year round, and Google Maps based the hours for the garden on that of the synagogue and not the actual hours for the garden. Le sigh. At some point I will get to visit the garden and walk through it. I swear it!

    Rodef Shalom Biblical Botanical Garden

    From there, I got a special treat, I was invited by Bobby – the head brewer for Couch Brewery – to visit Couch Brewery (on a day they were closed) for a personal tour and sampling of the beers. He was in the building kegging up their upcoming release for their Black Friday stout bash; a collaboration he did with friends (home brewers and other breweries in the area) called The Four Horseman. This was an utter blast, and Bobby is a fantastic guy, funny, down to Earth, and very knowledgeable about beer, brewing, stouts, home brewing, bars, breweries, etc. Was a blast getting to hang out for a few hours, check out the brewery, and try the entire run of their beers on tap.

    I will be doing a full article on just the brewery tour (look for that most likely tomorrow), so there will be plenty more to go than just what I list here, so be sure to check that article out.

    Beers I got to sample at Couch Brewery:

    • Recliner
    • Morning Wood
    • Hippie Blackberry Sour
    • Sofa Quemando
    • Fest Bump
    • F1 Hazy IPA
    • Thicc Ric
    • Macho Man
    • Atomic Clock
    • Stardust – Mango Passion
    • The Four Horseman (collaboration)
    Recloner

    Beer: Recliner
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: Stout – Oatmeal
    ABV: 6%
    IBU: 30
    Untappd Description: A delicious yet unconventional oatmeal stout brewed with the wrong hops, or so you would think. It delivers a wonderful silky smooth mouthfeel with a refreshing hint of citrus, a little bit of chocolate and a touch of coffee.
    My Untappd Rating: 4
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.67 (as of 11.23.20)

    Morning Wood

    Beer: Morning Wood
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: Stout – Coffee
    ABV: 6.7%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: (blank)
    My Untappd Rating: 4.5
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.87 (as of 11.23.20)

    Beer: Hippie Blackberry Sour Ale
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: Sour – Fruited
    ABV: 4.7%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: (blank)
    My Untappd Rating: 4
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.68 (as of 11.23.20)

    Beer: Sofa Quemando
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: Stout – Other
    ABV: 7.1%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: Mexican Stout.
    My Untappd Rating: 4.25
    Global Untappd Rating: 4 (as of 11.23.20)

    Beer: Fest Bump
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: Festbier
    ABV: 5.3%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: (blank)
    My Untappd Rating: 4
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.7 (as of 11.23.20)

    Beer: F1 Hazy IPA
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: IPA – New England
    ABV: 7%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: (blank)
    My Untappd Rating: 4
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.56 (as of 11.23.20)

    Beer: Thicc Ric
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: IPA – New England
    ABV: 7%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: (blank)
    My Untappd Rating: 4
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.53 (as of 11.23.20)

    Beer: Macho Man
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: Wheat Beer – Other
    ABV: 5.5%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: Hibiscus Raspberry Lime Wheat
    My Untappd Rating: 4.25
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.82 (as of 11.23.20)

    Beer: Atomic Clock
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: Red Ale – American Amber / Red
    ABV: 6.3%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: (blank)
    My Untappd Rating: 4
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.57 (as of 11.23.20)

    Beer: Stardust – Mango Passion
    Brewery: Couch Brewery
    Style: Hard Seltzer
    ABV: 5%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: (blank)
    My Untappd Rating: 3.5
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.52 (as of 11.23.20)

    Beer: The Four Horseman
    Breweries: Couch Brewery, Fury Brewing, 2 Homebrew Collaborators
    Style: American Brown Ale

    There is no Untappd listing for this, and I don’t recall if Bobby gave me information on ABV / IBU / etc. (No official rating for Untappd for me or for others either then; but I would give it a 4.25.)

    Couch Brewery Tour

    Bobby also gave me a four pack to go, which included Macho Man, Sofa Quemando (for Drew), Atomic Clock, and Morning Wood. Couch Brewery on Untappd is listed as a micro brewery in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania with 113 unique beers, over 12 thousand ratings, and an average rating of 3.59. They have no Untappd description for their brewery.

    I finally had to bid Bobby a fond adieu and promised if / when I’m back in the Pittsburgh area I would definitely be stopping in, at a time when the place is open, and hopefully with some friends. The brewery is great and he was an utter blast to hang out with.

    After Couch Brewery, my next walking / hiking activity was Riverview Park at the top of Pittsburgh where the Allegheny Observatory is. I made a few mis-turns and went up and down those massively steep hills a few more times than I wished or would have liked to, and actually even went past the chapel where I took the girls last year – St. Anthony’s Chapel – (they have a piece of the cross that Jesus was crucified on) (I did not stop in) – but I finally made it to the top of Pittsburgh Hill or whatever its called, and walked the park and walking trails.

    Riverview Park in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

    The park and walking trails were really nice. Nothing crazy intense, but just a good walking area for families and for people with dogs or what have you. Some pretty views and sights. Lots of deer too that were pretty tame an would walk right up to you. The Old Zoo trail was really nice and interesting to see old broken paths, old Zoo enclosures and buildings (like the Bear Pit) and old crumbling buildings and infrastructure. The whole area was very busy, but people were keeping distanced and walking within their own families and friends. It reminded me of ants crawling around on an ant hill with everyone going this way and that and doing their own thing, and looking at things or seeing different views, and just meandering around, getting exercise and fresh air.

    Once it got dusk and dark I finally left after a good three or so hour walk. While up on Troy’s Hill I passed the Penn Brewery, but unfortunately they were closed. I still stopped for a picture of their building because its a very beautiful building.

    Penn Brewery in Pittsburgh
    Across the street from Penn Brewery, an old Bottling Company

    My next stop was a brewery – that … fingers crossed, God Willing, and Google Maps hopeful – was open… and huzzah it was! Hop Farm Brewing Company. ….but they were at max capacity so I had to wait for someone to leave. I walked the block and came back and thankfully someone was leaving just as I came back, so I was able to snag a table.

    Hop Farm Brewing Company

    Hop Farm Brewing Company is a micro brewery from Lawrenceville Pennsylvania. Lawrenceville is in between Pittsburgh and Washington (where the Meadows Casino is). Its still basically Pittsburgh, but not fully in Pittsburgh. Untappd lists them with 209 unique beers, over 49 thousand ratings and a global average rating of 3.65. Their Untappd description reads: “Hop Farm Brewing company is a independently partner owned brewery by Matthew and Emily Gouwens, in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Our focus is on sustainability and local sourcing while producing hoppy ales, farmhouse ales, sour ales and various other interesting brews.”

    While there, I had a delicious hamburger and two beers. I had the Kulak and the Pittsburgh Pale Ale.

    Kulak

    Beer: Kulak
    Brewery: Hop Farm Brewing Company
    Style: Stout – Russian Imperial
    ABV: 9.8%
    IBU: None
    Untappd Description: (blank)
    My Untappd Rating: 4
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.83 (as of 11.23.20)

    Pittsburgh Pale Ale

    Beer: Pittsburgh Pale Ale
    Brewery: Hop Farming Brewing Company
    Style: Pale Ale – American
    ABV: (none listed)
    IBU: (none listed)
    Untappd Description: (blank)
    (….well that was all very informative huh?)
    My Untappd Rating: 4
    Global Untappd Rating: 3.83 (as of 11.23.20)

    After leaving the brewery, I went to The Meadows Casino and Racetrack. I scoped the place out, talked to a few dealers about COVID and how things have been going there for them (compared to my work) and played a little bit of dice. (26$ thrown down on the table – 12 on the 6 and 8, dollar each for the dealers. Hit the 8 twice, didn’t press, got 28$, then seven’ed out, so dealers made 2$ off me, and I made 2$ and I was done. Meh.)

    The Meadows Casino and Racetrack

    I stopped over at the bar, and tried to have a beer with a hot dog as it was starting to get late – 10:30ish, I saw a brewery I hadn’t had before – Sobel’s Obscure Brewery and got a pint, it ends up kicking after just a little bit of it, so I ended up with a Hazy Little Thing by Sierra Nevada (the bartender didn’t quite get what I meant by “local craft beer” and kept suggesting Yuengling Lager………).

    Watched a little bit of the Monday Night game while there, then got back to the hotel at 11PM, to pretty much fall straight to bed.

    Tomorrow’s article should be the Couch Brewery Tour and Sampling, so be sure to check out that. Then it’ll probably be followed up with a few beer reviews, and then I will pick back up with the Trip articles. The next will be me entering Ohio, Salt Fork State Park, and Columbus and Dayton. Lots more great pictures, hikes, and breweries to go, so stay tuned and don’t miss it!

    Thank you all for reading! Love to hear from you, so be sure to leave a comment or talk it up with me, you can also check out our social media pages and comment and talk to us there as well.

    Cheers!

    -B. Kline

    The Trip to Indianapolis – Full Articles:

    The Trip to Indianapolis – Recap Articles:

    August (2019) Road Trip Series:

    Rickett’s Glen (2020) Road Trip Series:

    Monocacy Battlefield Road Trip:

    Visiting Reading Pennsylvania:

    • A Visit to Reading
    • The Birthday Trip to Reading Pennsylvania – The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

    A Road Trip to The PA Grand Canyon:

    • Visiting Wellsboro PA and the Grand Canyon

    Hiking Hawk Rock

    • Hiking Hawk Rock and Visiting Liquid Noise Brewery

    Hiking Pinnacle Trail and Pulpit Rock

    • Hiking to Pinnacle Overlook, Pulpit Rock, Visiting 1787 Brewing and Schaylor Brewing

    Hiking Around Ephrata Pennsylvania:

    • Hiking Around Ephrata Pennsylvania – Pour Man’s Brewing, Black Forest Brewery

    Hiking Sunset Rocks and Checking Out Maxie’s Brewhouse:

    Other Brewery Hopping Articles:

    My Article for Breweries in PA:

    My Podcast About Breweries in Central PA:

    Some other brewery tour and road trip articles:

    Also, be sure to check out some of our other beer reviews in recent history:

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  • The Trip to Indy – Day Two Recap: Landfall in Pittsburgh and Shenanigans (Allusion Brewing Company, Couch Brewery, Hop Farm Brewing Company)

    Day two of the trip arrived bright and early at my hotel in Indiana. After the morning get-up and get ready, and a harried look for my wallet (it fell back behind the bed and took me twenty minutes to find it), I was finally on the move towards Pittsburgh.

    Rock Furnace Trail – Mile 0

    The day started with some trails around the Jackson Falls. The Rock Furnace Trail walks right along the beautiful creek’s edge with lots of little rapids and small waterfalls. Beautiful 9AM walk with nobody in sight. It then led into the Roaring Run Trail along the river where there were more bikers and walkers.

    After my hike, it was time to keep moving west young faithful traveler.

    Allusion Brewing Company

    The first brewery for day two was Allusion Brewing Company in Vandergrift Pennsylvania. A pretty little brewery pub that really captured the old – time feel of the town. The town was quaint, small, and old in that way most small Pennsylvania towns are. It reminded me of the town from the Back to the Future (when they travel back in time). It just had this oldey timey feel. The beers at Allusion were top notch. And if you visit, and Jim is there, make sure to say hello, great guy and fun bartender. The flights are also very cool, they repurposed old library card catalogue holders.

    After this I ventured into Pittsburgh itself (I know a dangerous thing for a Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Flyers, and Philadelphia Phillies fan to do), but I visited the Rodef Shalom Botanical Biblical Garden. I stopped here last year with my girls, to find out we were there on the wrong day (despite Google Maps saying they were open). Well, once again Google Maps got me, and here they closed for the season back on September 15th.

    Couch Brewery

    I was invited by Bobby, the current head brewer for Couch Brewery, to stop in and pay him a visit. They were closed but he was in the ‘shop’ kegging their upcoming release – The Four Horseman, so he invited me in, gave me a tour of their facilities backstage, and brought me out to the bar, and let me have a run of samples of all of their beers. Even giving me a four pack to go. Top notch dude, a complete blast and riot, funny guy, and knows his beer as well. The beers were all fantastic, and he sent me on my way with – Macho Man, Sofa Quasimodo, Morning Wood (not often can I say that a guy sent me on my way with Morning Wood), and Atomic Clock.

    Four Horseman

    He even gave me a sample of their upcoming collaboration beer that he was kegging – The Four Horseman. (He’s Arn Anderson.) I can’t say enough thanks for the hospitality and friendliness he showed me. If you are in the Pittsburgh area be sure to stop out and check Couch Brewery out.

    I then traveled up to Riverview Park, where along the way, I must’ve made about ten different wrong turns, going up the steepest hills and back down the steepest slopes. I passed the St. Anthony’s Chapel, where I had taken my daughters to last year, to see a piece of the Cross. I finally made it to the Alleghany Observatory parking lot, and spent the next couple of hours walking and hiking.

    Penn Brewery

    While up on Troy’s Hill I saw Penn Brewery and stopped, they were unfortunately closed, but I still snapped a picture, and found a brewery (don’t fail me now Google Maps) that was open, so I was on my way to Hop Farm Brewing Company.

    Hop Farm Brewing Company

    I got to Hop Farm Brewing Company around 7:30PM to find they were at max capacity, so I walked the block, and went back to my car for about fifteen minutes and read, then came back and they luckily had an open table. (Seating was pretty limited.) The burger was delicious and they did their french fries in hop oil (like how Troegs Brewing does their’s at their brewery), and they were absolutely stellar, better even than Troegs.

    Hop Farm Brewing Company

    My night concluded with me going to The Meadows Casino and Racetrack. Hung out there for a bit, checked out the dice tables, poker room (didn’t play), and tried to get a local beer on tap – Sobel’s Obscure Brewery’s Prehistoric Pilsner. But it kicks with barely a taste in it, and when for replacement I asked the bartender for a local beer, she offers me the Sierra Nevada’s Little Hazy Thing …… sigh. Oh well, so it goes.

    Hop and a skip over to my hotel, and I’m calling it a night. See you guys on here again for tomorrow’s recap as I venture into Ohio and Columbus. Cheers!

    -B. Kline

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    The Trip to Indianapolis: